¡Me Encanta el Otoño!

October 9, 2017

¿Como Esta Familia?

We had Zone Conferences this last week with the Hillsboro, Beaverton West, and Cedar Mill zones. It was fun to meet so many new faces, and I've only met a small part of all the 200 some odd missionaries in the OPM. For this conference we focused on pre-lesson steps of preparation and how to transition a normal conversation into a gospel centered one. We did lots of role playing and Elder Clarke and I started out first. President Bullen and the APs were watching us as we pretended to plan a lesson for an actual investigator. It was actually really fun and we were able to get all the proper steps in with out having to look them up. President recognized this and has asked that we coach the other missionaries in an upcoming zone meeting on how to properly do these steps. I'm excited for this opportunity to help other missionaries become better as well as improve myself in my abilities.

I went on another blitz with some other Elders later in the evening and had some success. The first house we knocked the door opened and this older woman said "Hola." Being with an english Elder I just went off from there. In the 15 minute conversation I had with her I was able to get to know this person. Her name is Inocencia and I was able to get a return appointment after giving her Benjamin's Libro de Mormon. I love explaining how my family's testimonies are written on the front cover and how a life changing promise is marked in a book called Moroni. Everyone I have given a libro to I know there lives will change for the better. Even if they don't except the message at first I know that one day they will come to the realization that they have a loving Heavenly Father.

If you remember my investigator Alexis, he decided to attend to our spanish ward instead of the YSA ward, so we are picking him up again. Yesterday he came to church for the third time and we team taught him with our Zone Leaders afterwards. He has really good questions and wants to know for himself that everything is true before he commits to baptism. He did say that he would be baptized if the Libro de Mormon was true. To help him out with this we've set up times every night to video chat with him and read some of the LDM. As questions come up we are both there to clarify them and help him understand. As missionaries we are simply guides as our investigators find the truth out for themselves. We have made a goal to have his baptism on the 28th of this month, we just need to finish all the lessons with him. I have faith that we'll get him into the waters of baptism and on to the temple.

The weather has been beautiful here, mid 70s with skies full of sunshine. I think that is going to change here for this upcoming week but I'm soaking as much of it up as possible. This time of year feels so much different since I hear how the weather has changed so much back at home. I hope you have fun in all the leaves, I know there are always a ton in Utah. I don't have as many here because it is mostly just pine trees but I've seen some good colors. God has blessed us with such beautiful areas to live in and I thank Him everyday for it. Always remember Him in everything you do. Serve those around you, at least by continuously wearing a smile:) I love and miss you all and hope this week is full of fun and adventure.

Con Amor,

Elder Fonnesbeck