The Big Thaw

This week the temperature hit 43 degrees! Hooray! It was the first time in two months that I considered not wearing a sweater under my suit jacket. The thought made me quite excited. It was also a big thaw in our proselyting area. We have not been having much success but all of a sudden three of the people we have been teaching expressed a desire to be baptized.

In our zone we have also been blessed to have three or four individuals call missionaries and ask to be baptized in the upcoming week. Weeks like this are always hard to explain but very welcome news to each of the missionaries.

We will also have the opportunity in the next two weeks to have two mission conferences. First from L. Whitney Clayton and then from Jay E. Jensen. It will be a unique opportunity to hear from two General Authorities in less than a month. And to think, then we'll be attending general conference and hearing from lots of general authorities!

Elder Bolling

Above Freezing

This week was the first week in a month that was above freezing. You know winter has been around too long when 40-degree days cause you to roll down your windows! But since it's now February there is the hope that things will continue to thaw to the point that I don't have to wear a sweater on a regular basis.

 

The zone has settled down into another transfer. Now that I've been in Draper for 3+ months many of the zone members are used to how I do things and it seems that success is following the "new normal". I have a special place for the Draper area since I started my mission here so I am excited to see the success grow.

 

This week is our zone leader council. The following week we have zone conferences with our missionaries and President Miller. With all that looming on the horizon, we will probably have two very busy weeks ahead.

 

Elder Bolling

Miracles In The Wintry Cold (Jan. 21, 2013)

This week we taught a record number of lessons. However, we were wondering how to find new people to teach that could be baptized. By Saturday night, we were a little worried. Then on Sunday, something amazing happened -- we found three new people to teach and received a text message from someone we had formerly taught about how he wanted to be baptized "before February 1st"!

On top of that, two individuals that I had the opportunity to teach many times over the past three months finally were baptized. I was asked to perform the baptism of one of them. Apparently my experience and testimony touched him in some way. It's a blessing to know that you are making an impact.

The weather is still cold. The highs haven't been above 20 degrees for two weeks. I keep telling myself, "at least January is the beginning of the end of the cold"! I believe all things in life are more enjoyable when it's warm.

Elder Bolling

Cold Days

This week has been colder than most. The high each day has ranged between 11 degrees and 19 degrees. The low on two days was zero! The funny part of it is that it still doesn't feel as cold to me as my daily walks to the DC Metro to get to work. The humidity just does something to make all temperatures less bearable. Nonetheless, I am grateful that we're entering the cold part of the winter because that just means we're closer to my favorite time of year...when the weather is warmer!

 

This week we received a call from someone who had taken missionary discussions about a year ago. We had tried to meet her a few weeks ago, but she wasn't home. She called and asked us to come over so she could tell us that she had been reading the Book of Mormon for that year, studying the missionary lessons with a friend, and wanted to be baptized on January 12th! It is exciting to see how ready she is to jump into her single's ward and become involved. It will certainly be a great experience for the ward.

 

We also trained our eight ward mission leaders this weekend as part of a stake training. We were asked to do it since the high councilor was out of town for the weekend. It was a good opportunity and helped me realize all that goes into training people to do a volunteer role in a ward.

 

Elder Bolling

Learning From Great Leaders

Last Monday we had the opportunity to hear from Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. His family, including concert-violinist Jenny Oaks Baker, performed music for us. It was quite the treat. On top of that, tonight we will have the privelidge of hearing from Elder D. Todd Christoffersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. There are many blessings associated with serving in Utah.

 

In a non-missionary related topic, I found out last night that the Washington Redskins captured the NFC East Championship. The Lord sure does bless us in multiple ways for serving...because that hasn't happened in thirteen years! Hail to the Redskins!

 

The biggest news this week has been the snow. Some of our missionaries are from Arizona and other places warm. They tend to do pretty silly things in the snow. In the past two weeks we've had two bumpers torn up because of snow accidents. It pains us to have to "park cars" so often for missionaries who simply don't know how to slow down.

 

Elder Bolling

Merry Christmas!

Our Christmas week got off to a great start with a baptism. This one was special, however. The person being baptized picked the date that his family was coming into town. His family was baptized 30 years ago but he had never joined the church. The plan was to drive them to the baptism without letting them know ahead of time that the baptism would be happening. The scene when the parents saw their son dressed in white was quite memorable. He was even able to be ordained to the Aaronic Priesthood before his parents left back for New York City.

Now we commence two days of not proselyting. This might be the one and only time that happens on my mission. Whoa! Tonight we will be blessed to hear from Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Tomorrow we will call home and visit families that we have met over the course of our missions. It will be quite a relaxing few days.

To everyone back home, Merry Christmas!

http://www.lds.org/bible-videos/videos/glad-tidings-of-great-joy-the-birth-of-jesus-christ?lang=eng

Elder Bolling

Snowstorm & Wind

It was a very snowy and windy week here in Utah. My frugalities have finally caved and decided to buy a new pair of shoes today since the water from the snow comes through the bottom of my soles. I was so close to holding out on new shoes for two years!

This weekend I was able to go back to Riverton for two baptisms in my old area. It's always special to see the progress of those I've taught continue after I have left. I was even able to talk to an old Bishop who met a couple who knows my family! It seems like the world keeps getting smaller and smaller.

As for other items, transfers happened. No changes in my companionship. Even in the zone most of the people stayed the same. Only one person left. There's a lot of continuity here in Draper...which is great to see.

Elder Bolling