Oh my heck... What just happened? First off, the reason I am emailing so late is because President Albright switched our P Day to Wednesday, so we could find on the Holiday... Anyways, last wednesday, we got a call from Rajeevs friend, Elizabeth, who has been fellowshipping him. She told us that Rajeev had picked a date, and that we need to start prepping that night. So we went over and started talking about dates. He said he want's to be baptized June 10!!!!! We had a baptism Record, and we started filling out the basic information, to make it easier on the District Leader who interviews him (that's what our ZL's told us to do)... while talking, I felt impressed to ask him the questions that the district leader would ask him in his interview. We went through and he answered all the questions right except for one. He told us that he and his ex-wife had been involved in an abortion many years ago. So because of that, we have to have President or one of his counsilors interview him. luckily we found out then, rather than later. We had talked about the commandments before, and he never had mentioned anything like that. I was so happy to have acted on that impression! Perfect example of how we are only instruments in God's hands.

Last Tuesday night was a pretty nervous one. That was when we would get the call from our district leader about transfers. At 10 pm, Elder Barney called and told us that I was leaving, and Elder Rausch was staying. HOLY MOLY! We thought that we were staying another transfer together, to finish the 12 week program. But God wanted me somewhere else. I was sitting in transfer meeting, and president albright started calling off the companionships. The second one he says "Elder Dehaan will be training Elder Litchfield as the new office elder"... I couldn't believe it. That was last Thursday. It's been so fun/hectic! I'm living with the AP's. I have a HUGE queen size bed. I'm with president all the time helping him and his wife with computer problems. Every sunday night we record key indicators from all of the zones. It's so interesting to see all of the zones numbers. My companion, Elder Dehaan, is awesome! I love him so much. He came out a transfer after I did. He is from Utah, kinda by SLC. He is into Theater and singing. His dad is a well known music teacher. He is SO funny! We're going to have a really good time. This transfer is only 5 weeks, rather than 6, because the Albrights are going home. So next transfer will be 7 weeks with President Riggs. The AP's have told me that we will stay in the office next transfer. 

Elder Michael Litchfield

Last Monday, I hurt my shoulder playing volleyball. Tuesday morning, I couldn't lift my arm above my shoulder. After seeing an urgent care doctor, and an Orthopedic Surgeon, they have diagnosed me with a strained rotator cuff muscle. I have another appointment with the surgeon June 1st. Hopefully it is fully  healed by then! He said I have to take it easy with playing sports. That was a HUGE bummer to hear! I look forward to playing basketball every Monday! Oh well. It will heal, and I will be able to play again soon.

 

So early in the week, we hadn't been able to see Rajeev! It was SO frustrating! We were practically playing phone tag, except he would never tag back... haha. He was never home when we went to see him, and would send us texts like "sorry I missed your call elders, will call back later" and he never would. So thursday night, Elder Rausch and I were planning for the next day. Rajeev called us. Elder Rausch answered the phone and started talking to him. He then put the phone on speaker, and told Rajeev that I could hear him. I looked at Elder Rausch with a puzzled look on my face, and I got the same look in return. Rajeev told us that he had been doing a lot of thinking. A LOT of thinking. And decided that he was ready to be baptized!!!!!!!!!! It was so cool!!!!! He said that he doesn't want to set a date until he tells his kids (who live with his ex-wife), but he feels he is ready to take that step in his life. FINALLY! We took him to a convert baptism in a different ward, and it help a lot! He was able to see how the ordinance is performed, and feel the spirit. He liked it a lot. That was a huge testimony builder for me! Taking investigators to baptisms is such a powerful tool in a missionaries arsenal. He felt the spirit, and he even leaned over and told us that he knew that what he was watching was what he wanted. He is even talking about speaking at missionary firesides as a recent convert! We have taken him to so many devotionals that are put on by our mission president. I think he is looking forward to sharing his conversion story with others. He told us that he wants the opportunity to serve, and that's one of the things he likes most about the LDS Church. He will make an amazing member of the church. He talks to his children this upcoming weekend. I pray that everything goes well!!!!

