Extraordinary Sunday

Dear Everyone,

We've had a ordinary week here in Vancouver topped with an extraordinary sunday. Throughout the week we went about business as usual getting Odi ready for his baptism, visiting other investigators. It was Stake Conference weekend and so we had to move the Baptism to Sunday afternoon because of the Adult session on saturday. We had the baptismal interview and he passes. The sisters had 2 investigators that decided they wanted to get baptized this weekend too and not wait: A woman named Gloria and her Daughter Giovanna. So they also got them all interviewed and ready to go. So come Sunday morning, we go to the church and start filling the font, and then go to the special Morning session. Elder Gavarret of the first quorom of the Seventy came and he wanted to have a morning session specifically to talk to the Spanish member Recent Converts and Investigators, and also any english Recent Converts. It was a really cool little meeting. We got a pretty good turn out and Odi came as well as Ismael. Elder Gavarret was really funny and there was a great spirit there. One of the things he talked about is how there are to types of members in the church. Mormones, and Mormoncitos ("little mormons" members that lack dedication, conversion, or deep rooted testimony) He said to not be Mormoncitos and to study the scriptures and obey the commandments so that we can have deep rooted faith, conversion and testimonies.

We then went on to Stake Conference where President Barrus President Greer and Sister Greer and Elder Gavarret Spoke. It was very good.

After that we went on to the Relief Society room and got everything situated for what was the most special and spiritual baptisms I think any of us had ever been too. We started with the prayer and hymn, and then Sister Morelli, (a great friend and fellowshipper of Odi) gave a great talk on the importance and meaning of the Ordinance of baptism. Following that Brother Alder, went into the font and first baptized Odi, and then Gloria and Giovanna. By the time it was Giovanna's turn he was in tears. We then watched Gordon B. Hinkley's testimony of the Restoration on the Special Witnesses of Christ DVD and sang another hymn. At this point Bro. Huerena came in and whispered something into our Branch President, President Ross's ear. Then after President Greer, Stake President Barrus, and Elder Gavarret walked into the door and took their seats at the front. It was then announced that All three would bear their testimony. First President Greer Bore his testimony and then President Bairus, with President Ross translating and then Elder Gavarret got up and addressed the converts in Spanish. It was so awesome, we were enveloped in the spirit. The Stake president related how they were on their way to leave and visit a sick member and then take him to the airport, when Elder Gavarret stopped and said he wanted to stop by at the baptism first. What a once in the lifetime opportunity to have a General Authority come to your baptism! That definitely went straight into the Journal. Well we enjoyed the rest of the day going and visiting people.

But Wait There is more. That night we were sitting in the apartment planning when we got a phone call from President Greer. He then asked me to train a new missionary this upcoming transfer. He than asked Elder Anderson to finish the training of a missionary who has been in Pasco with the Zone Leaders for his first transfer. So Transfers are on Wednesday, I purposefully left that for the end. Wow I'm pretty overwhelmed and excited to train. Looks like I'll be in Vancouver until January!

Well thats all the news for this week! Have a great week everyone!

-Elder Derek Partridge

Ishmael's baptism

Hello everyone! We’ve had a super good week. Ismael's baptism went through without a hitch. He invited his daughters to come. It’s really cool how quick he accepted the gospel. He saw that it was good for him and he knew that it was true. I think what really got him was general conference. Last week he was saying he wasn't quite sure he'd be ready for the 13th but this week we met with him the Monday after conference and he said he was ready. He truly must of felt the spirit and truth of the words of the living prophet and apostles of god. He's awesome! Sister Ruiz invited a friend to the baptism and she also came to church the next day. So we're going to start teaching her. Its really cool how we receive blessings and people are placed in our path as missionaries.

Elder Holland's talk in General Conference was excellent. It was actually a modified version of a talk he gave at the MTC in January of 2011. Every companionship in our mission has a copy of it on DVD. I prefer the MTC version of it to the one he gave in conference. He talks a little more about the history and Purpose of Preach My Gospel at the beginning and then goes in to talking about Peter. It is really a powerful talk but that version appears to be only available to a select audience of full time missionaries, and we aren't to take or make copies of it.

