Dear Family,
I hope that you like the title of the update. Sorry for last week. I had a way cooler email, but some how it got deleted. I was a bit frustrated. The work is going great. I wish I could say that time was passing by slowly, but I think my watch has wings because it has been flying.
This week we taught 21 lessons and I am now in a tri-companionship step training a greeny. He is way cool. His name is Elder Kennedy and my comp is Elder Paxton. It is the definition of great. We have a one date that looks like he is really pushing to the font,and I feel really good about this one. We have also been finding like crazy--6 new investigators this week.
This has been a great week. I almost had an investigator come to church. I have decided to become more emotionally involved in the work, and it has payed off even tho it hurts sometimes. I have been setting and keeping goals and I thank my dad for helping me learn how important it is to set goals that are SMART* he can explain that later...
Anyways, this week I had two opportunities to use my priesthood, once with a boy named Aldo, and the second a lady who was about to get divorced because of a bad choice and miscommunication. Aldo is a young man who just got diagnosed with anemia. He is yellow and green now, and his parents don't know how they are going to afford the medicine for him. His brother Josafat is on date and his mom is a less than active member, but they felt they should ask if we could give him a blessing. We said yes and Aldo asked me to seal the anointing, so I did. I was doing so in Spanish, so I said Aldo, by the power of the Melchizedek priesthood I baptize you...the air got a little damp but then I did it over. A bit embarrassed that I had tried to baptize him in his living room lol. I gave him a blessing after my first attempt. Everything went great on the second attempt. I think he is doing well now. We are going to see him tonight.
The second blessing was in church. I saw a lady I knew crying in church. I was scared that she was going to have to get a divorce. She had made a decision that wasn't the best (not a chastity problem )
and her new husband was wanting a divorce. She was so scared. I felt sorry for her. She didn't know what to do. She told me that her husband didn't want to even talk to her. I told her he would get hungry and asked her if she had been given a blessing. She said that she had not but that she would like one. So we went and I gave her a blessing of comfort and the Spirit came with force and it was a great experience.
and her new husband was wanting a divorce. She was so scared. I felt sorry for her. She didn't know what to do. She told me that her husband didn't want to even talk to her. I told her he would get hungry and asked her if she had been given a blessing. She said that she had not but that she would like one. So we went and I gave her a blessing of comfort and the Spirit came with force and it was a great experience.
Earlier that day, we had a church tour with a young lady that wanted her family to feel and be closer together. It was great. Her sister came, and her mom was reading the Book of Mormon, and she really enjoyed the church even tho there was about 3 different things going on at the same time...super busy.
I also spoke in sacrament in Spanish for 15 minutes straight on the resurrection and how it is symbolic of how even when all looks lost we are not lost. We can still return and return with power if we will just follow Christ. It was great. I can't believe it went so well. Thank God he answers prayers.
I really really enjoyed this week. We really pushed it to the max this week. I really enjoy Elder Kennedy and the fire he brings. he is such a fireball. We will baptize this transfer. I can feel it. I can't wait for conference.
This week's advice--If you're going to do something, do it. Put your heart into it, if you can't or don't want to put your heart into it, you will never feel really accomplished. The more you invest, the more you get out of it. The same is true with the gospel, it is how we become more than what we are. By giving ourselves to Christ, we allow Him to help us.
I know that God lives and loves us all personally.
I love you too!
your friend, Elder Pinegar
*SMART goals: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Time oriented