We have...six investigators that are doing really well, and then we got two more who we haven't had much of a chance to see how serious they are about finding out whether or not the church is true. Good news. Two of our investigators are going to get baptized!! Ethan will be baptized sometime this week, and Christopher is going to be baptized next Wednesday. I'm really excited! Lucious is coming along. We had some good lessons with him last week. Although when we went to see him on Saturday he wasn't there, and he didn't show up for church yesterday. I am really disappointed. He's such a wonderful man. Amy is doing really well. Elder Blair and I taught her last Saturday. She's really interested, and is committing herself to finding the truth. She's been to church twice now, and she asked for a copy of the Gospel Principles book. So we gave it to her and she's been reading through it and the Book of Mormon. She's amazing. The other two solid investigators are Catelyn and Courtney. Catelyn is 14 and Courtney is 15. They're great young ladies. They're both really interested and have been reading the Book of Mormon every night. Then there are Sam (she's a girl) and Leslie. We've taught Sam once and she seems interested, but it was a hard lesson. We taught last Monday at the Reid's house and there were 16 people there! It was Catelyn, Courtney, Sam, and then the entire Reid family. We didn't expect there to be so many people, but that's how it worked out. I don't know If I've said much about the Reid family. They're a member family and they have 8 kids. It reminds me a lot of home...at least how home was before we all got older. Their son Harrison is 17 and has been so much help to us. He'll be a great missionary someday. There is also another youth that is helping a ton. He is Sean Horst. I think he's 17 and loves going to teaching appointments with us. He'll also be a great missionary.
We're still trying to rebuild the level of trust in the 2nd Ward. It's going well, but there's still much work to do. Last week we visited some members in 2nd Ward and have been trying to get them to go to appointments with us too. Also we've been staying for all the classes on Sunday. I guess before I got here the missionaries would just go to Sacrament. So we go to all of it, and like I said last week Sundays are really long.
Speaking of Sundays...I gave a talk yesterday in 1st Ward Sacrament. It was awesome! I'm really happy they asked me. It actually turned out to be a trial of my faith. In the past when I've talked I wrote it all out. Everything I wanted to say, and then pretty much just read it while up there. Which has worked in the past pretty well, but this time I did it differently. I actually was planning on doing it that same way. Then after I had completely finished writing it and was finished with it I talked to my district leader Elder Trott. He told me I shouldn't do it that way because it makes it harder to receive inspiration from the Holy Ghost while giving the talk. He said I should study and just make a little outline of things I wanted to go over then let the Spirit guide my words. I agreed, but honestly didn't want to do it that way. I was scared. However, I put my faith on the line and did what he said. I wrote down bullett points on a 3x5 card. There were only 4 or five of them, and that was only to make sure I didn't get lost on some random tangent. So, I had my card and just spoke through inspiration from the Holy Ghost. It was by far the best talk I've ever given. I felt so good afterwards! It was a great Sacrament meeting. The youth speaker who was supposed to talk wasn't told he was going to be. So, he quickly shared his testimony, then Elder Trott and I spoke during the rest of Sacrament. I spoke first then he spoke. Elder Trott is a really great missionary. Anyway, I Sacrament yesterday. The Spirit could be felt so strong! I wish I could send a copy of my talk, but like I said, I didn't write it out.
On Wednesday last week we had a Zone Conference. We're getting a new Mission President next week. So, last weeks Zone Conference might have been the last time I'll hear from President Newman. It wasn't that big of a deal for me because I haven't gotten to know him very well. He has been helpful though. He actually gave each missionary a blessing. It was really cool. We were there all day. It was a long day. I actually had a lot of trouble sitting there all day. I feel so unproductive. Pdays are hard too. About the only good thing about Pdays is being able to write emails. Other than that I'd rather be out working.
Wow, I just realized that I've been in Florida for a month now. It went by really fast. This transfer ends next Wednesday. So this upcoming Saturday we'll find out whether or not any of us will be transfered. I hope Elder Brandon and I can stay here in Ocala. We have a lot of good things going on. Every six weeks is a transfer. Which means we're in one area for at least six weeks then have the chance to get moved to a different area. So if I don't get transfered I will be here in Ocala for at least another six weeks.
That's about it for now. Sorry if any of it is confusing.
Love, Zach
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