Week 45: A BIG Change of Scenery

September 11, 2023

Week 45: A BIG Change of Scenery

Hey y'all!

I actually have time to write this week! First things first, we got transfer news on Saturday annnnnd I'm headed out of Cotulla! All the way to the YSA! I'll be serving in the Alamo NW Area and I'll live just down the street from the UTSA campus. I'll sort of be covering...the whole mission. I think we mostly will be spending our time on campus, but we can go all over San Antonio. Should be fun! I'm excited to live next to multiple supermarkets again. I can't say I've been a fan of having to drive at least 30 minutes to go shopping. Another bonus is that I'll be in the same zone as one of my favorite companions, Elder Fisher! I'm excited to get to see him more often before he goes home next transfer.

This was a good week but it was a bit rough. We ended up having to stop teaching a couple people who had really good potential. But they both sent us "break up" texts a day apart. That was pretty dang disappointing, but I suppose that just means they weren't ready. Hopefully one day they'll be ready and progress!

We didn't have any real lessons this week, but we did have some solid interactions with a couple people that we may start teaching. (pray for Ernie y'all)

Friday was probably the most fun day of the week! We had the opportunity to go over to Pearsall to serve on the church peanut farm. (it's called the LDS San Antonio TX Stake Farm if you feel like looking it up) The Church owns and runs a little over 20 farms that produce all kinds of crops and goods for the church's storehouses. This is the only one that farms peanuts. The church also run TONS of cattle ranches too! Cool stuff. Anyways, the fields are watered by large pivot sprinkler systems and we were replacing the part of the sprinkler heads that spins. I should have taken a picture, but I didn't have my phone with me since we got absolutely SOAKED. It was sweet. There were a couple hundred sprinklers on the pivot my companion and I worked on and it was actually really fun when you get into the groove. The weather is considerably cooler in the field (plus we were getting sprayed with water the whole time) so it felt great while we worked. I did get some gnarly blisters on the hand I used to twist off the caps. I was going to attach pictures, but they're pretty nasty so I won't. You're welcome. I basically wore two holes in my fingers because I didn't realize it was happening till after the skin was already gone heh.

For this week's spiritual though I wanted to share one of my favorite verses to share with people we're teaching. It's often referred to as the "slushie scripture" because it's Alma 7:11-12. Seven Eleven...like the gas station...

"And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.

And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities."

I love this scripture because it explains very plainly the Atonement of Jesus Christ, which is always fun to share with people. This is such an important truth that so many people don't fully appreciate or comprehend. (though obviously none of us can REALLY comprehend it) Helping people understand that they are never alone in their trials is always a powerful experience. I LOVE the Atonement.

This morning I did my own unofficial 9/11 Memorial Stair climb in our apartment! Basically I went up and down the flight of stairs 110 times which is the height of the World Trade Center. It was pretty exhausting and it took like 40 minutes of straight climbing, but it was a cool and sobering experience. Makes you appreciate the magnitude of what happened 22 years ago. I'd love to keep doing it and maybe go to one of the official ones that they have in the Green Bay Packers football stadium someday! Even though I wasn't alive when it happened, I want to remember and honor the heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Well, I think that's all I got for this week! Today we'll just be hanging out with the district and saying some goodbyes to our friends and members. I've definitely learned a lot from this area and there will be some things I'll miss from here (mostly the people!) I'm excited to start a new chapter of my mission. I love you all and I'll catch y'all next week!

Love,

Elder DeWitt