Zach Goes to the Temple, 7 New Investigators! May 25, 2015

Hey Mamma,

Elder Brewer is the first comp from straight in Salt Lake City, but I have had a total of 6 companions from Utah. And haha pros ball is playing basketball on the street in our proselyting clothes. Hence the term, "pros ball". It is a lot of fun and can actually gain respect and trust from people (especially when you beat them). 

This week has been great. We have been teaching like crazy. We found 7 new investigators this past week! What's good! Our challenge now is to teach them all towards baptism. We did have a lesson with Terra and her kids, and we are going to start teaching all of her kids. I wasn't at the lesson though, because this past Tuesday night I was able to attend the Gilbert Temple with my old comp Elder Mall while our convert, Zach Rivera, received his endowment! Zach has progressed in the gospel so quickly. It has been amazing to see his growth. He had support from his best friend's dad and family, the Higginsons and Baldwins in Rittenhouse ward (these two families I am pretty close with). It was awesome. We then went to Cafe Rio to finish off the night! I loved it. 

We have been praying specifically for 5 people to teach and baptize before this transfer is over and it has been amazing how the Lord is providing! We picked up a single mother named JoAnn that was taught in Gilbert and she is ready to be baptized on June 6th! Her 13 year old daughter also wants to be taught and baptized, so we will start teaching her this week. 

We got a referral for this single guy named Patrick whom we started teaching this week, and he is great! I think he has some form of autism, but he has the funniest stories and he understands the scriptures so well! I have never seen the whole movie, but he reminds me of Forrest Gump haha. 

This week we also got into a less active family's home and realized that their two over-age youth kids aren't baptized yet! We had a great lesson with them last night and although their biological dad (who apparently was raised Mormon, but left the church and lives in New Mexico now) doesn't want them to be baptized, we are praying that his heart may soften and that these kids can choose to follow the Lord's example. 

We then contacted a less active lesbian lady named Amber. She is super funny! She told us that these past two weeks God has been "bothering her" to go to church and pay her tithing. When we showed up she exclaimed to us that "God works fast". She came to church yesterday and payed her tithing. It was awesome! It is a bit sad though because she wants to leave her partner now (who is also a less-active member), and we as missionaries aren't here to destroy relationships, whether heterosexual or homosexual. But she told us that her and her partner have different goals now, her partner wants to travel the world, and she wants to stay and have more children and raise a family. She wants her 9 year old son to become involved in the church and to serve a mission one day. She also thanked us for always coming by and not shunning her because of her lifestyle choices, but rather helping her increase her faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. 

I love this work and my time is limited. Thanks for your support and love! I've got to finish strong. I love you guys and please know that God does exist! This is his work. I am simply an instrument in his hands to do his will. 

love,

Elder Lambert

Me, Zach Rivera, and Elder Mall.