Septemeber 16, 2013

Hey all!!

Elder Limocon and I had an awesome week! I got to go on exchanges with one of the district leaders in the zone and so I got to work in a place called Rizal. It is out in the middle of no where, the house they are renting doesn't even have running water! It was awesome though and the work is still going forth over in that part of the vineyard. I got to learn a ton from working with Elder Stroud over in Rizal. He was stoked to work and said he got to learn a lot form me as well so I was happy that I was able to help him out with that. We had a zone meeting this week which was a lot of fun. Elder Limocon and i were able to just teach about the Holy ghost in conversion and also some other things that we felt would help the missionaries in our zone. I talked about exact obedience with all of them and how i felt that we would have a lot more success as a zone if we committed to being exactly obedient to the mission rules, commandments, and basically just everything. Elder Limocon talked on accountability. As a zone we have been setting high goals but aren't quite reaching them, so he taught how we really need to hold each other accountable if we feel like we are going to set all of these high goals. I really enjoyed it and know all of the other elders did as well. The Narra Branch had a missionary fireside this past Friday! It was pretty good. Elder Gwilliam, Elder Vang, and I all got to share about past experiences of missionary work and we got to show a little part of the work of salvation where the whole family shares the gospel to friends as I shared my testimony of member missionary work, I could feel the Spirit witness to me that missionary work really is done through the members. I couldn't have received this gospel and eventually come on a mission without members of the ward there to help me in every step of the way. I am so grateful for that and now I am grateful I get to help the members here feel that same way to help those in Narra come unto Christ. They helped a lot with Brother and Sister Vigunti who are now ready for baptism! They will be baptized on Saturday, September 21, and confirmed September 22 (Sister Viguni's birthday). I am so excited for them and I know it wouldn't have happened without the members! I love this work so much and it is even better that the members are really starting to love it too!

Elder Stephens