Six Weeks...........

8/2/10....Hello Everyone, Well, I have another six weeks here in Ocala. I'm actually really happy the Lord blessed me with more time to work here. There are a lot of wonderful things happening. Elder Brandon is being transferred though. It's bittersweet. I'm excited to get another companion, and to be able to learn from him. At the same time I'm really going to miss Elder Brandon. He's been a great friend to me, and I have learned a lot from him. I'm also nervous about my new companion. I hope I don't get someone who is lazy. Elder Blair and Elder Trott are being transferred too. So half of our district is getting transferred. That leaves Elder Day, Elder Barrionuevo, and myself here in Ocala. Actually I just heard that they're going to be transferring Barrionuevo too. Yikes! That means it's just Elder Day and myself that are staying. This is going to be really weird. Elder Brandon is going to be a Zone Leader in the Lake City Zone...I think. Elder Blair is going to be a District Leader somewhere. That's all we've heard as far as transfers go. The time goes by so fast.

Last week was pretty slow. Wednesday was definitely the best day last week. We baptized Leslie and Katie! It was the best and most spiritual baptism we've had so far. There were a lot of people there to support them too. Probably around sixty...maybe more. Katie asked me to baptize her...AWESOME!! It was a very special night. We also talked to Leslie's best friend and she's definitely interested. Monday and Tuesday were pretty normal. Same with Thursday and Friday. However Saturday was Elder Brandon's birthday! We had a delicious dinner with the Larsen family in 1st Ward. It was really scrumptious. Sunday was really great too. In both wards the Sacrament meeting was great. The Spirit was there in abundance. It was just a really wonderful day. Katie bore her testimony and it was really sweet. Leslie is more shy about that kind of thing, so she didn't. Classes went really well too. As Elder Brandon said his goodbyes I was talking with members, and in a way it felt like a passing of a torch. He was the one who would talk to them a lot and that kind of stuff while I went to classes with investigators or recent converts. Yesterday though, I talked to more people before and after class. Like the members were now relying on me more, and turning to me. It just felt different in a really good way.

As far as current investigators go we don't really have very many. Ashley, Leslie's best friend, is the best we've got and we haven't even taught her yet. We have some other people we might be working with more, but nothing really solid. I know we'll be able to find someone soon though.

Oh, on a side note we can only listen to Mormon Tabernacle Choir or church talks. Unfortunately I don't have any of either...if anyone wants to send me some I would greatly appreciate it.

That's about it. Like I said last week was pretty slow. I don't know how well this week will go with Elder Brandon having to pack all his stuff and me getting a new companion.

Love Always, Zach