Week 96: Qian's Ocean Baptism

     Hello family and friends.  This week consisted of great work because of warm weather (finally), a ton of helping people with moves, and an incredible baptism.

     This Saturday, April 28, 2017, Qian Liu Clapp was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  Helping Qian with her conversion process took a lot of prayer, patience, and relying on the Spirit.  She was by far one of my favorite and most rewarding investigators that I have been able to teach.  We have met with her every week since I got here in January.  Over the course of the last 4 months, we have seen her concerns fade and her heart softened to the point where not only was she ready to be baptized, but excited to be baptized and to prepare to be sealed to her family in the temple.

     Qians' baptismal service was one to remember.  After watching the "John Tanner" video, Qian asked us if she had to be baptized in the font at the church.  We were able to set it up so that she could be baptized in the Atlantic Ocean at Sister Guzman's home in the ward.  We had the entire service outside, it was definitely a baptism to remember.  It was very evident that God's hand was ensuring that the baptism would happen.  Qian was at a work conference all week and flew in Saturday morning.  If the tide was too high, it wouldn't work out and it just so happened that Qian's family would be moving into their new home on the same day.  By divine design everything worked out and Qian was baptized.  The ward helped them pack all of their things right afterwards.  It was a busy day to say the least.  

     My favorite memory of teaching Qian is that of her and her husband with their son all smiling together with Qian dressed in her baptismal clothes.  I had the opportunity to baptize Qian.  It was a very special experience that I will never forget.  Yes, the water was cold!

     On top of the baptism, we helped with 4 moves this week.  A couple of them we did all of the moving by ourselves.  I can testify that what Mosiah 2:17 says is true, "When you are in the service of your fellow beings, ye are only in the service of your God".  

     The North Shore Zone finished off this month great.  We are being blessed in many ways.  This Sunday an awesome family walked into church!  We have many exciting things going on.  I love serving as a missionary.  This is God's work.  I know it to be true. 

Love, 

Elder Gutierrez

Elder Bingham, Elder Gutierrez, Qian, and Elder Pulu at Qian's Baptismal Service - April 28, 2018

All 3 Elders that taught Qian with the Clapp Family

Clapp Family

Qian doing push-ups before entering the freezing ocean water for her baptism.

Qian's Baptism Location - Altantic Ocean at Sister Guzman's Home

All Set Up for the Outdoor Baptismal Service

Qian and Elder Gutierrez after Qian's Baptism in the Atlantic Ocean

Brazillian Burger on P-Day

Classic New England Doorbells

Sushi Buffet with the Elders

Elder Gutierrez with another Elder in the Zone

Week 95: Earl's Baptism

      Hello everybody!  This week was so busy and full of success.  I'm happy to report that Earl Moore was baptized on Saturday!  His baptismal service was great.  There were a lot of ward members that came to support him and his non-member mother even came to support him.  She isn't too interested in learning more, but hopefully in the future!  After Earl was baptized, I asked him how he felt.  His response was "Blessed".

     Also some more big news!  Qian passed her baptismal interview and is getting baptized this Saturday.  She has been very successful this week in keeping the Word of Wisdom.  It has been incredible to see the change in her since our first meeting with her in January.  She is excited and ready to be baptized.  Be looking forward to a description of her baptism next week.

     Tuesday, I was able to go an exchange with one of our new District Leaders, Elder Hardy.  He is a great missionary!  We had an awesome exchange as we were able to do a lot of great work in his area.  I really enjoyed spending the day with him and observing how much faith he had.  We were lead by God to a man named Bob who was open to hearing our message.

     This week we started teaching this awesome new lady named Jacqueline.  She grew up here in Massachusetts, but just moved back from Louisiana.  She has been though a lot of changes in her life in the past few months and has sought out God more in her life.  She ordered a free Bible and we were able to deliver it to her and share the Restoration with her.  We met with her again this week and she loved reading from the Book of Mormon.  We set a baptismal date with her for May 26th.

