As We Wind On Down the Road - 06/17/13

Sorry for being late two weeks in a row. This week had nothing to do with the availability of the library, and everything to do with how completely wiped out I am after hiking Box Springs Mountain again. I'm not going to suggest hiking as a P-day activity anymore, because we had a lot of grumpy feelings at the start of the hike, which resulted in two of our elders and our two sisters giving up on the hike shortly after we started. So only eight of us actually made the hike. I had fun. But I got pretty sore, and a little burnt again. Worth it? Totally. But I'm done with hikes for a while. 

So here's the scoop: My companion and I are staying put, which means we're both staying  in the Riverside mission. Six more weeks in Moreno Valley. Our zone didn't change very much. Sister "M" went home to Hawaii today, and will be replaced by Sister "H", who was just serving in the Jurupa 1st ward. My first area! Elder "A", my companion through my surgery, went home to DC.  Nobody is leaving the zone. The Canyon Springs ward missionaries will no longer be covering the Hidden Springs ward. They put in the rising superstar Sister "B" who will be training not one, but TWO new sister missionaries there. I believe she may have the hardest assignment in the whole mission. God bless her. 

The transfer meeting was full of emotions. I could tell that President Smart and his wife were especially touched by the whole thing. Sister Smart said that he put more thought and prayer into this than anything else she can remember. They almost got into an accident on the way over and President Smart told us that he's sure that God is in control. He also joked about how if he'd gotten in the accident, then he wouldn't have had to do the transfer meeting. But then our driving coordinator would take his car away. I am glad that Pres has a sense of humor. He also fielded a question about our mail by saying that "our office staff will make sure that you get no mail."  I laughed. 

I got to see lots of my old friends at the meeting. My last companion is still not ready to be my friend, it seems, since he tried to avoid me the first few times I saw him. So I respected his wishes and kept my distance. All my other friends got some ridiculous Elder Hansen tackle-hugs and we had a good time. 

I guess I should clarify... all my other MALE missionary friends. I don't go running around hugging sister missionaries. In fact I usually try to avoid them.

Oh yeah, they also split some of the zones into two zones. That threw us for a loop. But our zone stayed pretty much the same. No big deal. 

I may have to figure out how to be in two places at the same time, because I found out that two of my investigators are on date for the same day: Sister "BC" the sweetest lady in the world from Jurupa, and "DP" the 13-year-old dude from Murrieta. And both of them asked for me to come back and baptize them. I'm not sure what to do, but from the phone call I had with my Ward Mission Leader in Jurupa 1st, he thinks "BC" might need more time. She just had back surgery, and is still down and out. But, if she does get baptized, I am going to be the happiest Elder ever. I spent about a whole 24 hour period thinking about her and how much I miss her between the time that I talked to the Jurupa 1st ward sisters and the time that my old mission leader called me and gave me the full picture. I just could not get her off my mind. I really hope that she makes the commitment and that she finds the faith that she's been looking for. 

The work here in Lasselle is slow but still good. I think there is lots that can be improved upon, and we've already started. The families that we're working with are looking up, and I'm excited to have a great transfer with my current companion. 

Well I love you guys tons. I hope you had a great Father's Day, and that you took the time to thank the father figures in your life! I'm so grateful to have a goofy dude to look up to and keep me in line when I'm being especially dumb. You're the best, Dad. And you thought I wasn't paying attention... :D