WK 66 'Miracle Ministerial Week!!'

Dear Family and Friends!!

Today I am extremely grateful for the revelation we are able to receive especially as missionaries! Revelation is key to everything we do. From the Presidents email today, I was able to receive powerful revelation for our area and zone. Concerning having effective studies and ministering with love! There is an excitement thriving throughout the zone at this time and I can promise miracles are coming in the amazing month of May!

 

This week Elder Torres and myself were able grow and increase our faith in Jesus Christ dramatically.  Overall this week was fairly crazy, we had many things with the zone to accomplish as well as in our own area we had many progressing investigators. So we went out this week and worked as hard as we possible could and knew that God would provide the rest. Throughout the week we saw many mighty miracles. On Monday, we went on a fire exchange with the Royal Palm and Wellington Elders. Elder Neilson and myself were together for the last appointment of the night, to see these kids of the family that they were teaching. We went there but the mom answered the door and said the kids were not home. So we testified, got in and began teaching her. It was amazing to see, as we tied past spiritual experiences, to God sending us there to help her be baptized, a light came on in her eyes. After the lesson she was basically begging us to be baptized. Tuesday, I learned even more to talk with everyone. We were going to an appointment with a member and I saw this teenage boy on the street. So we walked over to him and contacted him. We then went and blessed his home and he accepted everything readily. Wednesday, I learned of the power of the Book of Mormon and of being obedient. We saw this investigator that we have been teaching since I got here and she got antied about the Book of Mormon, by here friend. But we didn't let that stop us, during this lesson as we likened Alma 57:21 to her being an example mother, she felt the Spirit from the Book of Mormon and forgot about everything she had heard. Also, it was seven o'clock and we only had one blessing due to craziness throughout the week. But we had many people that we needed to see. So we looked at each other and decided harvesting to be obedient and get eight by Wednesday was the first priority. So we went out with faith and got seven harvest blessings in one hour. Five of which said yes to baptism! Thursday I was on exchanges in Jupiter South with Elder Free. I was able to learn a lot concerning faith and as we have faith we can overcome all things. Friday, I went on exchanges with Elder Plowman in Fort Lauderdale and I learned an incredible amount. I learned most importantly how we must trust, establish high expectations, and then train and re-train. We saw many miracles through harvesting throughout the day and found many of God's elect children. Then Saturday, I was able to learn of the power of charity and true Christlike love. Elder Rockwood came to interview our investigators, who were preparing to be baptized Sunday. After the interview they were all set to be baptized the next day and I could see a light in them. As I expressed my love for them and most importantly the love that God has for them, I could feel the Spirit very strongly. Then Sunday, we were able to increase our faith in Jesus Christ the most. We saw a miracle of having four people come to church in our area, but had many more that were set to come but did not come. As we were eating lunch after church we were both fairly discouraged, because our baptisms fell through as well. So we had a companionship study, to plan for our investigators. We made specific plans to go follow up with everyone. As we were leaving the apartment Elder Torres offered a prayer that changed my life. Humbly asking God to give us the faith and spiritual power to help our Brothers and Sisters come closer to baptism today. It was amazing to see that as we went to see these children of God after church on Sunday, God filled our mouths with power, authority, and charity. We were able to see huge miracles with helping people prepare for baptism and set 16 baptismal dates this week! We saw as we exercised complete faith in Jesus Christ, he gave us many mighty miracles!

 

The Zone is doing absolutely amazing. These past three weeks it has been amazing to see the conversion of our District Leaders grow. I know the things we have been doing these past three weeks will allow us to see miracles in the month of May! But Elder Torres and myself are in the Stuart Zone, definitely the biggest zone in the mission. We have twenty four amazing missionaries in our zone that I love very much. I am eternally grateful for the opportunity God has given me to serve my fellow Elders and Sisters.

Well God is our Father. Jesus is the Christ. I know these things to be true, and I love both of them!

 

With Love,

Elder Pond

WK65 'Stuart!!'

Dear Family and Friends!

This week was an extremely exciting and unified week here in Stuart South and across the entire Stuart Zone. An excitement is filling the air for the big weekend we will be having on the last week of April. Miracles are coming I can feel it, we just must have faith and always be exactly obedient as you said.

 

This week in our area we saw huge miracles that as we testified of Christ, and brought members over to teach with us, the Spirit was extremely strong. Then we saw a huge miracle at the end of the week, with having eight of our amazing friends come and taste of the Atonement of Christ. Now we will be doing all we can here in Stuart to help these Children of God partake of the Atonement of Christ through baptism this Sunday!

