September 22nd, 2014
Dear family,
Well, this week followed a similar as
of late.
Monday we had a lot of lessons which
was a good last night for Elder B. We had a really good lesson with
the G family and a great lesson with the Ws. We were going to watch
part of Elder Holland's talk from last conference, but when we paused
it, he asked us if we could watch the whole thing so we did. He
asked us if we could text him in the morning so they would be up on
time for church, and we did and they drove all the way to the church
and then one of the kids threw up all over the car, so they drove
back and he had to clean that. Such a bummer, but we were pleased he
wanted to come.
Tuesday morning we dropped off Elder B
at the stake center with the other departing missionaries. It was
weird. We went to the mission office to take care of some things and
it was fun to see Elder T, S, and the office couples. Me and Elder W
mowed a lawn for a family and helped Sister A move. We had a couple
other lessons with some new people that we are still trying to
determine their interest.
Wednesday we hit the pavement hard and
didn't have any success and didn't have any lessons, but we worked
hard, so that was all we could do.
Thursday was transfer meeting and I
found out I am senior companion again and Elder H would be my new
zone leader companion. Elder H is a newly assigned zone leader and he
is from Spanish Fork and lived there his whole life. He has been out
about 18 months and is a solid missionary. He is really easy to work
with. Our zone is awesome, I am way excited. Lots of missionaries
from Round Rock and other ones I'm friends with. Elder W(Round Rock),
Elder O (Round Rock), Elder J (Round Rock), Elder S (Round Rock), and
Elder L. As well as Elder T, Elder H, and Elder L is my district
leader (MTC district). I do feel pretty inadequate that I am in
charge of this huge zone (29 missionaries) and it has been a
humbling experience to realize that I need to improve a lot of
things. We had an awesome first evening together. Brother C called us
and said he had someone for us to teach at 6, so of course we went
there. It is a co-worker they have been working with and she had had
a spiritual experience the night before reading an Ensign they gave
her. We planned to teach the Restoration, but she had a lot of
questions about the Gospel of Jesus Christ, so we switched to that.
It was awesome to teach a friend in a member's home like that. She
didn't come to church though, so that's too bad. We had a lesson with
Sister S too. She had some more good questions. I told her I think
she knows the church is true. I really like teaching her a lot and I
think she likes the way I teach too. We have just clicked really well
because she loves well thought out lessons and responses and I love
coming up with well thought out lessons and responses.
Friday and Saturday were both really
slow but we worked hard and talked to a lot of people. Basically my
only goal for the zone is to silence the saying that zone leaders are
"all talk." Says who? We are probably going to go on a lot
more exchanges.
Sunday was pretty good. Sister M came
to church and we have another lesson tonight. We also taught R, her
brother who was finally home. I really like him too he is hilarious.
I would LOVE to be a part of his baptism. We had a lesson with K. The
young women will play a HUGE role in her conversion. We are still
kinda working with a couple other people, but we are trying to get
some new people in as well.
I know this work is true, it's amazing
and I know there are people prepared for the gospel everywhere.
Thanks for the support and love!
Love,
Elder Pew
September 29th, 2014
Dear family,
This was a pretty good week that
definitely climaxed with zone conference on Friday about Christlike
attributes and we got to watch Meet the Mormons which is probably
the best movie I've ever seen. It is SUPER powerful. I'm sure
everyone in Utah knows about it already, but the stories are really
amazing. The church always does such a good job of portraying
ourselves. Definitely a must-see. Other than that, it was pretty
much like the last few weeks, we have been working really hard and
talking with everyone but have yet to see a lot of visible results.
We have faith that it will turn around though if we keep working
hard. This has definitely been the most challenging time of my
mission and it's really made me stretch and grow to try different
things to stay effective. I'm becoming more grateful for trials. I
figure as a leader, you can't help others through tough stretches
if you haven't been in them yourself.
Monday we had a pretty good lesson
with Sister M and Brother L came. She seems to be progressing.
Tuesday we have to do all the
administrative stuff as a zone leader and our zone had 6 baptisms
this last week, 4 that were Elder T and H. The zone is still the
highest in the mission so far this year. We had a cool experience
where Bro T called us (he's the new WML and he's awesome) and said
there was a family Bishop wanted us to stop by, so we did and it
was perfect timing and the mom needed a blessing. We think there
are other non-members living in their home, but we tried to gather
them all up for the lesson, but they didn't come, but we will
follow-up there.
Wednesday had a lesson with N at the
Valentines. It went pretty well. We also taught K and brought
Sister P and her kids because she is friends with Sister M. We had
an awesome lesson and the Ps invited her to the Women's broadcast.
We also had to do a baptism interview for Highland Hills which is
the Spanish Branch, and two of the people only spoke Spanish. The
other Elders were worried that I couldn't do it and wanted to make
sure I knew what I was getting into, but it was easy. I pretty much
understood everything they said, I just couldn't really add my
thoughts since I can understand better than I can speak. They were
both really ready, so it wasn't hard to tell since that isn't a
language thing, you can just see it.
