Week 26: Merry CHRISTmas

     Merry Christmas everybody!  I hope your homes were filled with love for our Savior yesterday as we celebrated his birth on a very beautiful Sabbath Day.  My 1st Christmas away from home was very, very, special and I had a very Merry Christmas and a great week.

     This week was full of fun and exciting things.  Tuesday we had interviews with President Miller and on Wednesday we had a trainer/trainee meeting.  We got to go to the temple afterwards.  I love being around President Miller because everything he says is so profound and I am continually learning from him.  He helped answer some questions I had about receiving personal revelation.  On Wednesday, Elder Barlow and I got to get more instruction from him on how we can both become better missionaries.  It was great to see some other missionaries who are going through the fun and tough times of training, like I am.  We all can improve so much but we are all being qualified through the Lord's help.  Something that I learned was if we have enough love for our investigators, there is nothing that we should be afraid of saying to them to help them change.  BE BOLD!!  Going to the temple afterward was so great, there is no greater feeling than being inside the temple.

     Friday night, we had a very special experience.  Our District went caroling to our investigators and members homes in our areas!!!  It was so much fun as we sang those sacred hymns of Christ's birth and to see the faces of those we sang to light up.  It really helped me to feel my Savior's love for his children and how very, very special this time of year is.

     Christmas day we got to go to church and I loved it.  There is no better day to go to church and to praise our God.  The service was an hour full of singing and the spirit.  It was a Christmas that I will never forget.  Afterwards, we got to spend time with some fantastic members and Skype our families.  I love my family very much and it was so great to hear their voices.

     I love Christmas time and I'm sad that it's over but we can always have his spirit with us as we follow him, keep his commandments, and love one another.  I love my Savior, Jesus Christ, and the gift he provided to the world.  I know he lives and loves each one of us and it is my prayer that we can all turn our hearts to Him and partake of his everlasting divine love.  He bears our burdens, lights our way, and knows each one of us.  Thank you for all the love and support I continually receive!  Love ya all.

Love,
Elder Gutierrez

Merry CHRISTmas 2016 - Elder Barlow and Elder Gutierrez

Matching District - The tie and skirt match

Christmas Eve Dinner with the Pickups

Chistmas at the Gutke's Home

FaceTime for Christmas

     Merry Christmas!  The best part of Christmas was FaceTiming Elder Drew Gutierrez from the Massachusetts Boston Mission.  We had everything ready to Skype but the connection was bad so it kept stalling.  We changed to FaceTime in order to see and talk to him.

     Elder Gutierrez was very upbeat and happy.  He loves being a missionary and the people in the Boston area.  He told us all about his companions and his awesome converts.  He gave us an update of his convert, Julia, that was baptized the week after he left the Worcester area.  He was able to go back for her baptism.  Julia attends a Catholic school.  In one of her textbooks, there was a chapter about Joseph Smith.  They called him a gold digger and fraud.  Julia approached the professor and told him that the information was not true.  He offered to let her do a presentation on Joseph Smith.  She put together the presentation and taught her school class about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon.  After the presentation, three of her friends requested missionary lessons and copies of the Book of Mormon!  The missionaries are currently teaching them.

     We are thankful to the Gutke family for opening their home on Christmas so Elder Gutierrez and his companion could contact their families.  Afterwards, I contacted them and thanked them for their kind service and support for the missionaries.  They replied with the following message which of course had me in tears.  "Thank you so much for your sweet message to us.  Elder Gutierrez is such an exceptional missionary and we love him very much.  He has such an amazing heart and pure soul.  From the moment he first knocked at our door, we knew that he was someone special.  We are so grateful to you for raising an amazing young man and preparing him to serve.  He is a dedicated missionary to the Lord.  New England is blessed to have him for a season.  Merry Christmas."

 - Heidi Gutierrez

FaceTime with Brooklyn

FaceTime with Mom

   
   

Week 25: Christmas Miracles!

