Needless to say I am very glad that this transfer is over. Towards the end of it I was just basically rolling with anything and everything that happened to avoid making it any more difficult. Elder B got transferred yesterday after only six weeks in the area, and I stayed. I felt bad because of the way our companionship had gone, but in the end I was just glad it was over. He is a good guy with a lot of difficult stuff that he's working through. The one thing that cripples him is his lack of patience with other people. He just can't fathom the idea that other people do things differently than he does. But its okay, its over.
My new companion's name is Elder A. I was actually companions with him about a year ago for a couple days when Elder W was having all his trouble. He's a cool guy! He may be my last companion! who knows?
So one of the interesting things about this week was the fact that a lot of the things that happened just kinda fell into our lap. I really don't think we worked as hard as our numbers indicated. Elder B. started stalling a bunch whenever it was time to go out and work. For example, I waited for almost an hour one day for him to get ready. We would walk out the door, than he would forget something, and then something else would happen, and then eventually an hour had passed by. Then other days he wouldn't feel good with various ailments, so that would stall us. I'm not saying I'm perfect at that kinda stuff either, but it was noticeable that he was just trying to kill time. But the Lord made up for it. We taught more lessons than we have since I've been in this area somehow. We found some new investigators, and we made some significant progress with others. So really I shouldn't complain. But there comes a point in your mission where you start to catch the sense of urgency. You want every minute to be productive. It doesn't always happen, but you really feel it.
So P-day was kinda lame last week. I wanted to try and do something cool for Elder J and Elder S's last P-day. But in the end J got permission to go downtown and hang, and S had a lot of stuff to do too. So me and the rest of the missionaries who had nothing to do during P-day all got into the Library and watched a bunch of old Church videos. We watched one awesome one about Joseph of Egypt. Pretty sweet. That is like my favorite story in the Scriptures. Joseph was unparalleled in just being a boss haha.
Ate dinner with President Spackman and his family (who turned out to be a bass player haha), and then we visited the P family. Polynesian family with a daughter who recently married a non-member. We wanted to see how interested he was. Not too much right now unfortunately.
Tuesday was a pretty good day. We did service in the morning at the Ronald McDonald house. I love that place. The spirit is just there for some reason. It does a lot of good for people who are already going through a really difficult time in the hospital. I also struck up a sweet conversation with a native American dude who was staying there named Rod. Gave him a BOM and told him how to get ahold of the missionaries that cover his area up in Montana where he is from. At the end of the service I fiddled around on a guitar that they had lying around in the lobby next to a piano. Unbeknownst to me, the receptionist was listening, and when i was done she told me that I should just stay there all day and provide ambiance for the whole place. She really liked it haha.
We planned on tracting that day, but Elder B
stalled us, and by the time we were ready to go, it was time for us to move on and do something else. So we biked around Montebello and tried to contact a few people. But the the sky opened up and we got drenched. So we sought refuge at the F family house, and taught a lesson to Brother F, who is less active. Polynesians are so hospitable haha.
stalled us, and by the time we were ready to go, it was time for us to move on and do something else. So we biked around Montebello and tried to contact a few people. But the the sky opened up and we got drenched. So we sought refuge at the F family house, and taught a lesson to Brother F, who is less active. Polynesians are so hospitable haha.
After the rain let up, we met with a new investigator named Geo, and taught him the first couple points of the missionary lessons. Cool guy. We're going back today.
We got home from that lesson and we were going to go meet Brother P so he could take us to dinner, but when we got there someone was standing at the door writing a note. It was Elder B's BROTHER. He had been passing through town driving a car back to the dealership that he works at, and he stopped by our place to leave a note. But we ran into him! So he came to dinner with us. Turns out he served his mission in Atlanta, IN OUR WARD. He knew the Bergevins, and the Bartletts and Bishop Wuergler! Pretty crazy huh?
Afterwards we taught a lesson to the Jones family, and then went to correlation meeting.
Wednesday was cool. We had a stake missionary breakfast that morning, and then we had district meeting. It was good meeting. We wrapped up our 9 Day Christlike Attribute challenge, and made a list of all the Miracles that we had seen. It was sweet. Ate lunch, then we visited the A family , who recently underwent the tragedy of their niece being murdered. It was crazy to hear about it. Her and her husband were fighting and he just shot her. Horrible.
Ate dinner with the Mata'eles, and then we visited Werra with Brother Hess. Because B doesnt want to do Comp study with me, he never knows whats going to happen in the lessons. So I do most of the talking. We put her on date for the 20th, but idk if she will make it. Her comprehension is pretty low. But she wants to be baptized!
