JAN_29_18_GROUP_GBRG

 Hey Everyone!!

It's been an awesome week. A busy week, but those are the best weeks, amiright? SO MUCH has happened, I honestly have NO IDEA where to start. But I've got to start somewhere. So here goes nothing.

Perhaps the most pressing news?? TRANSFERS ARE UPON US. And guess what?? Elder Lin and I are both going to be staying here in Greensburg for another 6 weeks!! I could not be MORE excited!! Neither of us expected to be transferred, so we were relatively relaxed when President Bednar sent out his email with the new transfer boards on Saturday. HOWEVER. President Bednar made us TRAINERS. Yes, you read that correctly. I'm going to train a new missionary. And so is Elder Lin. We're going to be in a TRIO. It's kind of a unique situation. Normally, we wouldn't find out who we're going to train until a special training meeting on Wednesday. But the person that we will be training is awaiting his Visa to serve in a Chinese speaking country. His name is Elder Petersen. He could receive his Visa at any time, so we don't really know how long we're going to have with him. But the uncertainty of his duration here in Pennsylvania necessitated a trio, and serving with Elder Lin for his time here would be PERFECT. 

I'll admit, I'm a little nervous. But what I do know is that I LOVE my mission. I don't know how long Elder Petersen will be with us, but I hope that I can show him how amazing missions truly are. This is the most rewarding experience of my life. If he learns nothing else from me, I hope he can see that. But more importantly, I hope he can FEEL that. 

Elder Lin and I will also be giving a presentation tonight at Seton Hill University, a Catholic University near our apartment. We're going to be talking about our lives as missionaries, and the basic beliefs of members of the LDS church. This is our one shot to present on campus, so I'm super excited about it. Obviously I'm freaking out as well. But let's not talk about that right now.

We had our first lesson with our investigator, Bri, on Monday. She is absolutely golden!! She were able to committed her to be baptized on March 10th!! And she committed herself to quit smoking, AND has already read half of 1 Nephi. I don't know what we did to deserve such an awesome investigator, but I am NOT complaining. It's so awesome to see her progress in the gospel so rapidly, and to see her testimony grow and develop as she keeps commitments and reads the scriptures dilligently. 

I also got some AWESOME news this week. You may recall me talking about the LaFountain family, and their two teenage daughters, Alyssa and Ariel. Elder Payne told me that they're planning on being baptized at the end of March, and that they've set goals and made plans so that they can all make it!! I am just so ridiculously happy for them. I love that family with all my heart, and I know that this gospel can and will bless them. Charlie, the father, was not an avid investigator while I was there in Lewisberry, but he attended church last week ON HIS OWN. And has been reading from the Book of Mormon. He's written me two emails this past week, keeping me updated on his family. I love them so much. GOODNESS.

Speaking of Lewisberry, another unexpected thing happened yesterday. And when I say unexpected, I mean UNEXPECTED. There I was, siting in church. I had just completed a talk (speech) in front of the whole congregation, and was relieved that it was over. Out of the corner of my eye, I see that someone is about to sit next to me. I scoot over, not knowing who it is. And then I look up, and I gasp. It's CARLOS GARCIA, my recent convert from Lewisberry. He had driven all the way from New Cumberland (3+ hours) to come and see me!! I was hardcore freaking out right there in the middle of Sacrament meeting. 

It was so great to see him. He stayed all three hours of church, which gave us plenty of time to catch up. He is going to the temple on March 10th, and has been reading the Book of Mormon every day. He's still going strong, and hasn't smoked or drunk coffee since he was baptized. His family will be moving here from Puerto Rico soon, which will allow him to see his children with much more frequency.

I love this work. I'm grateful for all of these amazing people that I get to meet. I'm grateful for this gospel. I know it's true. 

Until Next Week!!

Elder Gonzales

1) Surprise visit from Carlos!! 

2)Me and Brother Vaglia. Framed. By his bed. Yup.

3) Last district picture.

4) We got to go on Pitt Campus for a short period of time on Tuesday!! It's GORGEOUS. Yup. I'm convinced. I'm serving there.

5) My photoshopping skills ain't bad, huh? I know, they suck.

6) Truer words have never been spoken.