My Man!!!!! Email from Anthony Collazo to Elder Gutierrez - March 26, 2018

     My brother!  I'm sorry I haven't contacted you but thank you so much for coming to my wedding!  I'm super grateful to have you as a friend!  I hope that everything is good with you on the mission!  You're doing such an amazing job man and I really never thanked you for what you did for me almost 2 years ago now, WOW!  I want to thank you for sharing the message of Jesus Christ with me.  You were such a big part of me getting baptized and the events that have led to this point now (my baptism, receiving the Aaronic Priesthood, getting a temple recommend, receiving the Melchizedek Priesthood, being endowed, and being sealed to my wife!)  All of these events happened all because of that decision I made to be baptized in 2016.  You were there to support me and teach me the ways of the Lord & I am so grateful for that!  So again, thank you from the bottom of my heart . . .

    So anyways, enough of the mushy stuff!  Hahaha!!  Krizia and I are doing great here in Utah!  If you didn't know, we live in Provo now!!  So we'll be there when you get home bud!  We're currently looking for jobs and I got a job.  I'm about 98% there on getting on as a cable technician for Broadband Spectra!  It's an independent contractor for Comcast Cable and internet!  And Krizia is looking to be a receptionist while trying to do her makeup business start up!  Other than that, I've just been studying more (gospel related) and I started a blogging website to have people share their testimonies about Jesus, the temple, the BOM, the Bible, General Conference, anything you want!  I got inspired to do it because Elder Asay is doing an internship at BYU.  This guy Alex started a YouTube Channel to share the gospel!  Krizia and I did it and we loved it so much, we helped out today at BYU to hand out flyers and sign people up to schedule an appointment to share their testimony!  It was a great experience.  I'm so determined to spread the gospel through social media and hope and pray my thoughts and opinions get shared throughout the world and people my truly know like both you and I, that Jesus is the Christ.  And our Father in Heaven does love all his children on earth and that he has a perfect plan for each of us.  When you come back, you totally have to do it!  It's for returned missionaries but anyone can share their testimony.  So yeah man, I hope you are doing well and I'll be praying for you!"  "Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God; For behold, the Lord your Redeemer suffered death in the flesh; wherefore he suffered the pain of all men, that all men might repent and come unto him."

- Picutres added by Heidi Gutierrez

Elder Gutierrez and Elder Stewart with Anthony Collazo - September 10, 2016 in Worcester, MA

Elder Asay baptized Tony and Elder Gutierrez Confirmed Him

Elder Gutierrez with Tony and his girlfriend Krizia

Elder Clements, Tony, Elder Asay, and Elder Gutierrez at the Boston Temple for Tony and Krizia's Sealing on January 20, 2018 

Week 91: Michelle's Baptism!

     Hello family and friends!  We had a week of miracles in Revere.  We are so happy to tell you all that Michelle Silverman was baptized a member of the Lord's restored church on Saturday, March 24th.  Michelle has easily been one of the most prepared people that I have ever taught.  From the very first lesson with Elder Pulu and I, she was excited and eager to learn.  I'll never forget when she told us her experience of coming to know that the Book of Mormon is true.  So many members came to support Michelle at her baptism, even Elder Pulu got to come back!  One of the members who has helped out a ton with teaching her was able to perform her baptism.  I had the opportunity to confirm her on Sunday.  When we asked her how she felt, she said the only way to explain it was with the word "joyful".

     I truly know that God loves all His children and that when we obey His commandments, we are joyful.  Wickedness never equals happiness.  What a blessing to see Michelle, one of God's children, enter into the water of baptism.  Hopefully many more to come!

     Along with the baptism, we had several other successes this week.  Qian, Paula, and Earl all came to church.  We found out this week that Qian and her family will be moving to Salem in May.  We hope to set a baptismal date this week with her so she can get baptized before she has to move to a new ward.  Paula is still on date for April 21st and Earl is on date for April 28th.

     On Thursday, I got to go on an exchange with Elder Xiao in Boston.  Elder Xiao has really become such a great missionary.  It has been a very long time since I had gone on an exchange with him and I was very thankful for all he was able to teach me.  He really has a talent for asking inspired questions.  We were able to have so many great discussions about how I could help the North Shore Zone.

