I'm absolutely loving it out here and feeling the Spirit every day. The people, the work, the opportunities, everything has been so incredible, and I feel truly blessed to be here.
We recently had a blitz day where four elders from Altoona came down to help us cover more ground. My companion, Elder Eldredge, and I ventured into an area we don't usually visit, about 30 minutes from home, and had incredible success. We found 5 new people which is a teaching with principles and commitments and a return appointment. We also found 2 families among those finds which was such a blessing. In fact, Elder Wilkinson and his companion had similar success on the other side of Johnstown, finding 5 new people as well. In total this week we had 17 Finds which is more than all the weeks I've been here combined in just the span of 3 days. God is blessing this area right now and I am so grateful for it.
Among the 17 finds this week, 3 of them included Elizabeth who we found on my first day here at Sheetz and she was interested in us teaching her kids. She just gave us her address which was weird and we have been stopping by for the past 4 weeks. Finally after constant prayers she was home and her 2 girls and they are awesome. Their names are Aubrey and Paisley and they are 11 and 9 and want to meet weekly. They are so shy but really warmed up to us after a while and after they found out what my name was. Paisley said that Batman was her favorite and she dressed up as Catwoman for Halloween. They said they'd be interested in being baptized eventually so we need to make sure Elizabeth had no concerns with our church and her children being a part of it. Please pray for this family that they will continue to have the desire to learn more.
The bad news of this week is that Athena and Mersadiez, who were on track for baptism last Sunday, October 12th, got taken off date for the time being. They were so excited and had really taken to the lessons and teachings, remembering everything we'd taught them. In fact, they were literally counting down the days until their baptism on their fingers just last week. However, when Elder Eldredge and I went to interview them on Thursday, Athena was alone and informed us that they no longer wanted to be baptized on the 12th, feeling they weren't ready. I was surprised by this, as they seemed more than prepared. We asked Athena to share her concerns, but she couldn't give us a concrete answer, saying she was just scared. Sister Parra, our host, thinks their mom might have influenced their decision. Despite this setback, the girls still want to continue with the lessons and church, so we're hopeful we can get them back on track soon. This definitely hurt for me for a while and I was beating myself up over it thinking I was the reason and calling myself a bad missionary. It's a great reminder to put our faith in God and trust in His plan, rather than getting too caught up in our own expectations.
On a happier note, Derrick and Grayson are set for baptism this Sunday, October 19th, which is really exciting. They're both eager and excited, and we're meeting with them daily to help them prepare and understand the significance of baptism.
In testimony meeting on Sunday, I had a powerful experience where I felt impressed to share a 7-minute testimony. It was about missionary work and the parable of the sower, highlighting how everyone there is part of the good soil, serving the Lord. It was a spirit filled experience.
One of the coolest experiences I've had recently was meeting an actual ordained Pastafarian. Yes, a follower of the Flying Spaghetti Monster! He's the only one in Pennsylvania, and we met him while we were out teaching. What struck me was how cool and laid-back he was, despite being part of a rather unconventional group. He even had his strainer on his head, which was a great conversation starter. It was fascinating to learn more about their beliefs and see the passion he had for his faith. He even had his strainer on in his license photo. Despite our differences, we had a great conversation.
Lately, I've been studying the Book of Mormon and what unique insights it offers beyond the Bible trying to expand my knowledge to answer the question of what the Book of Mormon provides that the Bible doesn't. I found some fascinating gems, such as 2 Nephi 2, which clarifies the Fall of Adam and Eve and shows it's a good thing. Moroni 8 provides insight into infant baptism, emphasizing that children are saved through Christ's atonement and shouldn't be baptized until they reach the age of accountability. Ether 3 sheds light on the nature of God, describing Him as having flesh and bone. Alma 40 and D&C 138 offer a deeper understanding of the Spirit World, with Joseph F. Smith's vision being particularly captivating. What stood out to me was the idea that prophets received lessons in the premortal life, predestining them to their roles on earth. I'm having so much fun gaining knowledge and can't wait to learn more.
It's hard to believe, but it's already the last full week of this transfer before we have new missionaries arrive next week. This first transfer has flown by too fast, and I'm hoping to stay with Elder Kress for at least one more transfer. I reached a milestone on September 10th, marking one month in the field, which feels surreal. What an incredible ride.
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