The Power of the Book of Mormon

Hey,

Well summer officially started here on Friday, school is out for summer. This week has been a fun and miracle filled one. Tuesday we had a training on how we as a mission can better use the Book of Mormon. I can't believe that about a year ago we got this same training about how the Book of Mormon is supposed to be our main tool and the center of our focus as a missionary. So we have now been asked be our mission president to hand out a copy of the Book of Mormon every day and it was crazy how we did it this week. We kind of had a hard time doing so at first and then towards the end of this week people asked us for it instead of us asking to give it out. We had a really cool experience on Friday of last week where we were going to contact someone and they were not home and just outside of their house a guy stopped us and he asked us who we were and what we were doing. So we told him and he asked us for more information and then asked like 2 or 3 times if he could have the Book of Mormon. This week went by so fast, I can't truly believe that it is Monday again. I am so excited that it is going by fast because I feel like that means I must be doing something right, or so I hope. I am excited for this week and for the opportunities to go and meet and help new people come unto Jesus Christ, I hope you have a great day and week I'll talk to you next week hopefully with some funny stories. 

 

Love you all,

Elder Robert Pike

P-Day again?

Hey,

 

This week felt like a day I can't truly remember what has happened this week other than Elder Robinson left and now I am serving with Elder Martell. Looking back I feel like it is amazing that it has been 7 days because it really doesn't feel like it, but we did some work this week but really not too much happened. Monday Elder Robison and I went to play basketball and then had so extra time so we went to some stores and then we tried to see some people but they weren't home. Tuesday we got together with some missionaries and had some wings from BWW. Then we talked to some people and had an awesome time playing some ultimate Frisbee with some members and non members up in eagle heights. Wednesday I got to spend most of the day at our transfer point waiting for Elder Martell to get here We went to teach an English class and play soccer. Thursday was my first full day with Elder Martell we went out and taught one lesson on the street and had just an all around good day. Friday was fun we helped at a food pantry and we able to meet some people and we found some less actives that don't live there anymore. Saturday we had a ward picnic, That was fun. We had a lesson that was just really bad with a sort of investigator and we are no longer going to go over and meet with him. Sunday was weird, I have come to the conclusion that the Madison first ward is just different than traditional wards that I have been in. We had another debate in Priesthood instead of a lesson. I am excited for this transfer I love my new companion and I know we can tear up this area with a lot of help from the Lord and the members. Just to prove how much I love my mission I snapped a great photo that explains it.​

I may not drink, but I do like it here and I know that I will be extremely sad to leave this wonderful place of Cheese Heads, Badgers, Brewers, and even if they suck the Bucks. I have truly loved the people here and I know they will always have a place in my heart.

 

Love you all,

Elder Robert Pike

Another transfer really?

Dear All,

 

WOW, I can't believe that it has been another transfer and new one begins Wednesday. Well I get to stay here in Madison for at least another 6 weeks, but my companion is leaving and I am getting Elder Martell. Plus it is amazing that 3 out of the 6 missionaries in our district are getting transferred Wednesday​. It is weird to think that the months keep getting bigger and bigger each month and soon I'll hit 24. I can't believe that I am saying that I am scared for how fast the next 9 1/2 months are going to go. The past few months have been a blur. So in the ward I am in they have 4 sets of missionaries and what is cool I served with one, Elder Crisanto and it is weird to think that I served with him a little over 7 1/2 months ago. I am so excited for this next transfer a new companion and not being to familiar with the area but we are going to go to town on the work and we are going to see success. I am enjoying my self but I am starting to come to a greater knowledge of the gospel and of the truths of Christ and His Atonement. I love the Book of Mormon and I am so grateful for the time I get in the morning to study it and the teaching of living prophets. I can't believe the understanding that I have of the gospel and I know that now I am 100% sure that this is the true gospel, that Jesus is truly our Savior and Redeemer, that God is our Father and he truly love each of us. And I am so stoked for the opportunity to share the feelings that I have about this gospel with others. I have been reading in the Book of Mormon for the 3rd time on my mission and I am in 2 Nephi and I have asked every time that I sit and read if it is true and every time that I ask I get a strong feeling that it is true and to me I know that anybody can receive and answer just like President Packer said "Far from thinking I was someone special, I thought that if such a thing came to me, that it could come to anyone. I still believe that." I am in totally in agree with President Packer that anyone could receive their answer and all they have to do is ask.  Hope you all have a good week.

 

Love you all,

Elder Robert Pike

 

District Photo

BRAT FEST!!!!

​​Hey,

 

