Changes...

8/16/10...Hello,


Last week was pretty busy and good. Monday was pretty normal. We actually talked to President Barry and he made it so Elderr Frampton and I are only going to be working in Second Ward now. I'm pretty excited, but a little sad too. I really enjoyed being in First Ward. I'm mostly going to miss the people we baptized in that ward. I'll still see them every now and then, but not as much as I used to. On the bright side I now get to focus my efforts on Second Ward only. It's going to be really great. We told the leaders in Second Ward that we're only in their ward and they all are really happy. It means a lot more to the members than I thought it would. We're also going to be working with members much more than we have been in the past. I've probably said this before, but this mission used to focus primarily on tracting. Now we're going to try to get referrals from members and work that way. We'll still tract here and there. Just not as much as we used to.


Elder Frampton and I got other news on Saturday too. We're now going to be sharing the car with the First Ward missionaries. So we'll have to ride bikes every other day. Which means I'm going to have to get a bike. I'm hoping I can find a decent bike. Elder Day bought a bike when her first got here for about $275 and it's not holding up very well. Elder Faisin and Elder Frampton said that a bike like that usually don't last too long. So, I've gotta figure something out. Luckily for me Elder Brandon didn't take his bike with him when he left. So he said I could use his for now. Elder Barrionuevo left his too, and said the same thing. There are also some other bikes that were left by past missionaries. They've been picked apart though, and are getting really rusty. Elder Faisin and Elder Frampton said they could build me a bike using one of the old bike frames at the apartment. Maybe I'll give that a shot. Regardless of what I do this is going to add a unique challenge to working with members. I'm actually looking forward to figuring it out. I know it will only make me better.


Back to last week. Other than those two changes things have been pretty normal. We had a Zone Meeting on Thursday. I enjoyed it. They gave us some more insight on how to work with the members for referrals. I'm really looking forward to getting to know Second Ward better. There are a lot of really great people in it. We've already begun meeting with some of the members. For now we're going through the ward list and seeing all the members we can. Most of them are less active. A lot of the members we have seen have no real reason to be less active...actually nobody ever has a good reason. It's all about being humble. If you're prideful you'll find any stupid reason to stop attending church.


Sean Holt is trying to quit smoking again. I think this time it will work. He seems more determined, and we bought him a bunch of cinnamon flavored stuff. I guess that's supposed to help. For one, it keeps the mouth busy, and apparently it makes cigarettes taste even worse. He quit smoking on Saturday and is still smoke free. I'm really happy for him.


Holy cow!! We had a breakthrough! I don't know if I've mentioned Brenda Best very much. She's a less active we've been working with for quite awhile. In the past we would go over and see her and she wouldn't want to talk about anything religious. So we would just stop by and see if there was anything we could do for her. Well, to make a long story short, she ended up needing our help moving because she had some problems arise. We helped her and ever since then she's been much happier and has been interested in going back to church. Well, she was at Sacrament yesterday! It was awesome! I'm really happy for her. We're going to have to be really patient and not rush her. I'm really praying that she can become completely active and strong in the church. She already is so much happier than she used to be.


Elder Frampton and I are getting along really well. Elder Day is getting along with Elder Faisin pretty well too. Elder Frampton is still trying to adjust to Ocala and get to know the people. He's doing really well so far. It's going to be awesome when he does know them.


Ugh...on Saturday we were going to go to the temple because the stake had a Priest and Laurel temple trip. All of us were really excited. Elder Day and Elder Faisin talked to Bishop Larsen and he said all we have to do is be at the ward house at 8:30 Saturday morning and we could go. We got there and come to find out that we won't be able to go. They had too many people. Saturday turned out to be a good day though.


Gotta go.


Love Always, Zach