The members love Esther! She's having dinner with two of them this week. She will be getting baptized this weekend. She has a cool story. The crazy thing about Salt Lake is that every person has a unique situation. They all have crazy and unique circumstances. Its never simple problems they are always so bizarre and complex. I only have about 10 minutes to write this so I will make it quick.
We had a lesson with Carson Cronk. He lives in a very wealthy ward. His parents are anti and less active members. His dad went on a mission and got sent home because he went to a bar and beat up his companion. We ate dinner with them recently. They are very nice but very against the church. Carson is an awesome kid. He has so much going for him: his life now and his future. Anyways we had a lesson with him this past week. We taught him the first discussion. It is a testament that you never can judge, you just have to give them an opportunity to accept or reject the message. We perceived that he would say yes to taking the lessons because his friends are Mormon and he's just a polite and nice kid. We weren't sure if he had any real spiritual inclination to know more or to figure out life's questions. Anyways we had a lesson with him and we asked him if he had ever prayed. He broke down and said he always wondered if there was something more and he wanted more meaning to his life. He wants to know life's big questions. He said the closing prayer in the midst of tears. The Spirit was there so strongly. You can tell that he was prepared and that God had waited a long time for this. It was very overwhelming.
We also prayed for a miracle last night and someone called us and asked us to teach his kids. They will be getting baptized at the end of February. We have seen so much success in this area. I never thought that it would be that way. We currently have 8 people preparing for baptism with a date. God has blessed us to much.
-Elder Bass
Later Notes: We went to Bishop Eccles house one night and they kept us for family prayer and scripture study. I remember the feelings i had and i felt like i had received a vision of how i wanted my family to be. I wanted that loving atmosphere that they had and i wanted to be the leader and gather my family around me to worship God.
A record of Alex's 2 year service in the Salt Lake City East mission. June 2014-June 2016
Monday, January 26, 2015
Monday, January 19, 2015
Week 32-Holladay, UT
Transfers came. I will be staying with Elder Thompson another transfer. I am excited and we will find a lot of success together. I am trying to repent more and change more. I want to be a different person coming back. I have made some good friends this transfer and they will for the most part all be staying. That is exciting. I honestly don't know what to talk about so much happens its hard to single out things.
Esther came to church and she was engulfed into one of our wards. She said a prayer in Swahili in one our classes and shared her testimony in Relief Society. The members absolutely love her and us. They spoil us so much. Esther is already like converted! She is ready and will be baptized the 31st! I love her so much; she is so funny. She is from Uganda and lived in Kentucky a while. It's funny she is super African but you can tell she's lived in KY for a little bit! I really wish everyone can meet these people they are all so amazing.
Also another thing about Esther. When we found her at the baptism, she lived way outside our area. We taught her the first discussion later. That night, in our companionship prayer, I asked God that if we were supposed to teach her that she would be able to move into our area and if not that we could pass of the referral quickly and successfully. She had told us that she was possibly thinking about moving. The next morning she calls us and told us she was evicted from her apartment. She then moved to our area. It is amazing to see the Lord do his work.
Curtis also came to church and brought his mother. They should both be baptized this next month. Curtis has come a long ways. He is really awesome and keeping all of his commitments. He is beginning to see the light of the gospel. It is cool to see.
My district was struggling a lot when I came in. One companionship has completely turned around their area the other is still struggling. It's hard to work with people and give them advice. The companionship who is struggling simply just won't work. It's a shame to be wasting two years of your life.
I gave someone an interview at temple square the other day. As the Elder I was on exchanges with and I walked out of temple square, we started talking to a few homeless people. We gave them a Book of Mormon and told them to give it to one of their friends. One of them is an alcoholic and asked for a blessing. The other one's friend died and asked for a blessing of comfort. So we gave two homeless people a blessing just outside temple square. It was an experience I'm not sure I will forget. We also found a new investigator that night. Elder Valdez is a good zone leader. There is so much to say. I am trying to memorize scriptures and quote them when I need them. I am excited to try it out. Things are looking up a lot in our area! We have found much success and continuously see doors open and our path unfolds to amazing things each day. I love my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ his son. They are so involved in my life and bless me with so much!
