Letters from Gene : Good things

Hola people.

So this week Elder Pilling goes on 2 exchanges, works with some senior missionaries, prays... A lot. And appreciates the gospel every waking moment, and sleeping moment (I've been dreaming about the scriptures:)

Yes first exchange was with Elder McEntire! He follow up trained me in Moorpark and he's now one of the district leaders in the zone. We worked in A tascadaro because they had 2 lessons with some really cool people. One guy, named Fred, has a baptism date for the end of September. He is Sooooooo ready for the gospel. He works 2 jobs and church is a struggle but he's working it out with his boss. We had an amazing lesson about missionary work (which he is already doing daily) and temple marriage. He lost his wife 2 yrs ago and she was a member and he finally saw the light of the gospel. Very good. The other lesson was weird but still good. Oh and the sisters called us and had a flat tire so I changed a tire on a rolla. I'm literally like Nascar. Lighting fast tire change.

Wednesday and Thursday we helped the Sr. Missionaries Elder and Sister Andrus clean out 2 apartments in the zone. One was in SLO and the other was in Atascadaro. We made quick work loading up a truck and trailer. They are such a wonderful couple! They go home in September:( but they are leaving in less than a year to another mission in Holland! They plan on serving multiple missions:) she's the front desk lady and is literally so sweet. After Wednesday's clean out they took us to firestone. A delicious BBQ place in downtown SLO. Got a pulled pork 🐖 sandwhich. Very good. And then after Thursday's clean out they took us to Carl's Jr. Also good but not very good. I think we got lunch 4 days this week! Jonathan also made us lunch:) he's so kind.

Alright. Many other things happened. Let's focus in on a couple.

1. Pray for Mardal. She is getting Baptised August 23rd. It's a Thursday and it's going to be great. She has some struggles but needs this. So much! Her interview with President Nakken is Saturday and she really needs prayers. We met her 3 days this week and had some spiritually wonderful lessons:) oh how I love it all.

2. Why do people forget so quickly? It is so easy to forget the spirit and all it does:/ we have seen this many times with many people and I pray that all of you will continue to do the small things. I've said this almost every week but if you are not reading the Book Of Mormon daily you need to be. If you don't, it is literally the start to darkness. You stop reading, then a challenge arises and you forget how to overcome it and then praying stops and then you have no spiritual pull and church becomes a waste of time in your mind and boom you're done. So please read. It's beautiful and changes me everyday.

Here's the last thing. This work is exhausting. It requires so much focus. I relate this to fly fishing. You put on a fly and away you go. If you blink at the wrong time, you miss the set. If you day dream you forget to mend and get bad drag. If you don't check your fly it could be falling apart, or tangled, you are constantly scanning the water for good lines etc.. You need to do these things to be successful. Missionary work is similar. You have to be focused at everything, you're reading the word, changing tactics, updating approaches to be unique and interesting. You're pondering and praying and pleading with the Lord for guidance. You're calling missionaries to get updates and give advice you aren't just praying for your area and people but all 12 people on date and all 18 missionary's success. I woke up this morning and my eyes look straight dead. My left eye is sore for some reason and I need this day so much. It has been interesting though during our 30 minute lunch because I cook and eat in about 3 mins. Then I read scriptures for about 10 and then I nap the rest and multiple times I dreamed about what I read. Read Genesis this week and dreaming about Joseph getting sold and the drought and it was crazy.

I need something funny to say... Well that line in itself was probably pretty funny so I'm going to call it good:)

Thanks for the birthday wishes thus far, I'm blessed cause my bday is on Friday, district council!!!! Okaiiiiiiiiiiii

Also some things never change, got a package from the fam and there's a small note written over my dad's business card. Classic.