Week-7

I'm officially into my second transfer now, and I'm pretty excited to see how it goes. It feels like it went a lot quicker than I thought it would, which is great. I've had some pretty interesting things happen this last week, which were both sad and exciting.

On MONDAY, we ended our area search with the zone leaders that morning after doing personal study and planning. Then, they went back to their area, and we stayed here so we could start p-day. Once they left, we had breakfast, took showers, and then did our grocery shopping for the week using the last of the money on our Bank of America cards before the mission switches the bank they use. Once that was all done, we headed out into town with the other missionaries in the house to have zone p-day and hang out. On the way, we finished the talk, "They Saw Our Day," which we had started the night before. It was a pretty interesting one on all the prophecies from the scriptures that have been fulfilled and how a lot of the Native American tribes have similar prophecies and stories to the ones that are in the Book of Mormon. After p-day ended, we went back to work, visiting some areas and trying to find some new friends to teach, as well as setting up lessons with some members and friends.

TUESDAY, we had house inspections in the morning, which went really well! They told us that the houses in our zone are always some of the cleanest, and they also mentioned how great our house was. They even gave us a plate of lemon cookies when they left, and half of them were gone by that evening. Afterwards, we tried doing some tracting and speaking with people on the street, but it didn't work very well because it rained almost all day, so almost no one was outside. After doing that for a while, we had a drop-in visit with some members, which was nice. They told us about how long they'd been in New Mexico and some other things about the area, which was interesting to hear about. Afterwards, we headed to another member family's home to have a lesson with one of our friends who has been progressing really well. During the lesson, we talked with them about the importance of callings in the church and how every calling, no matter how small, is important and plays its part.

WEDNESDAY, we went and met with a new friend, at least new for me, who seems pretty interested in the gospel. During the meeting, we got to know them a bit and shared some uplifting music from the sacred music app with them, which they were happy about, and they asked us to keep sending them more. Afterward, there was more tracting in the rain, which wasn't too successful, but that happens sometimes. At the end of the day, the most exciting part of the day happened: transfer news. We were going to find out whether or not we would be transferred to a different part of the mission and if we were getting a new companion. Some of the news we got was who would be one of our new zone leaders, since one was going to be finishing his mission and going home in a couple of days. Also, we learned that we were getting another new missionary in our zone, and that Elder Whetten was getting transferred, and I was getting a new companion. Hearing this was pretty exciting for Elder Whetten because he was finally going somewhere else after 6 months. I was a little nervous because it meant I would have to lead the area since I would know it better than my new trainer, but I just have to get over that. Later that night, Elder Whetten gave me my posterity gifts from both of his trainers.

THURSDAY, we spent some time saying goodbyes to members and friends because Elder Whetten would be leaving on Saturday. We were actually able to have a lesson on the plan of salvation with one of our friends that we went to say goodbye to, which went well. Other than that, it was a lot of packing for Elder Whetten because he had to be ready to leave on Saturday.

FRIDAY, there were more goodbyes to members and friends we had lessons with, so there wasn't too much tracting. One of the members that we went to say goodbye to actually let us pick a bunch of peaches off of their peach tree, which was nice of them. They're some really cool members; apparently, they even have all of the East Mountain missionaries over to their house to have breakfast and watch the morning session of General Conference. That's something I'm really excited for in a couple of weeks. At the end of the day, we came back to the house for the special family home evening, where we got to watch all the new missionaries introduce themselves and talk with their new trainers. Our zone actually got a new missionary, so I'm not the newbie in our zone anymore, which is kind of funny to me.

On SATURDAY, we got up early to head into town for transfers. Once we got there, we talked with a bunch of the missionaries, saying goodbye to the ones going home and introducing ourselves to the new missionaries. It was pretty exciting to see all the greenies meeting their trainers in person for the first time. Once all the introductions were done, I went and found my new trainer, Elder Bates. He's a pretty cool guy from Bountiful, Utah. After that, we headed back to our area, which was a pretty big change for Elder Bates. He'd been in the city part of Albuquerque for his whole mission so far, and all the trees and empty fields were pretty shocking for him. We spent a decent amount of time tracting the area and talking to random people on the street, so I'd say it was a pretty successful day.

SUNDAY, we got up early to go to ward council. This one was a bit more nerve-wracking for me because I'd have to lead our part of it for the first time, since I know the area better. But all in all, it went pretty well, and I was able to give some ideas for how we can keep working with our friends and helping them come closer to Christ. During church, it was mostly just listening to the lessons and talks, as well as introductions for the new missionary. Otherwise, it was a pretty normal Sunday.

I enjoyed this week a good amount. It was a bit scary to have to lead the area while I was still in training, but it was also really motivating. Hopefully, Elder Bates and I will get along and do our best to help the people in our area receive a witness to the truth of the restored gospel. My spiritual thought for the week comes from the fourth book of Nephi, verses 2-4. It's a pretty simple one, but I think it is still very important to remember. It says, "2 And it came to pass in the thirty and sixth year, the people were all converted unto the Lord, upon all the face of the land, both Nephites and Lamanites, and there were no contentions and disputations among them, and every man did deal justly one with another. 3 And they had all things in common among them; therefore there were not rich and poor, bond and free, but they were all made free, and partakers of the heavenly gift. 4 And it came to pass that the thirty and seventh year passed away also, and there still continued to be peace in the land." When we are all one in Christ and of one mind and purpose, we are able to have peace and understanding throughout all our lives and our relationships. Contention and fighting only lead to heartache and pain for ourselves and those around us. I'd like to invite you all to try and forgive those that you don't like or that upset you, to try and mend those broken bonds and invite peace into your lives again.

1- only way we should do things

2- posterity ties

3- peaches

4- Elder Bates