-Elder Bass
Later Notes: I remember the first time that i worked out with weights. We used the top of a dresser as a bench and had a circuit training. I was so intensely sore the next week all of my upper body. It was very painful. We drove to the zone leaders house and worked out with them.
We went to a brazilian steakhouse this week to celebrate Elder Graydons birthday. It was fun i did feel a little upset because we were being cliquish. Only three companionships went.
That night with Elder Valdez or it may have been another night close to, we went and knocked on apartment doors having the faith that we would find a new investigator for YSA. Sure enough a guy opens the door who is YSA and invites us in....
Esther came to church and she was engulfed into one of our wards. She said a prayer in Swahili in one our classes and shared her testimony in Relief Society. The members absolutely love her and us. They spoil us so much. Esther is already like converted! She is ready and will be baptized the 31st! I love her so much; she is so funny. She is from Uganda and lived in Kentucky a while. It's funny she is super African but you can tell she's lived in KY for a little bit! I really wish everyone can meet these people they are all so amazing.
Also another thing about Esther. When we found her at the baptism, she lived way outside our area. We taught her the first discussion later. That night, in our companionship prayer, I asked God that if we were supposed to teach her that she would be able to move into our area and if not that we could pass of the referral quickly and successfully. She had told us that she was possibly thinking about moving. The next morning she calls us and told us she was evicted from her apartment. She then moved to our area. It is amazing to see the Lord do his work.
Curtis also came to church and brought his mother. They should both be baptized this next month. Curtis has come a long ways. He is really awesome and keeping all of his commitments. He is beginning to see the light of the gospel. It is cool to see.
My district was struggling a lot when I came in. One companionship has completely turned around their area the other is still struggling. It's hard to work with people and give them advice. The companionship who is struggling simply just won't work. It's a shame to be wasting two years of your life.
I gave someone an interview at temple square the other day. As the Elder I was on exchanges with and I walked out of temple square, we started talking to a few homeless people. We gave them a Book of Mormon and told them to give it to one of their friends. One of them is an alcoholic and asked for a blessing. The other one's friend died and asked for a blessing of comfort. So we gave two homeless people a blessing just outside temple square. It was an experience I'm not sure I will forget. We also found a new investigator that night. Elder Valdez is a good zone leader. There is so much to say. I am trying to memorize scriptures and quote them when I need them. I am excited to try it out. Things are looking up a lot in our area! We have found much success and continuously see doors open and our path unfolds to amazing things each day. I love my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ his son. They are so involved in my life and bless me with so much!
-Elder Bass
Later Notes: I remember the first time that i worked out with weights. We used the top of a dresser as a bench and had a circuit training. I was so intensely sore the next week all of my upper body. It was very painful. We drove to the zone leaders house and worked out with them.
We went to a brazilian steakhouse this week to celebrate Elder Graydons birthday. It was fun i did feel a little upset because we were being cliquish. Only three companionships went.
That night with Elder Valdez or it may have been another night close to, we went and knocked on apartment doors having the faith that we would find a new investigator for YSA. Sure enough a guy opens the door who is YSA and invites us in....
Monday, January 12, 2015
Week 31-Holladay, UT
I honestly don't know where to start there is so much that has happened. I honestly could write an email for everyday here in Holladay. Things are going very well. The stake is seeing more work than they have had in years. It is cool to be apart of the hastening of the work in Holladay Utah. Who would have guessed this would be an awesome area but it is.
Haruna wanted "daddie" or president to baptize him. It was an amazing baptism. We had two potential investigators come to the baptism and will now be teaching both of them. The spirit was so strong there! One of Haruna's African friends came and after feeling the spirit that was there, she came up to us afterwards and said that her family died and she felt a happiness at the baptism she wants more of in her life. We had a lesson with her last night where she explained her situation more. Things are crazy in Africa. I feel for them. I don't understand what they feel, but I love them to death. Haruna had a crazy night, the night of his baptism. His roommate decided to invite a whole bunch of people over to "celebrate" his baptism. They brought alcohol and a lot of very sketchy people and other stuff. His roommate was drunk and then got in a fight with him because he wouldn't participate and didn't agree with what they were doing. He called us crying; I felt so bad for him. He stayed strong so I am super happy for him. He is already converted! We came over in the morning and he packed up all his stuff into this tiny suitcase and he stayed at the church for a few hours. He was confirmed and then we got him a bus ticket back to Colorado where his family lives. He says he is going to save some money and move back with his family. I hope they come back when I am still here. He is an amazing guy. I thought for a little bit yesterday that we might have just baptized him to baptize him and that he may not have been ready. After further reflection, I concluded that his roommate opened him up and he wouldn't have met with us if it wasn't for his roommate. God had prepared him to receive the ordinance of baptism and literally the next night he ended up back in Colorado. I know he will find the church there and I know that he will bring the missionaries to teach the rest of his family. That may have been the only reason God wanted him to come to Utah. I know he was ready.
