week #10 - Kingston

Hey Fam!

Thanks for all the birthday presents!  The Swarm shirt Matthew made looks great!  I am impressed!  I really like the tie I got too.  I have worn it a couple of times already.  My birthday was good.  I was able to avoid getting floured, and we went out for lunch.  Other than that, we didn't do too much.  I will make up for the missed festivities a year from now. I was able to tell someone that I was twenty years old the other day... It was strange.  I sound old, but I sure don't feel it.

 

We had district meeting on Wednesday.  We discussed using Family History as a finding tool.  There seems to have been a huge focus on that from the church lately.  It is definitely important.  We have been using it this week to find.  It has been cool to see how people that may be uninterested in the church are able to begin to take part by taking an interest in Family History.

I had an interview with President Brown on Friday.  It was really good to speak with him.  It always is.  Transfers are next week, and I think I may be leaving.  I will let you know Monday.  This transfer likely will determine the area I will die (finish my mission) in.  Time has gone by so fast.

I gave a talk on missionary work in church on Sunday.  It went really well.  I shared about the restoration of the gospel, how we are part of the only true church, and what that means for us.  I committed everyone to ponder and pray about who they know that they can share the gospel with, and reiterated the promise given to us by the Lord in D&C 100 to them. The spirit was able to guide me and I could tell that the point was made.  I am so glad it went well.  I could not have done it on my own. 

Elder McGregor and Elder Beck got there patriarchal blessings this week.  Jamaica finally has a patriarch, so they were able to get it done.  I need to go back through my own blessing to gain direction for my life.  It is such a blessing to have such a blessing.  Haha.  I hope you all caught that one.    

You asked about Sis. M's conversion.   I will sum it up to you as fast as possible (with the time I have left).  She is 16 years old.  She is the younger sister of a recent convert.  We began to teach her something like two months ago.  She had been taught before, but just wasn't ready.  Elder McGregor and I talked her through all of the lessons.  She did a pretty good job of keeping commitments, but still had some doubts as her baptism date drew closer.  A week before the baptism, she told us that she was not going to get baptized.  We frantically tried to say the things that would help her to do otherwise.  The spirit was able to guide us and we committed her to fast and pray about it that Sunday.  She did, and she recieved her answer a few days later.  We were so happy for her.  We could see the light in her as she progressed, and now that she is baptized, she is just beaming.  She received a calling this week.  She is the Laurels president or something like that now.  She was really happy to get the calling.  We are so excited for her. 

I love you all.  I want to tell you about E. McGregor, but it is going to have to stay for another week.  Suffice it to say that he is awesome. 

Have a great week!

Love, Elder Pullan.

week # 8 & 9 - Kingston

Feb. 9, 2015

Hello Fam!

This week has been great! Sis. M got baptized!  How is that for a birthday present?  Haha. There is nothing more rewarding than being allowed to reap the hard work of many others. I have been allowed to participate in Sis. M's conversion in a huge way, and I consider it a blessing.  It has been cool to see the changes that she has gone through over the past months.  You can see the light and joy in her now.  She fits right in with the rest of the members at the church and has received a warm welcome from them. 

She had been doubting things earlier in the week for various reasons, but we asked her to fast and pray about it.  She did, and she received a powerful answer on Tuesday night.  She had the courage to act on it and let us know that she was ready.  We scrambled to get everything ready, and with the help of the ward, things came together beautifully.  The baptismal service was very spiritual.  Her brother baptized her.  One other girl got baptized in the same service with her. (She was the other Blvd. Elders convert.)  Everything went great.  I am so happy for her. 

I got the birthday package last Thursday.  I had to open the box in order to fit everything in my backpack and get it home, but I have not opened the letters or the wrapped gifts yet. Thanks so much everyone!  The guitar capo works great.  I have been using it all week. 

I don't feel any different.  I guess 20 years old will just be another day for me.  Or maybe it hasn't hit me yet... Ask me tomorrow morning.

 

I think that wraps up the week for me. I have been doing a lot of work lately, but that should be expected. Missionary work does not get done unless you work. That is the secret to it all. 

I love you all! Thanks for the birthday wishes. 

Thanks for being such great parents mom and dad. You have been such a blessing to me. 

Have a great week!

Love, Elder Pullan

Oh, and the whole moving situation. We went from a 2 man house to a 4 man house when I got to Kingston.  The landlord wanted more money, and we weren't willing to pay that much, so we moved.  We had known for about a month, but it didn't happen until last week. The new place is nice though!

Sis. M's Baptism !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I love this shot, although I will edit out the spider web when I get home.

Feb. 2, 2015

Moving today!

That is right. We will be moving houses today. We had some issues with the place, so we will be moving into a new apartment.  As a consequence, I have neither camera nor cord today.  So no pix. Sorry.  Nathan- I saw a lizard last week that was yellow and blue and over a foot long!  I didn't get a picture though.  Great job on the play too!  That is exciting. 

This week has been ok.  Sis. M is not sure about getting baptized any more.  We asked her to fast on Sunday and pray to know if this is the right time for her.  I am not sure how things are going to work out.  We still need to follow up with her on her fast.  It is perfectly natural to be a little apprehensive, and if she goes into the fast with an open heart, she will get an answer.  I worry that she had already decided for herself before she went looking for an answer from God.  I don't know how it will work out.  I will keep you updated. 

Part of the focus of our zone meeting this past week was Family History.  We spoke about the spirit of Elijah and the way that it is affecting the world.   Many people who may not be so interested in the church will have their heart softened as they do Family History.   Family History is becoming a big thing in the world today for people of all faiths.  We need to use this spirit of Elijah in order to help them to find the truth, and complete those vital saving ordinances for those in the spirit world.  Only by this can the whole human race have a chance at salvation.  God has entrusted us with this great work and will help us as we put our shoulders to the wheel. 

We were teaching Sis. S again this week. We were able to talk a little about Family History with her as we discussed the Plan of Salvation. It answered a lot of the questions she had about how God is able to give all men a chance at salvation. She was very excited to start working on her Family History. 

My week has been good. Lots of hard work, sweat, guitar, soccer in the mornings, and a bit of rain. It is all part of the mission!

I love you all!

Love, Elder Pullan