Wednesday: For exercise in the morning we went over to
the church and played basketball with the YSA Elders (They cover Young single
adults 18-30) in our district. Elder Fitzgerald is pretty good
at basketball but didn't play on the high school team. We went to brother
Dixons house at night to talk about some names we got in their ward. He always
teaches us so much and he blew away Elder Fitzgerald's and my mind with the
stuff he knew and taught us. He told us some important things to study to be
better missionaries so we have some homework. He also showed us some of his
books that he writes and gets published. He writes books similar to Dr Seuss
and they are really good. He's won a medal for best book written in Utah for
the past 5-6 years and gets a new book published each year. He has written
around 15 and has 6 published.
Thursday: we had a Zone conference with the South Jordan
Zone as well. We listened to a talk by David A Bednar, a member of the
quorum of the 12 apostles, about how to be a preach my gospel
missionary. (A church approved book for missionaries) there are five things
missionaries must do to be a preach my gospel missionary. 1. They understand
that they serve Jesus Christ. 2. They are worthy. 3. They treasure up the words
of eternal life. 4. The Holy Ghost is the ultimate and true teacher. 5.
Understanding teaching is more than talking and telling.
After the talk the mission assistants Elder Stout &
Bowen did a training for us. They had an Elder from Hawaii (who was very built
and strong) be their test dummy. They had a bag of candy and
asked people if they wanted some. Each time someone took some candy Elder Kaka
had to do 10 push ups. People began to see him struggle after 100 push ups but
even if they didn't want the candy when they were asked, they had to take it and
he had to do the push-ups. They related it to the Atonement and how Jesus
suffered for all man kind, even if they don't accept him to be their Savior and
Redeemer.
Friday: Friday call ins to talk about our investigators
was a little weird because Elder Costa was our district leader so he would be
getting calls from all the missionaries in our district them telling the Zone
leaders about all of them. So instead of sitting around for a long time. I had
to call our new district leader about our investigators and then we were done.
We had a big snow storm here in Sandy and we went out to work and started
shoveling people's driveways! We probably did 10 driveways by the end of the
night. We shoveled a driveway for a former investigator and she came out with
her son and started helping us and was grateful for our service. We finished
the night by trying to get a program made up for Selina's baptism on Saturday
but couldn't get the printer to print them correctly.
Saturday: Today was very hectic! We went to try to get
the programs for Selina's and her cousin Daniels baptism, we still had problems
with the printing, but eventually found a way, it wasn't the best job but we
got it done. We got to the stake center and realized we left the jumpsuits for
the baptism at home! We had to run home and grab them. We got a call for, the
bishop saying that the fount wasn't filled! Our ward mission leader forgot to
inform the guy who fills up the baptismal fount that the baptism was at 11, not
3. So we knew the water wasn't going to be high enough for the baptism by 11.
So we waited about 45 minutes and then our bishop said hey let's just get this
done with, the water was only above their knees and Daniel went first, his
friend was baptizing him and Daniel didn't get all the way under water so he
had to redo it. The second time his feet slipped out from under him and his
friend pushed him down so all his body could go under! Then Elder Costa
baptized Selina, the same thing happened her feet slipped and basically laid
down. All that matters is that they go all the way under water! Wasn't the
prettiest but hey the church is still true!
Sunday: We started our day off by heading over to
Herriman so Elder Fitzgerald could confirm
and give the Holy Ghost to one of his investigators in his old area.
After that we headed over to Sandy in our area so I could confirm and give
Selina the Holy Ghost. It was a really neat and spiritual experience, because
it was my first time doing it. After dinner we headed over to the mission
office. We had a special mission fireside where Elder Ronald A Rasband (a
member of the quorum of the 12 apostles) spoke to us. That's the third apostle
I've had the opportunity to listen to in person! (Two were at the MTC) He shook
everyone's hand and look them in the eyes. He said he could tell the type of
missionary we were by looking into our eyes. And told us that "some of you
need to add wood to your fire of a testimony." It was pretty cool and gave
me chills. He talked about how we are called by a prophet of God to serve in
our missions. And that we are "perfectly" placed where we need to be.
And he had an experience earlier in his life when he was a member of the 70
that Henry B Eyring (First counselor in the First Presidency) invited him to
observe and watch as he assigned missionaries "perfectly" to their
area. After awhile of assigning missionaries, he said "Elder Rasband where
do you think this elder should go?" He was startled and said a mission and
Elder Eyring said "no that's not right!" So as they go on assigning
missionaries, Elder Rasband got the strongest impression that this missionary
should go to Japan. Elder Eyring asked him about this missionary as well, and
said Japan. "Perfect Elder Rasband!" He exclaimed. And he didn't ask
Elder Rasband what mission in Japan he should go to, but he didn't say (Sapporo
Japan) and Elder Eyring assigned him to that mission without asking Elder
Rasband. I know that each missionary is called to their area by direct
revelation and that we are in our areas to change people's lives.
Love,
Elder AshbyFew pictures of Selena's baptism
Elder Fitzgerald and I
No comments:
Post a Comment