Tuesday, October 27, 2009 - Testimony building

Hey!

What's up?

This week, Elder Christensen of the Seventy is coming to visit. All the district leaders are driving up to Lubbock for leadership training. All the district leaders in this zone will be driving up in the van with Elder Allred and I. On Thursday, we'll be having a combined zone conference in Midland. That's why we're doing P-day today on Tuesday. we're all excited to have him come and speak to us.

This past week went very well. We had a tri-ward Trunk-r-Treat, which was way fun. Gigi (one of our investigators) donated tons of candy, apples, and popcorn. We decorated the back of the van and gave out everything we got. Afterwards there was a carnival inside the church building.

On Sunday, we had the Family History Center member fireside. There was a great turnout. They had a couple talks, then they split everyone into three groups, and we rotated into different classes. We invited everyone to invite non-members to come to the public open house on Nov 5th. We hope the turnout for that will be good also.

We also introduced a program called "The Gift of Family History". It consists of giving out cards for people to fill out information about their family - names, birth dates, death dates, etc. - then submit them to the Family History Center. There, the consultants research their family. They then make a packet containing "The Family: A Proclamation to the World", "The Living Christ", more information about the FHC, whatever they have found about that specific family, and tips on how to continue researching. The missionaries deliver the packets in person, and hopefully get the chance to deliver the message of the Restoration. It was adapted from an idea that one man in California had and developed. he had a lot of time on his hands.

Speaking of Gigi, we were at her house one day and we were asking her about baptism. She had already said that she wants to be baptized, but she pushed off setting a specific date. We asked if she prayed to ask if this church was true. She said the most wonderful thing I ever heard anyone say: "No, but I don't think I need to, because I pretty much already- ..." and she didn't finish her sentence. It was really comforting to know that people truly do find out of the truthfulness of our message.

My testimony has grown so much over the last few months. I'm so thankful that I took this chance to be a missionary. I've spoken with some people who didn't take it. They are convinced, as I am, that it's not the worst thing to happen to someone, but at the same time, they regret not going. It is life-changing and testimony-building, and I have no idea what I would've done if I had not gotten up and left.

I know this Church is true.

I love you!

-Elder Brandon Wong