It's been a very crazy week and it will be even crazier until the
transfer is over next week. But there have been a lot of blessings and
tender mercies that have come our way which is great!
Tuesday, we met this man named Jack Auwetter. He is 85 and lost touch
with the missionaries, but he gave us a call last week and invited us
for an appointment. He's a very kind man and really wanted to start to
continue discussions with the Elders, which we are hoping will really
turn into something very promising. He's very interested in the
Philadelphia temple so we are hoping the open house and our visits
will really help him reach the goal of baptism!
Wednesday had to be the most spiritual event of the week. We had Zone
Conference which was a lot of fun. It was great driving back to Cherry
Hill to the stake center where I used to go for District Meetings and
Zone Trainings when I was in Moorestown. I saw many good friends and
past companions like Elder Maughan and Elder Maynard! There was also a
part of the conference where missionaries were selected to speak on
converted missionaries and I happened to be one that was picked out of
the group. I don't know why, but I guess I felt nervous going up
there, even though I talk to people everyday. But I was going through
my notes and saying a prayer in my heart when the Assistant who I was
sitting next to, Elder Weisler, looked at me and gave me a fist bump.
Right then I was asked to speak and it was like the Spirit took over
and it felt so great to just testify of missionary work and
consecration. But the best part of the Zone Conference had to be
President and Sister Anderson's farewell testimonies. To say the room
was filled with the Spirit doesn't even begin to describe the
tenderness and love both of them expressed to each of us. President
Anderson closed his testimony by telling us he understood what the
Savior meant by saying "you are mine". Because we are their
missionaries as well as the Lord's. Needless to say, tears were shed
throughout the congregation of missionaries. I couldn't even keep it
together when we sang our mission song because President and Sister
Anderson just had tears through it all. That's when it really hit me
that they were both really going home in a few weeks... But it was
great, each missionary got a little time with each of them on the way
out. I was just so thankful for them throughout the rest of the day.
Definitely a day to remember in the field!
Thursday we met with this former investigator the Elders were teaching
before I came here. Howard is very religious but is still searching to
know if the Book of Mormon is the word of God. It was great because
Brother Coates, our main member missionary, set up the appointment
with him and everything and even invited him to church for this coming
Sunday! It was a great appointment and we also met with Wayne Hoglund,
who is such a sincere and loving guy. He reminds me a lot of my friend
in my first area, David Garduno. During one point in the lesson, he
asked if he could be forgiven or if there was a point that God would
stop forgiving. We testified to him that God will always forgive and
that He always loves him. We also testified of the power of the
Atonement and repentance which really gave him a lot of relief. It was
such a great lesson!
Friday was strange, but overall it went very well! We started the day
of by going to Philly to do a safety and emission testing at pep boys,
which took a good amount of the morning. But we were able to also meet
with Matt, who is doing very well in reading daily to know if the Book
of Mormon is true and if God truly does exist. We had a good talk
about personal application with the Book of Mormon which he really
thought was what he needed, so that was great to hear.
We also met with the Whitfields throughout the week and committed
Deborah Whitfield, Brother Whitfield's sister, to a date in late July.
So we are really going to make sure that we will be able to make that
happen. It's been a great transfer so far and there's so much to do
this final week. Elder Yeates goes to the temple, exchanges with the
district and zone leaders, and transfer calls! It'll be pretty
exciting to see what will happen this week! I hope all of you are
doing well and are enjoying the summer!
Elder Cortes
Woodstown, NJ
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