Sunday, June 24, 2012

Not Much News This Week

(Written June 19, 2012)

So as the subject line indicates, it's quite literally another missionary week. We've been seeing mostly just the people we usually see. It's obviously exciting, but I learned this week that President must have quite a lot of trust in me to be able to keep me here. This area is notorious for all the drugs and "special" people that are in the area. I'd say about a quarter of our ward is under the same category that my people were at Chrysalis.

Our ward mission leader was actually in the army for 4 years and was in an elite group and he's kind of funny because of that. I'd say that the number one thing that is hard about the area is the moving. So many people just don't stay put. Everyone moves after a year of staying here. So if anyone is wondering, that's what contributes to the hardships I have here.

Anyway, Lisa is doing really well. She's super happy about being baptized, and we are all excited for her. This week we also had a lot of heat. Yesterday we topped 97 degrees. The car was cooking, and several people we visit don't have air conditioning, so it was bad. But the time went on and we were able to teach many people.

We did have one cool experience this week. We have been going to see a Catholic guy named Dominique, and he is super awesome. Yesterday we asked him what he gets out of our visits, and he said that the first day we showed up, he was going to court to settle custody of his kids, and it gave him hope when we showed up, taught him a little bit about the restoration, and said a prayer with him. He said that got him through the whole ordeal and that's why he has had us over ever since. It's a testimony to me that those little opening and closing prayers we have can effect so many people in little ways like that. We never know when a prayer could help someone out.

Well that's all I have for the week.  I'm super excited to be an uncle!

Elder Bringhurst

YAY!

(Written June 11)

Hello family! It’s been an eventful week this week. So Lisa was baptized yesterday! Yay! But guess what. The ward mission leader of our ward did not show up for the baptism... So we had no one to conduct the meeting while I was there and there were  no programs! (By the way I'm not supposed to do the programs, but it still made me look bad). Luckily Bishop Stamps was there and I asked him to emergency conduct the meeting. We also had a total lack of pianist there, so I practiced "Come Follow Me" and "I Am A Child of God" on the piano for 2 hours before the baptism so I could play the piano. So I accompanied the baptism (I messed up a couple of times but I hope it wasn't that bad), and performed it.  I was so embarrassed too because the Mission President and a bunch of other people showed up for the baptism. It was PACKED.

I did pull it off though. It was so sweet to see Lisa come down into the water with tears in her eyes. After the baptism, she just started crying. I was the only one who saw it because the doors were closed. So it was a neat experience. Lisa enjoyed it and the testimony meeting was very powerful. I hope she was able to have a neat experience.

After the baptism was over, the Bishopric came up to me looking menacing, and asked why the ward mission leader wasn’t there?  They didn't blame me at all, but I can't imagine how badly he feels.  Turns out he just forgot. He felt really, really bad.

So after the baptism was over the district leader asked me to play for THEIR baptism about an hour later. They had "I am a Child of God (good thing I practiced that one...) and "When I am Baptized." (To my discovery and relief it was an incredibly easy song to play so I learned and played that one as well.) So I got to play the piano for 2 baptisms on Saturday, and I also performed one ordinance. At this rate I might come home and get to be called as the pianist for priesthood or something.

In other news we've been teaching this lady named Amber.  I can't remember if I told you about her, but she grew up as a Jehovah's Witness and has been looking for a good church for her and her little kids. We have been making some progress and hopefully we can get her to come to church next Sunday!!! YAY. So more promising prospects are coming up and the Lord is blessing us.

Elder Schwegler's back is still pretty bad, and he's afraid he might have to get surgery. By the way Elder Schwegler does know Keith and his brother, and thought it was funny that he married my sister and me and him are companions in Denver. It is truly a small world huh? Well that's all I've got so far. Have an awesome week!

Elder Bringhurst




Wednesday, June 6, 2012

And yet more news!

So first piece of business:  Elder Gallardo is gone. There was a switch up in the mission with some people and we were included, so I got a new companion on Saturday. The reason for the switch up was we had an elder who has some back and knee problems that made it hard for him to ride bikes constantly in his area. So they moved him here for the benefit of the car. His name is Elder Schwegler. He’s a good soul, and he has only been out 4 months, so I'm still senior companion. He's from Cincinnati, Ohio and his family joined the church when he was 3. He's a good guy and wants to work hard but apparently his back pain is so bad that he might actually have to go home.   President Maynes told me he put Elder Schwegler here because he thought I was the best missionary who could be sensitive to his medical needs.

I seem to be the “constant” in the ward. This is now my 4th companion in the area and the ward is having a hard time keeping track, but they all know me. We were sad to see the Coleman's leave. We saw them for the last time on Sunday, and they turned over all the people they were teaching to us, so at least we got some more less active's to teach.

In other news, Lisa's baptism is on the 9th, just so we are clear. We are all excited and hopefully it will be a spiritual experience. I was super sick this week. I came down with a cold unlike anything I've ever had, with a headache and allergy like symptoms plus a bit of a fever. It was no fun. We had to stay home last Wednesday because of it. The symptoms are still around but they aren't as bad.

I'm not sure if I told you about another family we are teaching, but they are a part member family, and the wife is an excommunicated member and the husband is an investigator. They are so wonderful to teach.  We teach them every Saturday and they come to church faithfully each week. The husband said last time that he admires how much the members believe what they believe. It was a good discussion.

Well that's the news for me and hopefully the week goes well for everyone out there

Elder Bringhurst