Week 99: Goodbye Elder Bingham

     Hello family and friends!  The work is going great in Revere.  We received transfer texts on Friday.  Elder Bingham is headed to my former area Ludlow.  On Wednesday, I will get my new companion, Elder Schrader.  I happen to know Elder Schrader quite well and have served in two other districts with him.  I am very excited to have him as my last companion.  We will have a great transfer.

     This week we were able to make a lot of progress the investigators that we are already teaching.  We were able to help our investigator Jacqueline make a 14 day plan to stop smoking.  She is loving the gospel and the church and as soon as she can live the Word of Wisdom she can be baptized.  We are planning for June 2nd.

     We are currently teaching the coolest family I have ever taught.  I failed to mention them in an earlier email.  There story is quite long and complicated, but here is the short version:  The Escobar family came to church 3 weeks ago.  The mother, Gabriela, felt very strongly that they needed to come to our church.  They are devout Catholics and are very involved in their parish.  Gabriela's parents converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints about 20 years ago in Venezuela.  Gabriela's oldest daughter was baptized at 8 years old into the LDS church as well which had a very big impact on the family.  Her parents were not supportive, but let her make her own decision.  Alfredo, Gabriela's husband, is an incredible father and has always been a devout Catholic.  Through many different powerful revelations from God in the last 3 months, Gabriela has come to know with a surety that the Catholic church is false and that the LDS church is the true church of Jesus Christ.  Alfredo though questioning has been a great support to his wife's decision and has come to church with her now four weeks in a row.  We have taught them three times now and Alfredo is doing very well.  He has tons of questions and is slowly coming to know the truth.  They also have an 8 year old daughter that we will begin teaching this week.  They are a huge miracle and a testimony builder to me that the Lord is preparing the hearts of so many in the world.

     This week we also had a very powerful zone conference.  President and Sister Miller gave amazing trainings.  I know that God places us in our assigned missions for specific reasons.  The Miller's have definitely been one of those reasons for me.  I will never forget the power of their testimonies and their strong examples of love and obedience to the Lord.  I love them both very much.

     Well everybody, thank you for all your support.  I love you all very much.

Love,
Elder Gutierrez

Sister Kimberly Miller, Elder Scoresby, Elder Gutierrez and President A. Todd Miller

The Roman Catholic "Madonna Queen of the Universe" Statue in East Boston