21st Birthday and Sharing the First Vision, March 2, 2015

Hey Mamma,

Thanks for the package and letters! I appreciate it. And the family that sent you the photos is the family that is preparing for baptism! They are very sweet to me and made me a birthday cake! I was very happy to spend my night with them. 

And that is great that you had another lesson with the Steeds. And that you had dinner with the Squires. I can't believe Cami is 16! Weird. Super weird. And which of Dad's documentary's is showing at the LDS film festival? And where is the festival at?

My new companion is Elder Olkjer from Anchorage, Alaska. We came out together but he is going home May 12th while I am going home June 23rd. We get along really well and we have had a lot of teaching opportunities this past week. It has been sawwweet!

Many incredible things happened this week. The family that made me a birthday cake, came to our Missionary Choir Concert on Thursday night and then we all went to the Mesa Visitors Center on Friday night (which I have never been to my entire mission!). They are awesome. The mom, Mary Cera, and her three kids, Joseph (16), Valeddia (10), and Juan (8) are preparing for baptism. Mary's husband, Omar, is starting to meet with the Spanish elders. Mary's daughter Victoria was baptized a couple of weeks ago. And Mary's brother, Johnny, is preparing for baptism on March 14th. This family is ready to go!! We watched Meet the Mormons with them at the Visitors Center and they loved it! Man that movie is awesome. I even teared up a bit! :'( Such a good, inspirational, uplifting movie. 

And this fast Sunday, Johnny went up and bore his testimony and announced to the congregation how excited he is for baptism! Haha it was sweet!! He is so pumped and ready to go. 

This past Wednesday we had an excellent lesson with Gail and Dianne, an elderly couple that Elder Olkjer tracted into a couple of weeks ago. They are retired and attend Central Christian Church. I taught them with the senior couple in our ward, Elder and Sister Esplin. It was an incredible lesson about the Restoration. And when I shared the words of Joseph Smith's First Vision, the room was perfectly still. A great calm and peace seemed to penetrate the room. If there is one thing I know, it is the reality that Joseph Smith, a 14 year old farm boy, did see God the Father and Jesus Christ. Every time I share Joseph Smith's experience my knowledge and conviction is renewed of the restoration of Jesus Christ's church. I can never deny the amazing feeling and power that comes from sharing the First Vision. It is indescribable. I know that God speaks to man again. Gail and Dianne then attended church with us yesterday, and they looked as though they had been members for years! They even were able to meet our stake president, Pres McClure, and our bishop. It was a great experience. 

Oh! And this last Saturday I was able to attend Paula Pyle's baptism in Pegasus Ward. It was so great to see her and her family again. I am very blessed to be a small part of that family's life. 

I am grateful for my opportunity to be serving in the Lord's vineyard. I have learned so much and I continue to learn so much. Thank you for all of your support!

love,

Elder Lambert

​Elder Esplin, Elder Olkjer, me, and Johnny. Juan is in the front at the Mesa Temple. Johnny is the one who got up on Sunday and bore his testimony. He is such a stud!