Semana noventa y tres:
Back to St. Geezy For
The Last Time
My family,
Well transfer time has
come and only on more remaining. I'm headed down to St. George,
Pineview/Washington area to be more exact. I knew I would most likely be
transferred but I was really hoping to go back to St. George Spanish or just
stay in Ephraim. We have 8 people preparing to be baptized in December and I
was looking forward to their baptisms. I'm praying Elder H can
hold it all together and no one falls through. That worries me the most. It has
been neat to see the transformation of this area over the past transfer. It has
really taken off and I've become part of the fabric of these people's lives.
I'm just torn about leaving. This area has become my second favorite place to
serve. Pineview is a full Spanish area which will be fun. I'm excited to speak
Spanish again but the area was really hard when I left last time. My new
companion's name is Elder Wright, I will be follow-up training him which nothing
is new. The average age of all my companions has to lower than 5 months now. I
guess the Lord has a purpose for me there, even if it is only six weeks. I am
looking forward to it!
This was a really good
week overall! Monday night we invited Carley to be baptized on the 22nd of
December and she gladly accepted. We recommitted Ivan to be baptized the
22nd and he said that was too far away! He should be getting baptized the
15th of December. We also taught R____ with Bishop Wheeler. The lesson went a
lot longer than anticipated but it was a great lesson of pure Book of Mormon
testimony. The spirit was very strong during the lesson. Now R_____ just has to
pray to know that it is true. If anyone has doubts in their testimony of the
Book of Mormon, Elder Holland's video entitled, 'Testimony of
the Book of Mormon' just brings resounding belief that it is indeed a
book from God.
Tuesday was a
good day. We knocked several doors of less-active families and had the
opportunity to share some good messages with them. We had a lesson with C____
and tithing seems to be the biggest thing holding him back. I said a little
more about that on my voice recordings. We went back on Wednesday to share with
him what President Leonard told me and he was visibly upset. IT makes me sad
something like tithing will hold someone back from a complete remission of
sins. Christ said, " If any man will come after me, let
him adeny himself, and
take up hisbcross, and cfollow me.d aFor whosoever will save his life shall
lose it: and whosoever will blose his life for my sake shall cfind it... For where your treasure
is, there will your heart be also." (Mat. 16:24-25, 6:21) And if that is
not enough of a call to action this reminder in John14:15 is, "If ye alove me, bkeep my ccommandments." The thing is, The Church
will keep growing without one families tithing. The Church will still build
temples and meeting houses but we cannot receive all the blessings of the Lord
without keeping the law of tithing. Something my mission has taught me is that
tithing is NOT about the money! This church needs real growth, not baptismal
statistics. The purpose of the gospel is to bring about eternal life and unite
eternal families. That cannot be done without the temple and living the
commandments is a prerequisite to temple attendance.
Saturday was a busy
day. We went to the stake baptismal service to support a girl named Socorro
from the Spanish branch. After her baptism she decided she wanted me to
confirm her a member of the church and give her the gift of the Holy Ghost. I
was honored to do it. Then we went to Erica's Aunt's funeral in Moroni.
The woman wasn't a member but it was a great opportunity for the
church to help out a family in need. She was Catholic but supposedly the
Catholic church charges $150 for funerals. I had no idea funerals and baptisms
cost money in the Catholic church. I got to say the closing prayer as well and
as everyone left we passed out pictures of Christ with our phone number on it.
Anytime is a good time for missionary work.
Well I wish I could
write more but I have to pack and say goodbye. The mission just flies by! When
I'm finally on my game the the mission comes to an end. I love these people
here so much! I'm livin' the dream! Vaya con Dios!
Dios es amor,
Elder Bennion
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