July 20, 2009

I'm getting transferred! Its cool though how they do transfers here. I have no idea where im going or who my companion will be. All i know is that im getting transfered, we then meet in Columbia at the stake center on Wednesday morning, then they do it area by area they put it up on a projector and they pull up your new area and pictures of you and your new companion. I really like the way they do it. Because they do it this way it helps to stop th gossip that goes on sometimes, with elders being like oh man your going there.... that stinks man! or like he is such a bad missionary your serving with him. So there is no gossip anymore. Its way smart. Im gunna miss Elder Adams though i learned so much from him, i have become alot better missionary because of him. I have learned to work alot more effectively. But next week i will be letting you know where im at!

Also we got to set a date with Azucena for this week, she is really elect but she is just scared, because its a big step, we set a date for the 15 of August. I wont be here then buts its okay as long as she is baptized is all. We talk her a really good lesson this last Monday as well. As we were weekly planing elder Adams and i, we were thinking about what we should teach.. and i just felt like we should do a lesson all about Christ. So we read out of Mosiah 3 where it talks about him, then we watched Finding Faith in Christ! I love that movie it brings the spirit so strongly. Then we just bore strong Testimony of the savior and talked more about the savior and his healing power. it was a great lesson one of the most spiritual lessons i have taught, it was great too cause both her fellowshippers were there and they bore testimony of the Savior as well. It was a great night. Im gunna miss Azucena she is such a cool lady. But she wil be a great member of the church.

Also we are baptizing a guy named Martin this next saturday, at zone conference president had us stand up and asked us about our goal for this month of baptism and at that time we had noone on date, and he was like are you expecting miracles, We said yes president, then he asked if we had the faith. We said yes we do, then saaturday night as we were doing church round up, i felt like we should go visit Martin cause we had been teaching for some time but it was just hard to find him at home and he had come to church like 5 times, we just couldnt get times to teach him, But we went and saw him and talked to him, and we just asked him what he thought about baptism, and he said he wanted to get baptized! So we set a date for the 25th of July! Way sweet! He had a problem with smoking and a little problem with drinking but he said he has given them both up! He also came to church yesterday, i had to ride with a member at the last minute to go out and pick him up to bring him to church but we got there and he was waiting outside in a suit! he is so cool, and we had some great experiences at church with him he participated, then we taught him the third lesson in the third hour. Which Was like teaching a class to about 5 hispanics, i had never taught a class yet in spanish so it was a bit hard, but it was real good. Its real cool though to see these miracles happen President McConkie then called us up and was like i heard about what just happened, You guys definitely had the faith, great job elders! It was cool.

But i have decided this next transfer i wanna do even better i dont wanna be a mediocre missionary i wanna do all that i can be hardcore, and just be strictly 180% obedient. I wanna see more miracles, also at zone conference president talked about our purpose is to baptize, i need to focus more on that i realized. I think i think more about getting my numbers, rather than thinking about baptizing, i need to do better at that and spend each thought each action have it be centered on the goal.. Which is to baptize. I just wanna improve each day, that is what we are here to do, improve each day and learn. I love this work so much, Im excited to get to go to a new area and meet and find new people. I loved myrtle beach though ill miss it for sure. But the Lord has somebody waiting for me in my next area.

I love all yall's have a great week , and dont get burnt out in the sun! Tell everyone hi and i love them. Tell grandma hi and i love her. Hugs and Kisses from SC.

Love always,
Elder Michael Riding