     Things really are going great!  Elder Bingham and I are super excited for General Conference and Easter coming up!  I invite all of you to read all 4 accounts of the crucifixion and the resurrection before Easter Sunday!  I know that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, truly died and rose again the 3rd day.  He restored His church through the Prophet, Joseph Smith, and it is lead by a living prophet today.  I know that my Redeemer lives.

Love,
Elder Gutierrez

All of Michelle's Missionaries

Michelle and Brother Jake Free - Saturday, March 24, 2018

Elder Pulu got to come back!

Michelle Silverman confirmation performed by Elder Gutierrez on Sunday, March 25, 2018

Exchanges with Elder Xiao in Boston

Jerk Chicken with Elder Xiao

Elder Gutierrez and Elder Bingham at the Cambridge Chapel - My favorite painting.

Departure Email from the Mission Home

March 26, 2018

Dear Parents,
     It's hard to believe the time has come to prepare for your missionary's departure.  I am required to make reservations for flights at least three months ahead of departure, and I have a few questions.

1.  Confirm the departure date the mission has scheduled for your missionary.

2.  Which airport is most convenient for his arrival?  We need this information even if you are planning to come out to the MBM to pick him up.

3.  We will need an update if you have moved in the time your missionary has been serving.  If you haven't already done so, please send the new address and contact information.

4.  Please let us know if there are any changes to your Stake President or Bishop.

     Your missionary's departure date is 22 June 2018.  I can't begin the flight arrangements until I hear back from you.

*Please be aware that it is discouraged for families to pick up their missionary at the end of their mission and they will need President Miller's approval.  Also, if you are planning on you picking up your missionary, be aware that they must be picked up by 8pm on Thursday evening before their Friday departure date.  Please do not pick up earlier or later as there are various events that are scheduled for departing missionaries.

Please respond to this email as soon as possible or call the mission office (508)647-6210 if you have concerns or questions.

Sincerely,

Sister Hanlon
Mission Departure Secretary

Week 90: Another Nor'easter Week!

     Another great and cold week in Revere!  Tuesday we got hit by another Nor'easter and got about 18 inches of snow.  We were able to get things figured out with our investigator Michelle and she will be baptized this upcoming Saturday!  She is absolutely loving the gospel and is very excited for her baptism.

     On Wednesday, we moved into a new apartment in the same building and so if you are going to send me anything change the apartment number to #5154.

     On Friday, we picked up an awesome new investigator named Rami.  He had run into some missionaries a long time ago and they had given him a Book of Mormon.  He didn't quite understand it so he stopped reading, until he again ran into some missionaries in Cambridge a couple of weeks ago.  We tried getting into contact with him for a while with no success and out of nowhere he texted us on Friday inviting us over.  He said that he was on the internet and came across a video of a Mormon bearing his testimony and it was really powerful.  He felt God was showing him the right path to take.  We had a really good discussion with him and he is very excited to learn more.

     Saturday, I got to go on an awesome exchange with my old companion, Elder Phillipsen.  I just love that guy.  It has almost been a year since we served together and so it was great to be together again.  We had a very successful day together and we did some great counseling together on how he could help out his district members.

    Things are going great with the new technology.  Elder Bingham and I have already seen great success in keeping contact with our investigators in new ways.  We are also now able to street contact people in new ways, which has been fun to experiment with.  The Lord is truly hastening His work.

Love,
Elder Gutierrez

Tuesdays Nor'easter 

Bridge to Boston

Nor'easter Hits Again

Our African Mama!

Exchanges with Elder Phillipsen

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Week 89: Smartphones and Conjuctivitis

     Hey everyone!  There have been a lot of new things going on this week.  The biggest being that we now have smart phones!  I'm not going to lie it feels pretty weird using a smart phone, but the new technology has already bought great ways to find those who are prepared for the gospel in our area.  It is amazing to see how the Lord is hastening His work.

     We were blessed to find a lot of incredible new investigators this week.  We received a media referral for a woman named Ketline for a Bible.  We were able to teach Ketline's whole family; her husband Samuel and her 3 kids Luciano, Karl, and Immanuela.  They are a super fun family from Haiti.  They have very strong Christian roots and are very open to learning more about the restored church.