     Christmas miracles are happening!  Elder Barlow and I had set a goal earlier this month that we were going to have a baptism this month.  We knew we could accomplish this goal with the Lord's help.  And . . . this week we extended 3 baptismal dates and only one accepted but we now have a baptismal date for one of our investigators on 12/31!  Robert Lewis is his name, he is such a great guy.  He lives in our apartment complex and we often see him walking around and on Wednesday, we were talking to him in the apartment building. I asked him if we could share a message with him and he said that we could!  We taught him the Restoration and on Friday we taught him the Gospel of Jesus Christ!  He is very excited about his baptismal date and Elder Barlow and I are very, very excited too. Everyone keep Robert in your prayers.

     This week we had a Christmas themed Zone Conference on Tuesday.  Instead of trainings, President Miller opened the Conference to testimonies and musical numbers.  IT WAS SO AMAZING!  Definitely the spiritual boost that I needed.  The spirit in that chapel was tangible.  I was so touched by the testimonies of my fellow missionaries and I felt so much joy and love from and for my Savior.  And to top it all off, we got to go to the temple afterwards and not only for a session.  I got to participate in sealings, an endowment session, and initiatories!  I love the temple so, so, so, much and Tuesday was just extraordinary!  I especially loved the feelings inside the sealing room and was very grateful to be able to participate in the sealings of families who have passed on.  I know without a doubt in my mind that the temple is the House of the Lord.  It is the only place on Earth where heaven literally connects.

     Funny story of the week, sorta . . . . it snowed a ton!  We were helping shovel snow at our ward mission leaders home before we correlated.  After our meeting, we were about to go and I could not find our keys . . . After much searching in the snow, we could not find them.  So we are now keyless and our ward mission leader had to drive us to the mission home to get a spare key to our car.  Ha, ha so maybe we will get our keys back in the spring. Whoops!

     This Sunday was our primary program and nativity scene, which was fantastic!  I love Christmas time and the spirit that radiates in our souls, homes, and families.  I marvel how meek and humble our Savior's birth was and how He is the most influential person who has ever lived.  He accomplished the will of our Father so that WE could live with Him again.  So that WE can be with our families forever.  So that WE can become like Him.  So WE may have joy!  I love Him so much for that.  I know that He really does love each and everyone of us in the most perfect way.  MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!

Love,
Elder Gutierrez

Merry Christmas from Bellingham. MA

Zone Conference - December 13, 2016

Sister Carlisle and Elder Gutierrez

Elder Gutierrez and Elder Barlow at the Boston Temple

Nativity at the Boston Temple

John 3:16:  For God So Loved the World 

Week 24: Are We All Not Beggars?

     Mosiah 4: 19-20 "19: For behold, are we not all beggars?  Do we not all depend upon the same Being, even God, for all the substance which we have, for both food and raiment, and for gold, and for silver, and for all the riches which we have of every kind? 20: And behold, even at this time, ye have been calling on his name, and begging for a remission of your sins.  And has he suffered that ye have begged in vain?  Nay; he has poured out his Spirit upon you, and has caused that your hearts should be filled with joy, and has caused that your mouths should be stopped that ye could not find utterance, so exceedingly great was your joy."

     Recently, I have been able to think a lot about really how dependent I am on the Savior as a missionary, as a person, and as one of God's children.  I know my Savior, Jesus Christ payed the price so that we would not have to, and because of that I have so, so much joy!  Without Him, I am nothing and I can do nothing.

     Elder Barlow and I have had the opportunity to be tested and to rely on the Lord on every single aspect of this work this week.  It has been tough to find people to teach recently and I received some very great counsel from another missionary.  Elder Barlow and I NEED to involve the Lord in EVERY single aspect of our work here.  We need to have increased faith that the Lord is preparing people for us to teach, increased sincere prayers so the Lord can direct us to them, and more obedience and continual daily repentance so that we can be trusted by the Lord.  We are excited to make some changes in our work and be able to find those who are prepared here!

