The Waters of St. Augustine

Dear Family,
There is nothing quite like having the privilege of helping another child of God enter the waters of baptism. Yesterday Elder Gebhard and I were privileged enough to help two of our brothers enter those waters. Joey and Andy have both taken a big step in following our Savior, Jesus Christ. I can't adequately explain how grateful I am for the opportunity I have had in teaching these two wonderful men. As I mentioned last week, Andy and Joey are two very different people, and their baptismal services were very different as well. Joey's had roughly ten people in attendance. It was a simple and quiet service. Andy's was much larger. There were about sixty people at his. However, once again, despite the differences in services they both were Spirit filled. Both Andy and Joey were radiating after their baptisms. I'm excited to see how they progress. I also pray that they will stay strong until they can be confirmed on April 8th. Once they are confirmed I will be relieved.
Several non-members were able to attend Joey's baptism. One of them is an investigator named Paul. He is an extremely humble man. We have been teaching him for two weeks. We're hoping to be able to help him get baptized within the coming weeks. Coming to Joey's baptism was a wonderful step in the right direction.
Everything else went well last week. We were busy teaching Andy, Joey, and our other investigators. I love being able to teach many people!
One of those other investigators is a man name Greg. I think I wrote about him a few weeks ago. I really can't remember though. Anyway, we did service with Greg on Thursday and then took him on a tour of the church. It was an interesting few hours. The service portion was very simple. Getting him on the tour required us to be patient and persistent. We eventually got him there. He enjoyed it quite a bit. He is a very unique man. We never know what we're going to get when we meet with Greg. There are usually several times when I have to do this---->
On Friday we got a call from the Sister missionaries. They asked if we could go give one of them a blessing. We did. I had the honor of performing the blessing. It was incredible. After the blessing I was pondering the priesthood and blessings. It's hard to explain how great it is giving a blessing. The words spoken truly are from Heavenly Father. It's incredible how the Spirit impresses things upon the mind during the blessings. I can't even imagine how it must be to be a Patriarch.
I'm really excited for General Conference this weekend. I'm hoping I will be able to partake of some delicious blueberry muffins...only time will tell. I'm most excited about getting to listen to the inspired words which will be spoken. As I come prepared the Spirit gently whispers to me. It speaks comfort when needed and helps me see ways in which I can change. I absolutely love it! I hope you will all be able to enjoy it as well. It's worth making sacrifices! What will the Spirit whisper to you?


Love Always, Zach


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http://mormon.org/me/2k0m/

Unique...

Dear Family,


It was a very unique and full week. There are a lot of different things I could write about. I'll give a general overview then focus on some of the main events.
Based on all things which happened we had a balanced week. Our investigators were able to continue to progress and we found some really wonderful new people to teach. Time was very limited on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, but we were blessed with miracles during the time we did have.The gospel truly does bless EVERYONE who lives it. Andy and Joey are proof of this. They are two totally different people, with completely different backgrounds and personalities. Yet they both have felt the promptings of the Holy Ghost. They have recognized God's love and guidance in their lives. They are both excited about their baptisms this Sunday. As we taught them during the week they each brought smiles to our faces in their own unique way. I love it!

Thursday was a jam packed day! We drove out to Interlachen and did some baptismal interviews, went back to our area to work for a few hours, and then went up to the Stake Center to do a role play training with the Stake High Council. What a great experience! The Stake leaders thoroughly enjoyed the role plays. At first the idea of training the Stake High Council was a bit overwhelming. Despite this we prepared diligently, and once again the Lord blessed us and all went well.

Friday and Saturday we participated in the Lions Seafood Festival. Friday was a little slow, but Saturday was very busy. We were able to introduce a lot of people to family history and help others who already enjoy it. It was a great success! Over the course of my mission I have felt a greater desire to do family history. I want to know my ancestors. I want to know their stories and to learn from their experiences and testimonies.
Love Always, Zach
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http://mormon.org/me/2k0m/

Elder Snow, Elder Gebhard and Elder Elliott

http://floridajacksonvillemissionnews.blogspot.com/

Enduring to the End…

Dear Family,

Most everything here is still progressing. I'm happy with how the week worked out.

