Week 51: Two Men and a Baby

October 30, 2023

Week 51: Two Men and a Baby

"I HAVE A SON?!? GUYS I HAVE A SON!" - HISHE Darth Vader

Hey y'all happy Monday!

Last week was kind of weird because it was the day before we got transfer news, so I guess now y'all get to know!

I'm still here in the YSA Ward but there have been a few changes. For one, I'm training! His name is Elder Jones and we just got him on Saturday. I say "we" because I'm also in a trio! My other companion's name is Elder Larkins and he's about 5 months in. He's from Maryland and my trainee is from Wyoming which are both places I've never met missionaries from before! On top of that all, I'm also the district leader. Lots of new stuff being thrown to me this transfer, but I'm excited for it! My companions are both really fun and hardworking and we're getting along well so far. Should be a good transfer if it continues on like this.

The week started a bit slow, but Elder Beyler and I did have a lesson with someone named Daniel who we're going to start meeting with! We taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the Elders who found him (since they were passing him off to us) and I'm really excited to work with him. I'm hoping that we'll be able to find some more people to teach this transfer, especially with this new Elder with us.

The first day of this transfer was just Elder Larkins and I since Elder Jones didn't get here till Saturday. After transfering and getting rain dumped on us, we met with two of our recent converts and had some good lessons with them. It was an interesting day, but that's sometimes just how a new transfer goes haha. Things often don't go how you planned.

On Saturday we went to the Judson Road building (where the mission office is) and we had a couple trainings on how to be a trainer and stuff and then we finally got our trainees. We helped him settle in and did our studies and contacts then we had dinner with the district. Greek food is so good. I think Mediterranean food is one of my favorite...genres? Not sure what word to use there. Afterwards we decided to do a district blitz of an apartment complex! (Which means we all went to a complex, divided up into companionships and started knocking around) I hadn't done one of those in a long time but it went pretty well. It happened to be one of the most humid weekends that I've had on the mission, so that must have been an interesting introduction of Texas to the trainees hahaha. Miraculously though, yesterday afternoon it MAJORLY cooled off down to the 40s! I'm quite happy about that.

Church was great this week! We had a lot of our recent converts show up which is awesome and we had some honestly fantastic talks in sacrament meeting. The spirit was very present and my trainee got asked to bear his testimony too! We met with a new member afterward as well and set up an appointment to start teaching him the new member lessons, so I'm excited about that :) That night we also had dinner at Mama's house, which is always just the greatest. It was really fun introducing the missionaries that are new here to Mama and Pops. We had a really nice evening!

Speaking of Mama and Pops, that brings me to my spiritual thought! It was something that we talked about as they shared their conversion story with us regarding the Book of Mormon. They have been members for a long long time now and are very firm in their faith. But back in the day when they were being taught, Pops was SUPER stubborn. (Well, he still is now but it was worse back then.) He didn't believe what he was being taught, but they finally convinced him to read the Book of Mormon. He said he read it more like he would a novel rather than a book of scripture and didn't take it that seriously at first. However, as he continued to read he eventually came to the conclusion that it WAS the word of God. It was undeniable. I know that anybody who honestly reads the Book of Mormon WILL receive a witness that it is true. There is great power in that book and that is exactly why we do what we do as missionaries. Because if the Book of Mormon is true, everything else is too. So...yeah. Read the Book of Mormon every day. It'll change your life.

It's weird to think I haven't seen y'all in about a year now! I'm so grateful for each of you and for the role you may have played in helping me get out here (even if you didn't know it) This last year has been amazing and I wouldn't trade it for anything. I love you all! God is good and the church is true!

All in, TSAM!

Love,

Elder DeWitt