Hey Family :)
I hope you all were able to watch Conference this past weekend! There were some really incredible talks given! The "themes" of this conference were definitely the importance of family/eternal companions, and missionary work (of course). The Priesthood session was my favorite session (I think), but I took a lot of notes from all the sessions. It's amazing what you can understand when you have questions and are open to receiving inspiration/revelation from the Spirit!! One of the things I loved from the Priesthood session (though I don't remember who said it) was the fact that "A Mission is a Family Affair." And that's so true. I think of each of you throughout the weeks as I find, teach, and especially when I have my personal study time. I think back on all the lessons I learned growing up, and as I learn to be even more open to the Spirit I am able to gain clarity in my reflections. I am able to learn so much from each one of you, and that gives me so much help, each and every day. So thank you so much for all the support you give me with your prayers, thoughts, cash (hehe..;)), and for all of the incredible examples you have been throughout my life.
I could talk about conference for this whole email! But I won't, I don't have time for that! :)
This week has been kinda weird. Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday Elder Cook and I were having some difficulties keeping appointments, finding anyone, or having really good days in general. Unfortunately, we knew this was because we had woken up a half hour late on all three days :(. Wednesday evening we really sought forgiveness and help in having a perfect morning schedule, every morning. We know that anything less is unacceptable. We were able to get in contact with an old potential investigator, taught her a wonderful lesson and was our first investigator for the week!
Thursday morning we got up a half hour EARLY, and proceeded to work out and prepare for the day, exactly how it should be done! We then went to a "Specialized Training" where our zone (Columbus East) and Columbus North zone had a training from President and Sister Nilsen, and the AP's for two hours. It was an incredible meeting, where they continued to challenge us and help us to become better missionaries! Afterwards, Elder Cook and I went and had a solid lesson with a new investigator, including setting the goal with her to get baptized on May 4th! :) After that, we were able to find 2 more investigators and give a blessing to a non-member!
Friday we went out to tract more, and found another 3(!!!) investigators! We did a lot of tracting, and had a great picnic pizza dinner with a family from the ward. (By the way, we get fed here just about every night, and depending on our appointments twice a night. We have an awesome ward!! Though it makes it hard to keep weight off! -_-)
Saturday morning we had our weekly coordination with the ward mission leader, Bishop Stevens (he used to be bishop here for 12 years). After that we went back home to do some service for Brother Lindau. He has an old 2003 Ford F-150 that he wants to sell, and it has been sitting in the woods for probably years, building up a nice coating of tree sap and mud! Elder Cook and I got to wash it. I wish I had taken a picture of it, to show you how ridiculous it was. We were washing for and hour and a half, and we had to quit or else we'd be late to Conference! We watched all 5 session of conference in the chapel at the church building, and were able to get 3 investigators to come to at least one session.
Sunday before Conference I made Orange Rolls (those delicious Pillsbury ones!!) for a couple of our investigators to convince them to come to Conference. Unfortunately we were not able to find anyone home, so we had to eat them ourselves! It's really weird, the morning sessions start at 12:00, and the after noon sessions start at 4:00. The Priesthood session was from 8:00 to 10:00! The only night we're allowed to be out past curfew and not turn into pumpkins! ;)
At 8:00 Sunday night, an hour before curfew, Elder Cook and I decided to get some tracting in for the end of the week (reporting weeks are from Monday to Sunday), and we found our 7TH investigator on the very last door we knocked!
To illustrate how significant 7 new investigators is, In the past 6 or 7 weeks since I've been in the field, The most Elder Cook and I had found is 3 new investigators, and the most Elder Cook had ever found was 5. So it's amazing! :D
Heavenly Father really showed me this week how important EXACT obedience is, especially as a missionary. As soon as Elder Cook and I returned to getting up on time, we received blessings!
OH! I totally forgot to tell you. This past Monday, we had been driving on empty for 40 to 50 miles. The mission had gotten new gas cards, and for some reason we didn't get ours on time. So we couldn't buy gas! Anyways, I was driving super carefully to be able to get to the gas station without running out, when we ran out in the middle of the busiest street in Newark! Thank goodness there was a break in traffic, and we had enough momentum to turn into a parking lot, coast across it to the other side, and make it to within 30 yards of the gas station! :D hahaha! It was quite a sight to see us get out of the car so close to the gas station and push it the last few yards!
Basically, it's been an amazing week, and I'm really looking forward to this next week and the years to come! :)
I love you all!
Elder Aaron Toombs
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