Transfer News -

 Transfer news is here and I'm headed to Knoxville!! After a quick 5 months of Georgia, I'm off to the big city and I'm looking forward to it. It truly has been an amazing time here in this Spanish speaking ward and I'm going to miss a lot of the friends that I've made. 

This past week was amazing and things are starting to fire up. Both my companion and I are leaving so this area is getting a couple new missionaries, one being fresh out of the training center. So, we're a little stressed trying to get everything organized and ready for the Elders replacing us. 

Four of the people in our teaching pool came to church yesterday and it was amazing. Some stayed to witness a baptism that we had from the sister missionaries in the ward. I had the opportunity to give a talk on baptism and speak to the investigators in attendance about the path Christ took to be baptized. I like to think about the distance Christ literally traveled to find John the Baptist in order to show us the correct way in which we should be baptized. The journey to baptism or conversion in general shouldn't be easy in the slightest because it sure wasn't for our savior, Jesus Christ. 

In addition, we had a few lessons with our friends Nelly and Gonzalo. We shared some interesting talks and focused on baptism. Gonzalo accepted a date to be baptized. It was going to be tomorrow in fact, right before we leave on Wednesday. But the following day we met again and his desires changed. It has been quite the journey with this couple but we're not giving up on them and we will continue to help them come unto the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Thanks to Facebook and the intense amount of work we do with it, I can maintain contact with all the people I have met here. I didn't do my best recording other events from throughout the week but that's my report. Thanks for everyone's example and work, keep it going. Remember your path to the gospel and relate it to Christ's. Though different, I believe symbolism is super important. Have a blessed week y'all. Chao

Valentine's Week - Mission Style

 Valentines week here in Georgia was great! We attended our last two sessions of zone conference over zoom and sat in a stool for a total of 5 hours, my back loved it! Our mission president invited us to recall inflection points throughout our mission and what they mean to each of us personally. What can I learn from this specific trial and what did God have in store for me? 

As for some investigator updates, Edith is doing great and progressing well as we taught about the Plan of Salvation and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She has been taught in the past so it easy to review the basic points. But as she began to open up and ask questions, some testimonies were strengthened. I love when they ask questions because then they are usually more interested in what we're actually bringing to their table. The spirit was fuerte as we discussed the kingdoms of glory and asked her family which one they want to go to and what we must do to get there. Along those lines of the Plan, Jose's mother recently passed away and as we visited him we saw the peace within him because he knew that everything was okay. If that's not a reason to go on a mission right there then I don't know what is. Because of the knowledge of this Plan, others feel peace when most would feel lost. The rest of his family felt lost and he provided an example and taught them that God directs His children and all would be OK.

We had a surprise exchange with the ZLs on Wednesday which was fun as expected. I got to meet the great folks of Chattanooga and hear all the stories about pet alligators and how we're living in a cult. The usual bashers and nonsense, we stood our ground and defended the faith, hard to do much more. 

Sunday finished of the week with a great church service and contacts. It was ward conference as well and I got to translate for the stake authority sitting in on our ward council meeting, went well I think. Also I had less than an hour to prep four hymns for sacrament meeting that I've never played before. You have to love stressful situations on the mission, it's truly a time to grow after all. 

Well I stretched this email out long enough, hope everyone has a good week, take care. Chao

"Take solice that God will work through you."

 A few highlights from this past week, it's been a blast. Starting out the week we were able to visit a lady who reached out to us for a priesthood blessing. She apparently has met with missionaries a long time ago but lost contact. I am thankful to be a part of her timeline and connection to the church. 

We have been visiting as many less active members as we can but unfortunately due to restrictions it can be difficult to do so. On the other hand we can see our investigators as normal. We spent a lot of time with Nelly and Gonzalo this past week helping them paint some rooms and teaching gospel principles. I have also had the great opportunity to teach their young daughters piano lessons and their doing awesome. It is great to see the joy this couple has for their children and they are beginning to better understand the effects of the gospel of Jesus Christ in their lives. We gifted them a a framed copy of the Family Proclamation which they have taken to heart and look to apply within their own family. Also we made some sushi with them and it was the bomb.com, never thought I'd like sushi. 

Additionally, we met a wonderfully lady named Edith who also has an old past with missionaries. She was a far as passing a baptismal interview but unfortunately it never went through. We had a great lesson about faith as a seed in need of nutrition(Alma 32) as well as baptism for children(Moroni 8). She is progressing well and we are excited to see her again. 

Something we as a district focused on and something I have learned for myself is the importance of love alongside high expectations. The two combined result in miracles, when one or the other falls behind you either get a fraternity where nothing is accomplished or deviance where no holy spirit can dwell. We talked some more about it in zone conference regarding trials and our purpose facing them. 

Along those same lines, Elder Uchtdorf taught me in a MTC devotional the importance of controlling what I can, "Take solice that God will work through you. Discipleship is not about doing things perfectly, but with real intent." 

Spiritual Gymnastics

 I don't know what I'm going to do if the weeks keep blazing by like this. Another fun week in Georgia and not too much to report. Vanessa is progressing wonderfully toward her baptism this coming Saturday. Her family is back in town ready to witness it and hopefully begin taking the lessons. 

One highlight from the week for me personally was visiting her and reviewing the restoration and first vision by watching the 'Ask of God' video. I have always loved sharing this video because I hope it can touch their hearts like it did mine. I had the chance to share the whole story with Vanessa about when I first watched it at the church history museum in Salt Lake City. My brother and I went to check out the video in a 180° theater room, the experience is difficult to explain in words. This video gave me a whole new understanding to Joseph Smith's experience and fortunately Vanessa was able to gain one as well. Her father Jose attended church again yesterday and everyone is excited for their family. 

On the other hand of missionary work, that same night we visited Austin at his gymnastics center and did some parkour with him and his friends. Believe it or not, I landed a front flip. Along with various other contacts and lesson, the week was great and I am excited to head into February. Our zone has decided to focus on charity and love and we happened to discuss this very topic in district council. 

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland teaches the importance of long-suffering and kindness as we teach our friends. "If those [investigators] are unresponsive, maybe you cannot teach them yet, but you can love them. And if you can love them today, maybe you can teach them tomorrow." This was taken from a talk by Chad H. Webb called "Above All Things", check it out. Love your neighbor this week and don't tell anyone about it except God,

 chao everyone!