On one of the exchanges, we traveled to Otay Lakes and I spent the day with Elder Hatch, who is training a new missionary. We taught a lesson to a married couple that those elders are teaching - Brenda, from Texas; and Evert from Mexico.
We had a great lesson and it was another powerful and spiritual reminder that God loves all his children. Brenda kept mentioning that she loves "The Mormon Book" and "the Mormon Church", she honestly bore a really sweet testimony of the things she's felt as she reads it. She also mentioned some concerns she had about the church, because of her family members who are critical of our beliefs. She asked how she could help them understand the "Mormon church".
Towards the end of the lesson, I asked her to turn over her copy of the Book of Mormon and read the name at the bottom, the name of whose church this is. She said, "Jesus Christ".
It was a super spiritual moment, and we explained that this isn't Mormon's church, this is Christ's church. Everything we do points to Christ!
On Friday, we met a crazy guy in the desert on the way to El Centro who goes by Coyote. He lives in the middle of nowhere off the grid and has a bunch of UFO stuff out there. Elder Udall wanted to stop there because he knows someone who has met the old hermit before. We talked to him and got some pictures, but it was kinda sketchy, not going to lie. He gave us some "souvenirs" which were little pieces of paper with aliens on them. He kept telling us in his loud, booming voice, "TAKE A SCISSOR, AND CUT IT OUT!"
This week at the MCRD was awesome. The recruit I taught for 6 weeks before he went up north to Camp Pendleton for 4 weeks, Lara, finally came back on Sunday! He seemed like a totally different man, just full of energy. He had read up to the end of Mosiah in the Book of Mormon as well. So we sat down before Sacrament meeting and talked. I taught him the remaining lessons, The Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Commandments, and Laws and Ordinances. He then passed his baptismal interview, so he will be getting baptized next Sunday!
I also started teaching a newer recruit, Archunde, last week. He approached me after sacrament meeting and said he wanted to learn more. So this week, I finished teaching him as well. We reviewed the Restoration of the church, and the Plan of Salvation, then I taught him the other three lessons too. He also passed his baptismal interview, so both he and Lara will be getting baptized next Sunday!
Another recruit I had been teaching, Barlow, was supposed to get baptized last week at Camp Pendleton, but he wasn't quite ready. So he will likely be getting baptized in two weeks down here with us. The MCRD is popping off right now!
Life is good here, we got Zone Conferences this week. Elder Udall and I will be training the missionaries on setting goals. The new mission president comes next Thursday! It's going to be a wild couple of weeks!
Have a good week!
Elder Pettit
