Ebola

September 26, 2016

This week was even slower than last. The new diagnosis for elder Simmons is Ebola. When we told the mission presidents wife that the doctor said elder Simmons had Ebola she almost had a heart attack, that was pretty funny. 

Monday we got hair cuts, then had a zone activity. We played frisbee and touch rugby. Then we taught E., Z., and L. They are great! It seems like the only one with any concerns is E.'s wife, J. And yet she is the member in the family. Haha. 

Tuesday we had district meeting. My district almost doubled in size because the Daybreak stake got an MLS couple. After the meeting elder Simmons was dying so we took him to instacare. They told him that everything in his body was inflamed. Haha. Then after dinner we taught a few less actives. 

Wednesday we went on exchanges, I went to the Daybreak stake to be with elder Cady and elder Craig came to be with elder Simmons. 

Thursday we taught R., the Christian pastor we have been teaching for a few weeks. Great guy! He has some crazy desire to seek truth, but struggles with understanding that Christ gave priesthood authority by the laying on of hands. Then we taught some more less actives. 

Friday elder Simmons was sick all day,  but it was different than before, so we had Erik take him to the instacare again. They said nothing's wrong with him... 

Saturday we had lunch with Erik and taught him... not much else.

Sunday we left for meetings in the morning at 7:30, went to church till we sung in a primary program around 1, then stayed at church till a meeting at 4 with all the Ward mission leaders, then went to dinner with a Ward mission leaders fam. After that we talked to one of our investigators and set up an appointment, then taught S., a less active. 

We haven't gotten transfer calls yet but we are pretty sure we are staying here and together, because elder Simmons is getting some major dental reconstruction done soon and president doesn't wanna push that on another companion, so I'll probably be staying with him.  That'll be sick, I'll get to video him when he gets his wisdom teeth out next week. :)

Love

-Elder Ray

Seth with the Daybreak Zone in South Jordan

Leprosy

September 19, 2016

This week was pretty slow compared to most. Monday elder Simmons was sick, but we hit up the batting cages with the Daybreak elders anyways, then had dinner with a less active lady and shared a message with her, then met with our high counselor. 

Tuesday we had district meeting, then went straight to the dentist so elder Simmons could get some cavities filled, then we had dinner with the Batman family, then did real time correlation. We had a lesson with E. and his two kids, L. and Z., are now on date for baptism! Then we taught a few less actives with Ward missionaries and called it a night. 

Wednesday we helped H.'s dad T. move some old couches outta their apartment and some new ones in. I tell ya... All these new apartments are so 'Space efficient'... It is not easy getting couches through those stairways. Elder Simmons was still sick so he almost passed out a few times. #trooper. Then we started exchanges with the zone leaders. I got to stay in the area with elder Craig and Elder Simmons went to Elder Bouchillon's area. We taught a bunch of lessons Wednesday, we picked up a new instigator named S. (say it in an ozzy voice), then taught H. who all of a sudden came up with a bunch of concerns, then taught a 19 year old kid named S. who has fetal alcohol syndrome so he is essentially 10. S. is awesome though because he has a true desire to make his life better and discover if God is there. In the past couple weeks of meeting with him he has gone from hating life and believing there is no God, to loving life and knowing God is there. It's so cool to see the change the gospel helps people undergo. After dinner we taught a couple less actives and our investigator M. who is super solid. She knows everything already which is rad!

Thursday morning after studies we didn't have much time because elder Craig needed to leave to go to the temple with one of his recent converts at like 11, so we just booked it out of the apartment right after studies to head to knock on a door or two. We saw a girl at the park with some kids and went to talk to her and found out that she is a member but usually doesn't go to church cuz she spends time with her Fiancé that has started to resist going to church. We were able to just share the blessings of putting God first and she told us how good she felt talking to us about that. It is amazing to see the spirit testify of truth even in the most casual situations to help God's children make correct choices. After we ended the exchanges elder Simmons was, you guessed it, sick, so we didn't do much till after dinner, we tried to go out and work but he was too sick so he went home with a split and I went with a member and taught E. and his Family the plan of salvation. They all had a ton of good questions which is always a good sign!

Friday was extra crappy, elder Simmons was too sick to get outta bed so I did weekly planning by myself then did call ins till about 2:30, then we had dinner just drop off food, then we tried to walk to the church to get our bikes to head to an appointment. When we got to the church elder Simmons immediately went to throw up, then threw up two more times before we left, so we rode the bikes back home in defeat. We weren't able to find someone to stay home with elder Simmons and someone to come out with me so we stayed in the rest of the night. 

