Week 87: Abilome's Baptisms!!

     Hello everyone!  It has been such an amazing week.  I have been so excited and anxious to tell everyone that the Abilome family (from Bridgeport) was baptized this week!  Saturday, February 24th, Caroline Abilome and her two daughters Alexcia and Brianna entered the waters of baptism and were baptized members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
   
     Their baptism was a wonderful experience.  Brother Mitchell, the ward mission leader (and my dad from the mission) drove all the way to Boston to get me and drove me all the way back, a total of 10 hours in one day!  He's the best!!  Elder Warner baptized Brianna and I got to baptize Caroline and Alexcia.  They were all a little nervous before their baptisms, but afterwards they were so happy.  Alexica sang "Amazing Grace" after the baptism and the spirit was so powerfully felt by all in the room.  The Elders had an investigator at the baptism who could not hold back her tears as we sang the closing hymn, "I Believe in Christ".  On top of the great baptism, I learned that Emma, one of the investigators I taught was baptized last week in Bridgeport!  I was able to see her and she told me that she is now wanting to serve a mission!!  I love this work and know it to be the Lord's work.

     Our transfer texts came in this week and I'm sad to say yet again I'm loosing my companions.  Elder Pulu will be headed to Waterford, CT on Tuesday and Elder Halsell will be going back to Lynnfield, MA to train a new missionary.  I learned a lot this transfer from both of these companions and I am grateful that I was able to serve with them.  My new companion is going to be Elder Bingham.  I do not know Elder Bingham that well, but I am super excited to have him as my new companion.  From what I can tell he is a great missionary and I am excited to train him as a new zone leader.

     Also exciting news from this week is that we had a special technology zone conference where it was announced that in the coming month our mission will be receiving Smartphones as a new tool to further the work.  I was a bit hesitant at first, but as we have been trained and are now preparing for the new technology, I realize how great of an impact this will have on the effectiveness and efficiency of missionary work.  Not only will we be able to find more people who are searching for the truth but those who are searching will be better able to find us!  It is exciting to see how the Lord is hastening His work.

     One of the new investigators we picked up this week is a 20 year old man from Nepal named Santos.  We contacted him on the street and to our surprise he is doing awesome!  He was able to come to church this week and by divine design in Elder's Quorum we watched a General Conference talk that talked about how a man from Nepal joined the church and helped translate the Book of Mormon into Nepalese.  Not a coincidence!  We hope that Santos will continue to progress.

     I am very grateful for all the new and exciting things that are happening at this time.  I have recently begun studying the New Testament and it has had a great impact on my discipleship.  I have been focusing on how Jesus Christ showed love to those around Him.  I have come to know that everybody feels love differently.  For example, somebody you give a gift to may have felt more love if you were to give them a hug.  Somebody you give a hug to may feel more loved if you were to write them a letter.  Jesus Christ is our perfect example of love and showing love.  I have marveled at His example of charity as I have studied how He always knew how to show love to those He served, in a way that would impact them the most.  I know that He loves us all and that He will always be there for us to lift us up and encourage us to keep pressing forward to our Celestial home.

Love you all!
Elder Gutierrez

Bridgeport Mission Crew at the Abilome Family Baptisms on February 24, 2018:  Elder Warner, Elder Gutierrez, Elder Fife, and Ward Mission Leader Daniel Mitchell with Caroline, Alexcia, and Brianna Abilome

Elder Gutierrez easing nerves before the baptisms. 

The Field is White . . . . 

Alexcia and Brianna Abilome

Elder Fife, Emma, and Elder Warner at Emma's Baptism in Bridgeport on February 17, 2018.

Emma's Baptism

Emma, most recent convert in Bridgeport, CT with Elder Gutierrez

Marjorie at the Abilome Family Baptisms

Reunited and it feels so good - Elder Gutierrez, Elder Brit Warner, Elder Seth Warner, and Elder Fife.

President Miller with Elder Gutierrez

Elder Gutierrez and Elder Goodman

The District

   

Week 86: 9 New Investigators

     Hello everyone!  We've had a great week in the trio.  Because we are now covering 2 areas we have been a little overloaded with things to do but things are going great.  We were able to find a total of 9 new investigators between the two areas which was exciting.  Overall things are going very well.
   