     We were able to start teaching three new awesome investigators this week from Uganda:  Laban, Rachel, and Agnice.  Rachel and Laban came to church last week with a member.  We were able to set up an appointment with them for this week.  We met with them and they even invited another friend, Agnice.  All three of them loved the message of the restoration and came to church this week!  They are being fellowshipped well and we hope to set baptismal dates with all three of them this week.

      Great things are happening here in Revere.  I've been blessed with a great companion and area.  The North Shore Zone is seeing great success and is thriving.  All our missionaries are working hard and are seeing the results from their labors.  There really is no greater work than the Lord's.  I know that God lives and I love him.

Love,
Elder Gutierrez

Earl Moore was baptized on Saturday, April 21, 2018

Earl Moore was baptized.

Elder Gutierrez on exchanges with Elder Hardy

Grandpa and Grandma, Brother and Sister Sen

Week 94: Boston Marathon!

     Hello everyone!  Sorry this email will be a little shorter because of the lack of time we have left.  Today has been a super awesome P-day.  We woke up at 2:30 this morning and headed to Lexington, MA to watch a reenactment of the Battle of Lexington.  The "soldiers" who were shot and killed just laid in the mud dead for such a long time!  It was pretty sweet.

     Afterwards, we went to Boston to watch the Boston Marathon.  My cousin, Kimball Potter, competed in the marathon and I got to see him race!  (This part inserted by mom:  Kimball finished in 2:44:30.  He finished 280 overall, 276 in the men's division, and 253 in his age group (21-31).  What an accomplishment!  The weather at the start of the race was 36 degrees with 20 mph winds, and raining sheets.  The family at home was tracking the marathon on an app and cheering him on.  We are so proud of Kimball and his outstanding race!)  Tender Mercy this week as I got to see my aunt and uncle as they surprised me in the ward I am serving in on Sunday.  Love ya Kimball (and new wife who I got to meet), Mark, and Holly!

     Earl is doing incredible and is going to be baptized this Saturday.  It has been so great to see his progression and how his testimony and in affect his happiness has grown.  He is such a great young man and his baptism will be a powerful event in his life.

     We saw another miracle this week as we met with Qian!  We knew she had one more concern to overcome before her baptism concerning the Word of Wisdom.  We prayerfully thought of how we could teach her this commandment.  When the moment came to teach her, the Spirit resolved her concerns and she committed to live the Word of Wisdom.  She is still preparing to be baptized on April 28th.

     We picked up a lot of new people this week and overall the zone is seeing great success.  This is the Lord's work.  I am humbled and cannot find words to express the joy that comes from being engaged in this work.  Love you all!!

Love,
Elder Gutierrez

Surprise visitors from Utah in the Revere Ward:  Aunt Holly, Uncle Mark, Elder Gutierrez, Kimball and Hannah Potter - April 15, 2018

Kimball and Hannah in Pre-Marathon Warm Ups - Boston Marathon 2018

Family at Home was tracking the race live with the BAA Marathon App

Kimball at Mile 6 bib #393

Good thing Kimball brought his cold running gear

Marathon view from where Elder Gutierrez was watching.

Elder Bingham and Elder Gutierrez at the Boston Marathon 2018

Missionaries at the Boston Marathon 2018

The Reenactment of The Battle of Lexington (Picture thanks to Elder Murray)

Missionaries that attended The Battle of Lexington Reenactment

Elder Gutierrez and Elder Bingham 

Week 93: Lamb of God

     Hello everyone!  Elder Bingham and I had an incredible week.  Several time throughout this week we felt that the Lord was guiding us to people we needed to meet.  Also great news, Elder Bingham and I are staying together another transfer here in Revere.  I'm super glad that we are staying.  The work is going great and I wouldn't want to be anywhere else.

     After weeks of working with Qian, this week she accepted a baptismal date for the 28th of April!  I'll never forget the first time Elder Pulu and I met her.  We asked if she would be willing to meet with us and she said, "Yes, just as long as you don't push me to be baptized."  After a lot of relying on the Lord and careful planning, Qian is now excited to be a member of the Lord's true church.  It has been amazing to see how the Spirit has resolved her concerns and doubts.  Qian's husband is very excited for her decision.  His dream of having his family sealed in the temple is coming true.

