A Basketball Player, a Tight-End, and a Goalkeeper - I Got a Chance to Teach Them All

It is Transfer Week, and Elder Johnson and I are staying in Buena Vista.  

We ended this transfer great!  This past transfer (as a zone) we went from seven investigators with a Baptismal date in week 1 to 24 investigators with a Baptismal date by week 6

!  Around 20 of those are on date for the Sept. 20 - Nov.1 transfer!  We hope to see many Baptisms, and continue to prepare others for their Baptism for future transfers.

We only had four changes in the Zone.  We have one new area that was created (

White Sulpher ward got split in half.  Now two sets of missionaries cover the whole ward.  It's the biggest unit in the mission though, so they needed it).

So, that makes 15 companionships, plus the Senior couple.  Out of those 15 companionships, 10 of them are training (whether they are in their 1st or 2nd transfer of training), so a lot of young missionaries! 

This past week and a half seemed like, if everything would have stayed as planned, we would have had one of the greater weeks we've ever had in Buena Vista, but everything didn't stay as planned, and we had a lower week!

At this time, I would like everyone to think of creative ways to find people to teach!  Elder Johnson and I need to get really creative, so we want to get as many ideas as possible! 

As for the week...here we go!

Sep. 14, Mon: Happy Birthday, Mom!

We went golfing for P-Day.

 Lexington Golf and Country Club has a sweet deal on Mondays of 9 holes for $9!

Elder Johnson's dad and grandpa used to be professional golfers in the state of Utah!

So, he really wanted to go!  I always enjoy a good round of golf!  We were both pretty rusty after not playing our whole mission!

We also taught Peggy with Sister Cook and Brother Alvstad.  We taught her the first half of the Plan of Salvation; she seemed to agree with most things we taught. 

Sep. 15, Tues: We walked a lot today; we walked to the Southers', an old couple in the ward, who are so old, they can't really move a whole lot.  They really appreciated the visit.  They've been married for 66 years!
We taught Brother Camden today; he's less-active, but absolutely loves the missionaries.  We had a really good lesson on Faith and Repentance, and the upward spiral effect that they have on each other.
Then after dinner with the Flores', Brother Flores came with us to the Floyd's and we also had a great lesson on Faith leading to action, and increasing faith through prayer. 

Sep. 16, Wed:  As we were teaching Peggy today, it came up that she believes in the Trinity.  The lesson deviated to that, and she was confusing us a little.  We, of course, brought it back to The First Vision, and how she can know if they are three separate beings, if Joseph Smith is a prophet, and if the Book of Mormon is true.  She still doesn't believe she needs the Book of Mormon, just the Bible.
We had dinner at the Siegel's - they are becoming one of my favorite young couples out here.
We then went to the Garrett's (Misty and family) and they fed us pizza there as well, so we were stuffed.  Brandon (non-member dad) was walking in and out of the lesson, so he seems a little indifferent, but I was able to ask him about the Book of Mormon.  

Sep. 17, Thurs:  We had a special zone conference today in Roanoke, so the Mission Vehicle Department could fit our cars with Tiwi boxes - they monitor your driving, and report it to the mission office if you're driving reckless.  

The conference itself was awesome!  I got to see Elder Boyd, one of my former companions, and also Elder Barnett (also from Viewmont, a 2015 graduate, we had seminary together my Sr. year.  He's been on his mission for 3 months).

{Elder Barnett & I - Go VIKES!}

 

 
When we got back, we went with Brother Turman after dinner to go see the Ramsey's.  We had a really great lesson on how simple the Gospel is using the golden serpent story when ALL the children of Israel had to do was look, and they would be healed.  Hopefully, they can realize how simple it is, and they should just start coming back to church.

Sep. 18, Fri:  Elder Johnson's 20th Birthday!  

I had the other Elders in our complex (Rockbridge and YSA Elders) come over early in the morning, and we woke Elder Johnson up and sang "Happy Birthday" to him!
After a long day, we had a lesson with Betty and Debbie on scripture study and prayer with Brother Blake.  Debbie had gotten Elder Johnson a cake!  So, we had cake and ice cream!

{GO UTES!  GAMEDAY!}

 

Sep. 19, Sat:  We had an appointment set up with George, but he wasn't there all day! :( 

We talked to some real nice people today.  Our Church was often brought up though.
Buena Vista has some basketball courts, so we went there because we saw a good game going.  We were able to talk to a sweet guy named, Tony, just shooting.  He's 26, and I was able to relate to him with his love for sports, and Elder Johnson was able to relate with him on some personal things he was going through, but we testified of the Atonement there on the basketball court.  We will have to pass him over to the YSA Elders, but he's awesome!  He's totally interested in talking with us more!

Sep. 20, Sun:  George is alive!  We saw him for the first time in a week.  He told us to come back at 6:00, which ended up not working for him in the end. 

Church was good.
We had dinner at the Fuentes'; Brick-oven cooked Empanadas. 

Sep. 21, Mon:  We taught a lesson to Peggy - this quickly turned into a "Do or Die" lesson.  I recall asking her one point in the lesson, "Peggy, if you pray and ask God if Joseph Smith is a prophet, and if the Book of Mormon is true, and you come to know that it is, what are you going to do about it?" She responded, "Nothing." and shrugged her shoulders. Well,  I guess that's her choice - just too set in her ways. 

We had a much better lesson with Betty and Debbie on keeping the Sabbath day holy.  We committed Betty to ask her doctor if she could leave the house and go to church just for one hour.
We also had dinner with the Carroll's (Brother Carroll is the goalkeeper for the SVU soccer team).
We had a mini FHE with the Miller's (Brother Miller is the tight-end for the SVU football team).
Are you seeing the trend here????

Sep. 22, Tues:  Elder Johnson and I have committed to start visiting the members more, so we can gain their trust.  We had dinner with the Forsberg's, then a member lesson with Brother Hunter (huge 007 fan!), then the Edwards' (Lavell's grandson).

Wheww! 

What a week!  Always so exciting! 

This week, I've realized how much I need to improve as a missionary/person.  Not in a self-decimating way, but I'm humbly realizing bit by bit, what I can do to improve.  I'm excited to do so!

This Gospel is all about change!  I'll share a little bit of President Salisbury's email this week: 

Malachi 3:3
- The purpose of purification is so that we can give a better offering to Heavenly Father.
- Even the purist of the pure people on earth still need to be purified.
- When gold is refined, imperfections rise to the surface so they can be taken away. 
- When our weaknesses rise to the surface, it is a good thing - not only because it means we have come closer to Christ (as we learn in Ether 12:27), but because it means that our weaknesses are ready to be scooped out. 
- The refiner knows the exact temperature that causes our weaknesses to surface so they can be taken out. That temperature is just hot enough to allow the imperfections to be removed without losing any fraction of the gold. It is just cool enough so that the gold is not ruined. 
- The refiner sits—because it takes a while to complete the process. 
- When the refiner can see his own reflection, He knows the process is done.

Keep turning to your Savior, Jesus Christ!  He will mold you to who Heavenly Father wants you to be. 

Love Ya! 

Love, Elder Brenchley