Saturday was pretty similar, no luck finding people willing or able to split with us so we stayed home most of the day till the evening when we had a lesson with M., we were able to find a split to go to that. 

Sunday wasn't bad, we spoke in sacrament in the morning and elder Simmons didn't throw up till after sacrament meeting, then we went to a few different wards, and then practiced singing with a primary for their primary program next week. Should be fun. Then we taught H., had dinner with a less active Tongan family, taught S. again, and then hit the hay. 

We're onto the last week of the transfer again. Hopefully elder Simmons feels better so we can work hard! My diagnosis is that he has Leprosy.  

Have a killer week everyone. Don't forget to write!

Love 

-Elder Ray

Batting Cages on Pday

Elder Simmons at the Dentist

Utah Salt Lake City South Mission at 5 Mile Temple Run

No Mo Pokemon Go

September 8, 2016

Hokay, you guys get a bit of a break this P-Day, it was a short week. Thursday night a single lady signed up to feed us so we went to the north shore of the Oquirrh lake, where every Thursday night about 15 food trucks line up so people can come get food. After that we had real time correlation with a couple Ward mission leaders. 

Friday was pretty cool, we had the usual Friday planning and call ins till about 3, then after that we went to see a kid who just came home early from his mission. We know his family pretty well since they have helped a lot with teaching and fellowshipping Erik. Their son J. got his call to Argentina and within a couple weeks there in one of the roughest areas of the mission he got mugged a few times, apartment got robbed, and a ton of other crazy stuff that would be sure to freak you out if you just came from Utah a few weeks earlier. After that we went to an early dinner, then went to a nearby stakes Community Fair. The mission president wanted us to volunteer at it so us and a few other companionships did as well. It was an awesome change of schedule. I spent from about 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm making cotton candy, so you could say imma pro by now. If anyone needs a cotton candy maker for a party, I'm your guy. After that we cleaned up for a few minutes and I got to wander over to the car show to see a 50's ford pickup built into a class 8 desert truck. Cool shtuff. 

Saturday was a slow day. All of our lessons cancelled, after dinner we were headed to knock on a potentials door when we saw a family out doing some yard work. We offered to help which they took us up on, and while we were helping we learned that it was not their house, it was the dad's brother's house, and earlier that week he was accused of a pretty big crime so he couldn't go outside because  constantly news reporters were trying to photograph him. But, they needed their yard cleaned up because if they didn't have it clean by Monday the HOA would slap them with a fat fine. (Daybreak literally looks like something out of the Truman show.) Then the family that was outside had to leave at about 7 pm, so we were left to do it alone. So we were there till 9 and completely manicured this dude's yard. Looked pretty good at the end of the night if I do say so myself. So if you need full service yard care, I'm your guy! Haha 

Sunday morning at 8:45 we taught H. and her dad T. They're doing pretty good, H. is ready to get baptized but there's some issues with the family keeping it from happening soon. They are progressing... Just a little slower than optimal. Right now we're looking at a baptismal date early November. After that we had a regional conference, broadcast from he conference center to almost the whole valley, it was great. Bishop Waddell of the presiding bishopric, the General YWP Bonnie L. Oscerson, Elder Hallstrom of the 70, and elder Ballard of the quorum of the 12 Apostles all spoke. There was a huge emphasis on a ton of things that the world seems to struggle with today. Oh and I'm pretty sure elder Ballard condemned Pokemon Go and other video games. Take note, kids. After that we taught Erik, but about half way through the lesson his back started going crazy and he was in a ton of pain so we gave him a blessing and disbanded. We then went down the hill with a ward mission leader to contact a referral from the Spanish elders, and while we were down there we got the impression to go see S., a man we had talked to on the street earlier this week. We went by and were invited in, he lives there with his wife's parents, and their 4 kids (two of which are also married with kids). So it's a busy house. They are all members but we could tell they weren't active, so we shared a brief message, and at the end of the lesson the dad spoke up and said they as a family have been struggling spiritually and that we were an answer to their prayers. That's probably my favorite thing ever, just as our Prophet says, "to follow a prompting and later find out it was the fulfillment of someone else's prayers."   After that we taught H., and were able to have a member who spoke Mandarin there with us. 'Coincidentally' he moved in to the ward almost at exactly the same time we started teaching H. That's cool. 