Thursday was pretty good too. Service at the Crisis center in the morning, DLC's in the afternoon, and then we visited Ernestine and her family. We had a lesson prepared, but we spent the majority of the time talking about ways she can help her rebellious teenage daughter. So the sisters have started teaching her, and we still teach Ernestine. She is so cool. She can totally go the distance if she keeps it up. We just gotta get her to church.
Ate dinner with the Neilsons, and then we got bailed on again by Tryphena :P I dunno what to do about her.
In the evening we visited the Hess family, and ended up visiting till it was time to go home. Another example of stalling on the part of my Comp. Oh well. They're awesome.
Friday was Planning day. We taught Jeff again that day too. He's way closer than he has ever been. We explained how he will be able to recognize his answer, and taught him how to be more sincere in his prayers. He grew up catholic so he's just used to the recited prayer thing haha.
Then we planned for most of the rest of the day, and I interviewed one of the sister's Investigators for baptism. His name was Chris and he was super legit. Very prepared.
Saturday was a good day too. We tried to contact a bunch of potentials, and ended up running into a guy named Walter who reminded me sooo much of Dad. He builds furniture out of old Drum sets. Its pretty cool.
Ate lunch, went to Chris' baptism, and then we ate dinner with the Sanft family. Another Polynesian family!
Afterwards we had a lesson with Javier. Great guy. He could potentially be baptized as well. Gotta get him to church.
Then that night we had transfer doctrine meeting. We learned where everyone was going. Most people in my district stayed the same. Took some pictures with some missionaries who were going home.
Then Sunday was pretty laid back. We both spoke in sacrament meeting, and man was I proud of my talk haha. Everyone seemed to love it a lot. I spoke about gratitude and drew heavily from President Uchtdorf's talk in April.
Got bailed on by the Fellows family, and then we ate Dinner with Brother Nau and his friend Isac. They're super chill as well. Good hawaiian food too haha.
Spent the rest of the day at the Mata'eles looking for Elder B's Oakleys that he lost.
Okay well thats my week. I gotta go soon. Love all of you! Hope this week is as good as this past one!
Elder Efan
And for Parker - he had to do a quick email from his IPAD
Tough week.
Pretty much all of our investigators bailed on us this week so it was
tough to even get a lesson in! We street contact a lot and give them
our number but never seem to get calls, but no worries that's
missionary work for ya! Ahwatukee is super tough area. Since the
dynamics are either extremely rich or extremely poor and unfortunately
neither are humble haha.
I don't have much time because for Labor Day Elder Brown and sister
Brown are having the entire zone over for a Labor Day barbecue. He is
the vehicle coordinator and she is the referal manager. So that should
be really awesome! So I will have to give the very brief version even
more than what I usually send.
Monday:was just a normal p-day. Went shopping played basketball and
stuff like that. At six is when pday ends so we had a lesson with a
part member family which was really good and then visited some less
actives and talked with them. Not too much happened that day :/
Tuesday: had the normal new missionary and district meetings. Elder
O gives great district meetings they are super powerful and are
extremely helpful. It is crazy to think that he is actually older than
Ethan haha. He leaves in like 3 weeks, he does a good job of not
thinking about it but everyone else loves to remind him. Then we went
and got a prescription for elder O which was way out of our area
so it took a lot of time but he needed it so it couldn't wait. We ate
with the older bates family again. They feed us so much, and he always
loves to beat me with his cane when he walks by haha. I showed them
the picture book that you sent me haha
Wednesday: little success. We were supposed to have like lessons all
day but one by one they all cancelled. So that meant we were in the
sun all day because instead of teaching we were trying to find haha.
We manage to meet with less actives but getting ahold of investigators
especially during the day, is tough.
Thursday: we had a mission conference! With elder Swizzer of the 70.
President Toone spoke for a bit on humility which is crazy because he
is the most humble person I have ever met. Makes you really think
inside how can I be more humble haha. Then Elder Swizzer gave
training and about dealing with people and not numbers. He tore apart
the district videos and critiqued them so much I would be so scared to
have him critique me in a lesson haha. It was so awesome and it was my
first of many!
Friday: was probably our toughest day. Nobody home, nobody interested
and hot and sweaty! Usually I don't mention it in the letters but
usually talk to tons of people on the street and do quick lessons like
that but nobody even gave us a glance haha. President Hartman the
elders quorum president took us to long horns which was awesome. He
actually had to take a call so it was awkward being two missionaries
eating long horns by ourselves haha. But it was delicious
Saturday: Saturday sure is moving day. we went and helped this less
active family move and we blessed there home. They are really
interesting let's just put it like that haha... Then we had to get
going for a lesson which of course fell through and then later that
night came with the elders quorum to help move the rest of the less
actives furniture. We did have a really awesome talk with a Christian
dude named Cody. Super religious and talked about his out of body
experience. But he is a born again who doesn't want to do anything but
say he is saved.