     It truly is so amazing to know that our Heavenly Father does not and will not abandon us.  He hears us and loves us!  I am so, so dependent on His grace and I am so thankful for this Christmas time to celebrate Christ's birth.  Yesterday was the Stake Christmas Choir event, I love Christmas hymns and it was such a great spiritual experience.  This week is going to be great and we are loving the Christmas spirit that is in the air!  Love you all!

Love,
Elder Gutierrez

Quincy Market - Downtown Boston

Downtown Boston on P-Day

Downtown Boston

Check Out Tom Brady's Car

Week 23: SNOW!

     IT SNOWED TODAY!  Great week in the mission field.  This week Elder Barlow and I had some great experiences and learned a lot from each other.  Being a trainer is such a great blessing because it has made me such a better missionary as I try to teach the basics to Elder Barlow.

     This week we got to go to West Bridgewater, Massachusetts on exchanges with the zone leaders.  I got to spend the day with Elder Rogers and we had a blast!  I loved serving in their area for the day because it reminded me so much of Worcester.  We taught some awesome lessons, picked up a few investigators, Mark gave us all his cigarettes and tobacco!  One of the most rewarding things as a missionary is seeing somebody choose to put God first in their life by giving up something that hinders their relationship with Him.  It was great learning and serving with Elder Rogers and Tilly. They are fantastic missionaries and it was great to see how they helped Elder Barlow become more comfortable when teaching and street contacting.

     Some great things happened this week with one of our less-active members in the ward, Brother Moles.  He is currently living with a girlfriend and she said that she wanted to get married and possibly come to church!  What a miracle!  This was huge because she was the reason he didn't come to church and out of nowhere she decided that she wanted to come!  Also Sister Vandersluis, that owns the farm that we do service at said she would make an effort to come to church on the 18th when we are having the Christmas Program.

      Also another piece of great news is that we picked up an awesome investigator named Sueidy.  She is from Brazil and she mainly speaks Portuguese so . . . her two sons Pierry and Piettro who are 7 and 5 years old translate for us!  It is pretty wicked cool.  She babysits from home and so in our lesson with her this week there were five children (ages 4-7) huddled around us all with Restoration pamphlets in their hands learning about Jesus Christ and Joseph Smith.  It was awesome!  We hope to extend a baptismal date this week to Sueidy.

     Things are going great here in Massachusetts!  I'm so thankful for all the prayers and support.  The #LightTheWorld initiative has been great to share with the members here and  the ward is fully participating.  I'm very grateful for this Christmas season and more importantly for what happened on Easter that allows us to celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Love,
Elder Gutierrez

First Snow in Massachusetts - December 5, 2016

Mark handed over all his cigarettes and tobacco!

Elder Rogers and Elder Gutierrez with Kinsley, a member in the YSA ward.

Unloading pine boxes at the farm.

Signing Leo Pickup's casts

Elder Gutierrez and Elder Barlow with Leo Pickup and his father.

Week 22: It's a Boy! (Part 2)

     Happy Thanksgiving!  I hope you all had a fantastic and grateful week.  On Wednesday, I picked up my son, Elder Barlow!  He is such a great missionary.  The thing I love the most about him is that he wants to work hard and he has such a great desire to learn.  He is such a great missionary already. We are going to do amazing work here in Franklin and we are going to do everything we can to contribute to the missions' goal of having 50 baptisms in November and December.  So far Elder Barlow and I have been able to pick up 2 new investigators and we have set some big goals for this week.  I'm so very excited to be serving with him and to be training him.  He is from Taylorsville, UT and he has 11 siblings back home!

