Additions and Much Walking‏

 

2/28/11....Dear Familia,

What a week it was! I think I told you, but a few weeks back our car got backed into and had a huge dent in the rear driver side door. Well on Monday last week we took it in to get it repaired. Originally we were told that we would be getting it back on Wednesday or Thursday. It's now been one week and we still haven't gotten it back. We're supposed to get it later today, but the part they need still hasn't arrived yet.

With that being said Elder Hammond and I have been walking all week. I would have liked to ride a bike, but Elder Hammond can't ride a bike because of medical reasons. We tried to find a car to use or rides when we needed them, but nothing ever happened. It was pretty tiring the first few days, but I by Thursday I was okay. It wasn't as bad as I thought. Sure it took us awhile to get places, but it was good exercise and I felt like I had more energy. That's something Elder Hammond and I really noticed, we had more energy than we do when we have to car. In the car it's so easy to get tired from driving. The biggest problem with walking is that we weren't able to cover much of our area at all. Something very good did come from all the walking we did. On Saturday we were walking from one appointment to another and we ran into a lady walking home. Her name is Lily, and we talked to her and set up an appointment for Sunday. We had a really great lesson and she committed to being baptized on March 20th. The lesson was really powerful and she definitely recognized the Spirit. It's going to be really wonderful for her. She also has two boys who are eight years old. So next time we have a lesson we're going to see if they will commit to being baptized on that day too.


Speaking of baptisms we also set a date with a man named Bobby. He is a referral from some other missionaries and is really great. It was a very humbling lesson. We met him and talked to him and as we talked he said he has an incurable disease. He's been told that he only has 4-6 months to live. He says he doesn't think about very much because if he did he would go nuts. I really admire his strength. We had a great lesson and when he committed to being baptized on the 20th too he was SO HAPPY! It felt amazing. I'm really happy with how things worked out.


The rest of the week was rough. We worked really hard, but nearly all of our appointments canceled on us. We didn't see any of our other investigators. It was really disappointing. I don't know what's going on with them. Some of them aren't even returning our texts or phone calls. We even had some members cancel appointments they had with us. Also other potential investigators just wouldn't be there for appointments. On Saturday we had seven scheduled appointments and only one of them actually happened. That really sums up our week. Then on Sunday the Lord really showed his love by giving us those miracles with Bobby and Lily. Throughout the last week I was praying and asking for help with being more patient. I know the Lord was helping me to learn to be more patient. Also I have a better testimony that His timing is the right timing.


As far as additions go, our mission is going to be expanding this summer! Right now we cover a little part of Georgia, but this summer we're going to be covering much more. The Macon Georgia Mission is being dissolved and we're going to be receiving the Savannah Georgia Stake and the missionaries there. It's going to be pretty cool. Our mission is going to be really big! I actually really want to serve in Georgia at one point or another.


That's not going to be happening this transfer. We got transfer calls Saturday night and I'm staying put. I'm okay with it. Before we got the call I had mixed feelings, but now I'm looking forward to having another transfer to help build up the ward here. The crazy thing is that at the end of this transfer I will hit my one year mark and I will have served in only two areas. Another crazy thing is that those two areas are only about 45 minutes from each other. I'm going to be here for Stake Conference again. It will be my third Stake Conference in the Gainesville Stake. That doesn't happen very often.


In reply to some things I read in Mom's weekly letter, congratulations to Emma and Sarah on the new jobs! I did receive Aunt Cindy's package and it was great. The person being baptized is the one who chooses who baptizes them. We got Jason a large print copy of the Book of Mormon so he can read it. I don't know if he has been though.






Love Always, Zach