     Last Monday, we were able to start teaching this new family from Nigeria.  The mother's name is Patricia and her two sons are Donald and Godswill (the coolest name ever).  We tracted into them and they were very open to learning more.  We were not able to meet with the husband or the oldest son.  But when we go back this week, we hope to catch them all together so we can teach the whole family.

     On Tuesday, we were able to have another great lesson with Michelle.  She is loving the Book of Mormon and is excited for her baptism.  She was not able to attend church this week because she went to visit her dad in Connecticut, but she has been doing a lot of reading in the Book of Mormon.  This week we are going to teach her the Plan of Salvation and hopefully start the commandments.

     Leonid and Qian, two of our investigators who were both progressing a little slower made some huge progress this week!  Leonid is our Ukrainian investigator and because of the language barrier we have had some trouble teaching him.  We resolved to use object lessons and as we have he has understood so much better.  He came to church this week and received some great fellowship.  If all goes well, he will be baptized next month.  Qian is a non-member and her husband is a recent convert.  She has a lot of doubts about our church being the only true church.  This week we were able to teach her the Plan of Salvation and even though parts were confusing for her we could tell that she is finally being open minded to what we are teaching and giving it a shot.  She came to church as well and for one of the first times ever stayed for 3rd hour!  Before she would just leave because she didn't like Relief Society but now she has some great fellowship and is staying!  As well during Gospel Principles class, I had a great conversation with her about the Holy Ghost.  We talked about times where she had felt it in her life and helped her identify how the Spirit speaks to her.  She was excited about what she was learning and now that she understands the Spirit greater we hope she will recognize her answer sooner.  When she receives her answer, she will be a great convert.

     Time just keeps flying by.  This Friday we will receive transfer texts and find out whether or not Elder Pulu and I will be staying together another transfer.  We are not too sure what will happen, we will see on Friday!  Also some exciting news, Emma, one of the investigators Elder Warner and I taught in Bridgeport was baptized on Saturday, February 17th.  Hopefully we will see a baptism here in the coming weeks too.  Love you all and thank you so much for the love and support.

     I know that this work is the work of God.  I am humbled that I get to be a part of this great and marvelous work each day.  The spirit has really been able to guide and lighten the way for me this past week.  I am so grateful for the times that the Spirit has taught me and engraven truth into my soul.  I know that Jesus Christ lives and loves us all.

Love,
Elder Gutierrez

Elder Gutierrez and the Boston Skyline

Called to Serve - Massachusetts Boston Mission

The District 

Soaking in the Boston Skyline

Beautiful Boston Skyline

Magnificent Boston Skyline

Our investigator, Jim.  He's happier than he looks!

Out to Breakfast with Sister Garcia

Turkeys!!  Where's my bow?

Our Ukrainian Investigator, Leonid 

Teaching Leonid

Grace of Jehovah Beauty Supplies - Hair Salon

Retro Elder Pulu

Week 85: Michelle, the Golden Investigator

     Hello everyone, we have had an exciting week in Revere!  First off, Elder Pulu and I received a new companion on Wednesday.  An Elder in our zone returned home early and so his companion, Elder Halsell is our new companion!  Finally I have a diabetic companion!  ;)  We will be in this trio for the next 2-3 weeks until the transfer ends.  We are excited to have Elder Halsell with us and we have already seen big miracles happen in our trio.
   
     Michelle is the most golden investigator!  This week we were very excited to follow up with her and see how her reading in the Book of Mormon went.  We had our lesson at a member's home.  When we asked her how she liked the Book of Mormon, she said that she loved it!  She then began to explain that when she read 3 Nephi 11, (the chapter we gave her to read), she didn't really understand what she was reading.  Being confused, she asked God to help her understand and then she went to bed.  While she was sleeping, she had a dream and in the dream she could understand the Book of Mormon!  When she woke up, she began to read again and it was all so clear to her.  She told us that she knew the Book of Mormon was true.  That's not all, she then asked us what 3 Nephi 11:21 meant which says,  "And the Lord said unto him:  I give unto you power that ye shall baptize this people when I am again ascended into heaven."  We told her that it meant that in order to be baptized properly you need to be baptized by the correct authority.  She understood the Priesthood power perfectly and accepted to be baptized on March 17th.  She attended church this Sunday and loved the service and said, "I can't wait to come back".  The Lord has prepared Michelle so long for the Gospel and we could not be more grateful and humbled by the opportunity to teach her at this time.