     On Wednesday before I picked up Elder Barlow, I got to go to the Boston Temple with Elder Waters, one of the missionaries that went home this week.  It was such a blessing to go to the House of the Lord unexpectedly.  This was exactly what I needed before I began training Elder Barlow. I gain so much peace and comfort knowing I have made sacred covenants with the Lord in the temple and that he will help me through my trials.  I know God lives and I am overwhelmed by his love for each and every one of us.  He truly loves us!

    On Thanksgiving, I was able to reflect on how thankful I am for my sweet family and all their love and support.  I am so grateful for them and all they do.  We had a great missionary Thanksgiving with the mostly new District and played some fun games.  I am so grateful to be a missionary and to be serving the Lord at this time.  I'm grateful for my health and for a Savior that has helped me to become someone greater because of my mission and I know I still have so much to learn.

     I invite all of you to go to mormon.org and check out the new Christmas video!  We can all serve in 25 ways over 25 days and I testify that you and your families can feel the love of the Christ as you serve as he did.  What a great opportunity we all have to focus on and follow his example this Christmas season.

     This week Elder Barlow and I hope to accomplish some great and big things!  Thank you all that support me and help me as I serve.  Love ya all!

Love,
Elder Gutierrez

Thanksgiving Dinner with the Franklin District

Beautiful Edible Arrangement

Happy Thanksgiving from my District

My son, Elder Patrick Barlow from Taylorsville, UT!

Boston Temple visit before picking up Elder Barlow - November 23, 2016

   

Week 21: It's a Boy!

Dear Family and Friends,
     Well a lot of very exciting things happened this week, the most exciting being that I found out I'm going to be a father to a brand new missionary!  I'll be training this upcoming transfer.  Wednesday, the 23rd, I get to pick up my brand new missionary from the mission home.  He flies into Boston today.  I am so very, very, very stoked to be a trainer!  Greeny fire!!  I was also called to be the District Leader.

     This week was very fun, Elder Weber and I got to cut down some huge trees for a less active member who said he would like to come tracting with us sometime!  Which was huge since he hasn't been to church in years.  We also did some service at the Maple Sanctuary Farm, owned by a less active member.  We got to clean out some llama stalls which was surprisingly fun.

     Yesterday was a very cool day.  We got to participate in the Franklin, Massachusetts interfaith choir.  Every year the interfaith group in Franklin has a Thanksgiving event, basically it's a day when a bunch of different people from other religions get together and praise God.  It was super, super cool. We got to sing in Hebrew and hear from lots of other religious leaders from other faiths.  It was cool to see how even though we all had very different beliefs and very different views on lots of things we could all get together and have a good time with each other.  Some of the faiths present were the Catholic Church, the Baptist Church, the Jewish Church, the Univeralist Church, and of the course the LDS Church.  It was also cool to see the religious leaders together in all their robes and fancy clothes and to see how simple and humble our Bishop was.  Very fun and neat experience.

     This week is going to bring lots of change and I am so excited to meet my new companion on Wednesday!  Love you all!!  Wish me luck.

Love,
Elder Gutierrez

Service - Chopping Down a Huge Tree

District Leader Call Letter from President Miller

November 18, 2016

Dear Elder Gutierrez

You are hereby called to serve as a District Leader. You should know that this call comes from the Lord. He trusts you in this sacred calling and responsibility. I also place great trust in you to care for the well-being of the missionaries assigned to work in your district, and to help the work of salvation for the souls of men move forward.  

As part of this assignment, your responsibilities include:

·         Setting an example for the missionaries in your district through study of the scriptures, living the gospel, obedience, hard work, and striving to improve proselyting skills.

·         Supervising, teaching, and inspiring the missionaries in your district.

·         Planning and conducting a weekly district meeting

·         Conducting exchanges with the missionaries in your district.

·         Interviewing baptismal candidates taught by the missionaries in your district.

·         Looking after the well-being of the missionaries in your district.

Your Zone Leaders will help you as you learn to fulfill these responsibilities. Remember that your most effective teaching is done through example.

