Christmas Time in Nashville

Dear Family and Friends,

It is Christmas time, but it doesn't feel like it.  The weather is still warm and I am wearing short sleeve shirts. This week was busy. We had the Bishop's storehouse work to complete on Tuesday and our Christmas zone conference was on Wednesday. The zone conference was fun. I received a dragon for the gift exchange. This week we focused on teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ and it went well because the gospel is so simple. Our investigators are doing well and are progressing. One is close to baptism. During one of our lessons an investigator told us that she knew the church was true ... but she didn't want to be baptized.  That comment broke my heart, however, we kept strong and had faith and now she has a baptism date. It hurt though when she said that. Things are good here and Christmas is in full swing. The music and the lights make it very merry and fun.

Love y'all. Hope you feel the spirit of Christ this season.

13 And thus we see how great the inequality of man is because of sin and transgression, and the power of the devil, which comes by the cunning plans which he hath devised to ensnare the hearts of men.
14 And thus we see the great call of diligence of men to labor in the vineyards of the Lord; and thus we see the great reason of sorrow, and also of rejoicing--sorrow because of death and destruction among men, and joy because of the light of Christ unto life. (Alma 28)

Love,

Elder Blazzard

Life of a Missionary

Dear Friends and Family,

This week was fun and very full. On Tuesday, we served at the Bishop's Storehouse. We tried contacting a lot of people in that area after serving in the storehouse. A member took us out after that and we met with a less-active member who was very funny. On Wednesday, we had district meeting, the first of this transfer, and learned about zone conference this coming week. The mission is getting black boxes put into the vehicles. This coming zone conference is going to be our Christmas zone conference so there will be gift exchanges and tie exchanges. Should be be fun.

We ate dinner with members that evening and had two great lessons. I got sick that night and didn't really sleep. When I did sleep I was snoring loud and my companion was not too happy. The next day I pushed through and we met a new member in the ward and worked on getting here a ride for church. She actually moved from the Cumberland Branch, which I served in for 4 weeks. That evening, we cleaned a recent converts house and there were a lot of bugs. We had a good lesson the next day talking about the blessings of keeping the commandments and about moving forward in faith. It went well.

Saturday, we stayed super busy working with a neighbor and having a member take us to a lesson which went very well and she loves the gospel. Then we ran to the church to fill the font for a baptism and helped set up for the Handel's Messiah concert that they were having at our church that night. We had dinner with the Spanish elders. Then a member went out with us and we tried some people, went to the first part of the concert, and then met with two new investigators and had short lessons with them.

Sunday, church was good and right after Church we went with a member out into the country to have dinner. He had made chicken parmesan. We ran to the church and watched the First Presidency Christmas Devotional. I had a tough time that evening and did not feel well with a bad headache. It was a good week full of fun.

Here is my scripture:  Matthew 11:28  Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Love Y'all,

Elder Blazzard

Thanksgiving Week

Thanksgiving week was good. On Monday we went down to Opry Mills and I ran I to some members from the Calvert City and the Cumberland branches which was a nice surprise. On Tuesday, we had a meeting at the Sunset Ward building which is in Brentwood, an hour drive through downtown Nashville. It was a good mission meeting and they brought in Costco pizza for lunch. On Wednesday, we had district meeting and went to a Chinese Buffet for lunch. Elder Maxwell, my companion, lost his debit card, but after much prayer we found it at a gas station. The lady counter attendant was holding it for us. On Thursday, Thanksgiving Day, we had a missionary turkey bowl. It was all fun and a game until a couple elders got into it and we had to stop. Good morning overall and I got my McDonald's breakfast. We had thanksgiving with a great family. They had all my favorites including green bean casserole and mashed potatoes. After dinner we street contacted around the mall. We tried to head people off going into the mall but that was not very successful as shoppers were on a mission.

On Friday,  we weekly planned and tracted and on Saturday we tracted and tracted and it rained all day, but it was good because meet some really nice people. We went to Taco Bell for dinner with the Spanish Elders and Elder Maxwell left his iPad there and he didn't realize it until we got back to our apartment.  We ran back and, thank goodness, the iPad was still there.  They had it sitting up by the registers. Sunday we had an investigator come to church and she even payed tithing. Today we are going to give her a priesthood blessing. She called and asked for one last night.

Happy Holidays!

Alma 5:48 I say unto you, that I know of myself that whatsoever I shall say unto you, concerning that which is to come, is true; and I say unto you, that I know that Jesus Christ shall come, yea, the Son, the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace, and mercy, and truth. And behold, it is he that cometh to take away the sins of the world, yea, the sins of every man who steadfastly believeth on his name.

Love,

Elder Blazzard

The Bible Belt of Goodlettsville

Dear Family and Friends,

It was another good week in Goodlettsville. We taught a lot of new people and some old, old former investigators. It has been a blast. Tuesday we got to see a great sunset while tracting. On Thursday and Friday we meet with some less actives. These folks have great testimonies and are just struggling with some things in their lives. It was great to get to know them. On Friday, after tracting it started to rain and it was very cold. The rain froze my head and I developed a bad headache. On Sunday night we met with our investigator family.

My scripture this week is Hebrews 13: 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

All is good in Goodlettsville. Have a good week. It is better to look up.

Love, Elder Blazzard

The Hard Lessons

Dear Family and Friends,

This week went well. We had a lot of hard lessons including people throwing their garbage at us. I really seemed like lesson after lesson we would have issues. A guy even prophesied that my companion and I would leave the church and unite the saints at last (sic?). I read a lot in the Book of Mormon this week including King Benjamin's speech. It really built my faith in the Book of Mormon. Elder Zwick come and spoke to us. It was very, very powerful. The scripture this week I am ponderizing is D&C 35:15 And the poor and the meek shall have the gospel preached unto them, and they shall be looking forth for the time of my coming, for it is nigh at hand.

Thanks for the support and love, love y'all. I know that Joseph Smith restored the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and that he is a prophet of God, and no one can tell me otherwise.

Love,

Elder Blazzard

Thanks Be To God

Dear Family and Friends,

This was a good week. On Monday, we helped a member paint his house. The member is moving soon. On Tuesday, we worked at the Bishop's Store House. I went on exchanges with Elder Wright. My companion, Elder Maxwell, gave a training Wednesday. Brother Ford took us to Cook Out afterwards. We talked to our investigator family this week and they are doing well. They treat us like family and the mom has a hard time letting go of her old church. We helped paint some more on Saturday. Sunday we went to a investigator's church. It was a Methodist church. Then right after that we hurried to our church which is at 1 pm. This week was busy and that is good. My prospective is always changing and I am so thankful for the experiences I have gone through on my mission so far. I hope I don't lose faith in finding people to teach. People in the city are a little mean and distant, but we always find one who is ready, so thanks be to God.

105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. (Psalms 119)

Love,
Elder Blazzard

Church Week

Dear Friends and Family,

This week went well as we are working with a family and hopefully we can set a family baptismal date with them. They are great and the mom fed us spaghetti and it was really good. We also met a lady in Millersville. She has been meeting with the missionaries since around 2000. The only thing is her husband doesn't want her to join any church. Things are slow but picking up, during are planning session, we called like fifty people. We know the area a little better and now know more members. It helped to have a regular Sunday. We went to a couple different churches this week; Baptist, Church of Christ, and Pentecostal. It was fun and loud. Have a good week.

Psalm 15: 1-2

1 Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? 2 He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.

Love, Elder Blazzard