Member trust is really going up. They love us and I absolutely love Utah Mormons. They are so kind to us. Russ was also baptized yesterday in a different service. Russ had been smoking for 35 years and stopped cold turkey with the program that we have here. The program completely integrates God into every level. It truly shows that with Gods help all things are possible. Russ is also very converted. He had been meeting with missionaries for a very long time. It was so amazing to see him make it! The ward supported him in every phase and so many were there at his baptism. There are so many people coming out of the wood work. I am so tired and exhausted. There is so much work here.
Curtis is another person we are teaching. He is great! I love him. He too has had a super hard life. He tried to kill himself at one point and recently his brother did too. Anyways we asked him to say a prayer at the end of our lesson and he just started crying and pouring out his heart to God. He is doing everything that he is supposed to and I know that he will start to see some awesome miracle blessings!
Anyways thanks for the love and the emails. Love you all
-Elder Bass
Later Notes: President and Sister Eberhardt took Elder Thompson and I out after the baptism. We went to Arbys.
I remember one mini fight we got in when i threw snow at him in the car. He was like, "dude the car is the safe zone." One of my weaknesses is to take jokes to far and making fun of people when they are being serious. Still working on it...
One experience that we had was with Brother Milner (a man who played a big role in this area). He found someone for us to teach. He brought them to his home and we taught them. His name was Dusti and his girlfriends name was Kelli. He accepted a baptismal date in the first lesson. Dusti was unemployed. He went home and prayed and the next day he had a job. It was a testimony to Dusti.
One experience that we had this week brought me down a little bit. We received a referral in a very wealthy neighborhood. We went there on a weekend night to contact it. They let us in and mocked us a good bit. One of the ladies said to us (mostly speaking to Elder Thompson) that we should have a drink and go home and forget about all this. (pointing to the name tag and Book of Mormon we were holding). I remember being pretty distraught about the whole thing.
Haruna wanted "daddie" or president to baptize him. It was an amazing baptism. We had two potential investigators come to the baptism and will now be teaching both of them. The spirit was so strong there! One of Haruna's African friends came and after feeling the spirit that was there, she came up to us afterwards and said that her family died and she felt a happiness at the baptism she wants more of in her life. We had a lesson with her last night where she explained her situation more. Things are crazy in Africa. I feel for them. I don't understand what they feel, but I love them to death. Haruna had a crazy night, the night of his baptism. His roommate decided to invite a whole bunch of people over to "celebrate" his baptism. They brought alcohol and a lot of very sketchy people and other stuff. His roommate was drunk and then got in a fight with him because he wouldn't participate and didn't agree with what they were doing. He called us crying; I felt so bad for him. He stayed strong so I am super happy for him. He is already converted! We came over in the morning and he packed up all his stuff into this tiny suitcase and he stayed at the church for a few hours. He was confirmed and then we got him a bus ticket back to Colorado where his family lives. He says he is going to save some money and move back with his family. I hope they come back when I am still here. He is an amazing guy. I thought for a little bit yesterday that we might have just baptized him to baptize him and that he may not have been ready. After further reflection, I concluded that his roommate opened him up and he wouldn't have met with us if it wasn't for his roommate. God had prepared him to receive the ordinance of baptism and literally the next night he ended up back in Colorado. I know he will find the church there and I know that he will bring the missionaries to teach the rest of his family. That may have been the only reason God wanted him to come to Utah. I know he was ready.