I congratulate you on this sacred calling.

With Love,

President A. Todd Miller

Massachusetts Boston Mission

Trainer Call Letter from President Miller

November 18, 2016

Dear Elder Gutierrez

You are hereby called to serve as a Trainer for a newly arriving missionary. You should know that this call is a sacred trust from the Lord, and from me. A missionary’s first companion has a profound, lasting influence on the development of the missionary’s attitude and habits.

As part of this assignment, I ask that you:

·         Commit yourself to set the highest example of obedience and effective proselyting, and to do all that you can to help your companion begin his or her mission positively.

·         Help your companion adapt to missionary life by following the daily schedule diligently, reading daily from the Missionary Handbook, and obeying all the mission rules. Remember to be sensitive to the adjustment your companion is making, and provide help and encouragement in a kind and loving way.  

·         Hold companion study daily to help your companion develop and improve basic missionary skills.

·         Hold effective daily and weekly planning sessions, to help your companion learn how to plan to help investigators progress toward conversion.

·         Make sure your companion participates fully in all aspects of the work. Help your companion gain experience in every part of the Missionary Purpose.

Your District Leader will help you as you learn to fulfill these responsibilities. Remember that your most effective teaching is done through example.

I congratulate you on this sacred calling.

With Love,

President A. Todd Miller

Massachusetts Boston Mission

Week 20: Connecticut and Rhode Island in One Day

Dear Family and Friends,
     So another great week in the mission.  The best part of this week was Zone Conference on Friday in Grotton, Connecticut.  It was great to see and hear from President and Sister Miller.  It was also fantastic because I saw so, so, so many familiar faces.  My whole MTC District was there and it was great to see and hear about the experiences they have been having in the mission.  I also got to see Sister Emma Carslile who was an ambassador with me at Utah State who just got to the mission!  I never thought I'd see so many familiar faces!  It was great.

     Elder Weber and I found a very funny, old lady this week while we were tracting.  Her name is Carol.  We knocked on her door and when she saw us, she thought we were Russians!  Ha ha after talking to her for a while and giving her a Book of Mormon, she said we could come back sometime so I'll keep you posted on Carol.

     Miracles truly are happening all over the mission right now.  We set two huge goals for the mission.  50 baptisms in November and 50 baptisms in December .  Alma 13:24 was shared during Zone Conference this week and I found it so cool. "For behold, angels are declaring it unto many at this time in our land; and this is for the purpose of preparing the hearts of the children of men to receive his word at the time of his coming in his glory".  People here  in the Massachusetts Boston Mission truly are being prepared for the gospel.

     After Zone Conference, we drove to Newport, Rhode Island which is one of the prettiest places I've ever been.  So Friday I got to go to Connecticut and Rhode Island for the first time.  Super fun, and also this week we got to see Tom Brady's car!  His trainer is a member in the Franklin Branch and he let him drive it all weekend.  #OperationBaptizeTomBrady starts now.  Ha ha, great week.  Thanks for all the love and support!

Love,
Elder Gutierrez

Teaching with a bird on my shoulder

Carline's, Baptism (Worcester) on November 5, 2016

Tom Brady's Aston Martin Vanquish

Bridge to Newport, Rhode Island

Beach in Newport, Rhode Island

Elder Gutierrez at the beach in Newport, Rhode Island

Week 19: Mosiah 2:17

Beautiful Fall in Massachusetts

     Great week in Franklin!  "When you are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God".  Mosiah 2:17 was definitely the theme of this week.  Lots and lots of service and some great experiences.

     First, I would like to inform you all that Carline and her 2 daughters, Alexis and Benita were baptized this weekend in Worcester!  They were one of my favorite families to teach.  Carline's story and decision to follow Christ is so amazing and I am so happy to know that they made it to the waters of baptism.  She calls us the "Elder Brothers", ha ha she's the best.

