Week 75--Evanston, WY

My new companion, Elder Hutchinson, and I at transfers

Zone leaders at transfers

Another zone leaders picture

I got a new companion; his name is Elder Hutchinson. He is a great missionary who I really get along with. He's a really fun person and very knowledgeable about the gospel. We work and teach well together. We have seen a lot of improvements in the zone and we are super-excited! He comes from Las Vegas.

We have been teaching Monica for a few weeks and she was scheduled to be baptized a few days ago. She texted us the day before her baptism and the text said, "I can't do the baptism." It gave us a little scare. We asked her, "why not?" She responded, "My ex husband wants to have a word with Justin (the guy that she is dating now). I don't know how he found out where and when with the baptism."  We paused for a second and tried to determine what to do. A few minutes later she texted back with this response before we were going to call her, "You know what, nevermind I can't let satan win." So the baptism happened and really ran pretty smoothly. She is very ready for the ordinance. I think will all can take a stand compelled by faith like Monica every once in a while. We always tell people before they get baptized that Satan is going to work super hard on them to not go to church and to stop doing the little things that build their faith. I am so happy that she saw clearly what was going on behind the scene. And when she exercised her faith, her ex-husband didnt even end up going to the baptism and she had a wonderful experience! I am so happy for her!

We have been teaching this man named Bruce. He has been attending church for over 20 years and has a family that are active members. He lives on a ranch out in Almy which is the more rural part of our area. Elder Smith and I and Elder Smith's companion before Elder Wilson, were able to help Bruce start reading the Book of Mormon because he had never read the Book of Mormon before. Anyways the last lesson Elder Christensen and I had together was with Bruce. The lesson before we committed him to fast about the Book of Mormon. We stopped by a few days later and he had people over and said that it wouldn't be a good night. We quickly asked him how fasting went and he said that he was "none the wiser" for it. We stopped by Monday night and we talked to him a little bit. He opened up about how before we had gotten there, he sat down and read the BoM for like three hours. While he was reading he had a verse hit him that changed his perspective on everything that he was reading. He said that he had been focused on the nitty-gritty logistics and timeline throughout history and he had a thought hit him that he needed to focus on the doctrine instead. I think that he will be baptized very soon. It would be great to see that because I have worked with him the entire time that i have been here.

We also fasted yesterday that we could help more people come unto Christ through baptism. After church, we finally met with a high schooler named Sandy. He is an awesome kid and a less-active kid invited him to meet with us. We taught him at the church and he expressed interest in being baptized. So fasting once again works!!!

Have a great week everyone!

-Elder Bass