Week 14 - February 13, 2012

Hola familia!

We are still knocking doors like crazy, and we have found some really wonderful people that are interested in learning.

The one I told you about last week, Lily, that already knew everything about the gospel? Well, she's actually already a member apparently. We visited her and her roommate Servero again. I guess she just hasn't been to church since she moved to KY four years ago. But she said she is interested in coming back, and that she doesn't go to other churches because she disagrees with the teachings. She is great. Now we just have to get her to the chapel! And Servero is great too. He's cool, and seems to be interested. He'll be a slow mover, because he said if he does ever join a church he wants to know for himself that it's right. And I think that's perfect. We need strong people in the church, not the ones that get dunked in the font and never come back. So we're working with them. They didn't come to church though, so that was bummer. But there's always next week!

Roxy is doing good. The zone leaders came down, so I went out with Elder D all day while my companion, Elder S, was off with the other zone leader. Elder D and I taught a good lesson with Roxy. Teaching in English is so easy compared to Spanish! Hahaha. But it was a great lesson about the Holy Ghost, and she said she believes the church is true, wants the Spirit in her life, etc. All of the golden responses. But she won't commit to a baptismal date yet because she's afraid of her dad. He used to be a crazy drunk, and he ran the missionaries off in the past. But he's cleaned up a bit, so we're hoping he'll let her get baptized. She is so close, and she wants this. It's so exciting to hear when people want the message you bring. It's so fun to share the thing that makes you so happy with other people! And soon enough she'll have the fullness of the gospel in her life full time. :)

Speaking of the zone leaders, that day I was with Elder D we tracted. A lot. And he is such a smooth door-knocker. They are English elders, so it was up to me if we ever ran into Spanish (which we didn't. bummer), but I learned lots from him about being personable and kind. He asks great questions. It was a cool day. Knocking doors isn't too bad. Plus, that's where we get some of the best stories from. I don't have any super colorful ones yet, but I'm sure it's just a matter of time. Hahaha.

Elder S and I have been having tons of fun. This transfer is going to be so great. He loves to do good work, so we're always busy knocking, calling, visiting, teaching, etc. And laughing along the way is so great.

The Frankfort Elders have had some creatures in their attic. So they borrowed a live trap from a member, and then ended up catching a squirrel! So naturally, they killed it, skinned it, and fried it. We were there for the whole process. It really didn't taste terrible, although the effort was definitely not worth the tiny bit of meat on those little things. I'll stick to buying it already dead and pieced at the store. Haha.

Me and Elder D

 It got cold this week. Luckily the snow melted. The cold isn't a terrible deal, it's the ice and snow that aren't much fun. But there is plenty of winter left, so I'm sure I'll encounter some more of it before long. Haha.

I guess that's about all for now. Things are good. We taught lots this week. Met great people. Learned lots of new stuff. I feel like my Spanish is progressing! Yay! So it's good. And to think I'm coming up on my 6 month mark pretty quickly. That's pretty crazy! It's been pretty fast, and people say it only gets faster. Weird!

It's cold!

 Thanks for everything y'all are doing. Keep on keeping on. 1 Nephi 17:13 says, "And I will also be your light in the wilderness; and I will prepare the way before you, if it so be that ye shall keep my commandments; wherefore, inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall be led towards the promised land; and ye shall know that it is by me that ye are led." I love that image -- having a light in the wilderness to guide us to where we should go. The Lord will show us the way if we look for the signs he gives us. He won't let us get lost. :)

Have a good week!

Love,

Zac

Week 13 - February 6, 2012

Buenos dias, familia!

Well, last week we visited like a million people for Elder S to say goodbye. Kentucky just sounds like a goofy place, but I have met some of the coolest people ever here! It was sad to watch him say goodbyes, but I get to stay, so that's fine. Haha.

Goodbye Elder S!

Tuesday we went to Louisville. I got my new companion, Elder S. He is so cool! He is from Carson City, NV, and he's actually a convert, which is kinda neat. He speaks good Spanish, which is nice. We kind of catch people off guard when we approach them to talk or give them a card. They don't expect two white guys to be able to speak Spanish. Hahaha. Anyway, we have a super good time together, and I am so looking forward to this transfer because I know we're going to be great friends. But hardworking, too!

Update on a few people -- we saw Sergio. That was a no-go. He told us we are welcome back anytime, but that he isn't going to make any commitments to us. Bummer, huh? But maybe a little seed is planted there or something. He was just so promising in our first two visits.

Roxy... well, she cancelled both times this week. We finally saw her for like, 15 minutes one night this week. But she had watched Other Side of Heaven on Netflix one night, and she said she cried through the whole thing! Then she said she is super super interested in baptism and stuff. It just wasn't the time to commit her to anything, but we are so excited that she is doing a bunch of the heavy lifting all on her own! She is so cool, and we are so excited for her.

We did lots of tracting this week, which was kind of an adventure. We actually knocked on one door, and this guy let us in. He was way nice. Then, this girl that was eating in the other room came over and was like, "Oh, yeah, a bunch of my family is with your church. I took the lessons back in the day. I loved Relief Society. I read the Pearl of Great Price once before, and that other book... the Doctrine and Covenants?" She totally knew all of the names of everything. WOW! We have an appointment to go back this week and chat with her and the guy (named Servero). Fingers crossed they work out, because that would be super super cool.

Tracting with Agustin. And our new ties!

I got your package this week, and it was great. I had just run out of Christmas candy, so getting some sweets was a welcome surprise. Also, our ties are gorgeous! You chose just right for me, and Elder S is really happy with his too. He said he's going to tell his mom that y'all sent us ties so maybe his mom will send us some. Haha.

We decided to save some miles early in the month so we aren't freaking out at the end of the month. To do that, we decided to walk to an appointment to a less active's home. It's 2.5 miles one way, which isn't a bad deal. It was raining, so we brought our umbrellas. My backpack got super soaked, so we stopped at K-Mart and I bought a giant umbrella. I didn't realize how giant it was until I got outside and opened it up. Apparently it's "golf-sized" for caddies or something. But I know my backpack will never get wet again! haha. Oh, and the less active told us to come back another day. Successful use of time, eh? But it's just all in a day's work. Haha.

My giant umbrella. Hahaha

Yesterday we had a separate testimony meeting in Spanish! After visiting and reminding everyone we knew on Friday and Saturday, no investigators showed up. But we did it anyway, and the few Hispanics and all of the Spanish speaking member filled up that little Relief Society room. It was AMAZING! Irma shared her testimony, and she is so strong. It was really really amazing, and it was so cool to see our ward mission leader and bishop need translation into English. It was so neat, even if we didn't get investigators there. I hope we can keep going with it, because the Spirit there was really really wonderful. So cool.

That's about all I have time for. I'm doing well, and I'm really looking forward to this transfer. Elder S and I are going to do some great work, I can just tell. We're doing good for now, we don't need anything. We are well taken care of here!

Have a good week everyone!

Love,
Zac