     On top of that huge miracle, we were able to set two other baptismal dates this week.  One with Leonid, our Ukrainian investigator for March 24th and the other with Jim for March 31st.  Jim has been investigating the church with online sisters for a couple of months now and he is progressing well.  He was able to attend church for the first time as well this week and really enjoyed it.  We really hope he continues to progress.

     Thank you everyone for your love and support.  I love my mission and I love the Lord.  He has given me so much mercy and I know that He lives.  His gospel has been restored through a prophet of God and He is the only source of true peace in this life and eternal life in the eternities.  I invite you all to recognize the hand of the Lord in your life each day.  As you do so you will be overwhelmed by the abundance of blessings He has given you.

Love,
Elder Drew Gutierrez

The Trio - Elder Halsell (Roosevelt, UT), Elder Gutierrez, and Elder Pulu (Oakland, CA)

Tracting and found some real Gutierrez's, who actually speak Spanish ;)

My dinner compared to Elder Pulu's.

Pink Mercedes

Annie's Pizzeria

Diabetic Jokes . . . . . .

Week 84: Referral Miracles

     Hey everyone!  Elder Pulu and I had such an exciting week in Revere.  We were able to see a huge improvement in the zone this week.  The Lord is blessing us so much, our biggest focus now will be to align our expectations with His expectations.

     On Wednesday, I was able to go on an exchange with my District Leader, Elder Halsell (who is also diabetic).  We had such a great exchange and we picked up a really prepared couple, Iris and Leavitt.  We received a media referral for Iris earlier in the week requesting a Bible.  When we sat down with her and her fiance, Leavitt, she told us how she is a recovering addict and is on a search for God.  We told her that the message we share would be an answer to her prayers.  As we shared the Restoration with her, she was so happy she began to cry.  Her fiance knew of our church from when he lived in the Bronx and has a great respect for our church.  They are both excited to learn more and here's the bonus . . . . they have 6 kids!  We really hope they progress.  I had a great day with Elder Halsell and I am so grateful for his leadership.  He is a fantastic missionary.

     Thursday we had a super spiritually uplifting Zone Conference in Weston.  Everything that I have been working on lately was discussed and I received many answers to things I have been thinking about.  Particularly prayer and what true prayer is.  I was really enlightened by this quote in the Bible Dictionary, "Prayer is the act by which the will of the Father and the will of the child are brought into correspondence with each other.  The object of prayer is not to change the will of God but to secure for ourselves and for others blessings that God is already willing to grant but that are made conditional on our asking for them."  Prayer, when we truly understand it, is so POWERFUL and I invite you all to evaluate your prayers, and I invite you to pray by the Spirit so you can know what God's will is for you.

     Friday we saw another huge miracle from a media referral!  We received a media referral for a woman named Michelle who ordered a Book of Mormon.  As we met with her, she told us that she had just been discharged from the Marines for medical reasons.  While in boot camp, she met a lady who was a member!  After talking to her, she became interested in learning more about the church.  As soon as she got home, she ordered a Book of Mormon so she could start her search.  She is super awesome and we are very excited to be teaching her as well.

     Things are going very, very well.  We were not able to reach our goal this week for new investigators as a zone, but we did see a huge improvement.  Elder Pulu and I are starting to get around very well on public transportation and things are looking bright!  Thank you everyone for your support.  I know this gospel is true and that as we seek God's direction in our lives He WILL direct our paths and lighten the way.

Love,
Elder Gutierrez

Lunch With Brother Westwood

Accidentally took the wrong bus and ended up in Boston.  OOPS!! - with Elder Halsell

Exchanges with Elder Halsell, District Leader

Elder Caldwell is going home

Dinner at the Sens - Found me a pet

Lynn, Lynn, the City of Sin. . .

Crazy Patriots Fans

Salem, Massachusetts

Salem, Massachusetts

When you find a tank like this, you gotta have fun.

Salem Witch Museum

Elder Pulu and Elder Gutierrez at the Salem Witch Museum

Wand Shop

Look a Witch!!

Zone Conference in Weston, MA - February 1, 2018