     This week we helped a couple of less-active members with service.  Elder Weber and I have made a goal to try and help reactivate a couple of the less-active members in the ward here because there are so many.  We helped Brother Moles lay sod and we helped him build 2 ramps for his shed.  We helped Sister Vandersluis on her sanctuary farm.  We raked leaves for a non-member (which is a lot different than raking leaves on the west coast), and then two families moved out of the ward so we helped them move all their stuff.  Pretty exciting and tiring week of service.

     This week was also Stake Conference for the Hingham Stake.  Elder Michael Dudley was the area seventy that attended and he is a fantastic man.  He gave an amazing talk on choosing to serve the Lord and on Saturday he gave a great talk on joy.  Joshua 24:15, "And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the Gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the Gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."  After hearing Elder Dudley speak I realized how very important it is to choose to serve the Lord and make that the deciding factor of our life.  If our actions are based off of this principle then we can never go astray.  At Stake Conference, we as the Hingham zone missionaries got to be in the choir.  The hymns are able to provide the spirit so strongly and it was great to provide that to the Stake Conference meeting.

     As a mission, we have set two big goals for the upcoming months.  50 baptisms in the month of November and 50 baptisms in the month of December to reach our yearly goal of 465 baptisms.  This Sunday we had a mission fast.  I have so much faith that we will be able to reach our goal and that somebody will be able to be baptized in this area.  Thank you for all your love and support from home.

Love Ya,
Elder Gutierrez

Raking Leaves on the East Coast is different than raking leaves on the West Coast!

Look what I found Kash!

Service at the Sanctuary Farm

Week 18: "It has a pool?!"

Dear Family and Friends,
     HAPPY HALLOWEEN.  This week was fantastic!  A lot of great things happened.  First a funny story:  Elder Weber and I were showing a youth's non-member friend pictures from the Hartford Temple.  When she saw a picture with the baptismal font she yelled out, "It has a pool?!"  We all were laughing pretty hard and she was pretty confused.

     After months of praying and fasting, finally Julia (Worcester) went through with faith and got baptized this Saturday!  I got a text on Friday morning saying that Julia had decided to be baptized despite her family's opinion.  So Elder Weber and I got permission to drive up to Worcester to see her baptism.  What a very strong and tangible spirit was felt as Julia was baptized and bore her testimony afterwards.  She has taught me so much about trials and how with our Lord's help anything is possible.  She's going to be a fantastic, faithful member her whole life, no doubt.

     This week we finally taught and picked up two new investigators!  Tony and Cheryl Clarizio.  Cheryl's brother is Sister Cimmino's husband (non-member) in the ward.  We got introduced to them through Sister Cimmino because Tony had some recent heart problems so we had the opportunity to give him a blessing.  On Tuesday, he invited us over to help him move some furniture and then to have dinner with he and his wife.  We were on exchanges so Elder Tilly (such a great missionary) and I had a fantastic visit with Tony and Cheryl and taught them the Restoration.  They both said they would read and pray to know if the Book of Mormon was true.  It was so great to teach a solid lesson again.

     I learned so much from Elder Tilly in one day, his story is so amazing!  He is 26 years old and he was converted 2 years ago.  He had already graduated from college and owned his own business when he left on his mission.  He is such a great example to me of putting the Lord first in our lives and really serving the Lord.  His family still is not supportive in any way and he continues to serve with all he's got.  I am so thankful for missionaries like him who help and inspire me to be better everyday as I strive to build His kingdom.

     Sadly, we got a text from Tony later this week saying that they were no longer interested in the Mormon church and they were happy being Catholic.  Though we hope to stay in contact with them as much as possible and we are trusting that the Lord will help us be able to teach them again soon. Keep them in your prayers!

     This week was also the ward Halloween trunk or treat party and for our trunk we made a missionary!  Ha ha!!  It turned out pretty great and the members here are so fun.  I'm so thankful for the ward here.

