Hello all!
This last week was pretty good. The only reason is wasn't
really, really good
is that we didn't follow through and perform as we should have. We had a
few off days and that is our fault for sure, but there were still some
high points of course.
We had zone conference on Tuesday. Usually I leave zone conference
with a renewed knowledge that I suck. There are so many things to
improve on and remember and so I always have a new set of goals to add
to my older sets of goals and things to improve on, but such is life. I
always love Zone Conferences though. This one was especially great, more
bittersweet, because there were like 20 missionaries who bore their
departing testimonies. You bear your testimony the zone conference
before you go home and there are about 20 missionaries who are going
home in the next two transfers. There were several missionaries who I
have grown to really love. Both of the assistants, Elder Schaffer and
Elder Bradford are going home these next two transfers, back in
Clarksville we saw them quite a bit because they would come up to play
basketball with us so I saw them quite a bit and they are amazing
missionaries and really good guys, so it is weird to see them go. They
are what we would call GKLM legends, so we are losing some great
missionaries. With those great missionaries lost is Elder Castañeda. He
leaves at the end of November. I was especially touched by his testimony
because we have talked for a little bit about his trials since he has
been out and before he came out and his thoughts on the work. If I can
become even half of what these missionaries are by the time I go home I
will have changed dramatically for the better.
We also had several awesome member present lessons with our most progressing investigators. She has been touched by
the spirit and feels that what we teach is good while her boyfriend just
"thinks" it is, not as solid. So we are working hard with both of them
to help them pray for and recognize answers. We have also been fasting
for them so that they can get work off to come to church. We were so
happy to hear on Friday that they would be able to come to church, and
we were so confident that they would come because it is so obvious that
they have true desires to come. But, something happened yesterday and
they didn't come. We have members lined up to take them, lead them to
church, but something happened, so we were bummed out about that.
Hopefully all is well.
Satan has been working really hard with our investigators and with
the members in our "group". I say group because the Stake separated the
Spanish members from the English ward and we now have our own Elders
Quorum and Relief Society. We are so close to a branch, they just need
to make sure we have enough eligible people. But, honestly, it was
impressive on our members' behalf and a bit sad for the English ward
because our priesthood class was almost twice the size as theirs
yesterday. I am really excited for the future of our branch. But Satan
is working really hard on our members as well. He doesn't want these
people to stay strong and he doesn't want a branch here, that much is
obvious. But we have very strong people here and we pray that we can
help them help themselves to overcome everything.
We did thankfully have an investigator at church (even though we had
5 prepared to come). That is
his second sunday. So, next week will be his third, then we have
conference, and then hopefully the next week will be his baptism. It's
exciting.
Speaking of conference, I am STOKED. You have no idea. Seriously. I
have already read every talk from April just about 2 times and will
probably read them again. Last conference I had minimal desires to learn
and fell asleep a ton and I got nothing out of it. Which was a poor
decision because it could have helped me a ton. This time around, I know
that I am going to have an opportunity to have a spiritual feast. There
is just one catch, I will most likely be watching all five sessions in
Spanish, which is really cool. It is a catch though because there truly
is a difference between that many talks in a second language. I have
been shorthanded/blessed, double edged sword, not having everything in
Spanish my whole mission. My Spanish definitely isn't as good as it
could be because of that, but I have also understood more. My Spanish is
definitely adequate, I understand 95% of everything everyone says, I
just fear that I will miss something during conference. So, I am going
to speak as much Spanish, study as hard as possible, pray and fast for
the spiritual gifts necessary and spiritual receptiveness that I need to
understand what every speaker has to say to me. So, please pray for me
that I can understand what I need to understand come the 6th.
I can't really ask for a better birthday present than conference,
what will make it really special is i I am surrounded by our
investigators. So, that will be awesome.
I want everyone to know
that I am so very happy, safe, healthy, and loving life. This mission
is such a gift and I just pray that I won't let it pass me by. Time
moves so fast and I have so much more to learn and do. Luckily, two
people (three on a mission) can do anything - as long one of them is
God. So, I pray for the companionship of Him, His son, and His Spirit.
I love you all so much and am so thankful for your support.
Thank you for everything, I love you all so much!
Love, Zac
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