So it was a great few days. The lord loves missionary work, that's all I gotta say. I hope we can catch the same vision!

Love
-Elder Ray

Making Cotton Candy at Community Fair

Elder Simmons and Elder Ray at Oquirrh Lake

5 Miles

September 8, 2016

Hokay. Sorry I didn't write Monday, for this week today is our preparation day because we will be attending the temple. Last Monday we didn't do much on pday, but in the evening we taught H. (the correct spelling, still sound like Whi) with the relief society president.  H. is awesome! She wants to join the church for all the right reasons! After that we had a meeting with our high counselor over missionary work.

Tuesday we had zone conference from 8:30 - 4 pm, it was really good, I took away a ton of stuff to improve on as usual. Wednesday we started out with a district meeting, which was kinda a flop... There is only one other companionship in my district, one of the elders is a zone leader and his companion is just a regular missionary. In our zone the two zone leaders are in two different companionships, and they had a meeting to go to Wednesday morn, so their companions were together and supposed to come to my district meeting. But, they forgot. And so about 30 minutes into the meeting with just elder Simmons and I there I was finally able to get ahold of them and they headed over. Haha. We had dinner with a family and we're talking to their son Isaac who said he had a friend whose not a member of the church who might be interested, so we set up a time the next day for Isaac to go introduce him to us. After that we met a guy whose not a member but his wife is and she attends every week. They have been married for 13 years but he's never read or prayed about the BOM...? So we challenged him to do that. 

Thursday we had Nielsons frozen custard for lunch (be jealous the new Gilbert store isn't open yet) then had a zone leadership council stressing the importance of hitting the weekly standards of excellence and hitting the 2016 baptism goal of 555. After that we went with Isaac and met his friend Z., taught him on the porch, he loved it and accepted to be baptized on September 24th! Super good kid. Sadly, later that night, Z.'s dad texted us from Z.'s phone and said "I appreciate you guys coming and talking to my son about God, but I will not let him join your cult. But I appreciate you talking to him about God." Gosh dangit. 

Friday not a ton happened, in the evening we taught Erik about the priesthood which he was on track to receive on Sunday. Saturday we spent most of the morning doing service for a less active family. We demo'd their kitchen tile. It was fun, brought me back to my flooring days! Then they took us to Nielsons for lunch (Be jealous). Elder Simmons needed to get his temple recommend since he lost it, so we went to the mission home to do that. Later in the day we taught R. and L. who run a Christian church near by. Super nice, probably the least antagonistic Christians who are firm in their faith that I've ever met. 

Sunday was pretty busy. We were all over the place in the morning at different wards. At noon we got back together because Erik was receiving the Aaronic priesthood and being ordained to the office of a Priest! He asked me to do the ordination, which was a great experience. He has been so stoked at his progression, he was able to receive a limited use temple recommend as well. After that elder Simmons taught H. and her fam. After that we taught H., had dinner, then taught a less active guy. 

Monday I ran my first Ever (and last ever...) Five mile race. There was a run from the Oquirrh Mountain Temple to the Jordan River temple, the two closest temples in the world, and president Lansing wanted us all to either volunteer or run. So we ran. About half way through the race elder Simmons tweaked his bad knee so he stayed back and walked with another missionary and I kept goin with a different missionary. That night we taught H. again, then had the weekly meeting with our high counselor.

Tuesday we had a zone training meeting, then had lunch, then we had to go to the dentist because elder Simmons needed to (brush your teeth, kids). Then dinner, and a few lessons. We swung by E.'s place and his wife answered and said she was glad we stopped by cuz the day before, E. passed out from dehydration, hit the floor face first, and busted his teeth out. So she asked us to come by and give him a blessing. 

Wednesday morning we went to the Oquirrh mtn temple with Erik and he did baptisms for the dead, it was a great thing for him. He has changed so much! After that we gave E. a blessing and taught him how one day he can receive the priesthood to bless his family which he seemed really interested in. After dinner we taught a few lessons, one of which was a new investigator, M., who is now on date to get baptized the beginning of October! So far today we spent the whole morning in the temple, which was awesome. It takes you out of the world. Definitely the best way to spend a morning!

Love
-Elder Ray

Elder Ray meeting with stake leaders

Elders Ray and Simmons with Erik at the Temple

Seth with his Zone at the Temple

"Zooey Mama!" Whatta Week.

