Arizona Week 89 - Big Brother

Hello Everyone,

This was another slow week. People have been busy, so we have been trying to find some new people. Not a lot of success in that realm.

The baptism of Cole will be this Saturday. It should be really good. We're excited that we were able to teach his family. We almost didn't get too.

They were on a referral printout and no one had contacted them, so we called and set an appointment. The weekend got busy, and we had to cancel that first appointment.

We think that Cole's mother was a little upset about it because we texted and called many times after that and even went to the house. We saw her peek through the door and then walk away. It was pretty obvious that she was upset with us, but we tried one more time later, and she answered the door. It was a little bit of a cold welcome at first, but we kept going by, and back in December we helped them move. This helped them to open up and now they go to church every week and their son is being baptized. I'm glad that we decided to try just one more time.

Everyone else is doing pretty well also, didn't get to see most of them but we talked and they are doing well.

This coming week will be transfers. We'll see where I end up.

Have a great week.

Elder Kirk

Here are the pictures from last week’s baptism:

Arizona Week 88 - A Pleasant Surprise

Hello Everyone,

This week went well. I only really have one experience to share but it was likely the best experience I have had on my mission. 

On Friday, I received word that a family that I had taught in Mesa would be baptized the following day. This was very exciting, but short notice. Fortunately, we were able to find a ride.

The parents were married that very afternoon by the Bishop and then they and two of their 5 children were baptized (the other 3 aren't 8 yet).

When I arrived, I walked up to the Elders that are currently serving in that ward and asked who was baptizing them. They looked at me in a panic and said, "You are! Didn’t you get our message?!" I had not gotten the message but fortunately had come with a change of clothes.

I was able to baptize the father and mother and another Elder baptized the kids. It was really nice to talk to the husband in the changing room afterward and see how much he has grown in the past 6 months. One of the things he talked about was how he couldn't understand why everyone was trying to get them married. It didn't hit him until he heard about eternal marriage. Then, he noticed the happiness that sealed families had; he could see the difference, and he wanted it for his family. That was the turning point. He then saw marriage and baptism as steps toward an eternal family.

I was a little in shock hearing him bear his testimony to me. I have grown to love this family. I am so glad that they made the decision to be baptized. It fills me with joy that they see the purpose behind it and that they have their eyes set on being sealed in the temple.

I know that I have said it before but I want to again say that this is the reason that I am here as a missionary. It's not only to teach and to serve and to baptize and to activate. The goal that we have for everyone is to be sealed in the temple as a family: husband and wife, parents and children. That is what the Gospel of Jesus Christ is for. To help individuals and families live worthy of being sealed eternally in the temple. This is all possible because of the restoration of the Gospel and the Priesthood. I know that it is true. I have seen it change the lives of the people that I have taught and that, in turn, has changed my life.

I know that the priesthood is restored to the Earth and that through it we are able to be sealed to our families for eternity and receive the ordinances necessary to live with our Father in Heaven again. I know that the Savior lives. I know that the atonement that he made for each of us has power to cleanse us as we repent, and we can always repent. He loves us. I love Him. And I look forward to the day when I can see Him. I know that these things are true. This knowledge has blessed my life and the lives of countless others. Although I am far from perfection, I know that the Lord loves me as He loves all of His children. And He loves you.

Elder Kirk

Arizona Week 87 - Ward Conference

Hello Everyone,

This week went really well. Except that Thomas ditched on his baptismal interview. And the appointment we had later that week. And didn't go to the baptism of another person that he said he would go to, and didn't come to church. So Thomas is slipping backwards a bit.

But Cole Krawczyk had his baptismal interview on Sunday and passed! We are making plans for his baptism on the 28th of this month. They are an awesome family and the ward is really excited that we are working with them.

Sunday was Ward Conference. The Bishop and the Stake President spoke in Sacrament Meeting. The best part is...Anthony came to church! And he loved it. People were very nice to him, he fit right in. It took awhile to convince him to come to church, but he said to us that he would definitely come again next week. He is a great guy. 

When we visited with him earlier this week he gave us each a painting by numbers thing. It has been a lot of fun.

That's pretty much all for this week. Take care.

Elder Kirk

Arizona Week 86 - Not Much

Hey Everyone,

It’s been another one of those uneventful weeks. A lot of people cancelled appointments and skipped out on us and rescheduled. 

We do have a baptismal interview set up for Thomas on Tuesday this week. We'll see how it turns out. We have to keep an eye on him because during the past 12 years or so he has run away on the night before his baptism about 3 times. We hope that we can help him feel comfortable and confident about his baptism.

This coming week when we meet with the Krawczyk family we will be setting a baptismal date for Cole.

Everything seems to moving forward with the people we teach. Anthony is coming along well. We taught him the Gospel of Jesus Christ lesson this past week, and he really enjoyed it. He thought long and hard about whether he had ever received guidance from the Holy Ghost. He seemed pretty concerned at the possibility that he might not have. Recognizing the presence of the Holy Ghost at times in his life will help move him along.

Well that's it. Have a great week.

Elder Kirk

There is a picture of Elder Kirk and Elder Jacobson on the mission blog page. They sang at Christmas.