Elder Gebhard and I had a neat experience. Earlier in the week we got a call from a student at Flagler College and she is doing a report for a class. She wanted to ask some questions and attend a worship service. We worked out the details and she came to sacrament yesterday. She didn't stay for the classes, but came back later and we sat down to go over some of her questions. It was wonderful. The questions she asked were relatively simple to answer. Afterwards Elder Gebhard and I were talking about it and he compared it to when President Hinckley talked to Mike Wallace. We then got a good laugh. We were hoping she would become a new investigator, but it became apparent that right now she's not searching. However, I feel it was a very positive experience for her and us.
Unfortunately PJ wasn't baptized on Sunday. Everything was going really well and then on Saturday we got a call. It was a member who is fellowshipping PJ, and we were informed that PJ's parents had decided that they want him to wait to be baptized. The member suggested that we go and talk to his parents. After I got off the phone with the member I felt totally at peace. It caught me off guard a little. In the past I would have panicked, or felt very stressed, but the Spirit brought me peace and I know that it will all work out.
We weren't able to talk to his parents, but PJ told us that his parents don't feel he has learned enough. PJ is still optimistic and wants to join the Church, and I feel confident that he will. After we talked to him on Saturday he asked us to pray that he can still join the Church. We did and still are. His desire to do the right thing is very admirable, especially at his age. The plan from here is to meet with his parents and talk about their concerns.

Andy, another investigator that is scheduled to be baptized, is excited for his big day! Yesterday I was talking to him at church and he was telling me that he already has most of the program figured out for his baptism. He makes me laugh. He knows so much about the Church and how it is run. He participates in classes at church like he has been a lifelong member. He is going to do great things in the Church.
Joey continues to surprise Elder Gebhard and I. On Thursday we taught him the Word of Wisdom. Joey smokes and we were concerned that overcoming his addiction would be hard because it is for most people. Well, as we were teaching we originally set a goal for him to be done smoking by March 18th. I thought that was optimistic and he liked it. Then a few minutes later he looked at us and said,"There is no reason to wait, I'm going to quit tomorrow." He did and has been staying strong since. Out of all the people I've taught I have seen a greater difference in him. It has been about two weeks since we met him. At that time he looked miserable and was not in a good state of mind. It was clear that he had a lot of pain and sorrow in his life. Now he is at peace. He looks happy and is happy. There is a light in his eyes that wasn't there before. Yesterday was his first time at church and he was there in white shirt and tie. He looked like any other member.
Transfer calls came and I am staying in St. Augustine for my final six weeks. I'm really grateful I get to stay! I love it here and I enjoy being companions with Elder Gebhard. He is very thoughtful. He really looks to minister to all. He is a great example of humility and love. I look forward to learning even more from him.

 
 

Love Always, Zach
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http://mormon.org/me/2k0m/

He's ALWAYS there!

Dear Family,

  The weeks continue to fly by! Each week when I sit down to write this, and my other emails, it feels like I just wrote. At first I can't think of what to write. Then as I reflect on my week I realize I have a lot to write about. Then the struggle becomes one of adequately relaying it all. At times I feel like Nephi, "...neither am I mighty in writing, like unto speaking..." (2Ne 33:1)
  Elder Gebhard and I continue to be blessed in many different ways. Each day presented challenges and opportunities. The hardest day was Friday. We had four of our five appointments cancel. Despite the cancellations we were able to still teach two lessons. As I knelt, in preparation to pray, on Friday night I reflected on the day. I found that there were many things to be grateful for. I was able to better recognize the blessings I had received. I was then able to offer up a more heartfelt prayer and have gratitude. It was another experience that shows that despite the struggles we face each day there is much to be thankful for.I know that Heavenly Father is ALWAYS watching over us whether we recognize it or not.  I'm very thankful that Heavenly Father has trusted us with many people to teach. We continued teaching PJ last week. We even set a baptismal date with him! He is going to be baptized this Sunday. He is so excited! I have loved being able to teach him.

  We also started teaching a young man named Joey. We got a really great phone call from him on Friday night. He first called to talk to us because he was angry at someone and wanted to talk to us so he could calm down. We were in a lesson and couldn't answer. When we got out we called and talked to him. He said that he decided to go and read the Book of Mormon when he couldn't get in touch with us. He explained that once he started reading his anger was replaced with peace. He was able to calm down and find joy. He was also able to identify that it was the Holy Ghost which brought him that peace and joy. Being able to teach him has brought me joy. He has already come a long way.

  Well, transfers are coming up next week. We get calls this Saturday. I mention this because there's a chance I will be transferred. I hope I'm not, but I've been here for three transfers. Also, usually missionaries aren't zone leaders for their last transfer. We'll see soon!

  One last thing, never underestimate your potential! Remember who you are, and what you stand for! You are a child of God and He loves you. He's always there to wrap you in His love. 

Love Always, Zach

http://mormon.org/me/2k0m/