Well in other news this week Odi's son got baptized in California on Saturday also! Odi is very proud and happy and It has motivated him a lot. So much to where he is now on his 4th day without smoking. if he can keep it up than he'll be able to be baptized on the 27th so we're excited about that! The Sister missionaries also have a baptism planned for the 27th so it will be an exciting month for our branch!

We went to Multnomah Falls today. It was really beautiful! We went with 2 other companionships in our zone. We had a lot of fun and got some good pictures. Well I hope everyone has a good week!

-Elder Partridge

Derek's Address

Derek loves letters.  His address is 8202 W. Quinault Ave. #D
Kennewick, WA  99336

Conference

Well this week was pretty packed and busy. We've been trying to meet with our Investigators and then get them out to conference and all that. And than conference took a lot of time. But was very uplifting. We got Ismael out to the 2 saturday sessions so that was good. I was very surprised about the announcement that President Monson made. This is a very historic announcement I think. I think short term it will provide a big boost in missionaries, and long term, in conjunction with the new Young Mens, young womens, and seminary curriculum based on Preach My gospel that there will be more people that will be prepared and have the desire to serve missions. The work is hastening on! It appears this is also where the six week spanish pilot program comes in. Elder Holland stated in the press conference that the MTC training for all missionaries will be shortened by 1/3. This is a really exciting thing!

In other news our investigators are progressing pretty well here. Ismael is on track for baptism this Saturday. We just need to review a couple more things and than have his interview on Thursday. He really enjoyed conference and he says he likes church and believes in what we have taught him. We haven't been able to get in contact with German still sadly. It appears he is going to need more time. We met with Samira and Joel this week to and things were going good.

So this week I had authentic pupusas. The Pupusa is a food from El Salvador. I have tried it before at a taco truck in Boardman but this time I had them made by a real Abuela Salvadorena. They were so good. Essentially what it is, is a thick tortilla with beans and cheese cooked into it topped with cabbage and salsa rojo. They were very very good. I'm going to have her teach me how to make them before I leave.
Well thats all for this week, take care everyone!

con amor,

Elder Partridge

Portland

Wow 23 new missionaries?? Thats NUTS Happy Birthday mom!!!!!

 

Well its been a good week here in Vancouver. October has started and still no rain. We had our temple trip this morning, thats why I'm emailing on Tuesday instead of Monday again. It was cool to have another opportunity to go to the portland temple. I really enjoy the drive through Portland, everything looks so interesting, I'd like to visit Portland in depth when I'm able, but as for now its out of the mission. Anyways this week has been pretty good. We've worked a lot with Odi this week and his roomate Pedro. Pedro is the brother of sister Morelli and is a big old goof ball. Its hard to get him to take things seriously. We did however have success with showing him some of the ol' book of mormon seminary videos. He seemed to get a lot out of them and enjoy them. Odi's still doing better step by step. We're teaching him gospel principles that we feel will aid in his efforts to quit smoking. We talked about the power of prayer, and read Enos with him. We watched the BoM Seminary video about agency, which by the way is phenomenal. I would recommend it to anyone. As long as we keep working with him and supporting him he'll be able to make that change in his life. Ismael is doing good also. We're having some problems with german, but we're still working with him.

We're pretty excited for conference coming up!!! I like to read the opening verses of Mosiah 2 and apply them to my preparation for General Conference. I like how king Benjamin opens his address by asking that they not "come up hither to ^btrifle with the words" which he spoke to them, "but that [they] should ^chearken unto [him], and open [their] ears that [they] may hear, and [their] ^dhearts that [they] may understand, and [their] ^eminds that the ^fmysteries of God may be unfolded to [their] view[s]."

This is the attitude that I would like to be able to take towards every general conference. I know that as we do that we will be blessed and receive "that portion that shall be meted unto every man."

 

Well thanks for the birthday wishes hope everyone has a great week!!!!

Love, Elder Derek Partridge