Bro. Henry = Baptized and Confirmed! :):)

To everyone who may read this letter:

 

We had a fantastic week this week! It was full of spiritual bliss!! :)

 

We started it off with going to Mt. Magazing and the Catholic Monastery. On Monday we went there with the Elders and Bro. Carter and one of his friends. He calls her his mom but she's not really his mom. It's kind of funny. It was so much fun! We went on a little hike and almost got poured on! It rained pretty hard once we got back up to the building. It was super fun though. The Catholic Monastery was....interesting. :) We had a good time though!

 

On Tuesday night we went to this guys house. He is a less active member in a town called Branch. Him and his family go to some church in Lavaca. He says he's been less active since he moved out of his parents house. It makes me so sad!!!!!!!! We had a pretty good lesson about how God is our Loving Heavenly Father. That is one of my favorite things to talk about with people! Just because everyone wants to be wanted and wants to be loved! He said that we could come back again but that he probably won't come back to the church any time soon.

 

We had a really good lesson with Sis. Chu and her son, Christopher. They are less active. Chris doesn't really know where he is going in life. He is trying to work his way up at Walmart. He already has his Bachelor's Degree and he is just working in the meat department right now. He is so sad and disappointed with his life right now. When we went over, we were planning on teaching revelation through church attendance. As we were talking with them, I felt like we needed to read Alma 7:11-13 with them and talk about the Atonement. It turned out to be a great spiritual experience! We know that Chris was feeling the spirit as we testified of the Atoning Sacrifice of Jesus Christ. His whole demeanor changed: his body language, and they way he talked. I know he has a testimony of the gospel, it's just helping him to realize it and bring it out again. The ward says that he used to be really strong and would bear his testimony every month. We just need to figure out how to get him back to that. It's going to be a difficult road, but we know with God's help, we can do anything.

 

We had a great day on Saturday!! Brother Henry got baptized!!! It was such a great experience! He said that he felt really good after he got baptized and confirmed. I just feel so blessed to have been able to be a part of his baptism. He was so prepared for the gospel it's crazy! He shared his testimony at the baptism. It was his story of what has happened in his life to bring him to this point. We contacted him only three days after he requested a visit from the missionaries!!! Then he was baptized just over a month later! The ward is welcoming him in and he just loves coming to church. The people that bring him to church say that he is what you call a "Golden Investigator." We told them that we completely agree with him! He is as golden as they come! It's amazing and we are so blessed! :)

We had 109 people in church yesterday! Bishop said that when he was put in about three months ago, the average was about 84. He is so pleased with the improvement! We are pleased as well!! We're excited to be a part of this work!

 

The new Elder in our ward is Elder Park. He came out the same time that I did and he is from South Jordan. The other Elder in our ward is Elder Bauer. He is from St. Anthony, ID. He is really cool! It's funny that he is serving here because there is a family that is in the ward that lived in St. Anthony years ago and so they know each other! One of the girls was talking to us one day and was like, "Sometimes I go up to him to shake his hand and I almost start saying his first name! Then I stop myself and have remind myself that I have to call him Elder Bauer." It was pretty funny! Anyway, they are a good pair. Elder Park is our District Leader and he says that we are going to get every area in our district teaching 20 lessons this transfer! So we are excited to get to work with him.

 

Sister Shumway called us this morning and asked if she could come out with us! :s So she will be coming down here tomorrow to go on splits with us. It is kind of intimidating to have the mission president's wife come out with you. I feel like I have to be perfect and I definitely am not even close to perfect. But, I do my best and try to become better everyday. That's what counts, right? I hope so. :)
 

Well, I can't believe another week has gone by already! I love you all so much! Thanks for everything you do!!!

 

See you soon then!

 

Love, Sister Pahl

 

Picture #1 - me, Brother Henry, Sister Ficklin

Picture #2 - a little blurry...Sis. Ficklin, me, Bro. Henry, Bro. Philpot, Elder Park, Elder Bauer

Picture #3 - at Mission Leadership Council - 6 August 2013. Not all of the Sister Training Leaders...we are missing 3..Sister Meredith. me. Sister Bullough(she went home last week :( ...), and Sister Magness.