Ok
now that my trauma is over.... the rest of Pday was great. I bought a
ton of stuff... Dressy boots, monk oil, other shoe stuff, a new knife
among other things. A couple ties. Then we just had visiting people and
eating great food what more could a guy want?
Tuesday
was exchanges, that was actually super fun. Exchanges are those kinds
of things that I always dread a teensy bit as they're coming up... even
though I always enjoy them and have a blast and learn a ton. So anyway, I
went with Elder Gallegos and worked in their area primarily. Nothing
too crazy, some lessons and a baptismal interview for Elder Santos (Man
Candy 
#3) yeah so about that... Elder Gallegos made a list of all the Elders
in the Zone... and rated them for their Man Candy status... yeah... I
think I would've put Elder Santos at number 1... or maybe Elder Conley
(not my companion, he's another district leader in our zone) but to each
his own I guess. Anyway we did a little finding, and I mostly just
talked to him about how I can be better. We also had an adventure...
partway through the day we called a Ward Mission Leader (WML) in one of his wards... who then
crashed and hit another car while we were on the phone.... awkward....
like suuuuper awkward. Elder Gallegos felt super bad because he felt
like it was his fault... to make things worse... the lady whose car he
hit was pregnant... her boyfriend was not happy to say the least. On the
bright side of things, we stole a piece of her taillight that was
broken on the road, oh yeah did I mention we then drove right by the
accident so we went and talked to everyone? Yeah... but the piece of
taillight... totally looks like the screen from a scooter in DBZ... so
guess what I'm gonna make today? Oh yeah. It's gonna be sweet ;P
And yes, there's my hair again.
Wednesday
was good, we actually had two lessons scheduled all evening, so we took
a couple of priests and divided and conquered... until half of them
cancelled. So instead we just stayed split and went finding. I have to admit that finding is growing on me... mostly because I asked Elder Gallegos all
about it and discovered that we have been doing it all wrong... I love
that feeling. But now I feel so much better about what I'm doing, I feel
like I have the tools to do what is needed now. Finally. We also got a
new investigator, it's an interesting situation, Bishops have said he
doesn't need to be baptized because of some disabilities, but he's super
high functioning and wants to be married in the temple so now we're
officially working with him.
So something
interesting I've noticed in my mission thus far... certain concepts or
scriptures will suddenly stick out to me... and instead of applying for
one investigator or one day... the principle or scripture will apply to
everything for a period of time, sometimes multiple weeks. So when I get
all doctriny in these letters that's normally why. The one I've been
super focused on for the last week or so is a pretty well known
scripture, Mosiah 2:41
41 And
moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and
happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they
are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they
hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that
thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O
remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath
spoken it.
Those first few lines are the ones that have seemed so important. Anywhere you go in the world, members of the church serve as example, people see the light in our eyes, they see the happiness and the glory of the knowledge we have. But especially here in Utah, when you not only see us around... when you're completely surrounded by the answer, all it takes is for someone to say something, do something, that makes someone else think for a moment. Then consider just how special we become as we follow Jesus Christ and are sanctified and lifted by His Infinite Atonement. That's all it takes. The Gospel is so simple, just a set of instructions from a loving Father that if we follow we become happy. That simple. And all it takes in an invitation. Not even an invitation to do something, go too church, read the Book of Mormon. Nope, just an invitation to think. To ponder. That creates an investigator who is searching for answers on their own for themselves and their families. Because of love. The greatest attribute, and the strongest motivator in Heaven and Earth. It moves the smallest child to be like Christ, the oldest grandparent to serve and to support their posterity, and it moves the Great Eternal God of Heaven and Earth and the whole of the cosmos. That's why we're here. That's why we have the Gospel. Families. Love. It's always love. Love your brothers and sisters. The ones who live next to you, the ones across the street, the ones you work with. Love them. And you're life will be utterly changed. I can promise that because I'm serving my brothers and sisters every day and I am no longer the boy I was. I am now a Son of God and I can think of no greater title.