     Another awesome new investigator we were able to pick up this week is named Paula.  She referred herself to us and said that she wanted to be baptized!  She told us that 8 years ago she ran into some sister missionaries in Boston.  She was heavily involved in another church at the time so she did not meet with them.  Recently, she has been going through a very hard trial and she thought back to how she felt when she met the sister missionaries and sought us out.  I am so grateful that those sister missionaries 8 years ago were living in a way that they could help Paula feel the spirit enough so she did not forget their interaction 8 years later.  She was able to come to church this week and she loved it.  Paula's story is a true miracle.

     Michelle is still doing well.  She wasn't able to attend church this Sunday and we haven't heard back from her yet.  If all is well, we hope to see her baptized this Saturday.

     It was a great week.  The only set back was that early in the week I was feeling pretty sick.  On Wednesday, we went to the doctors and found out that I had conjunctivitis (glorified name for pink eye).  I am almost back to 100% now!  Tomorrow we are supposed to get hit with a pretty big storm so that should be exciting.  Thank you everyone for all your support.  I love the Lord and am excited to be engaged in His work.

Love,
Elder Gutierrez

Beautiful Boston Skyline

Downtown Boston

Haitian Family

Smart phones are here

Trip to the Urgent Care . . . Hence the swollen eye and glasses . . . No contacts for a while.

Week 88: Elder Bingham Arrived!!

     Hello everyone!  It has been a super busy and crazy week here in Revere.  On Wednesday, the trio was separated.  I learned so many great things from Elder Pulu and Elder Halsell and I'm so glad that we were all able to serve together.  Both of them are spiritual giants who are serving missions for the right reasons.  Also on Wednesday, I was united with Elder Bingham!  He has already been an amazing companion.  He has a great energy for the work.  We are both super excited about the work and we are already good friends.

     This week a crazy "Nor Easter", hit our mission (basically a big storm where wind is blowing from the North and the East at the same time) and caused a bunch of trees and signs to fall down and even some floods.  Despite the crazy weather, we were still able to work super hard.  We currently have 6 people on date to be baptized.  We are excited to see some baptisms in the coming weeks!

     Michelle is still doing great.  This week we were able to start teaching her the commandments.  She was able to attend church for the 2nd time this Sunday and she is very excited for her baptism on the 17th.  She has been so great to teach.  She has a great light in her and it is awesome how well she keeps her commitments. She is one of the few investigators who actually will read the Book of Mormon everyday.  It's about time to start planning her baptism!

     Qian as well made some great progress this week.  During Elder Bingham's first lesson with her, we were able to resolve one of her biggest concerns.  She has had a tough time believing that there is a modern day prophet on the Earth.  After giving her a couple of conference talks to watch, she was touched by the Spirit.  During our lesson, she was explaining that when she had watched other preachers on TV, they always felt fake and that they were putting on a show.  When she watched the General Authorities speak, she felt calm and that they were sincere in their words.  She was still a little concerned with how they were chosen and Elder Bingham used a scriptures in Acts 1:23-26 to resolve her concern.  She is one step closer to conversion!

     We've had a great week and I'm excited to see what time will bring.  I've especially felt close to the Savior this week as I've studied the New Testament  more than I ever have in my life.  I know that He is the Savior of the World and that He is my friend.  To end my email I would like to share the words of a hymn.

"Before the throne of God above,
I have a strong, a perfect plea,
A great high priest whose name is love,
Who ever lives and pleads for me.

My name is graven on His hands,
My name is written on His heart,
I know that while in heaven He stands,
No tongue can bid me thence depart.

When Satan tempts me to despair,
And tells me of the guilt within,
Upward I look and see Him there,
Who made an end to all my sin.

Because the sinless Savior died,
My sinful soul is counted free,
For God the just is satisfied,
To look on Him and pardon me."

Love,
Elder Gutierrez

Chinatown with Quian!

Chinatown Boston

Qian, Jarrid, and Junior

Chinatown on P-Day with Quian, Junior and Jarrid - February 26, 2018

Goodbye Elder Pulu

Elder Gutierrez with Elder Rich - new to the mission

Downed Trees from the Nor Easter Storm

Elder Gutierrez and Elder Bingham after the Nor Easter storm hits Boston

Sweet Red Sox Mural in Salem, MA

Nor Easter Storm - March 2018

Run Elder Bingham - Nor Easter 2018

Elder Gutierrez and Elder Bingham - Nor Easter 2018

Angry Ocean - Nor Easter March 2018

New Englanders . . . .