Week 62...Transfer #11

August 11, 2014

 

I can't believe it is the beginning of a new transfer already.  This last transfer was 7 weeks but it flew by pretty fast.  I’m on the downside of transfers and almost down to single digits in months remaining in the mission. 

1. What's up with transfers?  Are you staying or going? 
   The news with transfers is that neither of us are leaving.  However, Elder H in DuBois is leaving.  We were not expecting this because he goes home next transfer and he will only be in his new area for 6 weeks.  He was the DL (district leader) and drum roll…I am the new DL.  I got the call yesterday afternoon from President making it official.  So I am excited and nervous at the same time and hope that all goes well.  I know it will definitely teach me a lot and there are many things that I can learn.  I am excited for the new adventure ahead. 
2. What about Elder B?  He is staying
3. How was your week?  What were the highs/lows?  Wow, as usual this week has been a busy week.  There is a lot going on here in the Ridgway area.  Things are continuing to progress.  There’s not a lot of new action but things are still progressing.  The progression is slowing down a little bit but at least it’s steady.  Satan seems to be on the war path and he’s really been messing with our people. Everybody we are teaching has a lot going and life has thrown a lot of curve balls lately and that is probably one of the lows of the week.  Another bummer was on Friday during our weekly planning.  It’s hard to agree on everything and we had a few disagreements and were driving each other crazy.  Luckily, we have everything worked out and have another transfer to be together and accomplish great things.  Moving onto the highs... this weekend we had a booth set up in Mt Jewett for their annual Swedish festival.  We helped out at a booth that one of the branches had and handed out a lot of pass along cards.  We also gave people hand cart rides.  Another high was getting the call from President about DL, that was a cool experience.
4. How was the painting service project for the EQ?  It was great, we painted a bunch of trim in their bedroom white.  It used to be a wood color.  We also had dinner with them. 
5. Has the weather been nice?  The weather has been awesome.  It’s only rained a tiny bit and it has been in the mid 70's to low 80's.  Unfortunately, it has been humid so it’s been sort of hot. 
6. What are 5 positive things for the week?  It’s the end of the transfer and we are starting fresh.  We were able to have quite a few lessons.  
7. It's exciting to hear that you may have some people on date for baptism, who are they?  Well J, G & L are on date for August 30.  I am not sure if it’s going to really happen or not.  We still have a lot that needs to be done before then but at least there is still progress.   We have  S set for September 20^th and we’re hoping that things will work out for her.  She has the most potential to meet her target date.  We will see what happens. 
8. How are things going with your investigators?
   1.  S, P, G & J?  Well that house is pretty crazy right now.  Satan has got a grip on them and is really trying to make life difficult for them.   S broke up with G and got back together with her old boyfriend. G is not happy about that and is quite depressed about it.  The whole situation is causing quite a few problems.   J really wants to be baptized but I think it’s going to be a little bit before we get things wrapped up with all of them.  Seriously, before we can move forward much more they really need to start living the commandments.  To top it off…P thinks she might be pregnant and  L, the other girl we are teaching at their house, just found out she is 15 weeks pregnant. 
   2. The G family?  I think things are going well with them, we haven't really talked to them much lately.  We didn’t get a chance to talk to them at church yesterday, but I think things are good. 
   3. S & S?  We have dropped them for now.  They moved and his phone is shut off so we don't really know where they are at. 
   4.  E & S (father/daughter)?  Well this is pretty heart breaking and sad.   S is doing great.  She has so much potential.  E, on the other hand, is now in jail L  Here’s the story…for some reason last week after church he got really violent and start hitting his wife.  He pretty much went off the deep end and had a meltdown.  The meltdown lead to him stabbing some guy at their house 4 times…yeah, no Bueno!!!  We were quite sad when we heard the news from S because we thought he had cleaned up his life from all his past problems.  Satan won this round and for now E’s ship has sailed.  However,  S really wants this change in her life.  Her life is kind of rough right now and she is trying make things better for herself.    We had a lesson in a member’s home here in St. Mary’s because she doesn’t like being in her house.  That lesson was awesome.  She talked about how she and her brother were out driving and they pulled off to the side of the road and sat and talked.  She said “what the heck is going on with our family and what are we going to do?”  She then said a prayer and asked if the Mormon thing was the direction she should go.  She said she got a feeling that she should continue pursuing this religion.  We’re praying that we can keep progressing with her and we can help her get her life in order and that she can feel the peace and joy that comes from living the gospel of Jesus Christ. 
      
      
   5. C & A?  We have pretty much dropped them.   They don’t seem super interested right now, but we will stop by again here in a few weeks.
9. What mission things/business do you have to look forward to?  Well next Tuesday we have a seventy, Elder Anderson, coming to do a mission tour.  He will talk about the Doctrine of Christ.  In a couple of weeks I will have the report on how it goes.  Not much else is going on.  We have zone conferences in September.  
10. Any fun stories/exciting news that you want to share?   Here’s a fun story… yesterday was branch council and Pres. W, Sis. W and Sis. B were all there.  Sis. W was filling in for the RS president.  It was pretty funny watching them…because they’re all related (it was mother, father & daughter all in the meeting together).   Pres. and Sis. W totally remind me of gma and gpa Ivie.  Their house is always an adventure and their personality reminds me a lot of them.  They were comically bickering and messing around with each other all meeting.  It was pretty funny. 
    
    
11. Anyone that we can pray for?  Continue to pray that our people will progress toward baptism.
12. How are the members?  Who have you really connected with and who do you enjoy spending time with?  I really like spending time with the W family (branch president)  and B family. They make me feel like I’m at home with all the craziness and stuff that goes on in their homes.  Also, I enjoy spending time with the EQ president, Bro. M.  He is a young guy with little kids and he’s pretty funny.
    
    
    Well there is my busy and adventurous week.  I was going to send you pictures but my camera is dead.  I will send some to you next week. 
     
    Love,
    
    Elder Muir