Week 34 - July 2, 2012

Hi everyone!

Well, the humidity got here yesterday. It's gross, and I am not a fan! Hahaha. But we'll live. And we had a cool lightning show last night during a storm, so that was fun. And we know that we won't have wildfires like in Arizona, so I guess that makes them even better out here.

This week was good. We feel like we worked hard, though it was one of those weeks that might not really show any of the fruits of your labors. We're still working with Aida, and all seems well for her baptism this weekend. She is just so cool. She is nervous for it, and to be honest, I'm nervous for it. It's just rough that this is an English ward. The two Spanish branches are 25 and 30 miles away, and she already needs rides to church because her family isn't super supportive. So many challenges to overcome in any conversion story, they just seem to be amplified as a Spanish missionary. But she has such great faith, we hope that she can continue on, and that the ward will pull it together. There are some inactive Hispanics on the roster here, but other than Aida and one family that makes the sacrifice to drive out to a Spanish branch, she's kind of the only Hispanic in the pews. But God sent us here to teach in Spanish, so we're doing it!

I guess I don't have much to say this week. Things have been fine, it just wasn't super eventful. And I'm kind of tired today, for some reason. Pray for us that we can get everything done this week, and that Aida will have the courage to keep going, despite language barriers and all of the other challenges of being new in the gospel.

We're doing good. Working hard. It might be Elder S time to leave Clarksville at the end of the transfer, but we aren't positive. There's just no way to know. I don't really want a new companion just yet, but I also don't really want to stay here for too long. And normally, the person that comes to an area first, leaves first, so the sooner he's gone, the sooner I can go. I learned with my previous area that you might love the people and enjoy what's going on, but a change reinvigorates you. Gets you pumped up a little bit, to do new things, meet new people, etc. I'm not dying to leave right now, but this would be a hard area to stay in for a long time. Elder S was here for five transfers. Five! And that's just too many.

Anyway, all is well. I'm glad everyone back home is doing good! Y'all have a good week!

Love,

Zac

Week 33 – June 25, 2012

Hi family --

Can y'all believe another week has gone by? I can't. Time here is slipping by so quickly! It's kinda crazy, because when you realize that the transfer is half over, and things that you thought would be happening aren't really happening, it sort of lights a fire under your butt to keep you going and keep you working hard. God brought me here for some reason, so I've got to go and figure it out!

We're still so excited for Aida. Yesterday we really started working with the ward to begin planning her baptism. We are certain that it will happen in July, we just have to confirm with her what day she can, and if all of the commitments we have extended (all of the scary big ones lots of people have problems with) are going okay. I actually had a really interesting experience teaching Aida this week. On Thursday we exchanged with our district leader, so I was working the Spanish area with an English elder. We were planning on teaching Aida a big commandment -- one that's serious and important and critical for baptism. So I'm the only one teaching, since I'm the only Spanish speaker, and we're cruising through a pamphlet, everything is going fine. We sort of get to the end of the pamphlet, and this thought popped into my head: "You skipped one little super critical part." Because I paid attention to that poke the Spirit gave me, I know that she has been taught that commandment in full, and we actually had a really good conversation about the point that the Spirit told me to bring up. In the last two weeks I have really learned a lot on account of meeting and teaching Aida. I've learned more fully of the power of fasting, and I've learned more fully how the Spirit will poke at us and give us ideas and ever so often give us directions that are clear-as-day to keep us going where we need to be going. She has been prepared for this gospel, and God knew that I would learn a lot from working with her. She has such tremendous faith, and a real desire to do good and follow God. And she's just super lovable. And she's already in Mosiah in the Book of Mormon, so it's clear that she's got the desire to be doing this. :)

