Week 19--November 25, 2013

Happy Thanksgiving everybody! I hope everybody is having a great week and that everyone can enjoy this holiday season.

I can't believe that this transfer is coming to an end at the end of this week. It seems to me like every transfer gets better and better. The way it is kind of looking they are going to split the area at the end of the week and put Sisters in the ward too.  It is also very likely that Elder McConkie will be transferred to a new area since he is still in his first area. So I may be getting a new companion again. But I'll worry about that Next week. We need to be finishers at the end of each transfer and not be lazy.

It has been a good week and a good transfer. We have achieved the mission Standard of Excellence every week so far this transfer, We have Baptized and we should have two more baptisms this weekend, but if we don't it is okay, because both of them are totally committed to being baptized. The only thing that would stop them from getting baptized this weekend would be if the boy's mom doesn't recover from her surgery in time, so if it doesn't happen this weekend it will happen in the very near future. It is exciting to see the work progressing.

We had an awesome experience yesterday with a man we met on the street named Mark. So Mark lives up the street from us and we saw him bringing a HUGE fish tank out of his car and into his house. We helped him carry his tank into the house and then we taught him a lesson. He has committed to read the Book of Mormon, he hates his pastor because he mixes the bible with his own philosophies. Mark my words we will be baptized before the end of December. He is prepared and is ready to receive the gospel. It's incredible to see the Ballard Promise in action. (see this post.)

Elder Bangerter

Week 18--November 18, 2013

Sorry I'm late in putting this post up!  sharon

Family and Friends,

It has been another great week this week, we have seen a lot of miracles, and a lot of not-so-miracles. Elder McConkie and I didn't have a baptism this weekend, but that's okay I was going to have a baptism in Lake Elsinore this weekend, so we work out a ride for me to Lake Elsinore, and a team up for Elder McConkie, and we get to Lake Elsinore to the Church and there is a Youth Committee meeting in the Relief Society Room and I am thinking "what the heck there is supposed to be a baptism tonight," so I call Elder Reed and Elder Albright, and they don't answer. So a Sister at the church calls Elder Randall and the Wildomar Missionaries, and Elder Randall tries to get a hold of them and they don't answer. So I'm in Lake Elsinore and I have no idea what's going on, and Elder Reed and Albright don't answer their phone, so I asked Brother M to go to the member's house, because if there's anywhere in Lake Elsinore that the missionaries would be it's there (they live there), and the member's are the fellowshippers for the family getting baptized, so even if the missionaries weren't there they would know what was going on. So I get to the House and all the cars are there including the missionaries, so I knock on the door, enter the code to unlock the door and Sister P sees me and starts to say Yay, and I cut her off and say SHHH. I then go up the stairs and go into the Elder's room and I say "So how about that Baptism?" They turn around and go so red, and tell me that the Chen's canceled on the baptism the night before and they forgot to call. Apparently Brother Chen and Trisha (the daughter) got in an argument about whether or not she was ready to be baptized (Sister Chen was the one supposed to get baptized that day, and Trisha who is the 14 year old daughter wanted to be baptized), and Brother Chen ended up getting Drunk and calling off the Baptism for the next day. Not-so-miracle

But we did experience many Miracles with my district leader as my companion I get to see the ups and downs for all the Sisters in our district, One set of sisters had been working very hard with a lady for months, and all of a sudden she calls the sisters up and says I want to be baptized. Miracle

Elder McConkie and I found a girl who was looking for us and now she is on date for baptism in December, Miracle

We have had 5 new investigators and all but one are on date, Miracle 

And Many more miracles that I can't write for lack of time.

I hope everyone is good

Elder Bangerter

He also included a picture, but we don't know who it's of so I'll wait until we have the details before I share it.

Week 17--November 11, 2013

Family and Friends,

It has been a crazy week again. 

The biggest thing this week was that Oscar got Baptized!! It was an amazing Baptismal service and it was one of the most spiritual that I have ever been to. 

Oscar is a great guy and it was a miracle to see him get baptized. Some background information about Oscar, He was introduced to the church by his girlfriend who is a return missionary, He had been taught for almost 6 months and had been dropped by the missionaries 3 times and then picked up again after a while. Right before I came in to the area, Elder McConkie and Elder Hill Picked him up again. Oscar had been a pretty bad basher before he was picked up again, but I was able to come in and helped him resolve his concerns through the Book of Mormon. He was Baptized 3 weeks later. It was amazing to see his heart change and to see him come unto Christ. 

At his baptism there was a lot of opposition but the spirit was so strong at the baptism, and we were kind of scared that he was only getting baptized for his Girlfriend, but he bore his testimony and said "I got Baptized to pursue God" The spirit hit me so hard and I knew he was Converted to the Gospel. It was an incredible experience.

Well in other News Elder McConkie and I got the Standard of Excellence again for the mission, making it two out of three weeks this transfer that we have gotten it.

I hope everyone is doing well

Elder Bangerter

Week 16--November 4, 2013

Friends and Family,

It has been another great week! We are working hard and the Lord is blessing us!

We got to go to the temple this week on Friday, and it was great. I had been praying about something that Elder Reed had told me before I left Lake Elsinore, and he told me that He thought that I was going to be in leadership next transfer, and I had been Praying a lot about it, and when we were in the temple I recieved my answer. It is good to know that the lord does answer our prayers, because he definitely answered mine. It was a great and much needed experience.

We did have a baptism yesterday of John "the Baptist", it was one of the most inspirational baptisms that I have ever been to, and it really strengthened my testimony that it is never too late to change to follow the lord. John is 75 years old! if it's not too late for him it's not too late for anyone. I am so happy I was able to be there. I am honored that he asked me to be the one who confirms him next Sunday.

We do have a baptism again on this Saturday, for Oscar S, I have been there for the teaching of all but one of the lessons for Oscar and helped him realize that the Lord had already answered his prayer about the Book of Mormon. I think that I am going to be the one Baptizing him on Saturday but I don't know for sure.

If all goes well we should have a baptism every weekend this month and that is our goal, and right now it is looking like it is going to happen. And I get to go back to Lake Elsinore to See Jennifer C get baptized in two weeks It is awesome. I love this work so much.

I hope that all is well with everyone

Elder Bangerter

Here's a picture from John's baptism.

Pumpkin carving pictures thanks to the family he's living with.  :-)