I made it!!! I’ve officially almost made it through my first transfer!
It’s truly amazing looking back and wondering where the time has gone, but still remembering all of the cool memories.
Some of those cool memories were from this week starting with a lesson with a friend of ours named Malik that lead us to meeting another friend, a guy named Kennedy! Malik had moved in with Kennedy between some of our lessons with him and so we planned on doing our lesson outside. Instead, Kennedy decided to not only let us come in from the rain, but even joined in our lesson about baptism and now both are interested in the church! We were definitely led by the Spirit and God’s plan on that one.
On Wednesday we got to serve at the local food bank again, but this time we actually got to give out the food boxes! It was a cool experience seeing how much the people who run the organization have an impact on and how they bless the lives of those around them. Being a part of that was a blessing and gave me a different perspective on life.
On Friday we were invited to have lunch and a tour at a place called The Farm at South Mountain by the man who owns it! We had tried to do a service for him over a week ago, but had to back out last minute due to scheduling issues, so it was a bit surprising when he offered a tour and meal at his farm after the whole situation. He’s a really nice guy and had a couple dozen jokes up his sleeves which made his tour of the farm and our conversation over lunch a very fun experience! We hope to be able to do some service with him in the future and work with him to serve the community as well since he has a lot of influence and is well known and loved by the people in the area.
On Saturday we taught a possibly returning member and her newly-wed husband, who is not a member, with one of our ward missionaries. They’re a young couple and the ward missionary who came with us is around our age too, so it was nice to share the gospel with and alongside people who are around our same age and who we can relate to a little more. It was a unique experience answering all of the wife’s questions about the Book of Mormon and church, since she hasn’t attended for a few years, while her husband listened in from the kitchen. We had a nice time and at the end she said we could come back every week at the same time which is such an exciting thing to hear as a missionary!
Another interesting thing this week has brought is lots of rain. I didn’t think Arizona knew what the word rain mean’t until I experienced my first thunderstorm out here. When it rains out here it either drizzles lightly or pours like a waterfall. of course I’m being a bit dramatic, but it’s still pretty wild and I was grateful every time I remembered to bring a rain jacket!
the final thing I’ll share is that we got transfer news this morning and found out that both Elder Smith and I are staying in South Mountain for another transfer! There was almost no way I was leaving, but we were sure that Elder Smith was going to get transfered so it was a surprise when we saw he was staying. I’m just grateful that I get to finish out my training with such an awesome missionary and that I won’t have to juggle leading out my area and finishing up training.
This week has been full of the usual ups and downs, but among the rollercoaster-like hills of these past few days there has always been blessings and miracles that have come. Our Heavenly Father’s hand is in each of our lives, we just have to look for it! I love and miss you all, esspecially my parents and siblings, but I know I’m where I belong right now because that is God’s plan for me. I love you all and I’ll catch you next week!
Sincerely,
Elder Whitchurch
D&C 88:67
