Sis Bassett

Well I have some amazing miracles, and one of them was the fulfilling of the promise that you made to us in ZLC, about the former investigators. We went through them and found a couple that we wanted to visit. The first one, Alma and Juan accepted us in their house, talked very highly of the missionaries prior, and we were able to teach the first lesson. It was amazing how much easier it was because they were already familiar with it, but also how willing they were to do things, such as read or pray. It looks like with the change in economy, they now don't work on Sunday and will be able to go to church. Also through other experiences they see more of a necessity to be baptised and come closer to God. It was amazing to see how just a few months later, so many changes can come into someone's life to make them more receptive to the gospel. Thanks so much for leaving that commitment with us, I know that we wouldn't have found them again if we weren't looking through the formers of our area book. It's been great to see the excitement in their eyes. 

 But, one of the biggest miracles and one of the best things that I have heard on my entire mission is that the family Parra, who Elder matsunaga and I were teaching back in July/August, now will soon be getting baptised. They were living on the streets, and the bishop found out and put them in a hotel, the relief society provided breakfast, lunch and dinner everyday for 2 weeks, and we passed by just about everyday, and at the end, the mom Margarita had a baptism date. But they had to leave, and lost contact, they got some other apt. and I never heard of them. I kind of felt that those 2 weeks were just wasted. But, then I heard that some sisters in Pioneer zone had found them and were teaching them, and now, the mom and son are getting baptized, and I get to baptize the son! When I heard that it was literally one of the most tender moments of my mission. It put to life the section of Preach My Gospel that says "No effort is wasted"  And I know that it was through the amazing help that they received through the ward relief society/bishop that their hearts were touched, and the spirit was able to enter their hearts, and now, they will be getting baptized. It's amazing. I just can't believe it. It's just really interesting how people get put in the right place at the right time. 

 

Elder Gleaves

Put the Lord First

I have a friend that has been trying to come to a temple tour for about a year now, but due to different interferences she has not been able to attend. This last weekend she told me that she was really going to go this time so I packed up and drove an hour and a half to Orlando on Friday night so I could attend the tour with her on Saturday. Little did I know that our horses had torn down a portion of the fencing and my father and I would be spending all day saturday and some of sunday getting the "ox [out of] the mire". When it came time to leave for the temple tour I had been working on the fence all morning; I was freezing, exhausted, stinky, and there still was a lot of work to be done and I felt horrible at the idea of leaving my dad there to do it by himself. I teetered back and forth to decide if I should stay and help my dad, or go to the tour with Emma. I decided that I would choose to build up the Lord's Kingdom first. Even though I felt guilty about leaving my father, I knew that he would continue to work regardless and progress would be made. I went to the tour a little ashamed of my appearance, but trying to focus on my friend and the words being spoken by the "tour-guide". After the tour, the missionaries invited us into the foyer of the temple and began to talk to us about the tour. Because I had chosen to put the Lord first, I was able to witness my friend accepting to be baptized into Christ's true church.

Dear Sister Bassett,

               On monday we were out contacting a potential investigator in an apartment complex.  We were getting out of our car, and we heard a voice say, "Hello!"  We looked around and asked "Hello?"  Then we heard a voice from the balcony above us say, "Hello!"  We looked and it was a woman.  We said hi, and she replied "Are you the new management?"  We told her no, but that we were the missionaries.  She said "Oh, that's great.  My sister is a missionary for her church."  We visited with her for a bit, and she said we could come back.  We taught her on Wednesday, and then we set a baptismal date with her on Saturday!  Her name is Sarah.  She told us at church on Sunday that the reason she yelled out to us, was because she had a plumbing problem and thought we were the managers.  The Lord works in mysterious ways.  She told us last night that she knows that the Lord sent us to her.  I love this work.  It is of God, and He will make miracles happen if we just have faith, and do our best.  Thank you for all that you do Sister Bassett.  We will see you soon.

Sincerely,

Elder Christensen

Well we have seen our fair share of miracles, one of the which Elder Staton mentioned in ZLC, which was truly amazing. We walked into this house for a lesson with a lady named Maria, and when we got in and sat down, her husband came out fairly excited and just told us, (now you have to know that we have never seen, nor talked to, nor met this man before) but he said, "I have been reading in your book, I like it, and we want to go to church with you next Sunday." We had only taught his wife Maria one time, and left her with the Book of Mormon. He, the husband Antonio, found it in his house and had read through the introduction and the testimonies on the witnesses and of Joseph Smith. We taught him the first lesson, which was also a good review for Maria, and as we left he was excited to continue reading. It's amazing to see how many people really do have the question that Joseph Smith had, "Why are there so many churches? and which one should I join?" And it's so comforting to me to know that we have the answers, and that everyone can know for themselves. 

But that was just one of our miracle lessons this past week. 

 

Elder Gleaves 

Hello again Sister Bassett

 

Here are some more miracles.