I had another neat experience this week with Rodrigo and Esbida, and it was actually the same day as Aida. We're sitting with Rodrigo and Esbida, and I'm still the only Spanish speaker. We had planned on teaching them the first half of the Plan of Salvation (gigantic lesson, it has to be in two parts for it not to bore people to death). We talked for a long time about different things, how they were feeling, had they been reading and praying, etc. And as we finished chit-chatting, I just didn't think the Plan of Salvation was going to do anything for them right then, plus, we spent so much time talking that we didn't have enough time for a big lesson. I suggested we read a chapter in the Book of Mormon, and without thinking, the words "Alma chapter 32" fell out of my mouth. I swear, I had not thought for one second what we ought to read, but somehow I said that. And they ended up loving the chapter. It's all about nourishing our seeds of faith, so I told them that they can only taste of the awesome fruit of the gospel by nourishing their seed of faith! Let it take root and grow through diligent reading, prayer, and church attendance! If the fruit doesn't taste good to you, you can leave the tree to die. But no one thinks the gospel tastes bad, so I know they won't do that. :) But it was another experience where I felt like God was pointing me where we needed to go for them. It is not always like that. I wish it was effortless to just open your mouth and what comes out is inspired like it had been in reading Alma 32 with them. But I can't go wrong if I try my best and do all I can to be a good missionary. I'm sure of that.

Things are going fine here in Clarksville. We have zone conference tomorrow, so we are really excited about that. I love to learn from President and Sister Woodbury, and to visit with all of the other missionaries. And it's kinda fun to talk to the other Spanish missionaries and know that the English ones are listening, trying to understand what we're saying. Hahaha. I guess that's not very kind. Haha.

Anyway, we're doing good! Doing our best here!

Have a good week, everyone!

Love,

Zac

Week 32 - June 18, 2012

Hi there!

Things this week went pretty well. Elder S and I got some super cool news yesterday! A few weeks ago I wrote about how we were trying to open our mouths a little more and share the gospel with people instead of just give out a card and be on our way. We contacted a guy named Michael at the park. He's super cool, lives in Louisville, and has a way cool accent because he's from the Caribbean. Well, we found out that the elders in Louisville met with him, and that he committed to be baptized next month! And they said that he really is so ready! So we are so excited about that, and feel so good that we were acting on the contacting challenge President had given us. We're seeing it in action!

The pretty park we contact a lot at. One day I'll serve in Louisville... one day.

Aida came to church yesterday. That's the fourth week straight! Because she grew up in communist Cuba, she really knows nothing about religion. She totally feels the Spirit as we read and as we go to church, so she knows that what we're sharing is right. We are optimistic that she will be baptized in July. We're so excited for her. Because we couldn't meet with her for several weeks, we gave her a Book of Mormon and told her to read. It's been almost two months since we met her, and she's already in 2 Nephi! In all my time in Versailles I never met with anyone that made it that far, and I've only been here for 8 weeks. She is so prepared for the gospel. :)

Looking sharp! (I'm not that much taller than Elder S, just looks like it here).

We had an activity at the church on Friday night called "Meet the Mormons." It was for members to bring their nonmember friends to the church to see what we do and get to know us a little better. We had a member from each auxiliary stand and talk for about 5 minutes about how their particular program helps members come closer to Christ and progress personally. It was really really powerful, and I think that it was a  great way for people to get into the church building without being too intimidated, and to hear what it is that we do all the time! And guess who came -- Rodrigo and Esbida! They had dodged us and ditched out on appointments for like, a week and a half, and we finally saw them and invited them to the activity. It was so cool to see them come in! They seemed to like it, though they didn't come to church the next day. But at least we got them in there to see it, and they won't fear the unknown anymore. Plus, there were some great members that speak Spanish that were so kind to them, and made a real effort to chat with them. Our fingers are crossed they can get the fire going again that they had when we first started teaching them.

Looking even better, haha!

It's warming up a little, and getting humid. I'm pretty unexcited about it, to say the least. I've never been a very sweaty guy, but I think everyone out here is pretty sweaty in July and August. Haha. Speaking of July and August, can y'all believe that June is half over?! I can't. Time is moving so fast. Before you know it, I'll be at my year mark! So. Weird.

Hmmmm... I don't think there's much else to say. We're doing the best we can with what we've got. And we're looking for more awesome people like Aida to bring to church and help them have the awesomeness that is the gospel!

I hope y'all have a good week. Thanks for everything!

Love,

Zac

Week 31 - June 11, 2012

Hi family!