 

I also saw a huge miracle in our area, as I was on exchanges in our area with Elder Fanika. We were going to an appointment that we had, but we turned down the wrong street. Then I looked and saw this man on the side of the street and the Spirit absolutely prompted me to pull over and talk with this man. I kept driving, but then I heard the Spirit tell me the same thing a second time. So we stopped the car, parked, and began heading to this mans house. We knocked on his door, because he had gone inside. Then his whole family came out, we prayed with them, and they explained they had been praying for more peace and strength and this prayer brought that. Then they all accepted baptism! It was amazing to see the Spirit guide us to this amazing family.

 

Sorry today I don't have much time, because Elder Torres and myself are extremely busy today.  We are going down to Wellington, so we can help the District. But, know all is well. We are working extremely hard and thus seeing amazing miracles!

 

With Love,

Elder Pond

WK64 'Inspired Transfer Meeting'

Dear Family and Friends!

First of all, I am very excited for this upcoming transfer! As some of you already know I was transferred up to the amazing area of Stuart as a zone leader with Elder Torres. It is really exciting because Elder Torres and myself have been wanting to be companions for a very long time and finally the Lord gave it to us! It is amazing up here and I am excited to tell ya'll about the many miracles that will be happening! I truly know that this transfer meeting was inspired directly from God and know we will be seeing miracles here in our area and throughout the entire zone!

 

New Companions, Elder Torres & Elder Pond

This week Elder Torres and myself went out and worked very hard in our own area as well throughout the zone! In our area we saw many miracles and found many people who have strong desires to come unto Christ through baptism. The very first day we went out and got to work. We prayed for a place to go harvest, felt inspired to go to a certain area, so we got in the car and drove over there. When we got to the area before we got out of the car we prayed and then started walking. The first people we saw outside we came up to and offered to leave our Saviors peace and blessing. They allowed us to and wanted to be baptized! Then we asked who we could go leave this same prayer with and they sent us to their neighbor who is sick. We left the blessing with her and she wanted to be baptized! Then we asked her who we could leave this blessing with and she sent us to her neighbor as well. When we met her neighbor she broke down in tears and started talking about how badly she has been struggling with everything. We then left a blessing with her and she accepted baptism as well. God blessed us immensely as we were diligent immediately after transfer meeting, and as we asked everyone for referrals!

 

The Zone is doing things that have never been done before as well! Elder Torres and myself had our Zone Training this Friday and it was able to be a huge converting experience for the zone. We set our zone standard for at least 90 NI every single week, which is something that has never been done before. It was amazing to see that as the zone applied the training and kept the fire going we were able to get 118 NI as a zone. The new record! This will fuel us for some huge weeks ahead of baptizing and creating Zion!

Being up here in Stuart is crazy because we drive a lot! The Stuart Zone is huge and even our area is incredibly big. But what was amazing was this Sunday was Stake Conference and I was able to see some of my converts from Wellington. It was really powerful to see how much they have progressed and how amazing they are doing! I do know that this is the Lords work!

Well I gotta go cause we have been working really hard and I am incredibly tired. But ya'll are amazing keep up the work of the Lord!

 

With Love,

Elder Pond

WK63 'Transfer Full of Miracles!!'

Dear Family and Friends!

I feel impressed to start off this email with an immense sense of gratitude for all that my Father in Heaven has done for me recently! I am eternally grateful that I am able to feel of the great and marvelous love that He has for me and all of His children. He has blessed us with so many amazing miracles this past transfer, and feel honored that He trusted us enough to give us the strength to lead ten of his children into the waters of baptism. Last night we received transfer calls and I will be transferred away from the amazing area of Plantation! Off to my fifth area which is super crazy! But I love the area of Plantation with all of my heart and definitely will miss it. But I do know that I must trust in the Lord with all my heart. At the same time I am extremely excited for what he has in store for me as His servant this upcoming transfer. I know through continued humility and diligence in His work I will continue to see miracles from God come to pass.

