Mon, Jun 7, 2010...So, were any of you surprised when I didn't email last week? The library wasn't open last Monday because of Memorial Day, so I didn't have a chance to send anything. The last two weeks have been good, but also more challenging. I guess it was challenging because we had some little girls we've been working with and things didn't turn out so well. We were going to baptize them on the 30th of May, but when it came time for their baptism their mom and grandma said they wouldn't come...they had more important things to do. So instead we had a little lesson on baptism. Then we made a plan to get their grandma, who is a member, active again so they would have the support they need. It actually went pretty well. We talked to her and helped her understand how important it is that she returns to church. Not only for her sake, but for the sake of the girls too. Things seemed to be going well with them, but when we went to make sure they were up and getting ready for church yesterday morning Jaquanda, the older of the two girls, wouldn't get up! We sat there for like 15 minutes trying to get her up while the others got ready. She just laid there ignoring us, and acting like she was asleep. It really made me realize that they aren't ready. I think she said she was excited and ready just to make us happy. Anyway, we got Timirra, Jaquanda's younger sister, Antwan, Timirra's younger brother, Dante, the girls uncle who is only..10, and Cathy, the grandma, all ready and off to church. On the way there Elder Brandon and I got into a little argument. He still wanted to baptize them, but I said I didn't feel they were ready. We talked about it, but didn't come to any real solution before we got to church. To make a long story short, he ended up agreeing with me, so we're not going to baptize them anytime soon. I couldn't comfortably baptize the girls. They just don't have the support that's necessary for kids of their age. They need an adult who will go to church with them, and be there to help them. We can't do it. So, it's a little saddening because I was excited for them, but I know it was the right decision.
Other than that the work is going really well! We are making progress with our investigators. Right now we have three that are praying to know when they should be baptized. One of them is a man named Lucious. We met him tracting...he's really wonderful. I'm pretty sure I've mentioned him before. Anyway we asked him if he would be baptized on the 20th of June, but he said he didn't feel ready yet. However, he did say that he definitely wants to be baptized. Then there is Ethan. He's 18 and is dating the Bishop's daughter. That's how we met him. We also asked him is he would be baptized, but he wanted to learn a little more. So he's praying about it. The other person is Christopher. He's 9 and his mom is a less active member. They came to church about a week ago, and we had a really spiritual lesson with him last Wednesday. He's a wonderful kid. He has a great mom too. They're deciding when he will be baptized. I feel really good about all of them.
We have a few more investigators that we're working with, but haven't invited them to be baptized yet. They great people too. Most of them are friends of youth in our wards...Elder Brandon and I are the missionaries for the Ocala 1st and 2nd Ward. Sundays are long. We are at church from 7:30am until 4pm. I really enjoy it though. Anyway, back to our investigators. There are a couple young men in our wards that are helping us out a ton. They are sharing the gospel with their friends, and inviting them to church and to meet with us. With that being said Elder Brandon and I are trying to work with the members more. Which means first getting to know them. So, I'm trying to remember as many names as possible and it's going well. We especially have to work hard in 2nd Ward. The missionaries that were here in the past focused more on tracting, and didn't really win the hearts of the members. We're basically trying bridge the gap, and gain their trust. So far so good. Elder Brandon is really good at talking to people. He's really got a gift. He can talk to anyone. I can see him going into politics someday. He's a great guy.
On the 29th of May we all donated blood. It was part of an Eagle Scout Project for one of the youth. That's really the only reason we were able to do it. Elder Blair, Elder Porter, and I didn't really have any problems...well Elder Porter weighs only 125lbs so he couldn't do the same thing we did. We did something called the ALYX machine. It takes your blood and separates it. Then in puts the plasma back into your body with some saline. They can get more blood this way, and help more people. That's the machine Elder Blair, Elder Brandon, and I used. Elder Brandon got his butt kicked by it. The next day he barely made it through church and was super sick. He just about passed out a few times. I felt really bad for him. He's good now though.