Those first few lines are the ones that have seemed so important. Anywhere you go in the world, members of the church serve as example, people see the light in our eyes, they see the happiness and the glory of the knowledge we have. But especially here in Utah, when you not only see us around... when you're completely surrounded by the answer, all it takes is for someone to say something, do something, that makes someone else think for a moment. Then consider just how special we become as we follow Jesus Christ and are sanctified and lifted by His Infinite Atonement. That's all it takes. The Gospel is so simple, just a set of instructions from a loving Father that if we follow we become happy. That simple. And all it takes in an invitation. Not even an invitation to do something, go too church, read the Book of Mormon. Nope, just an invitation to think. To ponder. That creates an investigator who is searching for answers on their own for themselves and their families. Because of love. The greatest attribute, and the strongest motivator in Heaven and Earth. It moves the smallest child to be like Christ, the oldest grandparent to serve and to support their posterity, and it moves the Great Eternal God of Heaven and Earth and the whole of the cosmos. That's why we're here. That's why we have the Gospel. Families. Love. It's always love. Love your brothers and sisters. The ones who live next to you, the ones across the street, the ones you work with. Love them. And you're life will be utterly changed. I can promise that because I'm serving my brothers and sisters every day and I am no longer the boy I was. I am now a Son of God and I can think of no greater title.
Anyway... so Thursday
was pretty weird. We did what Elder Gallegos calls a 'splash'. The
sister in our district have been really struggling super hard so we took
a few hours and split up their area with us, them, and the Zone leaders
all working different parts of it. It was kind of fun to be honest.
Like I said now that I know how to find it's not nearly so bad, and I
actually went with Elder Zamudio so it was a bit of a change of pace
which was super nice. We also put a lady on date from the doorstep... or
he did anyway. She speaks Spanish so I could kind of follow along
but... yeah I didn't have anything to do with it. Super cool experience
though, there's a reason we always tease Elder Zamudio about being the
next assistant to the President since Elder Bentall is going home this
transfer. Which brings us to the big excitement for the week...
transfers are coming right up. We're not really sure what's going to
happen, as usual, but it will be an adventure for sure. I also built a
robot dinosaur. Or at least it's legs ;P
Not a ton to say about Friday...
we had several lessons set up but they all cancelled, and it was weekly
planning day so... yuck. But we survived and next week is gonna be busy
busy so that's good. Then that evening we went to a Provo High
basketball game. We have an investigator who plays on the team and this
was the big timpview rivalry game so we got permission to go. It was
super weird being in a high school gym at a high school sporting
events... strange on so many levels. Unfortunately they lost but they
put up a good fight and it was a good game.
Now Saturday
was interesting... no lessons scheduled and Elder Connelly was going to
the temple without me. I had to stay back and work the area with a
member while he was gone. So basically 5-6 hours of finding. But it was
actually super good. I got a couple potential investigators, met with
others, it was really positive. And I spent the day with a recently
returned missionary who was super cool. We were also asked to give a
blessing to our friend M. who lives in our RV park. Then that evening
our lessons cancelled... and we did even more finding. So yeah. I guess
that's what I get for complaining about it ;P serves me right. It was
super good though and we've met lots of people who have been prepared
and open to our presence. Life is good.
Sunday
was a little crazy. We got asked late the night before if I could
accompany a musical number for the Bee Hive Home retirement communities
sacrament meeting. Which meant skipping our 11 o'clock church meeting.
So we have early morning Stake Correlation meeting, actually had some
WMLs there this time so it was pretty good. Then we ran around like
chickens with our heads cut off for a little while, talking to people
and running errands. Had our 9 o clock meeting like normal. Had a class
being taught by a recent convert... but then it was cancelled. But we
had an opportunity to talk to Bishop while we were there. The the bee
hive homes thing, I played prelude and the first hymn before the pianist
got there, then the musical number, I said the opening prayer and also
shared a testimony. Then I found out that the older couple who
volunteers for the sacrament meetings there are related to the Czirrs.
So that was cool. I also told them I would come tune their piano because
it's awful. The back for the 3rd ward, made some more visits, then
right after that Ward we had a meeting with a bishop about an
investigator who also let us know about a guy who just showed up in
church today and was kind of odd but gave us his info. So we went and
visited him... he's a little crazy. But... we'll see where that all
goes. Then Ar. had some stuff and needs a temple recommend so we went
and saw Bishop again... then we ate dinner with Brother Hales nephew...
someone should let him know about that :P McKay Lindsey. Also I don't
remember if I mentioned it but i met a Hales in the MTC as well. Then we
had a fantastic lesson with a recent convert and his dad who is
investigating and answered some great questions... then finally we spent
almost two hours with the Tolmans, C, and L getting
C's baptism all set... then got kind of reprimanded by a bishop
because we were gonna baptize her but she technically lives in his
ward... we finally got that whole mess figured out this morning but it
requires talking to President and a request being sent the First
Presidency... so yeah. We're kind of trouble makers and now it's Monday
and We haven't really had an Pday. We just finished with that Bishop
then we're gonna go eat and have a lesson... then Pday starts. Alright
Think that was all the stuff maybe, hope everyone's still alive at home. Love you all and may the Spirit be with you
Elder DeFord
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