No e-mail yesterday had us a little down, but we got it today. No word on why, but I assume his p-day was changed because of transfers this week.
Transfers are among the big news of the week. Elder Read goes home on Thursday, but will stay at the mission home Wednesday night, so Eric gets a new companion tomorrow. Eric will miss Elder Read, who has been a very good companion and a very successful missionary. Eric has learned much from him in the short time they have been together. Eric is also excited about his new companion, Elder Kacher. I think we may have mentioned him before. He served in Sheffield during the time Eric was there, and they went on exchange together at least once. Eric said he thought at that time he would like to serve with Elder Kacher at some point. Now he gets his chance, and he's very happy about it.
In the week's most exciting news, Manuella and Bukhosi were baptized Saturday in Leeds, and Vanessa was baptized in Bradford. As planned, Elder Read baptized Manuella and Bukhosi, and Elder Hansen baptized Vanessa. Both baptismal services were very nice. Eric said they were busy all day Saturday with baptisms and conducting baptismal interviews for others who are planning baptism. The zone will have 4 more baptisms this upcoming weekend. Obviously, Eric is excited to see the changes in the lives of so many people who have accepted Jesus Christ and his gospel. On a related note, he and Elder Read went this week to visit some people Elder Read had baptized earlier in his mission. Eric was able to see how the gospel had changed their lives, and how central of a role it plays in their lives now. He said it helped him realize the lasting impact a missionary can have upon the lives of those he serves. He also realized the importance of continuing to serve and nurture people after they are baptized.
Sunday's exciting news is that 13 investigators came to church. Thirteen! That's a lot. Most of these thirteen are people Elders Hansen and Read have been teaching, but one of their investigators brought 4 friends with her. Eric is hoping they will have the chance to teach those 4 friends also. In addition to these thirteen, Manuella and Bukhosi of course came to church after being baptized on Saturday.
The people visiting church include Will, a 16 year-old boy we have mentioned before, who is waiting until September or October when his friend, the son of the stake president, can baptize him. Others include Nikki, a young Chinese woman we've mentioned before, as well as two new Chinese investigators and a husband and wife Eric met while street contacting. Finally, a woman named Sonya, her children Isaac and Cheyenne, and 4 of her friends. Sonya and her family were met and taught by other missionaries before moving into Elders Hansen and Read's area. They are scheduled to be baptized on August 29.
Nikki has been doing very well. She came to Vanessa's baptism in Bradford on Saturday, and came to church Sunday morning. She had apparently decided not to come to church, but Eric talked to her on the phone and resolved her concerns. Then, Sunday night, she called Elder Hansen and asked about repentance. She said she had some things in her life she needed to fix. Elder Hansen explained how the atonement can cleanse her from sin, and felt like they had a really great conversation. Then last night, Nikki went to the institute for family home evening with the young single adults. Elders Read and Hansen stopped by for a few minutes (I assume for Elder Read to say goodbye since he's going home this week). Apparently Nikki asked Elder Read if she should be baptized, to which he replied that she should. She said she would be baptized for him, but Elder Read told her she should be baptized for God. Nikki agreed with this, and said that she would be baptized in a couple of months. Needless to say, Eric was excited about this.
There was lots more in the e-mail today, but we covered the important stuff. With all the exciting things going on, Eric said this:
Transfers are among the big news of the week. Elder Read goes home on Thursday, but will stay at the mission home Wednesday night, so Eric gets a new companion tomorrow. Eric will miss Elder Read, who has been a very good companion and a very successful missionary. Eric has learned much from him in the short time they have been together. Eric is also excited about his new companion, Elder Kacher. I think we may have mentioned him before. He served in Sheffield during the time Eric was there, and they went on exchange together at least once. Eric said he thought at that time he would like to serve with Elder Kacher at some point. Now he gets his chance, and he's very happy about it.
In the week's most exciting news, Manuella and Bukhosi were baptized Saturday in Leeds, and Vanessa was baptized in Bradford. As planned, Elder Read baptized Manuella and Bukhosi, and Elder Hansen baptized Vanessa. Both baptismal services were very nice. Eric said they were busy all day Saturday with baptisms and conducting baptismal interviews for others who are planning baptism. The zone will have 4 more baptisms this upcoming weekend. Obviously, Eric is excited to see the changes in the lives of so many people who have accepted Jesus Christ and his gospel. On a related note, he and Elder Read went this week to visit some people Elder Read had baptized earlier in his mission. Eric was able to see how the gospel had changed their lives, and how central of a role it plays in their lives now. He said it helped him realize the lasting impact a missionary can have upon the lives of those he serves. He also realized the importance of continuing to serve and nurture people after they are baptized.
Sunday's exciting news is that 13 investigators came to church. Thirteen! That's a lot. Most of these thirteen are people Elders Hansen and Read have been teaching, but one of their investigators brought 4 friends with her. Eric is hoping they will have the chance to teach those 4 friends also. In addition to these thirteen, Manuella and Bukhosi of course came to church after being baptized on Saturday.
The people visiting church include Will, a 16 year-old boy we have mentioned before, who is waiting until September or October when his friend, the son of the stake president, can baptize him. Others include Nikki, a young Chinese woman we've mentioned before, as well as two new Chinese investigators and a husband and wife Eric met while street contacting. Finally, a woman named Sonya, her children Isaac and Cheyenne, and 4 of her friends. Sonya and her family were met and taught by other missionaries before moving into Elders Hansen and Read's area. They are scheduled to be baptized on August 29.
Nikki has been doing very well. She came to Vanessa's baptism in Bradford on Saturday, and came to church Sunday morning. She had apparently decided not to come to church, but Eric talked to her on the phone and resolved her concerns. Then, Sunday night, she called Elder Hansen and asked about repentance. She said she had some things in her life she needed to fix. Elder Hansen explained how the atonement can cleanse her from sin, and felt like they had a really great conversation. Then last night, Nikki went to the institute for family home evening with the young single adults. Elders Read and Hansen stopped by for a few minutes (I assume for Elder Read to say goodbye since he's going home this week). Apparently Nikki asked Elder Read if she should be baptized, to which he replied that she should. She said she would be baptized for him, but Elder Read told her she should be baptized for God. Nikki agreed with this, and said that she would be baptized in a couple of months. Needless to say, Eric was excited about this.
There was lots more in the e-mail today, but we covered the important stuff. With all the exciting things going on, Eric said this:
"I love being an instrument in the Lord's hand. My joy is full as I labor for my Saviour and help his children obtain eternal life."
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