Alright so we had a couple of really cool teaching experiences this week. The first one that comes to mind is from Friday when we taught Vanessa. So this was our third time meeting with her and we were teaching the plan of salvation. We had Nick (our recent convert) and Miranda (an RM in the ward) with us. The lesson was going pretty well, she had read some of the Book of Mormon and she remembered the things we talked about before. As we were teaching the lesson we got to the part about the Atonement, and we talked about how baptism helps us to access the Atonement. So we invited her to be baptized on August 7th, and at first she was hesitant. But that gave us a chance to let Nick share about what a difference being baptized had made for him, and to talk about how we receive answers to prayers, and the Spirit was there super strong. She said she'd pray about it but that she thought it would be okay. So things are going really well with her.
Another cool teaching experience was that we have started meeting with a guy named Anthony, also YSA. He has had a lot of contact with the church before, but never decided to get baptized. When he first got passed over he said that he was going to be baptized on the 23rd, whether we liked it or not, and that was way to soon for him to do everything. But this Saturday when we went over, without us even saying anything, he said that he'd been thinking about it and pushing it back a few weeks would be a lot better for him and he'll be much more ready and appreciative of it. So that was another little tender mercy of the Lord. Nick was at that lesson also and was able to connect with him really well.
Nick is super awesome! So last Sunday he was confirmed and received the Aaronic Priesthood. This past Tuesday he went to the Temple to do baptisms for the dead for the first time, and this Sunday he passed the Sacrament for the first time. He also got called as a ward missionary and has already been out with us twice. Everything is going perfectly as far as keeping him involved and progressing since his baptism. He's super fun to be around and he's a great teacher. Oh, and as if he wasn't doing enough already, he also taught Gospel Principles on Sunday and did a fantastic job!
MLC was interesting. We were the first ones to arrive because we live the closest, so we got to see as people trickled in and got to welcome them all. It was so good to see Elder Ferrin and Elder Benson before they go home at the end of this transfer. It was a lot of fun to see all the people from our MTC group who had been called as Zone Leaders. We took a picture of the 5 of us, but I'm waiting on Elder Frost to send it to me. The food was amazing. They always take pictures of the pizza boxes, which I'd never understood, until I saw them. They were probably at least 3 feet in diameter! Huge! But it was super good, and Sister Mullen also makes these huge pans of brownies.
As for the training, I felt kind of out of place at first. It seemed weird to know that I would have to be presenting this to other missionaries in less than a week. It was also weird to be getting so much input from President Mullen and the AP's, instead of just our Zone Leaders. We'll be having ZDM this week so hopefully everything will go well with that. The training topics were Faith, Diligence, Remembering Him, and the Doctrine of Christ, and they were presented by Sister Mullen, the AP's, and President. I really enjoyed all of them and I feel like they will go together really well for our Zone meeting. There was a Mormon Message with quotes from President Eyring about how we all overcome challenges and it showed the lives and turning points for 3 different people. It may have been called "Mountains to Climb", because that's what the training was on. Look it up if you get the chance.
I went on an exchange with Elder Smith in the University Heights ward. That is the companionship of Office Elders, though we only had to do a little bit of office stuff instead of the normal amount they do. It was good to talk with him though and get some of his wisdom, he goes home in 9 weeks. He is a really good street contact-er because he keeps everything super conversational and casual. I always appreciate learning from the more experienced missionaries whenever I get the chance.
Things are going really well here, we have another baptism scheduled for this Sunday and plenty more people that we're teaching.
See you soon,
Elder Cornaby