Epistle - February 21 2007

Things are going so awesome. Elder Japser goes home in like 5 days! INSANE! I'm happy for him. hes been a good missionary! I've learned a lot from him which is important. i want to share a experience that happened this week. so Sunday we were going around seeing people and i remembered that we were invited to go to a fireside at the downtown chapel. but we didn't plan on it. but i had the feeling that we should go so we headed down there. and sure enough as we walked in(the fireside was over ) as people were eating refreshments etc. we noticed a guy 22yrs old talking to the bishop so we headed over cause we didn't recognize him. turns out he saw all the cars and thought he would see what was going on in the church so late at night. hes not a member, and is Mexican but speaks pretty good English. so we gave him some things to read and planned to meet with him the next day to have a lesson.

The following day we met at a members home. and taught him the 1st lesson about the restoration. now he speaks pretty good English but he doesn't understand quite as much. so we had to speak plainly and simply. as we spoke he told us how he left his home in Mexico when he was 11 because his dad or someone was trying to sell him.. and he knew that was bogus so he moved away by himself. so now as a 22 yr old he has no family.. doesn't know who his parents are.. doesn't even know when his birthday is. he moved to new york and made up his own name Roger Alexander. and has had a rough life, working just to survive living on the streets etc. and he some how came here.. but the amazing thing is that even though he had no religion in his life he prayed a lot... he prayed and asked how come there is all this bad things going on in the world and why Jesus doesn't just come down and stop it.. or at least take him up to heaven so he wouldn't have to deal with it. CRAZY EH? he asked to die... because of the garbage that is going on.. he is such a sweet man. and the lesson that we taught him was amazing... the spirit was SO strong we were all brought to tears. he is as we say GOLDEN. we talked about how were glad to have him here and that God placed him here to receive the gospel. he knows that's true! he'll be baptized soon for sure. i just love how God prepares people to hear the gospel. amazing!

Well last Saturday we had 2 baptisms they went great , I spoke at both of them, and then during the time when the people are changing out of their wet clothes we (missionaries) share a short 1st lesson with everyone who is there. and there was more than 5 non members in attendance.. so we'll see if anything comes from that. the stat is that if some one attends a baptism, 90% of the time they will attend their own also! Sweet eh! you have to bring them to where the spirit is, as we are told! it really works! This weekend we have 3 baptisms planned.. 2 will go through for sure and i have been asked to confirm one of the investigators. i am so excited for her to be baptized.. she has really changed and has made the commitments, she is wonderful! her name is Dollie her and her 2 kids are the funnest bunch to visit!

The other one that isn't so sure is a man named Robert. he lives 45 mins away from town all by him self but as long as he has stopped chewing tobacco he will be baptized on Saturday, and he has asked me to baptize him! i am STOKED! i cant wait! Get this. his uncle lives in Arbor Lake. like 5 minutes away from Moms house! ha ha insane! small world!(and he played hockey back in the day and played against the team that was in the movie Miracle! he knows tons of the people from that team in the movie , which is based on a true story) hes a way cool guy. when i asked him who he wanted to baptize him he said "You, one hockey player to another) Ryan will love that! I'm excited for him!

Well St.johns is sure fun. people here love us and we are working hard. dealing with 5 wards can be stressful but its nice also to have lots of help. if these baptisms go through on sat we will have accomplished our goal of 6 baptisms this transfer. and also next transfer is looking to be just as successful if not more! I'm So excited to be in the land of milk and honey! (Pres Buttars calls St. Johns that) Well were going to go hunting for Elk Horns that have dropped of the elk for P-day with 2 other missionaries! should be great!
God bless and Be missionaries!
Elder Patrick F Gilchrist