Elder Andrew Peña:

May 26, 2009
What a great week! Transfers were on Wednesday and we made sure all the missionaries returned to there areas safely and we went back to the apartment and had a prayer and planned for an appointment we had that night. The lady we were planning for her name is Tory and she is going to the young single adult branch and she lives in Oakdale. She was a referral from her friend's mom and she said that she wanted to have the lessons and she came to church! Well as we were planning we felt impressed to set her baptismal date for the 13th of June and this was before we have even met her. We planned to teach her the restoration. Well after planning we went out to work before we had that lesson and we were able to ride our bikes in the nice hot weather! As it became time for our appointment we biked to the church which is ( at least the distance from the house by smith park to the church ) how close our church is to where we live! Anyways, we biked there and her and all of her friends were there to take part in the lesson! It was like a mini family home evening with YSA. There were about 10 of us there and we taught Tory the 1st lesson and she was already excited to be baptized and so we committed her to be baptized on June 13th and she paused and was way excited and said " That is exactly the day i prayed and felt that i needed to be baptized. " We then taught her on Saturday the 2nd lesson and the law of chastity and the word of wisdom! Today right before we came to email we drove to Oakdale this morning and taught her in a members home and taught the 3rd lesson with some more commandments ( prayer , Fasting ) and then we gave her all the information she needs for her baptismal program! The day we met and taught her was the very first day of the transfer and set a baptismal date with her and she will be baptized now within two weeks! She has already been to church plenty of times with her friends growing up and has come to church twice and has read all of her assignments and is great. On Sunday I was given the opportunity to speak in the Modesto 1st ward on my first Sunday at church, it was great. I talked on the priesthood and the blessings that come from it and why we need to magnify our callings and what it does for us! Then we had a baptism Sunday night with a man named Anthony Lopez. Anthony is a young man that has recently been married and he is 20 years old but previous to his baptism I was given the opportunity to teach him twice while we were on exchanges! The second time I was on an exchange we taught him the 3rd lesson and committed him to be baptized! Then the time comes that it is transfers and I was transferred here on the weekend of his baptism! It was awesome. He asked me to also speak on the holy ghost at his baptism Sunday night! These are a few of the many things that are happening! Today we are switching at 3 to go on an exchange with the assistants and I will be going down to Fresno for 1 day and then back up here! Exciting! Then this week we will also be having our zone meeting ( which is similar to a district meeting)and instead of it being a few companionships, it's the entire zone! Our mission training plan for this transfer is all about member work and how we as missionaries can work better with the ward and the leaders of the church and using them effectively in all we do! Today from studying and looking over Chapter 13 in preach my gospel there was a story about a recent convert who had written a letter to President Hinckley about what it was like to be a new member and it had a big impact on me and how much more we as members need to be aware of new members and what it is like for them! For those of you who have a preach my gospel I would encourage you to read in this chapter and hopefully you'll notice how much of an impact members have on new members. I don't remember what page its on but chapter 13 and a couple pages in talks about the letter written to President Hinckely and its all in italics! I love and appreciate you all! I love this work and the gospel and the joy that comes with it! I hope all of you have a wonderful week!
Elder Peña