Happy Halloween!

This week Utah celebrates Halloween. For those of you who know how Utahans and Mormons celebrate holidays...it's a big shenanigan. As a mission we will be meeting at the Jordan River Temple from 5:00PM until 9:00PM to attend a session, have dinner as a mission and hear a talk from Richard Hinckley (He's President Gordon B. Hinckley's son). Not to mention Halloween falls on transfer day. With all of those realities...suffice it to say that transfer day will be busy!

I'm 100% in the dark about what might happen with transfers. I could stay in Riverton with Elder McCaffrey since we've had good success. I could stay and he could go. He could stay and I could go. A new zone could be created since we currently have 29 missionaries. Who knows!

This past week we've spent a lot of time with a certain companionship who simply doesn't get along. The interesting thing is that I seem to learn more about myself as we help others learn to get along. The main problem these two have is that they like to complain about the other person when there's a big ole' mote in their eye. That sounds a lot like me sometimes! (Luckily I don't cause as big of problems with it all!)


Elder Bolling

Talking About Changes

This week marks one week before the next transfer date. It also marked interviews with President Miller. Interviews took a very long time since we have 29 missionaries in our zone. After all was said and done we spent 9 1/2 training missionaries and ensuring things ran smoothly. Interview days are some of the longest days of missionary work.

Transfers should also see lots of changes -- though it's all up in the air. With our zone having 29 missionaries there is a serious possibility of a new zone being created. There's also been talk of making our area a "Young Single Adult only" area. On top of that I've been in this zone for 6 months...and 6 months starts to begin the transition period. Who knows what will happen!

We've hit a little bit of a rut in our missionary work. We haven't been finding interested people to teach. However, we still have two baptisms that should happen in the next two weeks so we are not entirely dismayed. It seems that life revolves in cycles...we've just got to turn it around.

Elder Bolling

Amazing Baptisms!

This was a great week. We were able to see the fruits of all of our work. We had a baptism Saturday for a young single adult girl. She was invited by her friend and had been attending church for four months. Before we even met her she was ready to go. It is neat to simply be a part of such a wonderful process.

Our second baptism was for another young single adult girl. She might even be reading this blog! It was a special one because she had been meeting with missionaries for quite a while. When we started meeting with her she had many questions and doubts about the Book of Mormon and the Restoration. Luckily I had been through many of the same questions. When I learned about the church I read all of the "negative" stuff about the church. Then, after resolving those questions, I prayed and received my answer that it was Christ's church! Over two months we were able to help her get her answer as well. So many people were excited (and surprised) that she chose to be baptized that the baptism was filled to overflowing! It truly was a memorable moment in my mission.

We've also been trying some new ideas on how to lead our zone. We have been giving our district leaders some more creative control on what to do and how to do it. It has seen some immediate fruits as our zone has had many successes and is doing well in our mission. Our main goal is to help our district leaders learn how to fulfill their stewardships on their own. We feel that in that way they will be able to see progress and lead in their own way.

Elder Bolling

General Conference Miracles

This weekend we had the opportunity that only comes twice a year -- to hear from the Prophet and Apostles at general conference. In the Salt Lake City South Mission, we have the blessing of attending with those we are teaching. It is such a wonderful experience. Sometimes I feel as though I get more out of it then they do. I was able to attend the Saturday Afternoon session, the Priesthood session and the Sunday Morning session. I am truly grateful for the blessing of being in Utah for these moments.

 

Our zone continues to plug along. It seems as though the work me and my companion have been doing for 9 weeks is beginning to bear fruit. We have most of our missionaries actively teaching people and doing a lot of good. That should reflect in the number of people we see baptized this month. Even though we teach and convert lots of people in this mission, every individual experience is special. Being a part of somebody's journey to the gospel is amazing.

 

We're also teaching more than I ever had. We probably average 30 lessons taught each week. Sometimes it can be exhausting...but always worthwhile at the end of the day. With conference passing, the weather has turned so that we're wearing suit jackets every day again. Winter is coming!

 

Elder Bolling

Halloween Decorations?

One of the funniest things about Utah is the amount of decorating that goes on for holidays. I don't know if I've ever seen so many decorations for one silly holiday as I do here in Utah. Yes, there are decorations in Virginia...but Utahans take it to a whole different level. We won't even talk about what happens at Christmas, that's just over the top!

 

We've entered into another month. I really don't know where the month of September went. We are preparing for general conference this weekend. I will be personally attending three sessions. We will attend with those that we're meeting with. The goal is to help them feel the spirit that comes from the Apostles to solidify their commitment to join the church. Not only that, but it will be quite a treat to see three sessions live myself!

 

Elder Bolling