October 20, 2014
Dear Family:
So I have good news and I have bad news!! Good news is we
got Ruben baptized on Saturday!! It was super cool. Bad news is I am getting
transferred. The reason that is bad is because transfers aren't supposed to be
happening for 2 weeks. For those of you who are familiar with mission terms it
is not an "emergency transfer" when I said that President Mullen was
very quick to let me know that is not what it is. He called it an "off
cycle transfer" but I don't see how that is different than an emergency
one other than the fact the neither of the companionship's did anything wrong.
There was another set of missionaries this happened to as well, but theirs was
for obvious reasons. I think one of the reasons I was so upset by it was I
still see no reason for it. And President won’t tell any of us why. I am going
to the Auburndale Ward (still in the Corona Stake) to be a zone leader...
again... I thought I was done! Normally in this mission you don't do more than
6 months as a Zone Leader, so I am not super happy about that. Hopeful it is
only the two weeks and then I will get transferred again. Also I am not happy
because Elder Feist is the one who is coming to replace me. So not only do I
have to go with his companion who I don't really want to be with, but one of my
favorite missionaries is coming to be with my other favorite missionaries, so
it just kinda sucks for me. I am over it now. I was super surprised so I think
that is another reason I didn't like it. With the normal transfer cycle you
sorta have a feel for what will happen, but you mentally prepare yourself for
whatever will happen. This was a little harder call to accept. I guess that is
probably how members feel all the time when they receive callings. I also was
super excited for my next area because I was pretty much guarantied it would be
my last area. I could go, get stuff organized and just go super hard my last
three months. This has thrown a curve ball, but I will serve to the fullest of
my capacity. I guess I just don't like how I can't have my end all planned out.
ha I guess I wasn't sent here to be comfortable or be selfish so I need to just
stop complaining. I will stop venting now, I think I needed that. P.S. our
companionship didn't do anything wrong, and neither did Feist (I think my new
comp might be a little crazy! Not like it’s the first time for me haha)
Elders Larsen, Wood and Powell
Monday we went to Riverside to do the cross fit challenge
against President and half the mission. I am not in near as good shape as I was
when I lived with Elder Hugie. I almost got killed this time, but I kept up
with him. After that we went to the music shop and got some new strings for my
guitar. That night we ate dinner with the Richins family. Yes their ancestors
are from Henefer haha. He had a cool non-member lady
there that cooks us some bomb food!! But she wasn't interested in learning. I
guess that is the tradition. Every month she comes and cooks for the Elders
because she is amazing at it, but just because she likes us. Her husband wants
to take the lessons but she won't even let him. I forgot my tag so I felt naked
the whole time. Then I missed my mouth by about 5 or 6 inches with my cup and
drenched myself. What nobody else knows it that I was hyper focused on my
surroundings because I was trying to figure out who lived in the house and if
they were all members or not and forgot to pay attention to the things I was
immediately doing. I had a rough night haha.
Elders Wood, Powell and Larsen (Glad to see Elder Larsen gets to Drive)
Tuesday we didn't have DDM! It was great!! The rest of the
day was super slow though. I didn't really enjoy that part of it. The best part
was teaching David O'Flynn and his kids. Other than that we just went and
visited members seeking referrals pretty much.
Elder Wood and the ?? Family
Wednesday Elder Evans from the 70 came to do a Mission Conference.
He is Mr. Missionary ha. He is the executive director of the Missionary Department.
I think he is my favorite 70 I have met on my mission. I think I have met like
5. He was super real, very personable, and got stuff done! He changed quite a
bit in the mission too. No more OYM's. That is where we are accountable to
talking to at least 10 people per day per person in a companionship beside
lessons, tracting, ect. No we just say whether we talked to everyone we passed
by in the week. Also he got rid of the harvest blessing which I think was good.
I don't think I have seen anybody as familiar with the scriptures as him. I
have met a lot of "scriptorians" on my mission, members and
non-members and he blows them all away. Not only did he talk like he knew these
people in the scriptures but it seemed because of how much it meant to him that
these people were his very best friends and knew them better than anybody else.
We had lots of time for questions. I didn't matter if it was a doctrinal,
personal, mental, or whatever question he would answer using the scriptures.
And it wasn't just one verse. It was the story, back story, personality of
people, future events, weather, blood type ha jk. but still pretty impressive.
Another cool thing. I don't know what was going on in the world that day, but
he mentioned that something was going on and that he had to solve some problems
basically. While he was speaking he got calls from both Elder Cook and
President Eyring. President Eyring was more than once and for longer periods of
time. It made me think about something though. He was in the middle of training
to 100 something missionaries (about half the mission) the very thing he flew
all the way over here to do and at the drop of a hat would stop in the middle
of his sermon walk out and answer the phone. He came back (after President
Mullen took over for a good amount of time) and apologized and explained that
those things were a higher priority. I think most members would make a similar
choice. So obviously it is important to talk to those who are called of God.
And if members and non-members believe that, and most do, why do they not drop
much less important things to read the scriptures at least a little bit every day?
If they know where the scriptures come from, the things that are in them, and
who said them, then that is a whole lot more important than a phone call from
the Prophet that is not scripture, the Words of God himself. So why don't
people see it that way? Likewise how much is prayer to their Father in Heaven
pushed aside by things of much less importance neglected? I dunno. Just a
thought.
Elder Larsen, Elder Wood, Ruben, Elder Powell and Ward Member who Baptized Reuben
Elder Wood, Ruben, Elder Larsen and Elder Powell
Thursday not a lot happened. We helped a member’s friend
move out. Taught some lessons, but still a pretty slow day.
Driving Down the Street at Night
Friday we had a much better day.
Saturday we got to teach Hector. I think he will be baptized
in the next bit. He has a ton of potential. Also a good lesson with Romero and
Omar.
Sunday was stake conference. Glenda and her kids were there!
Things are going well there. I am leaving it all in capable hands. I guess it
was revelation that I did my best to sit back and get Elder Larson to take
over. Plus throw Elder Feist in there and things will go well. Glenda had us
and her fellowship over for lunch and a lesson after. Well I am out of time we
have to go move! Love ya tons! Sorry my last letter sucked. Hopefully this one
is a little better! Bye!!
Elder Wood
?????
