Wacky Week

HEY EVERYONE!

It was a pretty good week with its' fair share of struggles and miracles. It would not be missionary work if it did not go any other way. I ended the week happy and satisfied by Elder Howard and mine's effort. In my prayer to end the week, I felt as though the Lord was satisfied as well. I know I am doing my best out here and it is paying off in many respects.

The greatest thing this week is that Ivan Martinez FINALLY got back from all of his vacations and band camps. School starts for everyone here a week from today. We are praying that this will stabilize people's schedules and help them to be around on a more consistent basis. Ivan did not lose his testimony at all while he was away these last few weeks. In fact, he is now reading the Book of Mormon more than when we last visited with him and he defends the Church to those around him who attack it. That is a pretty incredible thing considering that this young man is only 17. There are not too many 17 year olds in the world who are seeking God. It gives me great pleasure to see this. We set a new baptismal date with him for the 3rd of September. He will be ready long before that date, but Elder Howard and I so badly desire that the whole family takes part in the Gospel. Ivan really understands the Plan of Salvation and he knows that his family needs the Gospel in order to recieve all the blessings. He is a great kid.

I was not able to visit with his parents much this week due to exchanges. However, Elder Howard visited with his father and it sounded like a great lesson. His father is a workaholic -- de hueso colorado. The miracle is that Elder Howard committed Hno. Martinez to ask for Sundays off. He accepted that commitment. The only struggle is that only two people work in his department at the grocery store. They would need to find another employee. With the way the economy is right now, that is not looking all too likely. We will continue to pray and ponder over what we can do to help this family.

On wednesday I was on exchanges with an english elder who covers the same area as me, but in an english unit. We were on bike. The heat was no where near as bad as I thought it would be. We had some great experiences. We went to the Native American hosptial and gave a blessing to a woman with kidney failure and then to another hospital and gave a blessing to a 4 week old baby that has meningitis, he was in the NICU. The navajo woman was a member. The family of the sick baby are being baptized in a week! It was a sweet experience to bless the baby, we had a member who worked in the NICU participate and it was just fantastic.

Later in the evening, we taught a part member family. It was a spanish man married (maybe) to a navajo member. We taught the restoration and I extended a baptismal commitment. I was misinformed and I thought that both were nonmembers. I was pretty embarassed when the member sister said, "I was baptized a year and a half ago.", well. The miracle however was that the husband accepted the date for spetember 10th. It was a really great lesson.

We ate with some interesting members. We ate at an uppity restaurant. I had a pizza and pretty much a whole apple pie. I tried to justify that by being on bike...i think that was an unjust justification. I felt pretty lousy the rest of the evening.

The rest of the week was kind of tough. We are doing our best. We are refining our teaching skills and all, but we are having an incredibly difficult time hepling people to progress. Satan is battling hard against us. People continue to have large family issues that prevent their progress and we do all we can to help. We try our best to involve members, but the branch has it's own struggles and can not help itself let alone nonmembers. I pray a lot for this branch. It needs it so much. I love these people and it saddens me to see them barely making it through life.

The great thing is what Bishop Haycock spoke on. So long as we do our part, the Lord will ALWAYS, without exception, fulfill his promises. I really wish people had the faith and understanding to take that doctrine into their hearts. It is incredible! SO INCREDIBLE! There are some great, very righteous members of our branch who keep it going day by day. I love it here and by next week I will know if I shall stay or go!

I love you all so much and I am so happy to know you are all enjoying your time. Maddy's adventures sound fun, and I too remember staining the fence. Ask the Elder for his ward, stake, and address. There was a Johnson family I knew well when I was in Mesa. I met them at the Visitor's center.

Read your scriptures, say your prayers, and go to church/ the Temple! If you do, I promise all will go well and according to God's plan!

I love you!

Elder Pearson