Mission Update

Here's what we received from Zach this morning:

"So my week...well, we set the goal of having 10 lessons this week, which is way more than I've ever had before. So we go out and we pretty much need at least one lesson every day and multiple lessons on a few days. We doorknocked Wednesday night and didn't get anything, 8:30 came around and we could have stopped where we were and tried to find a few names on the beach but we decided to continue and at 8:45, 15 minutes before we would have left for home we got let in from the doorbell/speaker outside (a rare occurence) and then we found out she was a young, single woman, so I'd already thought of a way to leave and send the sisters because we simply can't teach women who live alone, but there were 2 men there working on the AC! So we could teach her! We had a really good first lesson and she wanted more and agreed to meet with the sisters. That was the miracle on Monday. And for the rest of the week we were able to get at least one lesson everyday. We got let in again Friday morning and found others we already knew throughout the week to teach. And then Saturday came around; we had 3 appointments and we had a few options for a 4th lesson but all fell through except for one, so that left us with a 4 lesson deficit when Sunday came around. We didn't get anything after church so we decided to go out early that night and find 4 lessons out of nothing. I can tell you I have never heard of anyone getting 4 lessons in one night. So we went out, and after we got off the tram we were walking and saw this old man whom me and Elder Rice had knocked into a few weeks before, so we offered to help him and ended up teaching him a few principles (but he's so old and can barely walk so we couldn't do very much). So we got 1 lesson. Then after that we were walking and this older couple called us over from their front "yard." They had seen us yesterday and wanted to know who we were. Well I asked her if we could sit for a few minutes and explain but she said we didn't need to but I started talking some more and ended up teaching a few principles about prayer and Joseph Smith, gave them a pamphlet, committed them to read it, and we said a prayer before we left - lesson 2! (technically a lesson involves 2 or more principles, a commitment, and a at least one prayer SO we were pretty excited because we had just had 2 lessons in a little over an hour). So we start doorknocking and found someone who told us that we could come back another day (1 new name), and then we realized we were knocking the wrong road! So we went to the right road and then called an inactive member, George, who we had had a lesson planned with but if fell through and he said to come over, so we did and had a good lesson about a variety of subjects but we were able to help him realize how he knew the church was true. He knows it but he wasn't sure how to explain it, and we learned about some of his concerns which was very good. So that is #3! So then we decided to go to this big park near the beach and talk to this guy who has known the missionaries for forever but probably hasn't been formally taught. So we went and we were able to start a good discussion but then he had to leave and we weren't able to lead up to a good commitment so we almost got our 4th...but then we had to go home and didn't make the 10, but we made 9! Still more than I have ever had in week! So that was our great week. It just goes to show that if you prepare, plan, and have enough faith, miracles do happen. But I also learned about how important it is to really want to reach your goals and to work for them and recognize opportunities. So I'm ready for this week, we made a goal for 12! It will take some serious work and almost absolutely a miracle or two...but I've learned to expect them, ok not expect them but to trust that they will come. So yeah, that was my week. We're exhausted but we're ready to fight for it. We learned a lot and can do it even better now.

Love you all,
Zach"

Pretty exciting news, I'd say! :o)