August 29, 2016

"Zooey Mama!" Whatta Week.  The lord blessed us greatly.


Monday was a "Companionship Activity" which basically means we sleep, so that's what we did with our P-Day. That night we had dinner with a lady and her boyfriend and her inactive son, then went to a meeting with our High Counselor Over Missionary Work. 

Tuesday we had a great district meeting then had to go to the mission office to take care of some stuff, then after that we taught our investigator J . We had a great lesson in which we committed him to look at the next few Saturdays on a calendar and ask God which one he needs to get baptized on. Then we had dinner with a less active family who believe God has led them away from the church simply because they are happy not going to church. 

Wednesday was pretty great, we taught Erik in the morning, then taught C. and G. the last lesson. After that we were out sitting on our bikes when a lady drove up and rolled down her window and said "you should come over later tonight, my husband would probably wanna talk to you." She pointed where they lived, and drove off. Haha. Then we taught a couple less actives, then shared a message with a family that just moved in to a little town home. With 13 kids. Wowza. It was super fun though to see a strong family sharing their beliefs and testimonies with us. After that we gave a blessing to and shared a message with a lady who got baptized about a year ago that has been having some tough spiritual battles lately. Then we went to the apartment the lady pointed out to us and E. answered the door. Instantly elder Simmons was beaming cuz as he puts it E. was another 'Brutha'. We talked to him for a minute and he seemed interested, but was playing it off a bit, and then we heard his wife yell from upstairs "He's reading the Book of Mormon!" Haha. Sweet, we can deal with that! So we set up a lesson for Sunday. Whoop whoop! 

Thursday I had District Leader Training meeting, so I hopped in the front seat of our neighbor"s Supercharged Silverado and we raced to pick up another District Leader and headed to the meeting while elder Simmons worked with the other district leaders companion, who, coincidentally, became the second and only other African American missionary in the mission. So they had fun. The meeting was awesome, we focused a lot on baptism interviews. At the end of the meeting the mission president told us the meeting went a completely different direction than planned, there must be a ton of baptism interviews in store for us in the future. Rad. 

After the meeting C. and G. passed their baptism interviews, and after dinner we taught a less active family with a non member son. We picked him up as a new investigator, sadly he didn't accept a baptismal date but we can fix that:)  After that we got dropped off at the stake center where our bikes were and we went in side to use the bathroom, and as we walked past the relief society room we saw the entire stake presidency and all 11 bishoprics in a meeting and elder Simmons said "that looks like an important place to be." We got to the bathroom and a few seconds after we got in the stake president burst in and said "Elders when you're done in here come into the meeting." Sweet, so we went into the meeting and the Stake president pulled us up to the front and basically talked us way up to all the bishops. He asked us to share a few miracles we had seen lately so we shared a few, and all the bishops looked pumped. Then president Starks asked us what each Ward could be doing better to get the work moving and we explained how real time correlation needs to happen weekly and if the Ward mission leaders are not doing it, they are not helping us at all. Then president Starks asked the bishops if it would be helpful if we went around to them individually and told them how their Ward mission leaders could improve, and they all said yes. Which is great for us because there are a few that aren't working at all, now we have the OK to tell the bishops about it. It's always hard because we don't like telling bishops their wmls aren't magnifying their callings, but sometimes it's necessary. After the meeting we went out and taught a less active guy. 

Friday: Hump Day! It honestly does not feel like I've been out a year... Cmon guys I got into the MTC like three weeks ago! I'm honestly a little scared, everyone always says the second year flies by much faster than the first, but I can't imagine that given how fast the first year flew by. I have gained so much thus far from my mission... I cannot imagine how much I would be missing out on if I did not come. I have learned so many life lessons in this year that normally would take ten to learn. I hope any of you who are undecided on whether or not to serve a mission can recognize that the blessings that come from doing so far outweigh the sacrifices made. A mission is literally a tithe of your life and just as Malachi tells us, with this sacrifice the lord will "open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it."