This was a good week we were able to get so much done this week plus it was BRAT FEST! So if anybody is wondering what Brat Fest is, it is the largest free rock concert that allows you get your fix of brats, beer, cheese, and ice cream. Also their is a dress code for it. Most of the people there were in dresses and nice shirts, jeans, nice hats and fancy shoes. So this week started with an awesome Monday we went and played some Basketball with a bunch of Elders.  Then we gave a blessing to a member who was going to surgery on her shoulder, we talked with her and the best part of this is the fact that when we were on our way there a man in a dress stopped us and asked us to pray for her because "she" had locked her keys in her car. Then it starts telling us an experience that it had, it claims to have seen Jesus " Jesus pulled up in a BMW, but I didn't recognize him at first because he wasn't in his robes." Then it tells us that Jesus said "I don't want to be a Christian any more because they have taken it too far all I said was to 'Love one another' but they keep adding on." Then it tells us about how they got on the topic of eternal life it said that Jesus told her that it would have eternal life because it believed in Him, she then said "We all want more, I have a two bedroom apartment I want a third bedroom, so I told Jesus that I wanted eternal life and a day. A day to spend with someone special and embrace of love." It then turns to Elder Robinsin (who gave the prayer) and says "I choose you for that person to spend that extra day with." Tuesday we had  a district meeting and then we went to the same house as the person who we gave a blessing and taught one of her kids about going to the temple and doing Baptisms for the dead. After leaving we were heading across a decent sized street so we could go use the bathroom in Walgreens, while crossing we ran to the median and this lady in a white car stops in the turn lane and leans out the window and says to my companion "You are just too cute to hit." Wednesday I wasn't feeling to good so for lunch I took a nap and after that we went to visit a Less active, that is going to here soon be returning to activity. When we got there we found out that her daughter was there and that she was up for a few days and was leaving that night. So when we first got there she was a little standoffish and then we shared a message about Christ's Atonement from Alma 7 she warmed right up to us and she even asked us if we had water bottles and we didn't that day so she asked her mom to give us some water bottles. So how about the atonement it doesn't just allot long term changes but it can have some short term affects. Thursday was interesting we didn't get too much done but were able to get to know some more members thanks to our ward having a family history center. Friday we were on exchanges and I was with Elder Erying and we did Service at St. Vinnies, a food pantry. We went to a Hispanic less active and had some Picara which are tacos that have salsa, beans, cheese, meet, and avocado, they were so good. Saturday we planned on doing a bunch of tracting in Fitchburg but after about an hour we felt like it wasn't where we needed to be so we kind of improved by the spirit and went to visit some people we have meet and then taught 4 lessons in about an hour. Then we decided to go where the people were so we went to brat fest and walked around and talked to a bunch of people. Sunday was good we were able to visit some people before all 8 missionaries in this ward went to the Durtschi's house and had some awesome pizza. Yesterday was a good day we found out 2 members moved and that one person who doesn't really have a belief anymore. We went and did some service at the Brat Fest. We grilled some brats and ate some too they were great, the music on the other hand wasn't all that good. Then this morning we had a lesson with our investigators Charles and Romeka and we were able to read out of the Book of Mormon with them because they have a hard time understanding the language so we are trying to help them gain a testimony of the Book of Mormon, and they are starting to understand it. It is awesome to see them trying their best to come to Christ. This is truly why I love my mission I love watching people come to Christ who truly want to and watching them grow in understanding so that they can allow the gospel to influence their life and their future generations life. I hope you all have a good week and stay cool out there it is starting to warm up out here.

 

Love you all,

Elder Robert Pike

 

Madison Buses are the BEST!!!!

Hello

 

This week has been a good one. We may have not have had the best numbers, but we have been able to get a hold of some less actives and one of them gave us 4 referrals. I am so glad for the weather warming up so we can have the opportunity to meet with others outside instead of being stuck inside. I am so excited for this week we had an awesome lesson with an investigator, Charles, and he promised to read out of the Book of Mormon for 10 minuets a day. He is an awesome person he truly wants to learn more. Then we were able to meet with some less actives that Elder Robinson hasn't met before and some that he has. The best part is we have a lesson tonight and possibly tomorrow with 2 of them. I am so pumped for this week and I know it will be better than the past few.

 

Well not too many cool things but we almost missed our district meeting this week because there was a fight at a bus transfer point. And the week before we were on a bus going to another station and there was a guy that went crazy and had to have 6 cops hold him down. So we didn't find out about the fight and what happened until Saturday when this guy in our apartment complex told us that 40-60 students were at the station and decided to fight and 2 cops got knocked down so they called for back up. When they were on their way the fire department came and started to hose them down. Following getting hosed down the back up showed up, 17 squad cars, and 16 kids got tazed. Then the next night these kids got the bus stopped and because they were rowdy and cursing a ton,  the bus driver called the cops. We got stopped to the point that we should have missed our bus but the driver called ahead and asked them to wait. Unfortunately the kids all got off the bus before the cops got there. I love the Madison buses! I hope you have a good week.

 

Love you all,
Elder Robert Pike

 

This is Madison

Hello there,

 

This week has been a good one. So I am not too sure of what to write for a weekly letter. So I am not going to send a big one this week sorry. But I will say the I am truly enjoying my mission. My mother's day call was good and I am glad for the opportunity to talk to my family. Hope you have a good week.  ​

 

Love you all,

Elder Robert Pike

Madison is Awesome

Hey how's it going?

 

This week has been a great one. I am truly feeling the love of my Savior for the people here in Madison, including myself and my companion. I am so excited to help the members here pump up their energy about missionary work. Yesterday I had to introduce myself more than members came up to me but I will help them work on that. I am excited for the work here. We had 2 solid lessons last night and another one earlier this week. We were also able to get in contact with some more people that are pretty prepared and I am excited to start working with them and the spark it is going to bring to this ward. Yesterday we were able to meet this guy Charles and he is so awesome he basically told us that he was just talking to his friends the night before that he wondered if he wasn't here in America would he know about Jesus Christ. And he thinks that the Book of Mormon is what he is looking for. We also had an interesting lesson with a guy who is going through an interesting situation, he has some mental problems and he wants to conquer them and we told him that Jesus Christ is what can help him conquer them. I hope that I am able to do the Lords will in helping them come closed to Jesus Christ. We are praying for miracles and I know that as we work hard, be obedient, and share the love that Christ has for others He will make them happen. I am excited for the opportunity this week for Zone Conference. To be able to learn from President Cutler, the Assistants, and our Zone Leaders. I am hoping for a good week again this week, and I hope you have a good one too. 

 

Love you all, 

Elder Robert Pike

Martin Luther King Jr, statue

Capital building. Yay Madison