This week we had an exciting thing happen! After weeks (seriously, like 4 or 5) we finally got to sit down with Aida and share a real lesson with her! Here's the back story: She's from Cuba, and came here two years ago. Her grown granddaughter had a baby several months ago, so she moved in to help watch the baby while the granddaughter works. Aida wanted to listen to our message, but was uncomfortable having us in to the apartment when she didn't feel like it was her own. As we kept meeting with her on the doorstep, she said her granddaughter wasn't comfortable with us coming in either. Aida came to church, and the member that picked her up had a short but cordial conversation with Aida's granddaughter. This week, we knocked on Aida's door to say hello and share a little something, and she had us right in! She said that her granddaughter said it was totally fine for us to come by and visit anytime! Yay! We're so excited to begin teaching Aida for real, because she is so ready for this. We told her to read the Restoration pamphlet as homework before we came by, and she basically taught us the lesson, remembering all of the jargon and everything! And because we gave her a Book of Mormon so long ago, she's already almost through 1 Nephi. She is seriously so great, and we are excited for her.

Us at a member's home way out in the boonies. It reminded me of rural Kentucky. I miss the green fields.

The extra neat thing about this? I had fasted two days before for a way to begin teaching Aida. We didn't know if we'd ever get in the door. We thought we'd have to use obnoxiously complicated ways to get her to different locations (park, church building, etc.) to teach her. But her daughter works second shift, so she's always locked up at home in the afternoon, which is when members would be able to help us. So just two days after my fast, we get in the door. God works in mysterious ways. I'm not sure what made a difference in any of this, but He was listening to my prayers as I was trying to help someone else, and He made it work. He blessed me with that opportunity! How cool! Especially because I'm still not a very good faster, so this made me really really excited to fast again for something that will help someone progress in the gospel.

A railroad bridge over the Ohio. It's still the ugliest river ever. Haha.

Yesterday was another Spanish fireside at the mission home. It was super super good. The investigators we thought were going to go, and told us they were going to go, didn't show up. Which is embarrassing, because you're only supposed to go if you have someone with you that's new or investigating. But it was still a good experience for me because as I listen to the testimonies of these people it gives me hope that someone will catch the vision and run with it. These people have strong, strong testimonies of the Book of Mormon, of everything! I know that it's possible for people to listen and act. Not everyone will, but every once in a while, someone will go with it. So that made me excited to keep going and keep opening my mouth.

Agustin and Gabby are officially gone to Indianapolis. They bailed on their last appointment, so we never got to say goodbye. Part of it is super fishy, just because they really seemed to want to learn and listen, and so now that they aren't answering the phone or anything I'm wondering if they ever cared. But I still love them either way, and hope that we can get their info, or that missionaries will one day find them. We gave them the address and time of the Spanish branch up there, so hopefully they made it to that! That would be so great. :)

Not much else going on for now, I don't think. We're plugging along as best we can. Trying to help other people have the happiness that we have!

Thanks for everything!

Love,

Zac

Week 30 - June 4, 2012

Hi everyone!

Sure enough, we're both staying here in Clarksville for this transfer, as we expected. I'm totally fine with that, too. This week was really good, and it made me excited for the work coming up. It'll be hard, but it'll be good, too.

Sure enough, Gabby and Agustin are moving this week. :(  But they asked that we get the address of the Spanish branch in Indianapolis, and we're going to get their new address to send missionaries up there. Every time we see them I tell them to chase after these things. Try them, because God dropped us two guys in your laps in response to your prayers! It means it's good! It means it's right! So we're excited for them, even though we won't get to work with them.

Rodrigo and Esbida are doing good. We actually had a really really good chat with him this week, and kind of figured out some of his doubts, desires, etc. They had missed an appointment so we dropped back in later that night. He was there, so we talked for a long time, and it was good. They still have so much potential, especially because he speaks such good English that they can be retained in this English ward in case the Spanish population doesn't really increase here. They will be tremendous tools in shaping Spanish work here in the area if we can help them progress. So we're doing all we can!

