Week 56

Mon, Jul 15, 2013 at 9:18 AM

Re: Mid Summer Spectacular!  

well family...well well well....

Why do I feel like I won't recognize anyone or anything upon my eventual return home?? I don't know.  Anyways, life is going well :)  Sounds like things are going pretty well for y'all.  I can't believe it's only a transfer away that DJ's getting married.  Crazy stuff for sure.  Sounds like y'all had a great sacrament meeting.  That's always a bonus.  We had ward conference on Sunday, which means a lot more when you're not a youth anymore.  When you're a youth, ward conference just means a joint 3rd hour with the young women and some stake speakers...but my eyes of understanding in regards to the organization of the Lord's church have been opened since my mission, and I see the bigger picture.  We had a good ward council run by the Stake Presidency.  We were able to attend.  Then our Stake President spoke in sacrament meeting, which was really good.  The meeting went extra long though.  Almost an hour and a half. 

For mom, I am biking more.  This past week not as much.  but my legs are getting beefier, so oh yeah :)  haha.  Letters wise I forgot to write them down, but I believe I received one from grandma with a gift card in it :) thanks grams, 1 from mom, holly, sis. nelson/o'dwyer. 

A lot of good things are going on here in Wake Forest 1st ward.  It is super exciting.  In fact...a lot of great things are going on in my district period.  We are definitely seeing a lot of growth.  This Saturday, we'll be having a baptism of the daughter of our high priest group leader...I can't remember if I told you last email...she had been taught and interviewed in California, but her interview was 5 weeks ago, so we had to go over the lessons with her and reinterview her.  It all went well, but I've never taught those lessons so fast :)  Then next week, one of my favorite families is getting baptized.  At least the mom and the 2 kids are ... the dad is already a member.  They are great and loving everything.  The dad received the Aaronic priesthood yesterday which was a powerful experience, so he'll be able to baptize his family.  So amazing.  I love this work.  This is the reason that I'm here serving the Lord...to see God's precious sons and daughters make sacred covenants and unite as a family in order to one day return to live together with him.  It makes everything worth it. :)  Last night, we got a text from the dad and he told us that his wife, the one that will be baptized in 2 weeks, just completely defended keeping the sabbath day holy to her dad, who wanted to buy something for her yesterday, but she wouldn't let him because it wasn't right to make other people work.  WOW.  I love it...all of it :) 

So, on Saturday, we heard from our zone leaders who informed us that only two members of our district were being transferred.  The assistant to the president who has been there for 9 months and a sister who is going home after 18 months.  So, myself and Elder Warren are staying....except....on Sunday morning, we got a text from President Bernhisel asking us to call him when we could.  We did.  And he informed us that due to some events that occurred with one of the elders in the mtc, (he'll be staying in the mtc till August), one of the prospective Spanish trainers no longer had someone to train.  Well, President Bernhisel, under the influence of the spirit, rearranged some things so that Elder Warren is being transferred down into Raleigh to be trained by the Spanish trainer in a Spanish area, so I'm really excited for him :)  Consequently, I now need a new companion, so I will be training again this transfer, not a visa waiter this time.  Crazy stuff.  I feel bad for Elder Warren though because he has to miss these 2 baptisms.  Funny part about it is, the Spanish area he's going to actually covers our area, just in Spanish (and a lot more ;) ). 

Well, I don't have much else to say.  We are seeing a lot of growth overall, which is great.  Halfway through July already blows me away.  We've been getting a ton of rain recently, but I love rain. :)  It is truly amazing what the gospel can do for us -- what Heavenly Father's plan of happiness truly means.  I know the Book of Mormon is truly scripture and I'm not sure in the least bit where I'd be without it.  Modern revelation is amazing.  As Brigham Young said, it's the most important out of any and all scripture we have. 

Thanks for everything you all do.  I love y'all so much.

Love always,

Elder Patty