Saturday morning we went and started filling the Baptismal font and studied while it filled, then C. and G. got baptized at 10! It was a great baptismal service, and afterward we ate a ton of Springrolls and egg rolls sister Lim made from scratch. After the baptism we rushed to do some service for a couple that was moving in, they needed help moving stuff around inside the house. That took a little longer than we would have liked, so we didn't have time to eat lunch (good thing we loaded up after the baptism). While we were there we got a call from C. and G."s mom S. She is from China so her accent is hard enough to understand in person, let alone over the phone. From what we understood she told us that she had a friend who is not a member who came to the baptism, liked what she felt, and wants to join the church. And she will be at church Sunday. Sweet! Then We rushed to a lesson we had at 3 with E., which didn't happen cuz he was late cleaning up for one of his kids football games. But we were there for a reason, a family with an unbaptized daughter that we picked up and put on date two weeks ago came down stairs which was perfect, because the daughter, H., needs to come to church the next three weeks in a row to get baptized. We committed them to come to church and they said they'd be there! So that was great. After dinner we had a lesson with a less active couple, J. and E. Not too sure if that's his real name but that's what's on the records of the church so... E. We met them a couple weeks ago while they were pushing their one year old around in a stroller. Both are pretty rough lookin. I'm so bad at judging people based on their appearance. I mean... They are still rough people but pretty nice. Apparently E. spent about 15 years as a Professional Concert pianist until it destroyed his lower back and he had to get some vertebrae fused. Apparently when you jam crazy tunes on the piano all day every day for years it destroys your back. Nice couple anyways, and they said they were already planning on coming to church Sunday, which is cool. They definitely have a love for the gospel, just have some things holding them back from enjoying all the blessings. Sunday we went to church the first hour with Erik, then headed to C. and G.'s Confirmation. S.'s Non member friend W. was there and stayed for all three hours, and at the end of gospel principles (which elder Simmons and I taught) we went up to her and asked her if she wants to be baptized on September 24th. She said "Oh my birthdays on the 22nd" and then S. said "You should do it then! That'd be so cool to get reborn on your birthday!" So, now, W. is on date to get baptized on September 22nd! After church we taught H. and her dad T. H. loved church and what we taught, and seems super excited to get baptized in a couple weeks. After that lesson we Taught E. which went super well. He has a ton of questions and talks a lot... But has a genuine interest in the gospel and feels it's the most correct church. He is reading the Book of Mormon and loves what he's read so far. He accepted to be baptized October 1st! After dinner we taught Erik about baptisms for the dead and family history work, which he is stoked to do, and after that we taught a less active lady.

It's been a super busy week, the lord has sent us so many miracles! Sorry for the long email... There was just a ton of good stuff that happened this week. I hope you are all preparing to share your testimony in church Sunday! (Especially you, family. 😉) Have a good one, don't forget to read and pray every day!

Love
-Elder Ray

C. & G.'s Baptism with Elder Ray and Elder Simmons

Practicing

Elder Tahaafe and Elder Ray at District Training

Whoop!

August 22, 2016

Four more days till I hit that half way point. Wacky. This week was even better than last. As we have sought to work with all our heart, might, mind, and strength the Lord has blessed us greatly with Sheaves upon our backs.

Monday we had to take the car back to the mission office and the whole staff seemed to know my family since they came up last week and had to pick up a bike I needed to send home. So that was cool. Transfers went smooth considering we didn't have to go anywhere haha. That night we had dinner with C. and G. and their mom S., had some
authentic Chinese food! It was funny, the whole time S. was asking us if it was too hot... I couldn't notice it at all. Helps to grow up on Mexican food! Then we taught a lesson to a less active fam. 

Tuesday morning we helped elder Alfonso and Sandino with transfers to make sure they weren't ever left alone, they both got transferred out. Later in the day we met with the new zone leaders, then had Nielson's Frozen Custard for lunch. So good. That night we had dinner and a lesson with a less active family we've been teaching. Super good family, it's neat to see the gospel change them. Then we got a call from a guy who just moved in to the stake and he said "Elders, my friend J. wants to meet with you!" Whoop whoop! So we set up an appointment for Saturday morn. Later that night we taught E. again.

Wednesday we had district meeting, our district now consists of elder Simmons and I and one other companionship. Smallest district ever... It's pretty weird. We taught G. who seems to be doing good. Then we had E.'s baptism interview which he passed with flyin colors. As everyone does haha. 

Thursday we had a brief zone intro meeting then taught C. and G., they're lookin good to get baptized on the 27th! Friday not a ton happened, we gave E. a blessing cuz he got sick. 

Saturday rocked. We taught J. in the morning, it went great. He has met with missionaries before and been to church a bunch, he just has been hesitant about getting baptized. So, we had him pray right then and there and ask God if he needs to get baptized and he got his answer. If everything logistically works out, he will get baptized on Saturday! Such a cool miracle. Then we went and got things ready for E.'s baptism, it was a great turn out. A ton of people came to support him! After that we went to Nielson's with E. and got lunch.

