Preparation Week

With a baptism this weekend, one next weekend, meetings, and zone leader responsibilities. We had a week full of getting things prepared for all our events. We did a lot of teaching to help our investigators progress towards baptism. We had a couple leadership training meetings and baptismal interviews for other people in our zone. And last but not least we are preparing for Elder Ringwoods tour this week.

We as zone leaders are especially busy and still trying to keep our teaching appointments, finding fellowship, and contacting makes it all the more stressful. Last week was a one meal a day type week and it looks like this week will be really similar again. Today we are meeting some Elders who are singing at a fireside wednesday night with Elder Ringwood so that'll take up a large part of P-day. We also have zone conference Wenesday, then Elder Ringwoods fireside with a musical number Wednesday night, then we have been assigned car inspections for another zone conference on Friday. Not to mention our baptism on Saturday. Oh yeah and a special Zone leaders council with Elder Ringwood thursday from 3:30- 6:00. Holy cow. In the middle of all that we have appointments, calls to make, blessings to give and less-active members to visit/teach. It's just one of those weeks.

This transfer has been the transfer that has gone by the quickest on my mission thus far. It has to do with multiple reasons. 1) Lots of success 2) Zone leader responsibilities 3) Used to being a missionary. Life as a missionary has become so normal now. I heard from a psychologist in our ward that if you can go 1 month without something you can live your entire life without it. It's all about disipline or in church vocabulary, "Enduring to the End."

We had some pretty cool miracles this week with people just walking up to us and basically asking us how they join the LDS chruch. One was a girl from New Jersey whose friend got baptized and she saw her on facebook and then her friend on facebook told her to check out the chruch. She instantly thought, "yeah right." But soon after that she has been getting "signs from god" that she needs to do this. She loves how her friend lives and wants to have something similar. Perfect! We can accomplish this! =)

I've really enjoyed this past month and am excited for the events happening. I really hope I get to stay with my companion another transfer but we have so many zone leaders going home within the next 2 transfers that it looks really unlikely. I pray and hope we do. I've been really fourtnate since the end of May to have good companions. Lets keep it that way!

I enjoy everything you all do for me. Continue doing whats right and you'll have overwhelming peace.

Love,

Elder Bottema