 

Yesterday was interesting. I had become a little discouraged because it seemed I wasn't having much success with TTIing people. Seemed like a lot of people just didn't want to hear from us. We had to make copys, and we like to walk that part to talk to more people. There was a man sitting on a bench. I didnt want to talk to him but the spirit told me to. So when I actually opened my mouth and listened to him everything just flowed and just from there on I didn't have a problem talking to people. We actually had gotten a great contact for the missionaries that cover central ward Phoenix that day.

 

Another miracle is with the sisters in our district. For a ling time they were struggling to TTI. Not because they were scared but because there was no one to talk to but then all of a sudden their TTI numbers skyrocketed and have been high ever since. Before they have been lucky to get 40 a week but now they have been getting about 80 to 90. I asked what was it that they changed and they said it was because they have been praying and making TTIs the deepest desire of their hearts.

 

One more miracle. Yesterday we taught a lesson to a young man. He has some smoking and some drug problems but this past week since we set up a plan to help him quit he has been taking off. Also when we taught him, his girlfriend (who we are teaching and also has a baptismal date) left for a sec to the bathroom. We continued to teach and when she came back he explained everything to her clearly and simply. It was awesome. I was so proud of him.

 

Time is short.

 

Love Elder Thomas

February Departure Dinner/Breakfast

We love you!

Sister Chagdgaa, Elder Diaz, Sister Farnsworth, Elder Gardner, Sister Hales, Elder Moffitt, Sister Reed, Elder Thornton, Sister Tomoser, Elder Wood, & Elder Woolf

Elder Diaz saying good-bye to the mission and hellow to family

Our part of the missionary farewells usually ends with loading up the vans, a parting hug and waving goodbye as missinoaries head off to the airport. Today when we arrived at the airport to pick up the new missionaries, Elder Diaz was still there waiting for his flight home. The bad weather in Michigan gave us one more chance to say goodbye to this great Elder and to wittness his hello and goodbye to three of his aunts that live in the area but were obedient and stayed away during his missioanry service. My favorite picture is the last one-using his Aunt's phone to say hello to his mother. Beautiful!

Dear Sister Bassett,

Here are a few miracles for this week.

1) Last Saturday we had a baptism (btw that's 2 baptisms in a transfer. That's something that hasn't happened in a long time and we have more on the way.) for an investigator named Chris. He was very prepared and very solid. Coming close to the baptism his Mom was nervous about him being baptised because it was so fast. She wanted to wait for a year, but she realized Chris is 18 and should choose for himself. So planned the baptism, but the day before we heard that his Dad had to work that day and couldn't be there. Never the less, Chris wanted to do it. While getting everything prepared, low and behold there is his dad at the baptism. That was cool.

2) last night because we were so far from our apartment and because we didn't have a dinner that day, we ate at burger king. Trying to keep everything cheap.A group of teenagers walked in and ordered their food and also applying for work. Then one of them started asking some questions. She had a belief in God but did understand the bible. We explained that God loves her and has rules that he wants to bless us with. Specifically she was asking about lesbianism. After her questions, her friend came over and started talking to us and said he really wants to change his life around because he now has a daughter (he is 19). He had some concerns, but we told him that he has the agency and God will help him. Then we committed him to meet with the local missionaries. By the end of our conversation with him he seemed to have a better understanding and some questions of the soul answered.

Time is short and only enough time for those 2 miracles but know we are seeing many miracles.

Love Elder Thomas

Hey Sister Bassett!

   This last week has felt like a miracle to me, so I just wanted to tell you about it...Sister Brox and I found 7 new investigators this last week and I know its because of our commitment to talk to at least 20 people a day. I'm not sure if on a normal day we even see 20 people during the time that we are in our area, so we had to pray for many more people to come into our path. We were blessed with tons and tons of people to talk to! It was incredible to me that we actually were able to get over 140 tti's for the week. So anyway, we found 7 new investigators, which I don't think I've ever done in a week before. I believe that it is a direct result of trying to talk to everyone. It is the best feeling when Heavenly Father really does pour you out a blessing that you don't have room enough to receive-actually I know that Heavenly Father is always pouring out blessings upon us, we just have to want to receive them.

                       Love, Sister Dorius

B

Sister Bassett,

 

We had a great miracle this past week that I wanted you to know about! This past week Elder Woolf and Elder McBride and I were at our church building taking care of a few things. While the other elders were busy, I took a quick break on the couch in the foyer. I pulled out a payday (it was bad I know) and started eating it. I looked out the front doors and saw a red van drive by slowly. Then I felt an impression that the person in that van wanted to come inside. I put the candy bar away and waited. A Native American lady came up to the front door, and I opened it for her. She then Introduced herself, "Hi, my name is Debbie Scott. I have been meeting with Elder Weight and Elder Tolman in Mesa and feel that I should come over here to this ward. I really want to meet with the Elders and be baptized." I felt the spirit really strong. Then Elder McBride and Elder Woolf came up and we talked to her for a few minutes. We set up a lesson with her for later that night. While we taught her, we set a baptism date for  the end February. She then came to church this past Sunday.

 

This was just one of the many that we saw this past week!! Thanks for all you do.

 

Elder Imlah