     Earlier in the week, Elder Bingham and I were not having much luck with our stop by appointments.  He suggested that we pray for direction.  We decided to stop by an old media referral.  When we knocked on the door, a man answered and told us the person we were looking for had just moved.  He then said, "Are you Mormons?"  We told him yes and then he invited us in!  He told us that his girlfriend who lived with him is a member and that they had just watched General Conference together the weekend before!  She then came home and we had a great conversation with them both.  Dianne truly felt that God had sent us to her.  She is really excited to come back to church and her boyfriend, Bendan, is open to learning more about our beliefs!  God truly lead us to them in an incredible way.  One of the best feelings is to know the Lord is guiding you and trusts you with His children.

     One of the pluses of serving near Boston is that you are surrounded by really talented people.  On Saturday, we were able to go with our investigator, Earl, to a performance of "Lamb of God" by the Cambridge Stake.  If you have never heard the "Lamb of God" soundtrack by Rob Gardener, I would highly suggest it.  It is a soundtrack that tells the latter end of Jesus Christ's life.  It's amazing!  I felt the Spirit very strongly as the performance went on.  Earl loved it as well.  He is doing so well and should be baptized in the coming weeks.

     Fantastic week!  The Lord is blessing our area and our zone.  I love being a missionary and being involved in His great work.

Love you all!
Elder Gutierrez

"Lamb of God" by Rob Gardener performed by the Cambridge Stake

"Lamb of God" Performance with Earl

Easter Time

Sister Carlisle is headed home.  Ambassadors of the Lord soon to be Ambassadors for USU again.

Elder Bingham likes to mess with me!

Week 92: General Conference Weekend

     First a huge shout out to my little brother, Levi, who received his mission call to the Marshall Islands/Kiribati Mission this week!  He will be laboring in the Kiribati side of the mission and will be speaking the Kiribati language.  His dream of serving in the Islands has come true.  Congratulations Levi, know the Lord needs you there.

     The Lord is hastening His work upon the Earth.  President Russell M. Nelson is His prophet and mouthpiece.  This week was incredible and I loved hearing from the prophet and apostles.  For Sunday morning session, Elder Bingham and I gathered together in a small humble home of some ward members with our investigator, Santos.  I hope to never forget this experience.  We were an odd group.  Two young missionaries from Utah, 2 local New Englanders, and an investigator of the church from Nepal.  Though we were all from very different backgrounds, we were all gathered with one purpose, to hear the Lord's prophet.  To know what God would have us do in our individual lives.  It is experiences like these that I know this is the Lord's kingdom on Earth.

     Earlier in the week, we were able to pick up two new investigators from Liberia, Martha and her son Adam.  Martha ordered a Bible online and was very excited to see us.  Adam expressed that he was lacking in faith and that he wasn't sure if God really heard his prayers.  After we taught the Restoration, both of them were very excited to learn more.  I noticed that Adam especially was seeking and truly desired to know if the Book of Mormon is true.  We hope to see great things from them soon.

     Tuesday I was able to go on an exchange with Elder Porritt, one of the Lynn Spanish Elders.  We didn't have many scheduled appointments throughout the day so we were able to do a lot of finding.  It was a great day.  I previously did not know Elder Porritt that well but after our exchange, I know that he is a great missionary.  He has a great determination to keep improving and he is meek enough to recognize his weaknesses.  That's something I want to improve on myself.

     Overall we had a great week.  General Conference was incredible.  The Lord's voice was heard and now we need to obey.  I sustain President Russell M. Nelson as the prophet of the Lord and am so grateful for all he does for us.  What a great example.  He is on our side always, pointing us the way towards God.

Love,
Elder Gutierrez

Passover Dinner with the Valadez's

Easter Packages

General Conference Cinnamon Rolls - even my healthiest companion couldn't pass up mom's cinnamon rolls.

East Boston Skyline at Night

Elder Bingham and Elder Gutierrez - helping with a move. . . .kind of.

Exchanges with Elder Porritt, one of the Lynn Spanish Elders

Out spreading the good news of the gospel in Lynn with Elder Porritt.