We had another good week. Last Tuesday and Wednesday we delivered 16 more new bikes to companionships around the mission. There were a few extra, so we took 2 back to our place to use for exercise. So we've been riding those things up to the top of Mt. Helix, which is about a 7 or 8 mile ride with about 800 feet of elevation. Elder Udall was raced cross country mountain bikes back home, so we've been grinding these bikes.
We've been teaching our friend Dominique and we put him on date to be baptized for September 3rd. Dominique is a 25 year old, 6'6 black guy who says he was baptized and he remembers even doing baptisms in the temple. However, there is NO record of his baptism. We did all we could to figure things out with the bishop, but long story short, he's going to need to be rebaptized. Dominique was in prison for a while and has really turned his life around now. Before our last lesson with him, he started asking us about missions and said he's been thinking about going on one. Super awesome - that would be lifechanging for him. He said he wanted to go to the YSA ward (the one we just left), so we passed him off to the SSTL's. We had a member in the YSA, Larry Chu, come to the lesson with us and be Dominique's fellowshipper. He's awesome, he converted and went on a mission at around the same timetable that Dominique is on. Fun fact, Larry served in the same mission as my sister Jenna! Small world.
We've been planning for transfers coming up on Tuesday. In the past with President Giménez, he would make a draft of a transfer document, and we would make a draft, then we would meet and compare the two. However, President Merritt told us "Elders, I have no idea how you managed to put all this together. I wouldn't know where to start!" So we made the transfer board and then discussed it with president haha.
Speaking of transfers, next Tuesday I will be getting transfered. I'll no longer be AP, I'll go be a Zone Leader in the South Bay spanish ward. I'm excited to be back in Spanish work! I learned a lot during these last six months, and I'm super grateful for the opportunity I had to learn, serve, and minister to other missionaries and learn a lot of new skills.
One thing that President Merritt shared with the mission on a morning devotional was the meaning of the word "nevertheless". It's used often in the scriptures when one puts his own will aside to do the will of God. Like Christ when he was about to accomplish the Atonement, He asked if there were any other way. But nevertheless, He was willing to do the will of the Father over anything else. So we might not like it, it might be hard, but, "nevertheless", we do it.
Time has flown, I've only got six transfers left. Time to make the most of it and work as hard as I can!
This is the Lord's work!
Elder Pettit
Psalms 139
8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.