Our numbers were kind of down last week and the week before, so Elder S and I talked about what we could do better. We both knew that we just need to open our mouths a little wider, and not be afraid to share the gospel! You're thinking, "You're a missionary. That's what you do all day, everyday." But it's seriously so easy to just hand a card to someone and be on your way. Especially if they are English speakers and you know you won't even get to teach them. But as we made the effort to teach more, to spread the message more, we had a few really really neat experiences. One was a lady we contacted in the park. She's an odd duck, to say the least, which is funny, because she was there to check on a hurt duck she had seen earlier in the week. We didn't even talk to her very much about the message, and she came to church! The English elders were with her, but said that she's pretty great, and seems interested! So that's good! And then last night, we were down at the park by the river, and there were tons and tons of people! And a few of them we had already met, so we asked if they had checked out the website, etc. We ended up having really really good conversations with them, and one of them said he thinks he's going to come this month, because he wants his son to be in church. So that was cool! And then one of the last people we contacted was a super cool guy from the Caribbean. He's a grad-student at University of Louisville, and he was just studying at a park bench. We ended up talking to him for over 30 minutes, and he was so cool! And so open to everything! So that was really cool. This contacting challenge from President Woodbury has definitely increased referrals throughout the mission because of how many people we are talking to, and it's really really exciting when you meet people that are open to listen and try it out! Who knows if they ever would have been contacted by missionaries otherwise?

Aida came to church again yesterday, and we had the coolest Gospel Principles ever. We have some really amazing Spanish speakers in the ward, and they all just took control of the lesson, asking Aida questions, asking their own questions, etc. It was so great, and she absolutely loves coming. We've still had a super hard time getting to teach her a real lesson. She needs the missionary lessons to understand why it is that we even do what we do, or how we are different from anything else! But we're working on it.

The weather was nice this week, but I don't anticipate that staying. The humidity doesn't bother you much until it just gets a little warmer, so I'm sure in the near future I'll be telling you guys all about how yucky it is. I finally met someone who said she couldn't decide if the wet-heat or the dry-heat is better. Most everyone else just says that the wet-heat will kill you and that the dry-heat is nothing in comparison. I guess I'll know first hand this summer! Haha.

Things are going good. We're excited to be here another transfer, and we're excited at the potential that's here. Hopefully we can really make the best of it this summer! :)

Y'all are my favorite. Thanks for all that you do and all of your prayers for me! They help. :)

Love,

Zac

p.s. no pics. we haven't really taken any lately. sorry!

Week 29 - May 28, 2012

Hi family --

Can you believe that this is the last week of this transfer already? That is just crazy to me. Almost six weeks in Clarskville already... weird. This stuff is going so fast.

We had interviews with President and Sister Woodbury last week. They are the coolest. :) From what President said to me in our interview, it really sounds like Elder St. Mand I will be together for at least one more transfer, if not more. Which is good, because we know that there are two new Spanish elders coming in and I don't really want to train anyone, so getting that hint from President was welcomed. Haha. He also said that he was nervous putting two pretty new missionaries together. And rightly so. But he's really really enthusiastic for us. And I'm excited for us too, so we're on the same page. It was fun to see the Woodburys.

As planned, Agustin and Gabby put a deposit down on an apartment in Indianapolis. They're leaving next week. :(  But they seem excited about meeting with us until they go, and then meeting with missionaries up there. Plus, there's a Spanish branch in Indianapolis, so I'm excited for them to go there and not have to listen to translation, and have all sorts of special accommodations like in English wards.

Rodrigo and Esbida are also good. They didn't make it to church, but he has commented to us about how he feels his life is going smoother since we started visiting. Ain't no coincidence in that! The gospel fixes everything. Let us share it, and you start living it, and it'll get even better! So we're still excited for them and doing what we can.

The other exciting thing was that Aida (just like the Broadway show), a lady we met a while back, came to church yesterday! She is from Cuba, and has only been in the States a few years. Brother Romney (the guy who called you guys) was super great to her, and we had a Gospel Principles class in Spanish for the first time in quite a while in the Jeffersonville Ward. It was way great! And it was cool because we involved some members we knew speak Spanish, and they totally made the class wonderful! It was a huge load off our backs, because we hadn't really prepared anything very strong. Haha.

