Monday, February 17, 2014

February 3, 2014-- New Companion


Hello everyone!
Another interesting week! Elder Cardwell is now serving in Glendale in the Solano Ward. He has about 3 months left on his mission and has never been on a bike, but now he's probably in his last area and gets to ride a bike around Phoenix! Haha Well, guess what else is crazy?! My new companion is Elder Hicks! Yea, my trainer! Also, he was trained up in this area about a year and a half ago, so he knows like all the Spanish investigators and members better than me! Pretty crazy that we are back together, but he has a real strong desire to work hard, and we are both pumped. He is actually the new District Leader here, and we had an awesome District Meeting on President Taylor's "R2" challenge. The challenge is for each companionship to baptize 2 "real people". Not just to have 2 numbers, but two quality new members if the church. The focus on the recent 20 lessons a week has actually decreased our numbers in baptism, new investigators, and lessons taught to investigators in the past month. While the less active / active member work we have been doing has been great and nearing the 20 lessons per week goal, president Taylor kindly reminded us of our purpose. Those 20 lessons=20-40 opportunities to find real new people to teach and invite to come unto Christ. 
So no one ever responded to my question, how have the family mission plans been coming? Have we made them? Are we working on them? Do we actually remember the visions, goals, plans, tasks, and accountability we set for ourselves each day? I hope so. :) I am excited to hear how it is going. When members and missionaries work together it can really be an amazing thing.
So with all the transfer stuff we didn't have too much progress this week. Elder Hicks is still meeting all the English people, but we had some great lessons with J., M., D. and T.. They all could be baptized this month! We are really hoping and praying to have 2 baptisms this month, and these people are so ready! They all just have one or two issues holding them back.
 I don't know if I have Introduced D. yet, but she is a lady from Peru who used to be a child psychologist. Her husband is white and from a hardcore Catholic family. Well, he isn't too religious himself, but after they got married a year or two ago he makes her come with the family to the Catholic service each week and won't allow her to come to our services, even though they are at different times. She has such a solid testimony of the church and the Book of Mormon and wants more than anything to be baptized, but she hates the contention it causes in the family. So we have used FB to help her, which has been cool. She went with her friend to see the Gilbert Temple Open house on Saturday which was a miracle! She loved it. And we actually had a feeling to go by last night after fasting with Dami, and we did and met the husband! 
 
M. is in the same sort of boat, except she has the approval from her husband. But what she wants is his full support before she will be baptized. We are praying that she will be able to come to the Gilbert Temple Open House with us on the 13th. 
 
J.works a bunch, but has a huge desire to learn and study. He is a humble guy and loves it when we come over! We just saw him at the car wash and he got so excited. Haha
 
T. is ready and committed to baptism as well, we are just working on keeping the Sabbath day holy. She is also waiting for her husband to be able to baptize her. It should be soon!

Well, that's all for this week! I hope you are all doing great things! I love you and keep you in my prayers always. 

Sincerely,

Elder Collin Christensen

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