Yeah, terrible subject line, I know. But, it is REALLY ghetto out here. So, I just thought I would capture the attitude of West Phoenix.
So, I am sorry I did not write yesterday. Yesterday we had a Zone Development Meeting/ Interviews with President Ellsworth. This should be the only P-day this transfer that falls on a Tuesday! I am fine, healthy, and happy, so none of you have any reason to worry. I just figured mom would probably be a wee bit worried since I had not yet written you all. But, Phoenix is great and I love this branch already. Elder Faldmo, he is a funny Elder, but I love the kid. He is always so positive and says hi to everyone. I think at the very least he is helping the Church get a lot better image within the community. He was born and raised in Dallas, Texas, but just before going to BYU his family moved to somewhere in Utah. I think Salt Lake. He has a lot of medical issues, so timeliness is tough. I prayed a lot last transfer to be provided with opportunities to learn and grow in patience. I am learning that a lot with Elder Faldmo. He is just to nice and positive to get upset with. I will just always do my best to be sure that I am ready on time and ready to go, then I wait patiently for him.
I left Scottsdale on a good note. My last night there I went out to show Elder Isom the area and to teach a couple of set lessons. We taught Cristina (she is 16) and she told us how she wanted to change and be closer to God. Accordingly, we taught her about baptism and its purpose in our lives and how it serves us. She really liked the idea and we asked her if she would follow the example of Christ and be baptized. She said yes. She then asked how we got baptized and what she had to do in order to be baptized. We read from D&C 20:37 and told her that if she did what we asked of her, she would be prepared. As of right now, I have no idea how well things are moving along with her, but I am thinking pretty well. The next evening Elder Isom called me to tell me that he had just set a date with her brother, Mauricio (14). I am really excited for them and everything that was going on and will go on. I try to still remember them in my prayers.
Wednesday was transfers, and craziness. I got in my little corolla and looked at the mileage record for this month. 6 days into the month and 1/4 of the miles had already been used that were permitted! AHHHH! So, Elder Faldmo and I are going to be going out on bikes for the majority of this week. We need to get our miles down so that we can drive and do all things that are neccesary without having to worry about scrimping by on miles. The last Elder that was here was not very organized as I come to see.
We taugh one woman, Hna. Batrez, who is less active. It was a quick, spiritual lesson that I enjoyed. We invited her to church and she said she would try. Well, considering she had not been to church in a few months, we did not have the highest of hopes. Well, God blessed her heart and humbled mine. She came to Church. Not only did she do that, but she brought a friend along. Her friend stayed all three hours and after having attended, asked us for a blessing of health. We did so and she told us she felt something that she had not felt in years. She felt like she was not alone anymore. Later that evening we had an FHE with a member family and Maria Rubio once again came. It was great. We are going to call Hna. Batrez today to try and set up an appointment at her house this week. I really feel like this woman has been prepared by God to listen to and accept the Gospel. I will keep you all posted.
One struggle in the area is that the Branch President employs pretty much the entire branch. He owns a massive bread factory the distributes worldwide. Most members work for him and he gives them TONS of hours every day. The nice thing is that he gives them Sundays off. He is a great man, President Lopez. He is very well off, but very loving and willing to serve. We at with him on Thursday and I think I made a good impression. I think that a lot of good things are about to happen in our branch.
We are teaching a young girl, Jessica. She is 14 and smokes, and has done so for the last 5 years. I am pretty amazed by that, but every time I visit her I feel the spirit really strong. Just yesterday we taught her a really poweful lesson on the atonement and how we need her to quit abusing substance before we teach her more. I think she really felt it. I was prompted to do something really strange. I handed her a pass along card with the picture of the resurrected Christ. I told her to stare at it, and to think of what he had done for her. At first she said it was awkward because it was quiet. Then, she said the quiet was nice. Then, she started telling us how she felt. I think she was pricked pretty strongly in her heart. I think we should see some progress with her in the near future.
I have saved the best news for last! On Thrusday morning I was studying and the phone rang. I answered and I immidiately recognized the voice on the other line. It was Moises from Mesa! He called to tell me that he and Graciela were getting married and baptized on saturday and that he wanted me to baptize him! It was strange, because it was almost like I knew that call was coming. I was so excited and I got things arranged so that we could go. I got permission from the assistants and we went! It was a glorious day. It was a day I have been waiting for a very long time. I wanted to stay with them all day, but we had to be back to Phoenix by 5pm. I told them I would write and that I wanted another call for when they were going to be sealed!
Overall, everything in my mission feels like it is falling in place. I am less stressed and feel like I have actually made a difference in the lives of others. I feel like I am actually spending my time very wisely by being here on a mission. It is the best, and hardest, thing that I have every done.
I love you all so much and thank you for your prayers and thoughts. I pray for you in every prayer! Study, pray, and go to church, and most will go very well!
Con amor,
Elder Pearson
(posted By Maddy)
No comments:
Post a Comment