Love,
Elder Gutierrez

Julia's Baptism

Julia's Baptism (Worcester)  with Elder Stewart and Elder Gutierrez

Patriots Hall of Fame #BroncosForLife

Elder Tilly and Elder Gutierrez

Franklin Ward Trunk or Treat

Week 17: Tender Mercies

Dear Family and Friends,
     After a few disappointing canceled appointments, I know that the Lord is so very aware of each and every one of us!

     The craziest thing happened last Monday.  We were in downtown Boston and out of no where I hear my name.  I turned around to see one of my best friend Kurtis Walker's family.  I got to see Jackson Walker who recently returned from his mission and Kurtis' parents.  It was such a blessing to see some familiar faces and I know that it was a tender mercy sent from heaven.

     The work here in Franklin is continuing to remain a little tough but I know there are people in this area who are being prepared at this very moment to receive the gospel of Jesus Christ into their lives.  We have done so much tracting in this last week that my knuckle that I knock with is starting to turn into a different shape, haha.  Elder Weber and I are so thankful for the amazing ward here that continues to be a great support in the missionary work as well!  I am deeply grateful for the members here who have been my family as I am away from my own, and I know the Lord has sent them as a tender mercy as well.

     On Saturday, the Hingham Stake had a multi-cultural food event.  Members from all over the world made their favorite foods.  It was a great event for non-members to come to an LDS church and have fun.  There was a great turn out and I got to see my old MTC companion, Elder Evans!

     This Sunday was the primary program here for the Franklin 1st Ward, another tender mercy.  It was so amazing to see the primary children singing and to feel their spirit.  Children truly are so much closer to heaven than anyone else and I am so very grateful for the knowledge of the gospel and eternal families.

     Thank you for the love and support I have received in the last week.  I truly am so blessed.   Even when the storms come and when we feel as if we are about to sink into despair, Christ is there.  As we put our faith in Him I know that we can and WILL find peace from all pains this world might have to offer.

Love,
Elder Gutierrez

Look who found me in downtown Boston - Jackson Walker

Downtown Boston

Boston

Elder Evans and Elder Gutierrez (MTC Companions) at Stake International Food Festival

Fall is BEAUTIFUL in Massachusetts

Tender Mercies - Ran into the Walker family in downtown Boston

Week 16: Franklin, Massachusetts

Dear Family and Friends,

     I'm so very grateful for the Franklin, Massachusetts Ward.  I have only been here for a week and I already love the ward members here.  I'm so grateful for their love and care.  The work here in this area is completely different from the work in Worcester.  It was sad leaving Worcester but I know the Lord needs me here in Franklin.  We have a lot less investigators and we work with a lot of inactive members of the ward.  It is going to take some time to get adjusted to being here but I am excited for the opportunity to serve here and the challenges that are ahead.

     My new companion's name is Elder Weber.  He is from Dietrich, Idaho which is a super small town.  His graduating class was 21 kids!  He has been serving in this area for 6 months already.  He is about 16 months into his mission and I'm excited to be able to work with him.

     This week we were able to do service for a less active lady in the ward who has a Sanctuary Animal Farm.  I'm stoked about helping to reactivate her because she's an awesome lady and she said she will let me help work on her animals with her!  We were digging some holes on her property this week and we pulled out a HUGE rock.

     This week we got to go to Harvard during transfers which was pretty awesome!  Today we will be going to Boston for P-Day.  Have a great week everyone!  Thanks for all the love and support.

Love,

Elder Gutierrez

Elder Gutierrez and Elder Weber on the Harvard Campus

Harvard Campus

Harvard Football Stadium

Harvard Football Field

Saying goodbye to Carline Lysonge and her family in Worcester.

Saying goodbye to Raymond Lopez in Worcester.

Removing the HUGE rock at the Sanctuary Animal Farm in Franklin, Massachusetts 

Service at a farm in Franklin.  I'm stoked found me some animals!