Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Transferred! Ya me fui ‏...3/09/2011

Buenas Tardes!

Well, it turns out that I did get transferred and I'm serving here in the Mesa Zone, right around the mission home. It's interesting how crazy transfer calls are for missionaries - Everyone is stressed out and super anxious, wondering what's going to happen to them and if they're going to go. I couldn't handle it, so I had to work out while I was waiting. Anyway, I got a call from President Howes late Monday night, and he called me to be a District Leader! I was definitely not expecting that one but yeah, he said that he was going to take the Yuma out of me and I found out about the rest this morning. It's definitely going to make things a lot different - a whole lot more work, and a whole lot more responsibilities. But I look forward to it and it will be a definite learning process.

So I'm here in Mesa and my companion is...my boy! Elder Johnson! We took a one transfer break from each other and now we're already back together again. I still can't even believe it - boggles my mind. But it's fun, because Elder Matheson (who served in Yuma with me for 3 transfers and was Elder Johnson's comp this last one) is our zone leader and it's like one big family reunion! I have a good feeling about this transfer.

But my last week in Yuma was a good one for sure. On Friday I got to see Omar baptized and that's a way cool story. That guy went from smoking packs of cigarettes a day and talking about permiscuous things to stopping it all and reading the Book of Mormon every single day. It's amazing to see people make such huge changes in their life and especially see that it comes from within - when they make that internal choice to follow the Savior and to keep those commandments they just do it. We can only do so much. Another highlight of the week was last night, where we got to see Amy Olmeda get baptized! She's 22 and has been taught since September and finally decided to make the commitment. She always knew it was right but wanted to do it when she didn't feel pressured - like it was all her. Her older sister is an inactive member who's starting to come back, and it was really sweet to be able to see them go through this together. They were bawling afterwards, and her older sister promised she was going to be the example and be the best member. I don't know what it was about it, but it was one of the coolest baptisms that I've ever been to. A special one for sure.
But the week was way fun - i got to spend it with Elder Martinez and Lindquist, and we got a lot of work done! We visited so many people, had two baptisms, and had so much fun doing it. Martinez is super funny and entertaining, and I'm going to really miss him. He's headed down to do work in San Luis until he gets his visa. What's sad though is that yesterday we went to Buffalo Wild Wings and he did the blazin challenge and totally didn't make it! We had to tease him saying that since he's a Mexican he should be able to do it in under 30 seconds but asi pasa la vida...

We also had an awesome experience this last Sunday! This lady came to church who I've never seen before (I think it's some member's mom) and she loved all the classes and everything about church. I talked to her and got her address, and we visited her after church. We basically taught all of the first lesson and she couldn't stop talking about how much she loved church. She said it filled her in a way that no church ever had before. We talked about the fruits of the spirit, and it's so cool to teach people that can already recognize the spirit! They know that it's right and they know what they need to do. When we asked her to be baptized she answered with a solid yes and said that she was ready to make a step like this. All I have to say is .... the field is white!!!!

We also found a sweet new family to teach before I left. We were visiting Cesar Barraza (who still isn't baptized but said he would soon) and his sister-in-law was there with her family. I taught them about the Restoration, and the mom absolutely loved it! She really wanted us to come teach their family so we went over just a couple days ago and found her with her mom, brother, and nephew, and talked to all of them about it. They were all so open and receptive, and I could tell that the Lord had really prepared them to hear this and to accept His gospel. We really are only the tools, and are only here to harvest. The Lord has already done all the work and has prepared people all over... we just need to find them!

So I'm excited to see how things are here in Mesa and see the difference! Should be fun!

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