Sunday E. got confirmed a member and received the Holy Ghost, elder Simmons performed the confirmation and did an awesome job. Then we spoke in 7th ward and then went to a little dinner party E.'s roommate's family threw for him. Then we had a meeting, and went to dinner. Haha. 

The ball is now Rollin almost too fast to keep up, but we love it!

Love,
-Elder Ray

Erik (center) with Seth and Elder Simmons

Stayin' in Daybreak!

August 15, 2016

Alright. Ya know how last week I said this week would be a good week? It was. Monday started it off great, we went by a potentials house, the mom has started coming back to church, and she has two daughters, Charlotte is 10 and grace is 8. Neither of which are baptized, but we were able to teach them the first lesson and they accepted to get baptized! Saweet. Then we had a lesson with an inactive guy named T., who has been struggling and wants to come back.

Tuesday we had a killer district meeting. That night we split up and went out with some Ward mission leaders, I taught B., a big, hard-lookin body builder who has been coming back to church. I shared a little message about the importance of reading praying and coming to church (the three things most people struggle with), and at the end he teared up saying that was exactly what he needed and said he is having some scary heart problems. We were definitely there at a crucial time to support him. He was going in the next morning to get some tests done and he asked us for a blessing, so we were able to help with that. After that we swung by G., a potential we have been trying to get with for a while, and she let us in! She is 17 and has been going to church with her aunt for the past few months. She has also been participating in young women's and went to girls camp a couple weeks ago. At the end of the lesson we were teaching about the Book of Mormon and asked her what she thought about it (we knew she had a copy and had been reading it). She said that at girls camp her and her aunt walked off into the woods and she prayed and asked God if the Book of Mormon is true. She said she just instantly had an overwhelming feeling and knew the Book of Mormon is true and that the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the only true church. Wow. She easily accepted to get baptized. :) Then after that we taught a less active lady who we had challenged to read the Book of Mormon. She had a ton of good questions and has been learning a bunch, it's great!

The next day we taught G. again, then had a meeting with just the district leaders in the zone and the zone leaders to talk about some of the big changes coming up. Between this and next transfer we will be getting around 50 new missionaries, it'll be a big change. Then we had an early dinner and took E. to Temple square. We watched the new First a Vision Video and at the end he was just in awe, and at that point he said he could say Joseph Smith was a prophet and the church is true. Then we saw an exhibit focused on eternal families and committed him to work towards the temple, which he said he wants to do. He is awesome. 

Thursday was awesome too, we seemed to be led everywhere we went to be where the Lord needed us. We taught a less active couple that thought they were active and committed them to come to stake conference on Sunday. They said they'd be there but we didn't see them so who knows if they came... We will have to go follow up.

Friday we got out to work about 3:30 and worked till dinner, then after dinner we felt we needed to go to T.'s house, and there we met his wife and two kids. His son T. Jr. is 7 and his daughter H. is 10. We taught them, picked H. up as a new investigator, and she accepted to be baptized! Woop woop!

Saturday elder Simmons was sick for the whole morning but we got out to work around  noon and it was kinda a slow day compared to the rest of the week, but still great. We taught a couple less active lessons then helped someone move. We were just driving through some town homes and saw a moving truck and stopped to see what we could do. It was just one older guy, his wife, and an 11 year old son who wasn't much help. So he was grateful we stopped.

Sunday we had Stake conference, and E. came lookin' snazzy in one of the suits I gave him. It was perfect for him, the member of the quorum of the 70 who spoke focused a lot on forgiveness which he needed, given some of the crazy things he's done in his life. It was weird because stake conference was over by noon and we went out to work, whereas we usually have church till 4. We taught a young family right before dinner, the dad has no conviction to live the gospel and his family is starting to fall apart because of it, it's pretty sad. After dinner we taught E. My words can't describe how awesome and prepared he is to hear the gospel. Baptism's on Saturday! He is so ready.

This morning we had to take the car back, I guess someone else needed it more than my gimpy companion! That's alright tho, I've missed biking. Transfer calls came and elder Simmons and I both get to stay in Daybreak for another transfer! We are stoked, neither of us wanted to leave.

Love,
-Elder Ray

Seth with Erik and Elder Simmons at Temple Square

Seth's District

Seth's Zone