Hello everyone, (from Andrew)
This has been a good day so far for me and this past week went well, also. Things are changing all around me: the weather, the people, my companion, and my view of my mission. I love it. It has been a very blessed week so far in my mission, even though the numbers do not show it. This week, we had Zone Conference and it was all centered on how we need to be using the members more in our missionary work and having them find the people. The first thing that was talked about was utilizing dinner appointments and church meetings to find members that can come out with us and to help them gain trust in us as representatives of Jesus Christ. We are to strengthen the members and help them fulfill their purpose to share the gospel. We are to use the chance to go out on splits with the members to help them get out with us. They will be able to help us while we go finding with them and trying to see people. One of the high council members over missionary work from the Vacaville stake came and talked to us about what members want to see in missionaries and help us realize what members go through to come out with us. It was very humbling and allowed me to repent of my mistakes when I've tried to get members to come out with us. I learned how to help them with the opportunity to share the gospel. Then President Bunker spoke on how we need to be careful with the things we do each day and keeping our image the best we can and how to help members, less actives, and nonmembers trust us. He also showed us some videos from mormon.org that helped us understand the way the gospel can help everyone in every situation. It was amazing to see how much the things we talked about at this Zone Conference helped me enhance me efforts and the success in our own area. Things are starting to turn around for us and we are finding people to teach. We still run into the usual people that like to yell at us and curse us out, but there is always opposition in all things. It is going well out here. We are now entering into the last week of the transfer and we find out on Friday or Saturday who leaves and who stays. This Sunday and past week has helped me realize what it will take to have success and find people. I have noticed that everyday my mind has been impressed to figure out what to do to be better is to Pray. So simple. Prayer is the key to success, I think. When we can utilize the powers of heaven within our own daily lives, we will see miracles happen. We just have to ask more often throughout the day. I have realized how few times I ask God for help thoughout the day. I have been trying to do it on my own and not asking for help. Now I realize the power prayer has in missionary work. Yesterday during church, the member speaking gave a great talk that sealed the things I had been thinking about throughout the week. He shared many experiences from his mission and life that started with "I prayed." It allowed me to realize that I need to pray more. So we tried it when we went to talk to a former investigator. When we pulled up to the lady's house, I felt the urge to pray before we went in. Elder Foyston said a pray for us that we would be able to get into her home and teach her the restoration and help her learn about the gospel. When we knocked on the door, she answered and let us right in. We taught her about the restoratioin and we set another appointment to came back and talk more. It was so amazing to me to think that the answer to my questions has been there in front of me for so long and I did not see it, but now I am going to utilize prayer even more in my mission from now on. I have learned a lot this week and have been truly humbled. I love it. I love all of you and wish you all the best.
Elder Pelton