Transferred!

My new address 

413 Swenson Farms Blvd apartment #1121

Pflugerville, TX  78660

After 3 transfers or 4 1/2 months here in 6th Ward and Alamo Ranch I will be leaving to go up to Austin and will be covering 3 wards. I will miss this area. We have a lot going on. This Sunday Marta came to church again for the third time and she loves how friendly the people are in our church. She has great fellowship and has been progressing a lot. She ran out of coffee and said she wouldn't buy anymore so now the only thing that is stopping her from baptism is tea. She is so close and I'm sure that by the end of the week if not by tonight's visit that we could set her with a date. Last week we assigned her to read Joseph Smith history but she read all of Joseph smith history and the articles of faith as well as a couple chapters in 2 Nephi. Chelsea Baker who is still counting the days tell her baptism on the 20th is still doing great. I will definitely miss teaching these two great people along with many others.

We also had several less actives come including a family that we meet at our 6th Ward Pioneer Day party. They our in Alamo ranch and just moved here and they came to 6th Ward pioneer party because they have cousins in that Ward. We were able to talk with them and they are a great family who use to live in Germany because of military just like everyone else here in San Antonio. They haven't been to church in over 4 years but they came yesterday. Hopefully the Ward will continue to reach out because they would be a great help and members here.

Tomorrow morning I will go to my new areas and meet my two new companions Elder Biesinger and Elder Arroyo. I already know both of them and I am super excited to learn from each of them. They are such great missionaries. Elder Biesinger is my second cousin or something like that. After 9+ months on a bike I will be going back into a car area and will have to start to watch what I eat again. I have never been so excited to go into a new area but I will miss these two great wards.

Consistently!

Marta came to church! This was her second time coming the first was a broadcast of stake conference so it was still very different for her yesterday. She has such great fellowship and knows several people at church which helped a lot. Also President and Sister Polley came to our sacrament meeting and were able to introduce themselves to her. We didn't get to talk with Marta after church but hopefully she had a spiritual experience that will draw her closer to wanting to be baptized. We had two lessons this last week with her and she said that she knows the Book of Mormon is true and also that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God. For some reason she still doesn't want to set up a baptismal date and we think it could be because of the Word of wisdom. We know that the spirit will continue to work on her and that she will eventually and hopefully sooner than later be baptized. She is still praying and keeping other commitments that we extend.

We also had Sister Chelsea Baker come to church. She has been coming for over a month consistently and is counting down the days of her baptism on the 20th of August. Also the husband who has been returning back to activity is counting down the days of when he will receive the Melchizedek Priesthood and also when he will be able to baptize his wife and 8 year old child. The bakers are such a great family and I wish I could be here for when they get sealed in the temple next year. God has truly been blessing Elder Duford and I in our areas.

This week we also had interviews with President Polley. He is so great and I am grateful that I have been able to see the mantle been passed from President Slaughter to President Polley. Only one more week of this transfer.

We went to service twice this week at the food bank. We sorted food one day and then put labels on cans the next time. Usually we have about 10 or so missionaries there. Another hot and humid week on the bikes.

Work in the garden!

Another great week serving the lord here in Texas! Started off the week with our first zone conference with President Polley. It is amazing how the lord has called me to work in the garden here in Texas. President focused how we can "Beatify our gardens" and how we need to find through are hard work, obedience, and faith in our Savior Jesus Christ. President Monson is the Gardner for the entire world. He has chosen me to labor in this San Antonio part of his yard and has given me the responsibility to make it beautiful.

We were also blessed to here from Sister Polley who made sure we understood the importance of the Book of Mormon including the title page, introduction, and testimonies. I have been trying to share a scripture or story from the Book of Mormon at every opportunity that I can. It is amazing how much power comes from teaching with the Book of Mormon and how it can truly answer every question of the soul that we may have.

We also had exchanges on Tuesday and I went with Elder Hart into their area. It was a very short exchange but it was still great. We had a couple lessons in Spanish and one in English so that was fun. He helped me out with some questions I had and shared with me ways that I can continue to improve.

Another super hot week. We have been trying to do a lot of finding to increase our teaching pool. We have been walking and trying to contact people on the street. Haven't found any of the prepared yet but that will hopefully change this week. Had another lesson with Marta this last week on Friday and she is still struggling with the word of wisdom. We will be reteaching the restoration tonight and trying to help her gain a stronger testimony of the prophet Joseph Smith and In turn she will understand that she needs to live the word of wisdom. Hopefully we can help her start progressing a little faster and get her to church next week.

"Fear not what man Can do, FOR GOD SHALL BE WITH YOU forever and ever."

New mission Pres.!

Tuesday we had our first meeting with President and Sister Polley. It is amazing how different they are from the Slaughters. The way that they talk and train is very different. We haven't had any changes since they have been here for a week now but I'm sure in a couple months they will make some changes. I am also looking forward to another meeting and also interviews with President Polley this Wednesday. They were in the MTC for only 3 days and then they arrived here last Monday.

President Polley shared a story of when he was an FBI agent during 9-11 and how they made him work extra hours. He at the time was also holding a stake calling and was trying to find time to spend with his family. During this time he being in the stake had to go help set up and take down for a stake dance that the young men and women were having. After the dance and after all the youth left they made a very big mess for him and other leaders to clean up. It was late, he was tired, he wanted to go home and while he was cleaning with not with the best attitude he thought to himself "who am I really doing this for?". As he thought about this question everything changed and he was full of energy and excited to help serve the lord. He mentioned how at times we will be in a tough situation and we might not want to do something but that we need to always ask ourselves "who we are doing this for?".

During the meeting he also Emphasized on the importance of using preach my gospel each and every day, following the Handbook with exactness, and becoming Christ like through repentance. Such a great meeting!

This week we set two young men with baptismal dates for the 30th of this month. The kids are really excited and have been wanting to go to church for a while now. One son is 16 and he plays football for his high school and the other son is 10. The mother is less active because she had a job that made her work every Sunday but she just this week got a new job where she should have every other week or so off. The husband at the moment isn't to interested. They didn't come to church on Sunday but we will hopefully be meeting with them this week and help them understand the importance of church. Great family. Last name is the stephensons.

Just getting hotter and hotter here in Texas I love it.


Pictures from working in a trailer park one day