Well, that's all I can think of for now. Again, thanks to everyone that has been writing me. It's so wonderful hearing from all of you. It really brightens up my day. I'm sorry I haven't been able to write you individually...I'm working on it though. I love you all, and will talk to you later.
Love, Zach
I just remembered something...we had a total miracle happen! Saturday night we were tracting just before it was time to go home. One of the last doors we knocked on was a lady named Amy. We talked to her for a minute then she invited us in. We continued talking about the church. She asked where we meet and what time, most people do, and we told her and invited her to come. She didn't seem to sure about it. Then we continued talking. Well yesterday at church she showed up! I was so shocked! We've talked to so many people, and invited most of them to church. Usually they'll say "maybe" and not even show up. She was there and went to class too. I was especially surprised because it was late Saturday night when we invited her. It's wonderful. We meet with her again tonight.
Okay...now that's really it.
Love, Zach
Other than that the work is going really well! We are making progress with our investigators. Right now we have three that are praying to know when they should be baptized. One of them is a man named Lucious. We met him tracting...he's really wonderful. I'm pretty sure I've mentioned him before. Anyway we asked him if he would be baptized on the 20th of June, but he said he didn't feel ready yet. However, he did say that he definitely wants to be baptized. Then there is Ethan. He's 18 and is dating the Bishop's daughter. That's how we met him. We also asked him is he would be baptized, but he wanted to learn a little more. So he's praying about it. The other person is Christopher. He's 9 and his mom is a less active member. They came to church about a week ago, and we had a really spiritual lesson with him last Wednesday. He's a wonderful kid. He has a great mom too. They're deciding when he will be baptized. I feel really good about all of them.
We have a few more investigators that we're working with, but haven't invited them to be baptized yet. They great people too. Most of them are friends of youth in our wards...Elder Brandon and I are the missionaries for the Ocala 1st and 2nd Ward. Sundays are long. We are at church from 7:30am until 4pm. I really enjoy it though. Anyway, back to our investigators. There are a couple young men in our wards that are helping us out a ton. They are sharing the gospel with their friends, and inviting them to church and to meet with us. With that being said Elder Brandon and I are trying to work with the members more. Which means first getting to know them. So, I'm trying to remember as many names as possible and it's going well. We especially have to work hard in 2nd Ward. The missionaries that were here in the past focused more on tracting, and didn't really win the hearts of the members. We're basically trying bridge the gap, and gain their trust. So far so good. Elder Brandon is really good at talking to people. He's really got a gift. He can talk to anyone. I can see him going into politics someday. He's a great guy.
On the 29th of May we all donated blood. It was part of an Eagle Scout Project for one of the youth. That's really the only reason we were able to do it. Elder Blair, Elder Porter, and I didn't really have any problems...well Elder Porter weighs only 125lbs so he couldn't do the same thing we did. We did something called the ALYX machine. It takes your blood and separates it. Then in puts the plasma back into your body with some saline. They can get more blood this way, and help more people. That's the machine Elder Blair, Elder Brandon, and I used. Elder Brandon got his butt kicked by it. The next day he barely made it through church and was super sick. He just about passed out a few times. I felt really bad for him. He's good now though.
Well, that's all I can think of for now. Again, thanks to everyone that has been writing me. It's so wonderful hearing from all of you. It really brightens up my day. I'm sorry I haven't been able to write you individually...I'm working on it though. I love you all, and will talk to you later.
Love, Zach
I just remembered something...we had a total miracle happen! Saturday night we were tracting just before it was time to go home. One of the last doors we knocked on was a lady named Amy. We talked to her for a minute then she invited us in. We continued talking about the church. She asked where we meet and what time, most people do, and we told her and invited her to come. She didn't seem to sure about it. Then we continued talking. Well yesterday at church she showed up! I was so shocked! We've talked to so many people, and invited most of them to church. Usually they'll say "maybe" and not even show up. She was there and went to class too. I was especially surprised because it was late Saturday night when we invited her. It's wonderful. We meet with her again tonight.
Okay...now that's really it.
Love, Zach
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