A New Vision

This week has been so crazy. Now I do recognize that I say that about every week, but please allow me to explain. President Arredondo (mission president) came to town this week and we had to run around doing so much stuff. Apart from preparing baptisms and trying to fight with some investigators to go to the church to get their temple dedication tickets, we had to set up a District Priesthood Conference; all of that on top of the work that I am currently doing with the Branch President to help divide the units here. We got a lot done, and there is still so much to do that it astounds me. I know that we can get it all done and I am so excited to go out and start a new phase here in this fantastic place.

We had two meetings with President as a zone, and I had three meetings apart from that. It was really fun to be able to work with him in a different setting. I enjoyed being the only youth in a room with a Mission Presidency, a District Presidency and my Branch President. They kept teasing me because of my age and the kind of work I was getting involved in during my mission. To be honest, I thoroughly enjoy this kind of work: the nitty-gritty, number-punching, time-consuming, stressful work. It is kind of delighting to have to do that instead of walking around in this lovely heat all day long. There's nothing better than enjoying the air conditioning after walking around in the heat all week. The main thing that I have to do now is prepare my recent converts, and any inactive males to receive the Melchizedek Priesthood. The goal is high, but working together as a district anything is possible.

After working with President all week I have received this new excitement to go out and reactivate people and baptize really cool people. We baptized two really neat families this week and we are going to baptize two more this week (we'll see how that one turns out). ;) I am just so excited to help build the Kingdom here in this place. The promise of a Stake is so near at hand...theoretically. This place is progressing so very quickly. I want to be part of the miracles that are going to happen here very soon: the creation of another branch, the picking out of three possible lots for new buildings (two are definite, three is a maybe). President told me, "Well, Elder Bolton, if you want to get out of here you just have to let me know. However, the Lord needs you here to work a little bit longer. Can you handle it? Can you also be my eyes here? So much stuff happens here that I need to know about and nobody lets me know. I need you to be my eyes. Okay?" I was somewhat stunned.

I am excited to be here and to help this place to grow. The important thing is not being able to speak perfectly to the people or being able to be the best or highest baptizing missionary, it's using talents to their maximum and being a strong tool in the hands of the Master. I am love this work and know that the Lord is guiding this Church today. He guides even the weakest of missionaries to receive inspiration on how to progress His miraculous work: the Apostolic and Angelic ministry. I am truly blessed to be part of this. Now, I am also kind of nervous because a lot of responsibility is falling on my shoulders, yet I know that I can handle this and that I make the necessary changes in myself and this place in order to please my Heavenly Father. 

I love you all. Work hard. Love harder. Read your scriptures. Pray frequently. GO TO THE TEMPLE! Be successful. Be miraculous.

P.S. No body aches or anything this week. Just suffering from this weird heat rash that I get combined with the well water rash. Fun stuff. Hahahaha.

Love,

Elder Bolton