Make the Green Grow

From Elder Gleaves, a zone leader in Phoenix

"This week has just been amazing! We have seen so many miracles come from working hard and diligently especially with the "making the green grow" project. We have seen an elevated level of excitement in the Elders, and I really feel like it has unified us as a zone. It reminded me a lot of this past Christmas when we were all excited to hear about baptisms, where we were at and how many more we coming. It's the same thing now, but just with the TTI's (TTI is an acronym for Teach, Testify, and Invite. We use it to refer to street contacting). The Elders are excited to get feedback, and they worked harder than ever. Not only did we reach our goal, but we soared past it making a new recod in the zone of 1790 TTI's. And now that everyone did it, we all reached the goal of 140 TTI's per companionship, we know that we can do it every week. 

It was something really cool to see that the number of lessons didn't decrease, it actually continued to go up. We are teaching more, and seeing more people come to sacrament meeting. I believe that it is due to our efforts of talking to EVERYONE that we see. We were definetly able to see how God was able to prepare the way for us in giving us enough time to do everything. Just a quick example, yesterday we actually had the chance to have Elder Isom with us, and in that day we only had 2 lessons planned. So in the begining we were just trying to make contacts and visits, and not too much worked out. We we continued to work diligently even when we weren't teaching and the Lord did bless us. We ended up that night with 6 lessons, and 30 TTI's. Looking back, I dont even know how we did it with only 2 lessons planned. But the Lord prepared his children to be there in their homes at the right time so that we could visit them. And a lot of the people that we visited yesterday are on their way towards baptism in the next couple of weeks. We have been so blessed here to find those prepared to accept the gospel."

The Livingston's

The office staff went to The Godd Egg for breakfast just before the Livingston's finished their assignment. It was an opportunity to poke fun at Elder Livingston one last time. Although he loves chocolate, he doesn't eat it EVER (willpower!). The enjoyment on their faces is when they realized that book was a chocolate gone crazy type cookbook. The second prank was a plate full of bananas-something he refuses to eat on purpose. Who would be crazy enough to eat a banan on purpose?

We love you both. We hope you make it home...eventually, but remember part of you will always stay here with us. We love you!

Some things should never change!

AMM Sisters are the best in the world! Full field or VC, it doesn't matter. Beautiful. Virtuous. Faithful. Diligent. Focused. Strong. Everything Sister Beck encouraged women to be during General Conference. They're fantastic, and we love them all.

Look for the photo of two sisters talking to a young man sitting on the lawn outside the temple. Sister Fonbuena and Sister Bustillo were heading to the Udall building for a prepartory meeting with the elders. Their role was to give a few reminders to the missionaries and encourage them to fill their hearts with faith. On the way, I saw as they stopped to talk with this young man. I took a picture and went on to the building. When they caught up with me, they were excited to let me know they'd just had a top box...in Spanish. Sister Fonbuena is an English speaking missionary and only knew the little bit of spanish she had scribbled on a card. It was enough and then some. They were so happy when I told them I thought I had a picture of them in action. (See, sometimes having the camera around is a good thing!)

Updates and More

I have some super cool news. I graduate in May (not the cool news, but still good), so I decided that I was going to move back to Orlando so that I could teach RS in my old singles ward (the RS presidency wanted me to, and I LOVE teaching RS!). I had been thinking about this decision for a while, and made the decision to do it for sure on saturday. Well, the next day was the sunday before conference so I fasted (mistakingly thinking it was fast sunday). I fasted to know that my decision to move was right, and that I would be in the place where I could help the Lord most effectively. After Sacrament, a member of the stake called me into the office and issued a calling to be an Institute Instructor teaching Mission Prep. I just stared at him blankly, in silence. Had he REALLY just offered me my DREAM calling when I had just decided to move?!?! HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN!!! In the awkward, staring silence- he said "did you ever think you would be an institute teacher?" I didn't know what to do! I felt good about moving to Orlando! I thought about it during gospel doctrine and decided that it was the answer to my fast. I am going to have to commute every week (1.5 hours) to teach this class... but I am SO stinking excited!!! I am under the direction of the CES Institute Director and I will have a key to the building and everything (SO official)! I LOVE missionary work! I can't wait to share that love with prospective missionaries. I really hope that I can help those who are bordering on "not going" to fall on the side of "I CAN'T WAIT TO GO!" I've been home 18 months. Do you know how long the stake counselor thought I had been home? TEN (because of my behavior)! Now THAT'S a complement if I've ever heard one! I found out that two of my friends who took the first lesson a month ago (see my other post of "Two Birds with One Invite"), were each approached by a family member who angrily interrogated them about their visits with the Mormons. They each told me of their responses and I was AMAZED at the nearly perfect first lesson each of them taught to their accusers. Even though they didn't want to proceed with the lessons, each of them shared what they knew with others. They defended the LDS church with all that they had learned. What a sweet experience. Currently, I have been talking with one of my friends who is going through a "spiritual rehab". She is very in tune with "the universe" and very gay. I have a deep personal love for those who struggle with same gender attraction, but I am always very careful and hesitant when I want to share the gospel with them, knowing what they would have to sacrifice. However, I KNOW that they need these blessings, and I KNOW that it is my responsibility to share it with them. Today I was able to share a little bit about the church with her as we had lunch. Before we ate, I said "excuse me, I need to bless my food". I bowed my head and said a silent prayer. Afterwords, she smiled and said "I need to do that! What did you say?" I was able to share with her how to pray, and to tell her some of the things that I prayed for. She responded "I like that!". I don't know how far this will go, but I DO know that she needs to see the life of a Latter-day Saint who actually lives the gospel. Homosexuals rarely get to see "the good" aspects of the church, so I'm glad that I can be there. We had a very spiritually uplifting conversation. Did I tell you about the Jew I met while I was donating platelets and plasma? She has become my favorite phlebotomist! She is a jew who actually practices her religion! She speaks fluent Hebrew and everything. We talked about temples and some other gospel topics. I told her that I wanted to learn more about Judaism and she told me that she wants to learn more about the LDS church. I'm going to go to the synagogue with her on some friday. How could anyone NOT love missionary work!

