Elder Gavin Batman

Photo Album: https://photos.app.goo.gl/QuW5JQQJL6emqhb68 Wow, what a week we’ve had here on the Northside of Pittsburgh. I can say without question that God is providing for us daily. Recently I’ve been pondering a lot about what it really means to be the missionary the Lord would have me be. More than just doing the work, I’ve been searching to find my identity inside this mission. What I’ve learned this week is that it comes down to one thing: keeping the Spirit with me at all times and responding immediately to the promptings the Holy Ghost gives me. When I’ve acted instead of second guessing, when I’ve shut out that second voice of doubt, everything has fallen into place. I’ve gone to bed each night more fulfilled than the last because I knew, without question, that I was exactly where the Lord wanted me to be that day. That truth was driven home during our exchanges this week. On Thursday I had another incredible exchange with the APs, and I was paired with Elder Verdine. I t...

Photo Album: https://photos.app.goo.gl/QuW5JQQJL6emqhb68 We had our zone conference on friday but since it was President Hoffmans last one before he leaves, he decided to do a Mission wide Zone Conference. The special thing about this was not just how it was a mission conference, it was pretty much a concert. President Hoffman is good friends with the Nashville Tribute Band and Jason Deere came out and performed a ton of his songs inside the stake center. Apparently a lot of his popular songs he wrote in his mission. It was an incredible experience. On Saturday we had an exchange with Southside and I was with Elder Fackrell. Before we had our lunch at Grandma Grace's, we found this incredible lady named Parish. She had been distant in her relationship with God and wants her and her 10 year old daughter to get baptized. We were just able to have a wonderful conversation and ask a ton of inspired questions to her. We had a wonderful African stew for lunch and went to a baptismal ...

Photo Album: https://photos.app.goo.gl/QuW5JQQJL6emqhb68 On Thursday we had an exchange with Southside again. I was with Elder Beynon and it was a fun time. Right at the beginning of our day before lunch we stopped by someone named Tiffany. She had talked with them a bit before and we got to know her a lot and her background. We then talked about baptism with her and she wanted to be baptized and work toward it. She brought out 2 of her 9 kids and we talked with them and they also want to work toward baptism. We set expectations with them and recurring lessons for 3 times a week. What a miracle. Instantly after we were going to stop by this lady when I saw this young lady in her car and I got her to roll down her window and I chatted with her about possibly coming to church and learning more. Her name is Raikera and we were able to set up a time to come to her house a couple blocks over. Funny thing was about how the person we were stopping by was her aunt and she was there for her ...

Photo Album: https://photos.app.goo.gl/QuW5JQQJL6emqhb68 On Tuesday we had an exchange with Southside and I was with the wonderful Elder Fackrell. We had a great day full of teaching opportunities. We had service at the food bank for a little while which pushed our day back. We met this cool crip walking while he was doordashing. We met this cool guy named Oz (Ounce) just walking around and while we were talking with him there was this lady walking by and I stopped her. She had a church already but was interested in checking out ours. I taught her about the Book of Mormon and set up a time to come back. While that was all happening Elder Fackrell had just finished talking with Oz and this guy crashed his bike and just came up to him and talked for a while. We found a lot of people in 1 place, so awesome. Near the end of the night while we were doing calls at the Overlook. We ran into these two girls and talk to them for a while about the gospel. They had some questions about polygam...

Photo Album: https://photos.app.goo.gl/QuW5JQQJL6emqhb68 On Tuesday we had an exchange with Southside right before transfers on Thursday. I was with Elder Williams and it was a pleasant day. We had an amazing meal and an amazing reunion with my Grandpa who just finished his senior mission in Philadelphia. We had lunch at The Nook in Pittsburgh and it was so good. Our day was kind of cooked since we had a few lessons that didn’t go through, which pushed everything back. We still had a member meal with crazy Linda and then a lesson with our friend Trinity. We taught a very in-depth Plan of Salvation lesson and the Spirit was strong. Later we found this cool guy named Dave outside his house wearing a Lakers jersey with a Glock at his feet. We chatted with him about the Book of Mormon and set up a lesson with him and his two teenage sons wearing King Von shirts. What a day. We had transfers this week and Elder Heelis sadly left his reign of Northside. Elder Lunsford replaced him. I jus...

Photo Album: https://photos.app.goo.gl/QuW5JQQJL6emqhb68 On Saturday we had a wild day to say the least. We had a lesson with our friend Trinity at the church and did missionary work as usual. We then got a call from the AP's saying to come to Fogo De Chao for both lunch and dinner hours stacked. All I can say is what an experience, we spent quite a bit of money but it is just some incredible mission lore that I have now. Afterward we then blitz'd the AP's for the rest of the day. I was with Elder Verdine and we just had a great night. We had a lesson with one of their friends Arraina who's getting baptized soon. We went over Priesthood and temples and she basically already knew what they were so that was fun. We then ditched the cars from 6-9pm and proselyted on bikes for the rest of the night, it was the most fun I've had proselyting. We biked around and taught some amazing people and ended our night. What a day. We had another exchange with Southside and I wa...