Mission Update 12/2/09

Things are going well in Aurora, IL. Sounds like the missionaries had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Here's Elder M's update:

Hello Family,

I'm glad to hear things are going well. That's great that you all had a great Thanksgiving! I hope you get feeling better from your accident, Dad. I also hope that you get feeling better from your ailments too, G&G. You're in my prayers.

Things have been going very well here. This last week was great. Here's a little bit of what happened:

Thanksgiving was awesome. We woke up, got ready, then had a Turkey Bowl with the Naperville 6th Ward. It was very fun, wet, and cold. After that, we had a Zone Turkey Bowl. That was also very fun, but wasn't wet or cold because we had it inside. After that, we came home and showered. We got ready to eat. We went to eat a little bit of food at Brad and Sue's, then went for the real deal at Nancy's. We had 10 missionaries over there. It was pretty fun. The food was great, as was the company. That was pretty much it for the day actually.

Friday was great. We had District Meeting in the morning which went very well. One thing we talked about was praying right before tracting to ask the Lord where to go. We've prayed for streets, then just done a lot around the area, and always pray before tracting, but don't always pull over to pray and ask where to go as well. We pulled over to pray when we had a half hour open, and were led to a street where we found a new investigator. Elizabeth invited us in, and we were able to teach her. After that, we had some appointment fall throughs, but were able to go early to teach in Maple Terrace. We taught Gail, a woman that we've talked to quite a bit, but has just recently accepted the invitation to hear the lessons. That went very well. She felt and recognized the Spirit, and is doing super well (actually preparing for baptism, but we'll talk more about that later). We also taught a couple of other people that became new investigators, but have not really gone anywhere since. After spending a while at Maple Terrace, we went to the Gaffneys' home, and ended up teaching Sister Gaffney's boyfriend too. We were led to meet yet another new investigator there. After that, we went to the Gamboas' home and taught Alex about preparing for a mission. We then went to the Matucks' home for dinner.

Saturday was also a good day. We had some fall throughs and unsuccessful finding, but were able to find another new investigator and teach Gail again at Maple Terrace. After that, we ate lunch. We then went out to find and teach, but didn't get much for a while. We did get a hold of and get an opportunity to teach Krista, Jessica, and yet another person the Lord put into our path to teach. That went well. They're all racing us through the Book of Mormon, but are going to take it seriously and read thoroughly. After that, we went to teach the Plan of Salvation to Chiquita. She is doing really really well. We're excited for her upcoming baptism on December 19th. After that, we went to Nancy's home for dinner and a lesson.

Sunday was great. We had a great day at church. We had quite a few investigators there, so it was great. Everyone is getting excited about Mark Pope's baptism. It is incredible how unified our Gospel Principles class is. Everyone that attends just loves it. We're all edified, and feel the Spirit strongly. It's so packed every week. We had to rob another classroom this Sunday, which was pretty neat. After church, we went to lunch at the Jones' home. They are great, and are doing some awesome missionary work. We were able to help them plan their efforts for a few of their friends. After that, we had some finding time and some study time. We didn't find a new investigator, but did get a potential I believe. We then had dinner with the Neuders, which was great. We had good food, a good time, and were able to help them make some specific plans to share the Gospel. They're doing a great job, and are inviting some friends to a Ward Activity this weekend. After dinner we did more tracting, and were led to a new investigator by the Spirit. Yolanda is great, and we're hoping to see her progress. That ended a great week.

Monday was a very good day. We had Zone Leader Council, which went well. We learned a lot, and are excited to see the improvements all will make as we put what we learned into action. After ZL Council, we had a few appointments, including a great one with Gail. She felt the Spirit, and recognized it. She accepted a baptismal date for January 2nd, and prayed for help in preparing for it. She got quite emotional, and was confused at first, but understood it was God speaking to her. We're very happy for the changes Gail is making in her life. The Lord has really blessed her, and us. Mike C has also been instrumental in helping us find and teach those who are humble in Maple Terrace. He was there for the lesson, and has been right by our side in helping others come unto Christ. We hope he can go on a service mission at least at some point. After teaching Gail, we went to the Christensens for dinner, which was great. After that, we went back to Maple Terrace and taught Chiquita and Nikita. We made them a baptismal calendar, and taught some 2 of the "Big 3" commandments. They accepted them, and are doing great. Nikita hadn't come to church, because she was embarrassed about not having church shoes. She's committed to come regardless (and has since got shoes from Sister Matuck), and is doing well. They also prayed for help preparing for their baptism. After that, we went home and got ready for an exchange. I went with Elder Baum to be in Naper 6.

Tuesday was pretty great. We went out finding in the morning, and got a potential that let us teach her for about 15 minutes, but was just too busy for a return appointment. After that, we went to the Bishop's Storehouse to do service. The Naper 6 Elders work there once a week. We reorganized a meat freezer, and calculated we moved literally thousands of pounds of meat. We estimated we moved around 20,000 pounds total. It was insane. I had a great surprise there, when in walked the Swensons! It was going to be the Frankfort Branch order pulling night Tuesday evening, so they came early to get everything ready. It was fun to see the Swensons. They're doing pretty well, and it sounds like things are pretty good overall down there in my home Branch. Tony Cammarata is also starting to go to church. They moved out of Frankfort to Alabama, and the Church helped them out a lot. He finally is going to attend, and I would not be surprised to hear about a baptism within the next year. Anyways, after serving at the Bishop's Storehouse (for a really long time), we went to visit some older members of the Naperville 6th Ward. The Dungans are great, and we had an awesome time teaching them. They're doing some good missionary work. After that, we went out tracting, and ended up tracting into a current investigator of the Spanish Sisters. That was pretty fun. We couldn't communicate very well, but we talked about the Book of Mormon, and had a good chat. We also told her to tell the Sisters she prefers Elders. The Sisters should get a kick out of that. After tracting, we went to dinner with the Hammers. The Hammers are a "Celestial family," who I think anyone could learn from. We walked in, then were taken to a back room where we had a song, then all knelt for prayer. They've got 5 kids who all sing their family song, which has lyrics such as "we love to seve the Lord." Their oldest, a 7 year old, is already in Alma in her Book of Mormon reading. Almost all decorations in their home are scripture paintings, or from Church history. They don't own a TV. The kids are well behaved, and have strong testimonies. They regularly take the missionaries out teaching their neighbors and friends, and love to serve the Lord. It was pretty neat. After eating there, and helping them plan some additional missionary work, we left to exchange back. We exchanged at the Matucks. Elder Ahlman and I taught Chiquita and Nikita there. That went really well. The Matucks are on fire. They're loving the Church, and service. We're probably going to have recurring lessons in their home with investigators every week. Having investigators come over to members' homes is ideal. I believe I challenged you to invite someone into our home to hear the missionary lessons before the year ends... How is that going? I hope well, because it has potential to be one of the greatest experiences you or they will ever have.

Today should be a great day. We've had our studies, and other typical morning stuff already, and are ready to go shopping, then have a tennis tournament with other missionaries that are coming over. We also have a dinner appointment with the Popes, which should be great. He's going to have his baptismal interview too, so we're bringing over the other missionaries for dinner and the interview. The Pope's are pretty excited.

Well, there you go. Things are going very well. The Lord has blessed us much, and I'm grateful for it. I'm grateful for all you do for me as well. I love you so much, and hope things continue going well. Just work hard towards righteous goals, and have joy in the journey. Thanks for your words of advice, Dad. I'm excited to give it my all as I finish my mission.

Let me know if there is anything you'd like me to tell you, send to you, or whatever else.

Until next week,
Love,
Elder Bradley E McMullin