Dear Family and Friends!!
Well today I
have a heart FULL of gratitude for God and the mercy of Jesus Christ
towards me. This week has definitely been a crazy week but one that has
completely changed my life. I will eternally be grateful for this past
week and the things God has taught me.
It all started Monday as we got out to work hard in the amazing
area of Stuart South. We went and taught some lessons to our baptismal
dates and were getting harvest blessings through contacting everyone on
the streets. Then it was 8:30 PM and we walked past this group of ten
people to go see a potential investigator. They weren't home so as we
walked past this group of people again we decided to stop and leave our
Saviors peace and blessing with them. They accepted and after the prayer
many of them were in tears. They expressed extreme gratitude and of how
Christ sent us there. As we invited them to be baptized they couldn't
of been more excited. We all walked away from that experience edified
and uplifted by the Lord.
Then something HUGE happened on Wednesday. I had my interview with
President Anderson. At this time I was extremely excited for the amazing
things that have been happening for the amazing Stuart Zone. We had an
amazin Zone Training and the work was rolling foreword. But I sat down
with President, he looked at me and said I feel impressed by the Spirit
of God to tell you that you will be transferred out of Stuart South
today. The assistants will call you when I inform them and come pick you
up. My immediate impression was my jaw falling to the ground because I
couldn't believe I was being transferred in the middle of the transfer.
But immediately the Spirit of God told me that this was from him.
Then I got the honor of spending Wednesday-Friday with the
Assistants and learned an incredible amount. These three days
completely changed my life. Some of the things I learned were:
Everything we do needs to be measured by effectiveness.
Some Children of God move greater by pressure and others by motivation.
We as leaders must be respected and not fall into trying to be liked..
We must build a culture in our zones of conversion to our purpose and having faith on the Lord.
Everything we DO is to help us BECOME!
There must be purpose behind everything that we do.
Pride diminishes our spiritual power and skills as children of God.
We are challenging and testifying missionaries!
Do not ever forget the basics and fundamentals!
You can learn a life lesson from any situation!
And
much, much more. As a result of these three days I have become a more
Christlike Son of God and I thank God for these three days!
Then Saturday I got transferred down to Palm Springs with Elders
Skousen and Hall as Zone Leaders in the Hialeah Zone. Yupp I am finally
down in Miami baby!! And as well back with Elder Hall who was my
companion in Fort Laud South. This call was from God! We went out and
worked hard on Saturday and saw huge miracles by getting six new
investigators to sacrament meeting. We now have seven baptisms lined up
for this Sunday and know as we exercise faith God will strengthen us to
accomplish this!
Then something Elder Skousen said on Sunday changed my life as
well. "When I was on exchanges with Elder Plowman he asked me what I
want to accomplish the last three weeks of my mission. I said to have
more faith and help others have that faith. Then more effectively
minister to our District Leaders. Then God sent you here." God is
amazing! He knows what He is doing and I know this is His work! I know
He has sent me here to the Hialeah Zone and we will see miracles!
But Brothers and Sisters I love you all! Miami is amazing! And the
work of God will continue to roll foreword always! Just push with all of
your heart, might, mind, and strength.
With Love,
Elder Pond
Let's Go Miami Heat!! Haha..
