June 17, 2013

Hello Family,

Today is a monumental day in the Oregon Portland mission. Today is the last transfer meeting before the mission splits. That means that whatever area you are assigned to today is what mission you are going to be in for the rest of your mission. Luckily I am staying here in Canby for another 6 weeks. That means that I will stay in the OPM. Although I am not getting transferred President Morby asked everyone in the mission to come to transfer meeting today so all the missionaries in the mission will be at the transfer meeting today. Lots of pictures will be taken.

Other than that, one of our investigators had his baptismal interview this week. He passed so that means we will be having a baptism on the 29th of June. Actually though we will be having 2 baptisms because Kevin is still doing amazing. Two baptisms in one day. That will be a good day here in Canby. That ward hasn't had a baptism in over a year.

Also, we did some service on Saturday morning cutting down some blackberry bushes for one of our less active ladies. She is a super nice lady and she gave us pink lemonade. Working outside on Saturday morning reminded me of weeding at our house. Do you still do that?

On Friday we had something called a mission tour. Elder Whiting, which is an area seventy, came to our mission to speak. He talked about chapter 1 in PMG and also gave us some insights into the Doctrine of Christ. He explained how as missionaries we mostly focus on bringing people to baptism and then hand them to the ward, but after baptism it's not the end, because they still need to continue progressing all the way to the temple. That is more of the wards job, but we help them out and the ward helps us out. We don't have two separate jobs, rather we both help each other. That's why we work with less actives. Also, that is why we do our home and visiting teaching, to help others increase their faith and encourage them to progress in the gospel so they can make the next step. Whether it be priesthood or temple ordinances. I hope you guys are being diligent in your home and visiting teaching. Also, Chad, if you want to practice teaching and being a missionary. Practice when you go home teaching.

We also had the opportunity to take one of our investigators to the Portland Visitor Center on Wednesday. I think that the family had a good time. We talked about how families can be together forever and watched some of the displays that they have there. It was sweet.

I think that is all.

Love, Elder Udy