Sunday: we had church like normal guess what... Our lessons fell
through all except one haha. The adversary has decided to make our
lives and our work much tougher. I also got to be Amulek In a role
play that Bishop totally threw me on the spot in front of combined
relief society and elders/high priest haha. Then elder Oblad had a
meeting with president Toone to pass of the family proclamation. If
you can memorize it and recite it to him then you get some kind of
award! after that elder O
me and the zone leaders got to chill
with president Toone for like 30 min and just talk and joke around for
a little bit! The ZLs said that never happens cuz he is always super
busy! President Toone is so awesome!
Well that was my week! I actually for more typed than I thought I
would! But I have to get going because we about to go to the barbecue!
It was a tough week which means working even harder can only lead to
better week! Sounds like Emily is doing well! Keep up the good work
young padawan! I miss having my appendige always on my right! Haha
let me how all the moving goes to!
Love you all
Elder Hemsley
Pretty much all of our investigators bailed on us this week so it was
tough to even get a lesson in! We street contact a lot and give them
our number but never seem to get calls, but no worries that's
missionary work for ya! Ahwatukee is super tough area. Since the
dynamics are either extremely rich or extremely poor and unfortunately
neither are humble haha.
I don't have much time because for Labor Day Elder Brown and sister
Brown are having the entire zone over for a Labor Day barbecue. He is
the vehicle coordinator and she is the referal manager. So that should
be really awesome! So I will have to give the very brief version even
more than what I usually send.
Monday:was just a normal p-day. Went shopping played basketball and
stuff like that. At six is when pday ends so we had a lesson with a
part member family which was really good and then visited some less
actives and talked with them. Not too much happened that day :/
Tuesday: had the normal new missionary and district meetings. Elder
O gives great district meetings they are super powerful and are
extremely helpful. It is crazy to think that he is actually older than
Ethan haha. He leaves in like 3 weeks, he does a good job of not
thinking about it but everyone else loves to remind him. Then we went
and got a prescription for elder O which was way out of our area
so it took a lot of time but he needed it so it couldn't wait. We ate
with the older bates family again. They feed us so much, and he always
loves to beat me with his cane when he walks by haha. I showed them
the picture book that you sent me haha
Wednesday: little success. We were supposed to have like lessons all
day but one by one they all cancelled. So that meant we were in the
sun all day because instead of teaching we were trying to find haha.
We manage to meet with less actives but getting ahold of investigators
especially during the day, is tough.
Thursday: we had a mission conference! With elder Swizzer of the 70.
President Toone spoke for a bit on humility which is crazy because he
is the most humble person I have ever met. Makes you really think
inside how can I be more humble haha. Then Elder Swizzer gave
training and about dealing with people and not numbers. He tore apart
the district videos and critiqued them so much I would be so scared to
have him critique me in a lesson haha. It was so awesome and it was my
first of many!
Friday: was probably our toughest day. Nobody home, nobody interested
and hot and sweaty! Usually I don't mention it in the letters but
usually talk to tons of people on the street and do quick lessons like
that but nobody even gave us a glance haha. President Hartman the
elders quorum president took us to long horns which was awesome. He
actually had to take a call so it was awkward being two missionaries
eating long horns by ourselves haha. But it was delicious
Saturday: Saturday sure is moving day. we went and helped this less
active family move and we blessed there home. They are really
interesting let's just put it like that haha... Then we had to get
going for a lesson which of course fell through and then later that
night came with the elders quorum to help move the rest of the less
actives furniture. We did have a really awesome talk with a Christian
dude named Cody. Super religious and talked about his out of body
experience. But he is a born again who doesn't want to do anything but
say he is saved.
Sunday: we had church like normal guess what... Our lessons fell
through all except one haha. The adversary has decided to make our
lives and our work much tougher. I also got to be Amulek In a role
play that Bishop totally threw me on the spot in front of combined
relief society and elders/high priest haha. Then elder Oblad had a
meeting with president Toone to pass of the family proclamation. If
you can memorize it and recite it to him then you get some kind of
award! after that elder O
with president Toone for like 30 min and just talk and joke around for
a little bit! The ZLs said that never happens cuz he is always super
busy! President Toone is so awesome!
Well that was my week! I actually for more typed than I thought I
would! But I have to get going because we about to go to the barbecue!
It was a tough week which means working even harder can only lead to
better week! Sounds like Emily is doing well! Keep up the good work
young padawan! I miss having my appendige always on my right! Haha
let me how all the moving goes to!
Love you all
Elder Hemsley
No comments:
Post a Comment