Today we ate breakfast with some members and the Jeffersonville English elders and then went and played softball. It was so fun. I'm an easy out when I go up to bat, but I did make it around the bases a few times! It was boys versus girls, and lots of the girls had played softball in high school. But we still totally creamed them. It was awesome.

All is well up here in Clarksville. It's weird that Macki is only a few hours from here right now. And that you two are the only ones in our families in the state of Arizona right now. I'm pretty positive that has never happened before. Haha.

At any rate, thanks for everything. We keep on keepin' on as best we can.

I love you guys!

--Zac

Week 28 - May 21, 2012

Hi family --

It's good to hear y'all are doing good. For the first time ever more than one of us is living outside of the state of Arizona, since I'm out here and Kyle is in Europe. Haha.

Anyway, we had a good week here in Clarksville. We had a really cool appointment with a couple named Agustin and Gabby earlier in the week. We knocked their a while back and she said come back on a Tuesday or Wednesday. We couldn't come back those days, so we popped in on a Friday. They told us they had waited for us to come back on Tuesday or Wednesday! Most everyone just forgets about the missionaries, so you treasure the people that say they await your return! So we set up an appointment and saw them early last week. Turns out that the night before we knocked, they had prayed together and asked that God give them more direction and guidance in their lives. What more can you ask for -- people that want direction! And God sends it a day later! So we had a good restoration lesson, and they were open to it all. The sad part -- they are putting a deposit down on a place up in Indianapolis. They are moving as soon as they can. So we are so bummed about that. But we're going to keep teaching as much as we can because we know that the missionaries in the Indianapolis mission are going to love working with these people. It seriously was so fun to tell them, "We are the answer to that prayer -- I know that it wasn't a coincidence that we knocked on your door the very next day!" God listens to us. Little do we know how the answers will come!

We also saw Rodrigo and Esbida yesterday. They are cool, and totally committed to baptism! :) We have lots of obstacles to overcome -- she works every Sunday, like most Hispanics. He doesn't, and it's so atypical to meet a Hispanic with a set work schedule. But I reckon that's just another sign that they are ready. He speaks good English and has Sundays off. There aren't many more qualities that will set someone up for success in the gospel in the States that those two things! So we are still excited for them. And excited is kind of an understatement. Oh, and they always happen to have food on the stove when we come by, so I've eaten lots of tasty Mexican food the last two weeks. Haha. And get this, I'm acquiring a taste for spicy salsa. Who'd have thought the picky eater I was would actively choose spicy salsa! Hahaha. Miracles do happen!

Another fun thing we get to do here in Clarksville is go to these way cool Firesides in the mission home. They have one each month in English, and one in Spanish. So we went last night with the Bisoso family (seriously the coolest family ever). They spoke about their conversion and why the gospel is so important to them. Afterwards there was a testimony meeting, and it was really amazing. My favorite was from a lady that was baptized last week in Louisville. She is so excited, and so clearly feels the difference that the truths of the gospel have made in her life. It was way cool. The funny thing to me was that we also had one of those testimonies. You know the one -- the one that is way too long, and just goes no where. Apparently awkwardness knows no bounds when it comes to languages. But it was still an awesome meeting, and I hope one day we can get investigators to go. Several people told us they would come, but nobody showed. :/  There's always next month, I guess. Anyway, I'm looking forward to being in the Louisville metro area because of stuff like the firesides.

I can't think of much else specifically that has happened this week. I did really enjoy speaking to several of the other missionaries that came to the fireside yesterday. I had served near some of them in my previous area, and they commented on how much my Spanish has progressed, so that's always nice to hear! I am seeing my progress a little better now that I'm not using senior companions as crutches and safety nets. I'm also mortified of coming to situations I've never encountered, or where I have to take control, but I guess you never learn if you don't have those awkward and trying moments.

Things are good. It's so weird that it's been 8.5 months. That in a few weeks it'll have been a year since I opened my call. That I occasionally start writing in Spanish in my journal on accident, or start to answer other elders in Spanish, but they only speak English. Haha. Funny life experiences, right? And I wouldn't trade them for anything. :)

Thanks for all you do for me!

Much love,

Zac