Hi everybody!
This has been an intense, action packed week! At least, by missionary standards, so no, we didn't have any car chases, exploding helicopters, epic battles for the fate of Middle Earth, or rampaging
dinosaurs (although that would be cool), or pretty much anything anyone else would call intense and action packed. But it was a fantastic week. We finally hit Standards of Excellence again! It's been about 2 months, but we finally pulled it off again! We taught over 22 lessons, met with people we haven't been able to see in a long time, and found some new investigators! It was hard making it all happen, but by the skin of my teeth, an unhealthy amount of phone calls, and some blessings from Heaven, it happened. Some of our investigators are really starting to progress too! We started meeting with Michael and Garrett and their mom again, and they're doing well, and Garrett's getting into scouting. And his mom didn't even tell him to do it, he just decided he wanted to be involved in the ward scout troop. And the Runnels family is seeing a lot of blessings coming in, and everything
seems to be falling into place for their baptism on the 27th! It was a fantastic final week in Enoch West.
On Saturday, we had a special Zone Conference in Beaver with President Craig C. Christensen of the Presidency of The Seventy. That was awesome! His big focus was recognizing the Holy Ghost. One of the highlights was when he talked about D&C 8:2 which reads: "Yea, behold, I will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost, which shall come upon you and which shall dwell in your heart." This is how the Holy Ghost speaks to us, and Presidential Christensen broke it down for us. He said the Spirit speaks to our mind in thoughts and ideas, and to our heart in feelings. The thoughts and ideas are often indistinguishable from our own, but we can often see in hindsight that
it was the Spirit guiding. The feelings usually just convey love, comfort, and positivity. Essentially, when we feel it in our hearts, it's just a big hug from Heaven. By themselves, those thoughts and
feelings are useful, but we might not have all the picture. Then he said that Revelation happens when we connect the thought with the feeling. We have an idea, and we feel and recognize the source. I
thought that was a really cool training, and I learned a lot. General Authorities are so cool!
After a couple hours, we had a 15-20 minute break. Seeing as it was transfer call weekend, President Center decided to kill two birds with one stone, and during the break he went around with his notebook and gave people their transfer calls. Near the beginning of the break he came over to me and told me what's happening on Tuesday. After nearly 9 months in Enoch West, I am in fact getting transferred. On Tuesday, I'll be going down to St. George to Snow Canyon, which will be my new
area. My new companion will be Elder Burt, and I've no idea what he's like. Elder Baker will be staying in Enoch West/Parowan and he will be getting Elder Char, who is pretty much one of the nicest human beings ever. Enoch West is in good hands.
It feels so weird knowing that I'll be leaving. It feels like I've been here forever. I've seen Enoch West in all four seasons; the tail end of spring, all summer and fall, and over half of winter now. I've had good times and hard times. joy and heartache. I've learned leadership skills and patience. I've come to know so many people here; people I've taught, other missionaries, members I've worked with, people who have taken me in so to speak. I have actually been prepared to leave for the last 3 months; I thought for sure I'd be transferred after 6 months here, and I thought the same when I'd been here 7 1/2. But now that the time has come, I don't want to go. I mean part of me does, but there's still part of me that wants to stay. I'm really going to miss this place. But to quote The Lord of The Rings: "The road goes ever on and on, down from the door where it began. Now far ahead the road has gone, and I must follow if I can." I am sad to leave Enoch West. But the Lord has called me somewhere else. My road now leads to somewhere new, and I must follow. I look forward to the new learning experiences (and 70 degree weather) that lay ahead.
And whenever I begin to feel to sad or nervous, I am reminded of what Gandalf told Frodo in The Lord of The Rings: "But that is not for us to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us." Gandalf of course is fiction, but I find so much comfort in those words. It was that quote that helped to comfort me when I left Mt. Pleasant. When I was distraught about leaving Mt. Pleasant, I thought, "Why do I have to leave? I wish I had more time here". Immediately that quote came to mind with such power that I was sort of stunned for a second, and coupled with it was an overwhelming sense of warmth and comfort, a hug from from Heaven so to speak. That not only
comforted and inspired me, but taught me that the Lord knows me so personally, and loves me enough that of all the things he could have brought to mind to help me, he knew me to be a nerd, and he used Gandalf. Over the past couple days, that quote, and those feelings have been frequent in my mind and heart, a constant testimony that the Lord knows and cares about me. "All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us." I have had a lot of time in Enoch West, 9 months in fact, over which I have learned, and served, and accomplished a lot of work (13 baptisms isn't too shabby), or rather I was an instrument in the Lord's hand in accomplishing HIS work. And now it's time to go, and I leave this area with no regrets, off to make the best of whatever time I am given in my next area. But though, the road goes on, just like I will Mt. Pleasant, I will always remember Enoch West. It's been a good 9 months, and I am so thankful for my experience here. Farewell Enoch West.
Until next time everyone. I miss you all. I hope your week is fantastic!
-Elder Oswald
With transfers, we are losing a couple awesome Elders, Elder Phelps and Elder Lewis. They've become really good friends of mine, and I can't believe their two years are already finished (granted, I can't believe how long I've been out either). I'll miss them a lot, but I'll see them again after my mission for sure.
Picture 1: Farewell to Elder Phelps, my fellow Michigander.
Picture 2: Farewell to Elder Lewis
No comments:
Post a Comment