Dear Family and Friends,
Guess what!? Half way threw this transfer already I cannot believe how fast this transfer is really going it's crazy!! I absolutely love getting lost in the work of the Lord! But it is getting super hot out here in Wellington. On Saturday Elder Shaffer and I had a lot of work to do because we had to make sure everyone was coming to church, and we biked soo much in the heat! At the end of our day we both went home absolutely exhausted, which is exactly how you should come home every single night on the mission.
This week we had a baptism of the most amazing family in the entire world. They are the reason that missionaries come out on missions, to bring the gospel to people like them! But their family was a refferal, and the transformation that has happened with their family is a miracle from the heavens. When we first met them they were struggling as a family, with happiness, peace, and even health. Now seeing them that they are baptized they are so much more happier! Their family is now preparing to be sealed in the San Diego temple in a year and when I get back home in Utah they said they wanna visit so just be prepared!! But at the baptism we sung Families Can Be Together Forever as the closing hymn and the Spirit just hit me like a brick wall. It was such a strong and powerful spiritual moment for me and everyone there. The Spirit was testifying to me of a whole bunch of things. First of all, that the work we are doing out here as missionaries is the Lords work. That the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints absolutely is the Lords kingdom in these latter days. That the steps this family has been making will allow them to live together forever as a family. That I am preparing now, and one day will go to the temple and that will be one of the most amazing days of my life! But the Spirit was there without a doubt testifying of everything! If there is one thing I have learned on my mission it truly is that we cannot do anything as missionaries without the Spirit, and as we strive to always have the Spirit with us people will recognize us as servants of the Lord, Jesus Christ.
Just like this week we just got out of a teaching appointment we got called off of the street to talk with this guy. As we got closer we noticed that we knew him and was teaching his cousin a while ago, but he wasn't really interested. He pulled us off of the street and basically told us his whole life story and how much he truly needed God in his life right now. We then testified that is exactly why Jesus Christ sent us here. So we went in and left a blessing with his family and on his home. The Spirit was soo strong and powerful! We testified, invited them to be baptized and they are excited to be baptized on the 17th, because of the Spirit that they felt. We then went back two days later and he told us about how that blessing truly did work! The next day he got a call for an interview and things have been working out and falling into place in his life. It gave me a testimony that as we truly strive to have the Spirit with us, we will be recognized as servants of the Lord and MIRACLES will come forth! It also showed me that with faith, anything is possible!
But other than that we have just been working hard here in Wellington South! Trying to dunk the world and bring everyone to the fold of God! Oh and I want to know by next week what you guys have done back home to help the missionaries out or do some missionary work or share the gospel! I expect it to be done and I love you all!! Can't wait to recieve mail from ya'll!!
With Love,
Elder Pond
