This week
started out super fun because on Monday night we got to
go to the Cardinals-Mets game and it was super fun. It’s always fun to get to
go to games.
Tuesday is when the real craziness started.
We started making all of the plans for what is going to happen with transfers
coming up. We got a surprise the first day we sat down with president and he
told us that we are getting 9 sister visa waiters. Instead of getting 4
missionaries we are now getting 13 so that will make tomorrow
a lot more interesting. The rest of this week was pretty much us sitting on a
couch looking at a giant board full of pictures of missionaries moving them
around and deciding what would be best for them. It was super interesting to
get to see the other side of what happens during transfers. It was insane
because we had the board completely finished one day then we would go back over
it the next day and it would be almost completely changed. It was really
fun/amazing to get to see how such an insane process could result in such a
feeling of peace knowing that where they are getting put to work is right for
them.
Earlier this week on Saturday me and Elder Bean got to go to the temple and it
was one of the coolest things I have gotten to do on my mission. We went to the
temple and the session was full and they had to bring in extra chairs so that
was cool. Another cool thing is that there was a bride and groom there and 2
future missionaries going through for the first time. The celestial room was
full of people hugging and just a bunch of super happy people. The stake
president from Oakville was there and he invited us to come get some cookies
after so we got to stick around the temple for a little while and see some
people and get free cookies. It was a really, really cool experience for
us.
This coming week is going to
be super crazy but it’s going to be so exciting. Tomorrow
we are going to go get all of the new missionaries from the airport and do all
of the normal things with them. Wednesday we have crazy
transfer day trying to get everyone sent off to their right areas. Thursday we get to wake up bright and early and send the
departing missionaries home. Then from that point on we are spending every
spare second of the day with other missionaries. We only have 4 weeks this
transfer to accomplish everything we need to do so it’s going to be
crazy.
Recently I have been so
thankful for all of the growth and changes that I have been able to see on my
mission. I have had a ton of changes myself and I have learned so much. I have
seen so many other people have changes in their lives as well. We went to 6
hours of church yesterday and the thing that stood out to me the most were some
talks given in the O’Fallon MO ward. Elder Jones, and Sister McCoy were
missionaries who just barely came out 6 weeks ago and they both gave amazing
talks and I couldn’t believe that they were the same shy little missionaries
that we picked up from the airport. I didn’t think that Sister McCoy would ever
say a word but she gave an amazing talk about the restoration. And there was a
3rd talk that was by a recent convert in that ward and she just bore simple
testimony about how the gospel has completely changed her life.
Elder
Bean goes home at the end of this transfer and he is focusing a lot on all the
things he has learned on his mission. It has really opened my eyes to how much
we really do learn out here and how it has been such an amazing opportunity. I
am so thankful for my mission and all of you who have helped me
to change and become a better person. I love you all and will talk to
you all soon.
-Elder Banks
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