Dear Family,
How has the week been going for everyone? Our week has been going sooo well! We were lucky enough to move Xian's Baptisms up to last night!! It was a great baptism! He really had a good time. It was a little tough though for us, because he had a tough time picking someone to baptize him. He had two people that he had asked that said that they would, and then they at the last minute had something come up, and told him that they couldn't do it. We really have been trying to get members to baptize our investigators, so that they have that special connection with someone in the ward. So we finally found one of the guys that had driven him to church a few times, and so that was a blessing to be able to find someone that he had a connection with to be able to do it. It was a very special service. During the intermediate lessons while Xian and the man who baptized him changed, me and Elder Fajardo were able to teach the message of the Restoration to the members. It was a very good lesson, and we got a lot of really good compliments on the way that we teach together, and the level of spirit that they felt. We were really unified in the lesson, and really hit home with the members about how we need to be able to get referrals, or that we are not going to be able to keep baptizing! We have been super blessed to be able to baptized 3 out of the 4 on our own efforts, but that isn't what usually happens! We really need to be getting referrals, and for all of the referrals that we get, that we would love to be able to teach them in their homes! It was a very specail thing for me and Elder Fajardo to be able to teach a huge group like that, and to be able to feel the spirit so strong! We got three referrals after that, and they seem really solid!
All of our dates in November unfortunately dropped this past week.. We still have one hanging on by a thread, but we are looking to add a few more this week with the new investigators that we find! It has been a pretty crazy last few weeks with all of the things that we have had to do as Zone Leaders, that we have been struggling to find for the past few weeks! So this week we have set the goal to find 10 new investigators! We really need to rebuild our pool, and that is the most important thing for us to do! We had a tough week with really everything, so we are getting prepared to just tear it up in the finding aspect! Keep us in your prayers this week that we will be able to find those that will receive us!
So this past week in the Stake we had Stake conference and it was AMAZING!!!!!! The Stake President out here is out of this world with being missionary minded, and has really been pumping the stake up with getting to know us better, and trying to find more people to teach! He spoke about missionaries who get it done, and those that get it. Those who get it done set mission records, and have HUGE short term success, but those who get it, are the ones that baptized converted investigators, and those who care more about the person that they are teaching then the number that they are trying to get! That touched me a ton, because when I first entered the field, that was all I really cared about! All I wanted was to be known to the mission President, set records and baptize a thousand! Well a few of those things happened, we lead the mission for a while, and baptized more then usual. But what I realized now is the diference that I feel now compared to then! I cared about the people, but I was so much more worried about what the mission president was going to say when he saw the numbers. Now I have a very special love for the people that we teach!Peter as been less active for the past month again, and told us last week that he doens't want to be Mormon anymore.. We have both lost sleep over what it is going to take to get this young man back into the church, and to not care about what his friends say about the "Mormons." We are really hoping that one of these days that we will be able to touch his heart again or have one of the members do it. He is a great kid, and really needs the gospel in his life! We will see how everything goes, but please keep him in your prayers too! I couldn't bare to see him just walk away from this because he doesn't fully understand it! Things will work out, but it will just take time and effort! We are willing to put forth the effort!I have got to get going.. Time has gotten past me, and it has been super loud in here, and hard to focus and type. I am a horrible multi tasker when I am trying to talk listen and type at the same time! Alison is doing SOOOO well though! Since her baptism, she has taught gospel principles class in sunday school, talked in Stake Conference, and given a talk at Xian's baptism! She is super willing to come out and teach lessons with us, and even wants to serve a mission herself!! We are sooo excited for her and all the things that she is doing!
I have a very powerful testimony of this work as I hope that you already know! This has been a very powerful week for me and my testimony has grown 10 fold! I LOVE being a missionary so much, and it just keeps getting closer and closer to the day that the tags will come off for good... But it's all good right? Cause we will be able to always have a tag imprinted on our chests! I will never loose the title of a representative of the Savior Jesus Christ! It is a very special opportunity to be able to tell people that every single day! I love to be able to walk the streets and talk to the college students and telling them that we have a message that can take all of their stress, worry, and guilt out of their lives! You have no idea how many people just hate life and wish that they didn't have to go through it! It is so sad to watch and see, but it is a huge blessing to be able to tell them that I have something that can fix all of that! I love it so much! Elder Fajardo was a horrible friend, haha and reminded me that after this week I will be within single digits week wise.. I can't believe that it is going this fast! I don't even want to think about it! Thank you everyone for all that you do on a daily basis for me! Thanks mom and dad for the way that you raised me and the life lessons you have taught me over the years! I will be eternally greatful for all that you have given me! I love you all and pray for you each day!
Love
Elder Mackay Dale Shelley picture: Xian's baptism
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