This last week was really busy and good! We worked hard and saw more success than I have in a long time. To top it all off Shawn was baptized on Saturday! It was a fantastic service. He was really happy and had a bounce in his step all day. There was a great spirit there. The unfortunate part about this is that he wasn't able to make it to church yesterday, so he wasn't able to be confirmed. The reason he didn't make it is because he went to work. We were devastated when we found out! We were all in shock! We were able to talk to him briefly later, but we're going to go back during the week and clear things up. Everything should work out. I really hope this new job he has isn't going to interfere with him staying active and progressing.
On Wednesday we had a Leadership Training Meeting and it went really well. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and was able to learn a lot of great new stuff. That's one of the best things about being a leader. I get to go to more meetings and receive instruction directly from President Barry. It's a great blessing. I also enjoy being able to pass it along to the other missionaries.
http://floridajacksonvillemissionnews.blogspot.com/
We taught quite a few lessons this last week and met some great new people. We were also able to get things moving in a good direction for this week. We have one investigator named Lisa and she is progressing well. She has come to church twice now and is scheduled to be baptized in August. We were going to do it this week, but moved it back for now. She has been through a lot and it will be for her best.
Now, here are the answers to Mom's questions. Elder Wise is from Camas, Washington. I thought I wrote this last week, but I may have forgotten. Shaun is still not in the picture. We haven't been actively looking for him or anything, but we've talked to a few members who said they saw him around. We're not really sure if he is still here or if he moved to Ft. Lauderdale. Last we talked to him that's where he was going to go. Bridgett is the girl who had a friend get married in the temple a few weeks ago, and we're not teaching her right now. She was really hard to get a hold of and had so much going on that she kept cancelling appointments. Last we talked to her she said to try back in August. We're disappointed, but will give her some time and try back. That's about all we can do at this point. We aren't teaching Nile anymore either. He was progressing really well, then one day he had a total change of heart. He was struggling with some things and just went cold REALLY fast. Every time we tried talking to, or contacting, him he was less interested and less friendly. We were shocked about that too. He was doing so well and made a lot of progress. That's something Elder Failner and I have noticed a lot lately. We have found a lot of people, but we have also dropped a lot of people....not to mention the people who have dropped us. We have found some people that have incredible potential to do great things within the Church, but they don't pan out. It's unfortunate, but it's a part of missionary work. At times I wonder what the Lord is trying to teach me with these kinds of things. I'm sure there is a great reason. Perhaps He is just teaching me to be patient and how to be happy regardless of what decisions people around me make. Also to continue to work hard even when things aren't going my way.
I have learned a lot while out here. I'm really happy about it too. I really have seen great growth within myself and my testimony is so much stronger. I'm so thankful I am out here doing this great work. I truly believe everyone who can, should serve a mission. It's the most challenging thing I have ever done, but by far the most rewarding. Before I came out everyone told me how hard it would be. I knew it would, but now I have an even greater understanding of what they meant. It challenges me, and every other missionary, in every way. I have to deal with things I never thought I would be dealing with. On the same token everyone told me how great it would be. I've come to understand this more too. In the past working hard would mostly bring about temporal things, but now when I work hard it brings about eternal life for those around me. There is no greater thing. In D&C18:15-16 it sums it all up perfectly.
I've gotta go now.
Love Always, Zach
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