 

We weren't able to see Alyssa all week. She said that her grandmother was in town, and didn't want to start a fight (I guess her grandmother is Southern Baptist, and hate's Mormons). We had a lesson scheduled with her for tomorrow night, but she called us today and cancelled. BUT she said that she was avaliable Saturday, so hopefully we will see her then!

 

There is a kid in the ward that I am in that I have mentioned before. His name is Robby, and he is a  really good skateboarder. He is 9 years old. Well last fast sunday, he got up and bore his testimony. He said in his testimony "Everytime Elder Litchfield comes over for dinner, he asks me what my top priorities are. I tell him that it goes 1)church, 2)Family, 3)School, and 4)Skateboarding." He then said "I want to be a missionary just like him." It was such an amazing moment in my life. This last week, we had dinner over at their house, and his Dad told me that he had no idea that Robby was going to do that. His mom didn't either. I was honored to have him say such kind words. He is going to be an incredible missionary.

 

Transfers are this week! They always make me so nervous! I don't know if I am staying or going! Plus the office doesn't send out any mail this week! I have to wait till after transfers for them to send it out. It's kind of a bummer.

 

Elder Michael Litchfield

First off, I gotta thank my Mom for sending me short sleeve shirts when she did. This last week was SO HUMID! I had random people on the street telling me to go to their house and get a drink! It was actually a great finding method! Look miserable so that people would pity us and let us into their home. We got 2 potentials from that! We also found an inactive guy, whose wife isn't a member! We're going to start teaching them!

    Saturday, I had the great opportunity of hearing from Elder David A. Bednar. We were at the visitors center in DC. There were 3 missions attending. It was AMAZING!!!! It was an open discussion type conference, where we would ask him questions. It was incredible. The spirit was SO STRONG! Oh, and something  I learned... He is SUCH A FUNNY GUY! Oh my goodness! He was making jokes, messing with missionaries, and calling people DOPES! hahahahahahahaha it was such a good time. The 3 hours FLEW by! He stressed that when we pray, we need to act, rather than be acted upon. Pray and do, rather than pray and wait. it was a once in a lifetime opportunity. I loved it.

    We had a lesson with a guy named Jeff this week. He made us lunch before the lesson began. Swordfish! It was so good! I was a bit hesitant, but loved it once I tried it. The lessons went well, except he can't get it into his mind that baptism is the beginning of a better life, rather than an end. He feels that baptism should be the END goal in life, rather than the BEGINNING! Rajeev is the same way! Rajeev told us flat out quote "I know this is the church for me to join." THEN JOIN! He'll then say "But I don't want to make any hastey decisions." We have read so many scriptures about preparing to meet God, and not procrastinating the day of repentence. He says, when I get baptised, then what? Then you start a life filled with joy and blessings! He came to church, all three hours yesterday. He KNOWS it's true! He's just worried that his friend Elizabeth, whom he is madly in love with, will stop giving him attention once he is converted. DRAMA DRAMA DRAMA! I thought I graduated High school last June haha...

 

I went on an exchange with Elder Barney this last Thursday. He is probably my best friend out here. It was really nice to be in a car, especially since it was SO HOT that day! I felt bad for Elder Rausch... Anyways, I got to meet this family from Camaroon! Everyone in the family is baptized except for the mother. It's the same situation as Rajeev. She knows its true. Just wont get baptized.

 

So in a previous letter, I mentioned that Alyssas husband wasn't fond of her talking with missionaries. Well we have been trying to call her ALL week! No response. So yesterday, we knocked on her door, and she answered. She said that she was sorry for not responding. She said she has been working on a final paper for school all week. We scheduled an appointment with her this next week, and she told us that her husband will be attending. Oh boy! I'm looking forward to it though! I feel that he has so many misconseptions about our church, and once he sits down and acutally LEARNS about what we believe in, he wont be so close minded. We also had a lesson with this girl that we met on the street. We had given her a Book of Mormon, and found our where she lived. As we were talking with her, I felt impressed to talk about repentence. I explained the amazing blessing that we have to repent of our sins. Her whole demeanor changed. She was excited, and wanted to read as much as she could of the Book of Mormon! We are seeing her again this week.

 

Our week is packed in our planners! I just pray that we will be able to see our scheduled appointments! This next Sunday I get to talk to my parents! SWEET!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Till then!

 

Elder Michael Darrin Litchfield