September 22, 2013

September 22, 2013

Hello Family!!!

I had a great week this week! We had a baptism just on Saturday.

Just yesterday we visited a man named Andrew. He had been divorced and his ex-wife found a new partner fairly quickly after that. She has the custody of the kids for all but 2 days every 2 weeks. A little while ago, the Sister Missionaries saw this man standing on a high ledge, looking like he was about to jump to take his own life. They convinced him not to do it and he told us last night that those two sisters saved his life that day. The previous Elders had given him a Book of Mormon and taught him the Restoration but he told us last night that he hadn't read any of it. He told us very plainly that he didn't understand what the Atonement could do for him or how to use it. We were able to tell him how the Atonement could be used and showed him a couple passages in the Book of Mormon that he could read. He said he would read it. He told us that he is part of the Salvation Army and that if he ever mentions the Book of Mormon the people there tell him not to read it. So we are hoping that he will ignore them and read it because he could really use the spiritual uplifting in his life right now. It was amazing, he just jumped right into praying as we were leaving. We know that he felt the Spirit and that he felt compelled to thank Heavenly Father that we had chosen to visit him at that time. It was one of the coolest experiences so far on my mission!!!!

I did not find the moleskin, I must have just forgot to throw it in the bag with everything else. The blisters are healing up nicely, don't bother me at all any more. We teach maybe 15 lessons a week but we really want to be doing about twice that. We just have been so busy with meetings and trying to get me acquainted with the members and stuff that we don't have the time but we are going to try for 8 lessons with a member present, 5 lessons to recent convert and less actives and 15 other lessons. It is a goal we can definitely attain. We have had maybe one or two service opportunities but both for the same member. It seems like most people around here like to do things their own way. We eat with members maybe 2 or 3 nights a week. Mostly because we block out two nights for "family finding" And many of the members here are older, single (divorced, widowed or unmarried) ladies so the sisters get fed plenty but the elders, not as much. But I am OK with that because I guess the Wellington mission is a "40 pound mission." That is plus 40 pounds... So far I am about even so hopefully I can keep that up!! Elder Christensen has gained 30 lbs. in 6 months..... The brown suit and the new black pants we bought are a little tight in the waist so there is no way that is happening to me or else I will have to get new suits!

Good to hear about Jordan Preciado. I am sure he will be a great missionary! I don't remember if I told you guys but we are going "global" in January, so that is like facebook and iPads and all that good stuff. It will be neat to see that happen. I got an email from Madison so I will read all about that but that sounds exciting! It is good to hear about Kaylee.  I had never heard of something like that happening. And they moved her call date up too! First rain of fall eh? Well we are warming up now. It is kinda weird to be going into summer again... Tell Lance and Mandy congratulations from me and I hope that things are going well! You will have to send me a picture of the new kitchen table.

This sunday we had a special invitation sunday were we just had everybody invite anyone they wanted and we invited like everyone we talked to. We ended up having about 100 people there. It was really neat. One person came to the chapel at about 1:30, church ended at 12. But he found the Bishopric and they gave him some materials. We contacted him but it sounds like he just wants to come to church, not too interested in the missionaries....YET! We will get to him haha but it is amazing the miracles we see every day!

Well I hope everything is going well! I am doing great and working hard!

Love,

Elder Burnham