¡Hola Fonzfam!
Happy Thanksgiving everyone! At least I think it's Thanksgiving this week even with all of the Christmas decorations and stuff in the stores. It's too bad this holiday gets overlooked by the world so much. This day of gratitude provides an opportunity to reflect on the blessings that we have instead of the things that we want. My companion and I(btw Elder Hadfield and I are staying together for the holidays!) have had many offers for Thanksgiving dinner so we'll be all set(you don't have to worry Mom;)
Now that everyone's been baptized into the YSA, we're looking to the few people left in our teaching pool to see where the next one will come from. We are constantly building our teaching pool and we're doing our best to find through own efforts and members. The consistency and quality of finding is what we're shooting for. I'm so excited about this area and what we can do here over this holiday transfer. To help us in our efforts we have the Light the World campaign that's run by the Church. To kick it off will be Service Saturday on December 1st where we'll be organizing projects for members, nonmembers, and missionaries to take part in. Then each week will be a different focus: Light the World, Your Community, Your Family, and Your Faith. December 23rd is Invitation Sunday where we all have to the responsibility to invite nonmember and less-active friends and family to join us for a one hour Christmas program. It's going to be an awesome transfer as we're going to get our zone pumped!
During the day on Wednesday, we weren't having very much success with the people we were talking to. It wasn't until the later part of the evening that we made our way over to potential person we talk to a while ago. We knocked on her door but nobody answered. Leaving we heard a door open and so we turned around and saw a guy from the top floor leaving his apartment. We asked him if he knew his neighbor and began a great conversation with him. His name is Mason and he asked a lot of questions about the Restoration which led to us sharing a copy of the BoM with him. He's one of those guys that you can see becoming a solid convert once the Spirit swings in there and testifies.
Elder Clements and I drove over to Tualatin Saturday morning for Adwoa's baptism. When she saw us her face lit up because she didn't think we were able to come. She was so bubbly and happy and ready for her big moment. The Meridian Park ward was all there to support her and even Mustafa, her husband who was beaming and excited for his wife along with Farris, their little one-year-old son. Bishop Davis was able to perform the ordinance. Immediately after being raised out of the water, Adwoa turned to all those who love her and gave a huge smile. When she bore her testimony she said how she made the decision to be baptized because she knew it was the next step for her to come closer to Christ. I'm so grateful for her and so proud of her!
I was reviewing the Holy Ghost in Preach My Gospel this last week and I wanted to share what I learned. I started out by asking myself a few simple questions:
- What is the Holy Ghost?
- How does the Holy Ghost help us?
- Who can we keep worthy of the Gift of the Holy Ghost?
We know the Spirit to be the third member of the Godhead. The first article of faith teaches us this clearly, "We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost." Secondly, we know the Holy Ghost is a personage of spirit so that He can dwell in us, and we get the gift of the Holy Ghost comes by laying on of hands of one who has priesthood authority. Having the Spirit to be with us is an important tool in our lives because it can warn, comfort, and testify. We can do simple things to have it be with us like keeping the commandments, praying daily, reading the scriptures, and serving and loving everyone around us. Elder Stevensen of the 12 shared a promise that as we "stay close to the Spirit, the Spirit will stay close to [us]."
It's going to be a bright new transfer and I'm glad to be a missionary during this time of year:) I love you all and I hope that you're able to enjoy this week of gratitude with our family.
Love,
Elder Fonnesbeck
PS - Have a great baptism Brock! Love you!
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| It was a beautiful day for Adwoa's baptism! |
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| Adwoa on her special day with her husband, Mustafa and her little boy Farris |
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