Member trust is really going up. They love us and I absolutely love Utah Mormons. They are so kind to us. Russ was also baptized yesterday in a different service. Russ had been smoking for 35 years and stopped cold turkey with the program that we have here. The program completely integrates God into every level. It truly shows that with Gods help all things are possible. Russ is also very converted. He had been meeting with missionaries for a very long time. It was so amazing to see him make it! The ward supported him in every phase and so many were there at his baptism. There are so many people coming out of the wood work. I am so tired and exhausted. There is so much work here.
Curtis is another person we are teaching. He is great! I love him. He too has had a super hard life. He tried to kill himself at one point and recently his brother did too. Anyways we asked him to say a prayer at the end of our lesson and he just started crying and pouring out his heart to God. He is doing everything that he is supposed to and I know that he will start to see some awesome miracle blessings!
Anyways thanks for the love and the emails. Love you all
-Elder Bass
Later Notes: President and Sister Eberhardt took Elder Thompson and I out after the baptism. We went to Arbys.
I remember one mini fight we got in when i threw snow at him in the car. He was like, "dude the car is the safe zone." One of my weaknesses is to take jokes to far and making fun of people when they are being serious. Still working on it...
One experience that we had was with Brother Milner (a man who played a big role in this area). He found someone for us to teach. He brought them to his home and we taught them. His name was Dusti and his girlfriends name was Kelli. He accepted a baptismal date in the first lesson. Dusti was unemployed. He went home and prayed and the next day he had a job. It was a testimony to Dusti.
One experience that we had this week brought me down a little bit. We received a referral in a very wealthy neighborhood. We went there on a weekend night to contact it. They let us in and mocked us a good bit. One of the ladies said to us (mostly speaking to Elder Thompson) that we should have a drink and go home and forget about all this. (pointing to the name tag and Book of Mormon we were holding). I remember being pretty distraught about the whole thing.
 |
| Russ' baptism |
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| Haruna's baptism with President Eberhardt |
Monday, January 5, 2015
Week 30-Holladay, UT
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| Robert's baptism on Saturday |
This week it's been cool to work with an investigator named Russ. Russ has met with missionaries years and he is what we call an eternigator. After a lesson filled with the spirit, we committed him to stop smoking and set a date for his baptism. He said that he has tried before many times and he had been smoking 40 years and he really doesn't believe he could quit. He said that he would start Jan 1. He did and actually started last Tuesday and we have been meeting with him every night. He is doing so well. He says that this is the first time that he himself has wanted to be baptized and not just wanting to please others. He said its been much easier now that he sincerely desires it and is building faith in the Lord. He says that it is much easier when he relies on the Lord as opposed to just taking it all on himself. His date for baptism is for Jan 17 and we have so much faith that he can make it!
Robert was confirmed which was a huge relief. Something always seems to come up! The adversary will NEVER make a baptism easy. There is always complications with convert baptism. We had the opportunity to help another child of God come unto His fold. His name is Brandon Donovan. He was baptized the day before yesterday! I love Utah Mormons so much. I used to think they were all kind of stuck up and like clones but they are literally the nicest people ever!! They help us soo much. They take care of the people we work with. I love them all to death. They are so kind! A little bit about Brandon. He actually boxes for money. He's apparently pretty good. He has had a rough background but has turned away from the things he used to to do and has embraced the things of God. Possibly one of the most amazing things about the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the change that can happen. Lasting change. Sanctifying change. The only explanation for things that bring people this much joy, this much happiness, this much purpose and direction in life, this much identity of who we really are, and this much general light and life to a person can only come from God.
Elder Bass
Later Notes: I remember praying and asking God when i was with Elder Hanks that i really wanted friends that i could keep with me. People that i would be close to and then i got Elder Thompson as my companion.
I remember that for one of my first district meetings i made a card entitled formula to success and it had three things to do on one side and on the other side it had three things that would be received. The three things on one side were: 1. repenting 2. teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ in every lesson. and i forgot the third one. I printed out small, square-shaped cards with the formula on them.
This area really helped me step up and be more confident. Elder Thompson was one of my best friends that i took home from my mission. Elder Thompson helped me with one of my trainings by drawing two circles one inside of the other and saying the growth zone is outside of your comfort zone. My president would always say,"Theres no growth in the comfort zone."
Some of the mornings we would wake up and go to the church building to play basketball and so forth.
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