Well this past Sunday we had some amazing miracles both having to do with church attendance. We are teaching Juan, who has a baptism date. We have taught him for maybe a month now, and he is already in the book of Mosiah, and he started from the beginning. So that's cool, but he had a problem with being able to go to church every week due to his schedule. Then, just out of the blue, without us even asking him to do it, he asked for Sunday off, and like that he got it. There was no conflict, or problem what so ever. It was amazing. So we are excited to get him prepared to be baptised.

Then the next was a couple, who we have been teaching for about 2 transfers now. They had a date but couldn't make it because the husband always worked on Sunday. Just recently we had a church tour with them. Then his wife asked if he could drop her of at church on his way to work, so we had it planned that she would go while he went to work. But when they got there on Sunday both were there to go to church. We asked him if he was going to stay and he said yes, because the night before some one called him and told him that he had Sunday off. It's amazing. So we are really looking forward for these people so that they can continue progressing and soon be baptized.

But these are just some of the miracles that Elder Staton and I have received.

 

Elder Gleaves

President,

...Will you please forward this section to sister bassett as a miracle?

This week, we were biking around, our appointment fell through, our three backups for the hour all didn't answer the door, and we were without plans. We were just contemplating what we should do, when I saw this guy walking by a street away. I felt like I should go talk to him, and as I got ready to go, he turns the corner and starts walking toward us. I felt REALLY urged then, so we talked to him. It was just after a District meeting about questions of the soul, and I asked him a question. He completely opened up, and said how he would like to learn more about why he's here. It was a really neat experience to me, how God had put us in the right street at the right time to talk with His child. Every soul is precious in His eyes.

Elder Morgan

From Elder Gomez:

So you know the challenge you issued at zone conference?  We gave it a shot.  On Saturday we attempted to contact as many former investigators as we possibly could.  We got a couple that might be worth following up on.  So we were thinking... where is this person who is ready for the gospel that Sister Bassett promised us?  We had a baptism that night, which by the way was amazing, and the sister of the baptizee (is that a word?? :) ) really felt the spirit and decided that she wanted to learn the gospel as well.  So there you go, your faith was not in vain.  We did find somebody who is ready for the gospel... even though we didn't exactly find them the way we would have expected.

Dear sister bassett

 

First, last Friday Elder Parkin and I were feeling a little discouraged because we haven't found any one in a while.  We had two potentials in the area book. So I took the time to get down on my knees and say a prayer. I talked with the Lord. "We are talking to a lot of people. We are trying to do as you wish but where are the blessings?" The answer I received was to wait. The Lord has his time. So being pacified, the next day we had a baptism for our investigator named Amy, which is a miracle in and of itself. Low and behold one of our members brought their friend to the baptism and she wants to learn more. How sweet is that.

 

See you Thursday

 

Love Elder Thomas 

Well the baptism of the family Parra was one of the most amazing services that I have attended. Not only because they were getting baptized, but also when I got there I saw a kid named Christian, whose family had been less active for years. When I was with Elder Salazar we had tried going by so many times, and just could never get them to church, but now their son got baptized, and their other son is thinking of going on a mission. It was amazing to see. I couldn't believe it. I sent a picture of the baptism of the Family Parra, so hopefully you get it. But also it was really cool because the brother that gave the talk based it almost perfectly on what Pres. Bassett talked about, with baptism just being the door that we can enter to start on the path towards God. He gave an amazing heartfelt talk.

Well thanks Sis Bassett for everything, especially your talk in stake conference.

Elder Gleaves

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