Transfers/Baptism

So I was transferred less than a quarter mile down the road (welcome to the mission with the smallest proselyting area in the world). But all is good. I live in a duplex with another set of missionaries, and my new companion's name is Elder Stuller. He was born and raised in Germany until he was 12 years old when he moved to Annapolis, MD. He's a great teacher and really connects with people well! I wish I can be as good as he is with people some day. We are the Zone Leaders for the Hunter West Zone and cover the Hunter 1st, 2nd, 3rd and Magna YSA wards. YSA is so much fun! It is a different type of missionary work but I like being with people my age all the time and teaching people who easily become my friends.

Last night we took an investigator, Jessica, to Julie B Becks fireside in our YSA Stake. Before the event began, Elder Stuller and I were pulled in to a private room with Sister Beck, her husband and some Stake presidents from the area. It was cool to talk with her - she is an impressive lady! I also admire her husband for his charity, humility, faith and devotion to the Lord and his wife. After the talks, Jessica decided to be baptized on Feb 23rd!

Last Saturday, the 2nd, Landon and Lucio had their baptisms. It was great to attend both and bare testimony in both. I attached a picture of Lucio's baptism. The Assitants, Sister Schaiffi and Sister Hinton, from Temple Square helped teach him so they were in attendance along with a car full of other sisters. The service was one of the best I've been a part of!

The mission continues to be a blast and I don't think too often of life before - except for a few thoughts of riding a motorcycle and Longhorn football : )

Sincerely,
Elder M Joseph Lewis   

The District

Hello everyone,

  Sorry for the lack of letters; I couldn't go without writing this week:

  This past week my companion Elder Isabell and myself were asked by the Church MIssionary Department to be filmed teaching investigators: The District style! So we had the film crew from the District II in two of our lessons this past Friday! It was awesome! The film is going to train mission presidents this spring on how to teach repentance using the pamphlets. I was extremely nervous but the Spirit that was there was intense and there was no way we could have done any of this project unless it was in fact, the Will of God. It was great to see how everything that could go wrong did before our shoot: the snow storm, railroads, missing missionaries all created an interesting story - in the end the Lord has his way. Anyway, the film is intended only for the mission presidents but there is a good possibility it will have an expanded release to the missionaries. The nickname given to us was, The District A.

  Transfers are next week and I can't believe how fast the past 5 weeks have flown by. I like the latter-half of transfers because Districts seem to be more in sync. I think next week I am going to plan a game for our training to make it more fun. We added a few more baptisms this week, the labor is sweet!

Sincerely,

Elder M Joseph Lewis

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas!

 

So my last companion is now in Magna and I received a new elder from the MTC last week: Elder Isabell. He is from Bentonville, AK. He is seriously a legend too. He is great and has an awesome way of speaking simply and sincerely. He also super smart! All around great guy. I've also been assigned District Leader of the Copperhill "Cop-aWHAT?" District. Even more opportunities to serve others now - I would love to build some more Charity and Love : ) 

We're working in the Copperhill area (still) and have a baptism coming up on Christmas. We're super excited. It's a great gal named Cyndel (from Peru) who is an English teacher here in SLC. 

 

I had the privilege of confirming a convert from my previous area in Hunter East Stake. The work is moving forward: Horray for Israel! We should have quite a few baptisms in January-February. I love the work! Although I am getting very tired (more than usual) I hope I"m not getting sick again...

  

This week marks my two year anniversary of receiving my testimony from God and being baptized/confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-dary Saints. How sweet the Gospel is! Merry Christmas everyone! 

Love,

Elder M Joseph Lewis

P.S.

Thanks for the packages and Letters - you are awesome guys : )