Thursday we had another lesson with
Sister M and Bro A came. We were able to get a Women's Conference
invite in and she went with her mom, but didn't come to church. We
were suppose to teach R, but she went out of town.
Friday was zone conference which was
a blast. It was combined with North Zone, so basically all of my
friends in the mission were there. It's weird to know basically
everyone that was there. I forgot to tell you guys, but Elder W
replaced Elder R as the new moving Elder, so that's a hoot. We had
lunch with the Moving Elders and the Assistants and it was fun to
be with Elder W and T. I am really good friends with both. Zone
Conference was life-changing as it usually is when President
speaks. We went on an exchange right after zone conference and
Elder L came with me. It was pouring rain which was awesome. Sister
S canceled our lesson because a close friend died. We worked hard
but again didn't find anyone receptive. Elder L almost smoked out
our apartment trying to cook a pizza for dinner because of crumbs
on the bottom. He's just a funny guy.
Saturday we exchanged back. The
Ps and YW are doing a great job with K. We had coordination
with the Ts and it went really well. He is going to be such a good
ward mission leader. His wife shared a quote that said something to
the effect that when you are going through trials not due to
unrighteousness, it is a sign that God trusts you more and is
giving you experiences that will help you grow and develop more and
you are ready for it. That was exactly what we needed to hear. We
had a really awesome experience at night too. We stopped by the L
family. The dad came out and joined our conversation and so I
jumped on that and asked him why he's never liked religion. He
explained people just use it as a way to control others. I
explained that is true, and that is why God needs an organization
with people in authority to keep the teachings pure. He really
agreed with that and said it made sense. He said it's still not
really his "cup of tea" but when Elder H went to the
bathroom he asked me what the odds are for the Cowboys game on
Sunday. He is a huge football fan and pretty funny, so he basically
asked me to prophesy. I told him Cowboys win by 10 if he comes to
church, and they lose by 3 if he doesn't. The deal was if they win
he comes to church again, and if they lose we have to mow his lawn.
We shook on it. They came to church and his daughter and wife
stayed for all three hours! He left after sacrament, but I invited
him to the rest. Hopefully the Cowboys won by ten, I haven't heard
yet. That was a sweet miracle and I really think God is opening his
heart to the gospel. It's amazing to see how God prepares HIS
people for HIS gospel. We are stopping by tonight, and hopefully we
can start seriously teaching him. That was definitely the highlight
of the week and I fasted to yesterday to find the next prepared
family. I just want it to come to light or to see someone really
catch fire. I know through faith anything is possible and that this
is God's work. It's the best thing we could ever be a part of. I'm
so thankful to be doing it here in this area, despite the trials we
are facing. The church is true! Thanks for everything!
Love,
Elder Pew
October 6th, 2014
Dear family,
I don't have a lot of time, but
Conference was incredible! I went in more prepared than ever before
and I got so much out of it. This has definitely been a trying time
in my mission so it was good to get some extra help from the
Brethren. Of course Elder Bednar's talk stuck out and it was so cool
that he had already told our mission back in January that he was
going to speak on that. We watched all sessions at the church except
for one with Brother A and S. We were suppose to watch Sunday afternoon with R, but he
canceled. Luckily we had time to make it over to the church. Elder
Hamula who spoke in Conference is coming to the mission at the end of
the month which is sweet!
We had a lot of exchanges and an
eventful week. Elder H went on double exchanges on Tuesday and
Wednesday and I worked with Elder O from Eden and then Elder L who
was my MTC District Leader and I was his zone leader so that's kinda
funny. They are both really good missionaries. Neither days we taught
much, but we did teach R one of the days. He is so funny and we are
really good friends.
We had a good lesson with Brother W,
but he just has really lost his fire but he still really likes us. We
brought Brother W but he just didn't respond much us and him. They move to Round
Rock at the beginning of November.
Sister S had a heart stent put in and
she has been recovering from that, which is really sad. They said
they were watching General Conference and we gave them cookies. We had a good lesson with Sister M on
the five characteristics of baptism, it went well. We had a lesson with D again, and he
really liked the chapter we read with him. We worked hard again to find new
families, and we had one glimmer of hope late last night I felt
prompted to visit a family I saw in the area book and we visited them
at like 8:40 and they seemed like an awesome family. A mother and two
teenage sons. They seemed happy to see us and wanted us to come back,
so we have a lesson set with them this week. We keep talking with
everyone and working hard. MLC (mission leadership conference)
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Thanks for all that you do, I know that
we truly have living prophets and Apostles on the earth. They speak
the will of the Lord and if we follow their counsel we can safely
maneuver through the challenges we face. I love you all!
Love,
Elder Pew
