I Will Go and Do : Week 72: Exchange Week

Hey everyone! The winter has arrived here in Connecticut and it is COLD!! Despite the freezing weather things are going so great in the work and I have some wonderful updates on our investigators. Also I have a really exciting new goal to tell you all about!

This week Elder Warner and I saw so many miracles happen with Jackie, who we just picked up as a new investigator last week! Our first lesson with her we were able to notice 2 roadblocks that would keep her from getting baptized, her boyfriend Michael and maybe a word of wisdom issue. We weren't able to see her this week until Thursday. We were very, very anxious to see if she had read the Book of Mormon and if she had received a witness from the Spirit that it was true. As we started talking to her, we found out that not only had she read from the Book of Mormon but that she absolutely knew that it was true. As well as all the potential roadblocks of her getting baptized are fading away! She loves the Book of Mormon and she was so, so excited to meet with us again. She told us the most amazing story about how she used to be a heavy drug user, but God had answered her prayers and helped her to stop using. She then told us that she is going to leave Michael because she feels that he is only dragging her down and she doesn't want his bad habits to affect her. We were able to set a very powerful baptismal date with her for December 16th. We then invited her to a Thanksgiving Dinner Party our ward had this Saturday and she came! She loved the party and met so many members who fellowshipped her greatly. She wasn't able to attend church this weekend and we aren't sure why, but things are looking great for Jackie!

This week Elder Warner went on two exchanges, one with the Southington Spanish elders and one with the Southington English elders. We are very excited about all the missionaries we have in our zone, they are all diligent and obedient. Many of them are very young though so we are going on many exchanges to help the newer missionaries out. Tuesday I was with Elder Perkes who is from Logan, UT. He has only been in the field for 1 transfer and so we had a great exchange and we got to talk about a lot of ways he can see success and joy on his mission. Friday I got to go with Elder Petersen who is from Santaquin, UT. He too has only been on his mission for 1 transfer and has great desires. We were able to talk a lot about how he can help the area that he is currently in and how to work effectively.

This Sunday Elder Warner and I as well as the District Leaders in our zone worked together to set a huge goal. We realized that if we want to see a lot of success in December then we need to pick up a lot of new investigators this upcoming week. We had each of the District Leaders call the members of their districts and ask them how many new investigators they thought they could pick up this week. After they answered, the District Leaders had them pray over the phone asking the Lord how many new investigators HE thought they could pick up this week. The total New Haven zone goal came out to 54 new investigators! This is a very stretching goal and we know that with God on our side that we cannot fail. We are excited to see many miracles happen!

That's about it for this weeks update! I would like to share with you my new favorite couple of scriptures which are quotes from Isaiah found in Mosiah 14: 4-5 verse 4, "Surely he has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. Verse 5, "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." I cannot thank my Savior enough for what he has done for me, because of his pain and suffering I can be healed and made happy, no matter what happens in my life. I love my Savior.

Love,
Elder Gutierrez