Catalina it is!

Hey Family Dearest!

The word is in and I am staying, but, they are splitting our branch for missionary work. I will be with Elder Howard from Spokane in car on the east side, while Elder Faldmo and Elder Kinney will be on the West Side on bike. Finally, I get to stay. Elder Hainsworth says he gets the impression that I will be here for a while. I would not mind that at all. I love this branch, these people, and the city in general. I would not mind being in Phoenix my entire mission. I just feel like there is a lot more service to render here than in Mesa. Sure, it is rougher here, but at the same time, there is always someone to talk to.

Tomorrow my trainer, Elder Hainsworth, goes home! He had over 1/3 of his mission left when I got here. It is crazy to think that much time has really passed me by. It is a little bit of a wake-up call. I need to take this mission minute by minute, cherishing every single moment. We had a really slow week to start, but we got the opportunity to see so many profound miracles. I loved pretty much every minute of it. I was happy even though it was hot out. We will have a baptism in our branch for sure on May 28, dad's birthday! Maria Rubio is being baptized on that day. Last week we gave her the large print Book of Mormon. She has been reading it daily and she is progressing rapidly. Sadly, as Satan sees her distancing herself from him, he is doing all that he can to pull her back in. She is having nightmares with Satan in them and she is getting really awful headaches. We read a bit of Moses 1 with her and I think that really helped. She thought it was only us who could command Satan to leave. We taught her how we all have that right to protect ourselves. We just need to be humble, and pray to God for his Spirit and protection. She loves the gospel. But, she was so sick yesterday that when she was on the way to Church, she had to turn around due to a killer migrane. It seems like progressing investigators are always confronted with so many trials and challenges. Maria is tough and strong though. She will win. I can not wait to see her confirmed and to recieve the Holy Ghost. She is in my prayers every time I pray. To me, she is evidence that God is preparing people everywhere, and it is the members that know them and should try to recognize them.

Interestingly enough, we were speaking about agency in FHE with the Rangel Clan. It is an eternal principle. The sister of Hna. Rangel is not a member, Amparo. Somehow, baptisms for the dead were brought up and Amparo said, "We can not just get baptized for someone. They have to make that choice themselves." Luckily, us elders were there and we got to clarify the fact that it is just offering that person and opportunity and not neccesarily does it signify that they are "saved". I think this resolved her doubt. Amparo said the closing prayer to FHE and the spirit was way strong. I am going to miss being on the West Side. Something like 90% of active members are on the West Side. The east side has boat loads of lost, less-actives. We will find them and help them to come back to church to renew their covenants.

I think Heavenly Father sent us a miracle yesterday to get me ready for all of the miracles that will happen in the East Side. A man named Edgardo from Tegucigulpa, Honduras came to Church for the first time in a year yesterday. Another man named Ignacio ("Nacho") also came back. They both came because they woke up and felt like they should come. Both have been less active for a while, but the brethren of the Branch welcomed them back with smiles, hugs, and even a couple of tears. We have some appointments set up with them for the coming weeks. I am very excited to help these men and their families become united in the Gospel with Elder Howard. Edgardo's children and wife are still in Honduras. He says he has tried to send missionaries to them, but the missionaries have never come. We will just keep praying for that family in Honduras.

A week ago, we had FHE with the Elias Family. Gabriel (Father) was there with his mother at his side. The mother bounces back between going to our Church in our branch and a branch in the Phoenix mission. She lives in one place for a few weeks, and in the other for the next few. It is very tough to be able to teach her consistently. We spoke on the Sacrament at FHE and his mother told us how at first when her son joined the Church, she was apauled. She thought the Chuch of Jesus-Christ of Latter Day Saints was way different that the Catholic Church. She has gone to church almost 10 weeks now, and she told us how she can now see how similar the two are. She said, "of course there are differences, but not too many". Her daughter-in-law, Brenda, gave her a Book of Mormon. She read some, but said she did not understand. We are having FHE again tonight and we hope to be able to teach her more and help her understand the importance & significance of the Book of Mormon. She will read it. She told us that. We just need to help her understand the "why" part of it.

Margarito, our investigator who suffered a stroke, finally read! We were ecstatic upon hearing that. He had never done his reading assignments, but now he is. He says he is a bit confused, but we promised him that we will help him answer his questions through study. Our only concern is that we are not 100% sure if he is all there mentally. We do not know what kind of damage the stroke caused to his brain. Nevertheless, he is reading and I am so happy for him. Elder Faldmo will be the one continuing to teach him after the area splits and I think that is perfect. Elder Faldmo really loves and cares for Margarito. Elder Faldmo will be able to help satisfy the needs of Margarito.

I am really excited to see what the next transfer has in store. Elder Howard and I will work our hardest to find those children that God has prepared to recieve the gospel. I know they are out there. In case of a split, Elder Faldmo suggested we take extra time in the east side to do some findng. We did a lot of walking. A little knocking, and a lot of talking. We foun one family for which I am very excited. Judi and Elsa Luna. The Luna family has a 7 year old daughter who is legally blind. they are super kind, very open, and really seemed grateful for our quick visit. We hope to get an opportunity to teach them this week. Else was not home to setup an appointment, so Judi, Elder Faldmo, and I just got to speak with her at the door.

One challenge in our area is that missionaries who were not here long ago would go into any house of a single woman with or without a thrid male present. Some formers invite us in, but husbands are not there so we can not enter. They tell us, "The last ones always came in and my husband was never here." It kind of puts us in a tough spot. I obviously would love nothing more than to teach them the gospel, but I know that lessings come from obedience with exactness. Any thoughts on this issue? We call members in the ward, but no one is available in the afternoons or early evenings. We will continue to be obedient with the knowledge that promised blessings will indeed come.

I loved last week even though there were challenges. Time went by far too quickly, but I feel like Elder Faldmo and I have been able to accomplish a lot of good as a companionship. He works very hard, loves the people, and is always so upbeat, positive, and also, he is a great listener. I know he and Elder Kinney will see many great miracles in the West Side.

Maddy, congrats on the test! It sounds like you just destroyed that test like pie. I am so happy for you! I prayed a lot and I continue to pray for you. LEt me know the details. Will you be going to PCC instead of Westview? If so, you will be further along in college than I am by the time I get home. I love you sis!

I love all of the rest of you, too. I pray for you and think of you oft as I study the plan of salvation. I love the knowledge that I have of the fact that we will be together forever! Doesn't that just remove a mountain of doubt and stress? I think so.

Well, I hope you all have a great week. I never got an email from Dad or Will, so I expect some good ones next week! Be safe and say your prayers, read the scriptures, and do FHE! Invite friends to FHE Maddy and Will. Make it short, yet spiritual. Fun, yet serious. You know. I know you all are the best! I love you so very much!

con amor,

Elder Jonathan Alma Pearson



(posted by Maddy)