Monday, December 16, 2013

Transfer 13, Week 6, Lakes Zone, Desert Breeze Ward‏

 This is Javier in the middle and Simon on the left. They are so hilarious!!!

Dear Family,
This week was great! Today, however, is transfers and I will be staying in the Desert Breeze Ward and I will get Elder Till. He is a new ZL and he was in my last area as a district leader/trainer. He is very humble and the kindest guy you'll meet! I'm excited to have him as my new companion. I'm sad to see Elder Helin go but he will do great in Mesquite.
So sorry to spoil it by talking about what happened on Saturday first... but its the most exciting thing this week!

So we had a lesson with Spencer and Savannah at the Gardiners house. So a little back story: the Gardiners are having a baby Sunday, the next day, at 4 am. so 12 hours before their baby is due we are meeting at their house to have a lesson (they are the best!!!). So we followed up on Savannahs reading and how things are going with her and Spencer. We then watched the conference talk "The Lords Way" by Stanley G. Ellis. After that we discussed different aspects of our lives that we have to live the lords way or we will not be happy. We then committed her to baptism on the 4th of January! She was a little hesitant but she was comfortable with setting it as a goal. Then Spencer, her husband, comes in and gives such a great and powerful testimony! It is so great to see his progress, even in the short time that I've been in the area. He now can baptize her when she is ready and he is so excited for her to take this step!
Then at the end of the lesson he gave the prayer and it was one of the most heartfelt prayers I've heard! One of the lines that stuck out to me from his prayer was "We are thankful for the little things in life that make us smile, and the bigger things in life that make us happy". Even in a prayer he did so well with helping his wife understand what brings real happiness.

This week we met with the Worku family. They are doing well, however they have not been coming to church. We had a great lesson with Sable, the mom, this week though. We taught the Plan of Salvation (Elder Herlin and my last PMG lesson together) and she thought it was great! We also extended the baptismal commitment and she said that she's already been baptized. We explained the need for the correct authority and so forth... she said that she would start reading the Book of Mormon because, as she said, 'that's the only way I'll know what I should do'. YES! Right on! She also committed to praying and asking if she should be baptized or not. I'm excited!

So brother Johnston, who came to the Christmas party with his wife last week, is on his way to coming back to church regularly! His schedule has not allowed him to come to church while he has lived here in Las Vegas but since the time changes to 9am and not 1pm he will be able to come! Also sister Johnston's son is coming onto town and Brother Johnston has been cleared to baptize him! so cool!!!
We had a mission tour this last Thursday. Elder Steven E. Snow came to the mission. We had the opportunity to have a special Mission Leadership Council with him and it was great! I learned so much and I'm excited to continue to work!

On Saturday we went to a live Nativity that the Red Rock Stake puts on. It was one of the best that I've seen! It really brought to life the true meaning of Christmas and made me feel so grateful for the gift of Jesus Christ.

So just a random event that happened this week: We were visiting a less active who wasn't home. While we were driving to the exit of the apartment complex we came across this guy and his girlfriend trying to push/steer his car into a parking space. (they were having a lot of trouble with it) So we pulled around and came out and helped them push it. It was only like 30 feet but they were very appreciative and we were able to get their names to some other missionaries in our Zone to teach them. I just thought I would share how little acts of service/kindness can influence people. Christ was sent here to show the world what the father is like. We are sent into the world to show them what Christ is like.
I love you all and hope all is well at this time of year!

"Each of us is an innkeeper who decides if there is room for Jesus"- Neal A. Maxwell

"When we are impatient, we are neither reverential nor reflective because we are too self centered. Whereas faith and patience are companions, so are selfishness and impatience... It is so easy to command others when we are not in control of ourselves" - Neal A. Maxwell

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