This week we saw huge miracles with harvesting! While we were introspecting on the past couple of weeks and what we can do even better we felt like our harvesting needed to be more led by the Spirit and powerful. So we set those goals and went out to work hard this week! As we followed the Spirit we were able to meet one person that when we invited her to be baptized she exclaimed, "I have been thinking about getting baptized for the longest time so the other week I prayed for it to happen. I know God sent you here to baptize me!" We also met another that exclaimed she was going through really difficult times and feels an incredible peace whenever she is with us. Then we met a family of five that were all looking for a church and when we invited them to be baptized they all accepted readily. We also were led to someone who said, "Lately I've been going through a really tough time. I wanted someone to pray with me and needed to know what God wanted me to do. So I prayed and a couple days later you guys showed up. When you invited me to be baptized I knew that is what will give me the strength that I need to continue to move foreword." Our loving Heavenly Father blesses us as we give him our all and truly listen to the Spirit.

We also saw a huge miracle this week with an amazing lady that we were helping prepare to be baptized this Sunday. She has had a few dates in the past but something always came up that caused her to get cold feet and not get baptized. This week we were not going to let that happen though! So at the beginning of the week we made a specific baptismal plan for her that involved members like the Relief Society President coming over with us. We went about and executed that plan as flawlessly as possible. But then Sunday came and an hour before her baptism she called us and told us that she doesn't feel ready and to not come over till tomorrow. We were confused but we wouldn't take anything as a reason for this amazing daughter of God to not get baptized. So the next day when we went over there we began by serving her and helping her load things out of and into her truck. Then finally we got to sit down and minister unto her. We began with a humble prayer unto God and then started to testify concerning baptism and how the Spirit of God has told her to come unto Christ through baptism and she needed to listen! Then we asked her the question of how Christ expects her to trust in Him at this time. She said to be baptized. So we testified of Christ once again and said now be baptized this day! She talked about how she had to watch her grandchildren and her car can't fit them. But then we called a member, arranged a ride for all of them, and she was baptized. Huge miracles come from God always! We must always trust in our Savior Jesus Christ!

The District here in Plantation is absolutely amazing! I have grown to love Sisters Dougal, Gordon, Merrill, Stegelmeier, and Elder Rondo a lot. I have seen them grow tremendously for sure! Likewise because of the amazing missionaries they are I have learned an immense amount from them! I am definitely sad to leave them but know that they will continue to see many mighty miracles and become the Children of God that God wants them to become!

Well I truly love and appreciate all of you a lot. But most importantly I truly love and appreciate my loving Heavenly Father. I love Him with my whole heart and soul. I know this work is His. I will continue to submit my will fully unto God. I know this Gospel is true!!

With Love,

Elder Pond

WK62 'Serve Him!!'

Dear Family and Friends!


In the Miracle month of March we did what has never been done before again! My heart is full and my joy is brim that we were able to destroy our baptismal goal of 155 and get 168 as a mission! I know this was possible through our exact obedience, diligence, teaching ability, and conversion to the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. And only through trusting upon the one and only Jesus Christ. This is just evidence of His mighty strength not ours at all. This month I know that as we continue to press foreword with faith in Christ we will once again do what has never been done before!

We saw huge miracles this week!! It was amazing to see the conversion process of someone that we harvested a while back. Elder Wardell and I were biking down a street that we always bike down and the Spirit hit both of us that we needed to stop and knock on this one door. So we listened, locked up our bikes, knocked on the door, and someone answered. We identified ourselves as Representatives of Jesus Christ and he said he wasn't interested and didn't need our prayer. But then we testified!! Most importantly we testified of our Savior Jesus Christ. He then let us pray with him and we specifically were guided to pray for him to find a job. He then accepted baptism, and found two jobs but got extremely busy and had to work Sundays. His family then all got baptized but this past Sunday he got off and came to church. He had a glow about him at church. As he was sitting down in sacrament meeting and we were having testimony meeting he tapped me and asked what was happening. I explained how anyone can go up and  bear testimony and challenged him to go up. He then did! He bore powerful testimony of Christ and what He has done for him in his life. He is now preparing to be baptized once we sort everything out with his probation and it is amazing to already see the change in his life as he has been able to testify of the Atonement of Christ.

This week we also started teaching a professional football player. He plays for the Miami Dolphins and has a super strong desire to follow Christ. The gospel is for all of God's children!!

The District is doing amazing and we are gonna make sure we come in with a lot of fire this week to kick April off strong! I have absolutely enjoyed serving in this amazing District the time that I have so far! Whatever the Lord has in store for me this next transfer is in his hands. But I know whatever does happen, I will continue to serve the Lord with all of my heart!

I love ya'll and next letter will let you know what the Lord has in store for me concerning leaving or staying in Plantation!

With Love,

Elder Pond