Change of Heart...and the Limitless Zone!!

MY GOSH, THIS WEEK....SO, I have so much to tell you. Okay, so first, I finished Doctrine and Covenants, and I am almost done 2nd Nephi for the 4th time! THE BIGGEST OF ALL...I HAD A CHANGE OF HEART!

My Silly, Fun, Goofy Baby Boy <3

But first...mom, tell my why you are missing me so much? (I really am). Well, let's talk for a second. Okay, so your little baby boy is  
fine, yes, baby boy. MOTHER, near or far, you are still the one that gave me life. You are still my main source of joy. I will need you 20, or 120, you will be source of help. You have emailed me the most and longest of anyone for a year and a half almost, and I have read EVERY word, some multiple times. You are my hero, my mom and my mom who needs to realize that I do, in fact, need you. I AM your baby boy and I am safe and sound and doing many great things. I do love you and promise you that things won't change, I'll just come home more wise, but still the same level of need for my FAMILY! My week better get you smiling....

Monday was okay. We had a lot of fun playing sand volleyball, frisbee and soccer, but I got very aggressive during sports to the point of playing way too hard and being hard on my fellow Elders. So I have decided to look at myself and make a change. Yep, Michael Jackson quote. 

Tuesday we did family history. Those stories you sent are perfect!! (Stories shared about our ancestors emigrating to Canada). We also had lunch with Nancy and met with our WML. It was a pretty good day, I am still trying to figure out how to change. 

Wednesday - It hits me like an iceberg. I need to be better, so we have a DLC (District Leader Council) and all the district leaders and zone leaders have decided we are the 'Limitless Zone'. We will baptize limitless numbers. We did service with one of our non-members and it was pretty good. I got some clothes for the Family History Fireside that I will dress in when I tell my story. Pictures to come. 

Thursday that change was APPLIED!! We did an awesome weekly planning and set goals to baptize and re-activate. And we WILL accomplish them. We taught this girl who stopped us on the street and asked to be taught, we set up another lesson and she said she would read the Book of Mormon. And she is going to be baptized, I just know it. 
We then met another investigator, not as interested, but we had a good lesson and are going to get him moving forward. Then we rushed to a lesson with a less active member who has decided to come back and loves cars, so that was great. Then we rushed to dinner. Non-stop Limitless Zone!!

Always need a car photo for his dad & brother 

Friday we had an awesome zone meeting and all the stuff we talked about at MLC, we brought to the zone and got them all excited as well. I started to realize that I need to work, work, work and put my effort into this and we had another great, busy day!!

Saturday changed me. So, almost a year ago, I went on an exchange with an Elder named Elder Gibb and he inspired me to be better, but this time it was switched. We had a great day and saw so much success. We got in contact with this YSA kid who wants to start meeting with the Elders, some guy came up to us and pretty much asked to be taught, and we got an awesome referral from this young RM (Returned Missionary). I was in YSA, so I was around young kids all day, it was great, but wait. So, at the end of the day, Elder Gibb and I are talking about the day and he says to me, "Elder Routledge, you saved me". I was like, 'what?'
So he has been in a huge slump. He is almost done, but has been in a slump and feels not good enough and all this nonsense. Well, apparently he was able to be himself and relax and my example inspired him to be better. He said that I was able to help him out and I was able to encourage him to be a great leader and said I was this amazing missionary. And you know, it struck me because the whole time I thought I was an okay, maybe even bad, Elder and that gave me what I needed. It changed me. Now I am going to work on my confidence and be the Elder that people see, and more than anything, be the Elder the Lord WANTS!!!!

Sunday - With the fire burning in my soul, I had a great Sabbath day and was able to grow even more and to just soak in the week and get the fire I need to baptize and to be the BEST I CAN BE!! 
We saw a lot of people set up lessons, had a great dinner, got brownies and had pure joy brought to my soul. 

Mom, Dad, Scott and Shel...I KNOW this is the true and only perfect church on the earth today. I love you all. I am going to be the best I can be, so expect to hear miracles form me. I will be better for MY LORD! 
I love you. You're my heroes. You are my family, my love and everything I care about. Have a splendid week and wait for the baptism. They will come!! You will see me in white soon, I promise!
I love you all, talk to you soon. 

The Lord's Servant,
Elder Routledge