February 2, 2015

Wow this week was awesome. We had a zone conference with President Rowley this week and we talked a lot about having faith to contact and talk to people to be able to find new people to teach. That is something that we are definitely stressing in our zone and in our mission right now. We have been trying our hardest to talk to at least 20 new people every day. Then after that we had a work visit and I went to negritos with Elder Harris. Him and his companion were having some struggles contacting people in the street. So I just told him that I had faith that anything was possible and he agreed. So we set a goal to talk to 75 people that day and when we got to the room that night we had talked to 77 people. It was a great testimony builder and helped me realize that if we set a goal and work for it then the Lord will help us achieve it. 

 

Also something funny from the work visit. We went and did a service project where we helped a lady cut all the dead branches off of her tree and move all the dead grass into a pile. So we did it and when we finished she said, "Okay now put it into these bags." but when I saw a giant pile of dead grass and dry sticks I had another idea. So I said "are you sure you don’t want to just burn it? That would be a lot easier and funner." it took a little convincing but she finally just let us burn it hahahah. It almost looked like one of dads fires at Island Park that would have made grandma go inside until things got under control haha. When her son saw it he had the bright idea to go get some chicken to cook on it. But because everything was so dry it was over in about 10 minutes but he was still set on cooking his chicken. When we went to leave they told us to wait because they wanted us to try the chicken and I knew that it was going to just destroy us haha. Right when I bit into it I knew my stomach was going to have some problems because the outside was crispy but everything else was raw haha. But elder Harris liked it so I just gave it to him. Then that night he was on the toilet for about 30 mins hahhaha.

 

The highlight of the week was the baptisms we had on Saturday. It had been a while since I have had any and a year since this area has had baptisms so it was nice to finally have some. I set a goal a while back that the next baptism picture I was going to send home wasn’t going to be just some random person that met the requirements. But that it was going to be someone that I thought was really going to be a convert to the church and to the gospel. And I think I have achieved that goal. It was so special for me when R was bearing her testimony after her baptism when she was saying that her baptism was so special but that she knows that isn’t where it ends and that she wants to keep working hard and living the gospel forever. Her daughter also got baptized and it now practicing with the youth of the branch to dance in the Trujillo temple cultural celebration. I hope they get to go. 

 

This week has strengthened my testimony that I know this church is true and that the gospel changes lives and blesses families. I have seen that in other people and in my own life and family. I’m so thankful for this church and gospel and for Jesus Christ and the opportunity to serve a mission. Love you guys!