Well for starters, I got the call that I will be training a new missionary next transfer.. So that will be both interesting and exciting. Im not really nervous at all for it, it just is what it is.. I am grateful for the opportunity though because I know that it will help me grow more and it will teach me new lessons. Any opportunity to grow is a good opportunity. I will miss Elder McBride though. He has been a good companion and it has been awesome to see him grow as much as he has this last transfer. This was the time I thought for sure we would both stay, but I guess that never happens the way we think it will.
So we are continuing to try to build our teaching pool but it is tough at times. This week was rough because we had a tone of meetings. Friday was spent in a meeting for new trainers and then I went on exchanges with Elder Brinkerhoff because he had his departing interview with President Mendenhall. So I got to sit and talk with Sister Mendenhall for 45 minutes which I loved because she is amazing and such a sweetheart!
Then Saturday we had to drive back to the mission office because Elder McBride had to take a safe driving course to get his driving privileges back so he can drive next transfer. After we got back to our area we were doing some service which took way longer than we though it would, and we stopped by Stephs house after and she needed help cutting some trees down so we did a LOT of service and were out in the sun ALL DAY! We didn't expect to be out for so long so we didn't put any sunscreen on so we got just roasted. It was a long day.
Earlier in the week we had an awesome lesson with Wes. I don't remember i I have talked about him yet, but he is a super cool guy that we have begun teaching. He goes to a non denominational church and is struggling with a lot of things right now. He always asks us what the difference is between our churches. He likes to argue, but not in a rude way. He really enjoys us coming a lot and really likes us. Each lesson he gets less and less argumentative.
We were teaching him earlier this week and I got quite bold and told him that just because he believed something, doesn't mean that is what is true. I explained that eternal truth existed regardless of whether or not we are aware of it. We just need to work to discover that truth through the spirit. He said I was giving him anxiety and when I apologized and asked why, He said "probably because I think that I am wrong and you guys are right"
The next lesson after that he had read all the scriptures we had given him and was ready to learn. He began to understand things more and more. He still holds onto some believes that he has that arent true, but little by little he accepts more and more. We are taking him on a church tour tomorrow and he says he will probably come to church soon. I don't think it will be too difficult to get him there, he has been super open this whole time and actually wants to learn.
The last lesson I bore testimony of the power of the atonement to get him through all of his struggles. I sure hope he can come to learn that for himself!
The member lessons are still going well! We are working to get them written down very nicely so that all future missionaries will be able to continue with the ward mission what has been started and move the work here forward.
So it finally came in, I am for sure staying in Ponderosa ward. I am excited about that and looking forward to another fun transfer here!
Well I will leave it at that. I love you all and appreciate all of your support!