Hey everyone!
Transfers were pretty huge last week. I'd say half of the
companonships at least were changed. Three zone leaders were released to
train, two went home. Five new zone leaders were called, along with
about a dozen or so new district leaders. Big changes a comin'. Elder
Halligan was one of those released to train, and he's going to do just
awesome. The new zone leaders are Elders Alvis, Bush, Cannon, Hampton
and Condie (Spanish). The leadership training meeting was one of the
best we've had in a long time. I wrote down a lot of things that I
wanted to work on in the coming transfers. Elder Burden was transferred
to Phoenix North to kill off Elder Tameilau, lucky! That's probably one
of the most compatible companionships I've ever seen. Elder Hall took
his place in the Surprise House and in the past week he's quickly become
one of my favorite people I've met on my mission. He's been out about 7
months, from southern Alabama (turns out he's actually a Florida fan,
who knew?). He's got a little twang in his voice and he's always just so
darn happy! You can't help but feel that you're day is just that much
better when you're around him. We also just got a phone call this
morning from President Taylor saying that there was an emergency
transfer that needed to take place today. After I finish up this email,
we'll be switching Elder Whipple with the a new missionary, Elder Mack
out in West Maricopa. I'm sad to see Elder Whipple go, he's become such a
good friend of mine too, especially since we were just on exchanges a
few days ago. The photo included is of Elder Whipple at the end of our
afternoon together, and I think it paints the picture of how Elder
Whipple was feeling most of the time. Needless to say, he enjoyed the
stop.
This weekend was kind of a long one. All day Thursday and Friday my
throat was feeling sore. Saturday morning I woke up and
started coughing out lovely blobs of "brown" in the shower. I kept
hacking all day, and was congested the whole time. We had to finish our
stake reports for both of the coordination meetings and I wasn't feelin'
it at all. We did our brief afternoon exchange with the Spanish Elders
like I previously mentioned, and I met back up with Elder Wood at about 6
pm. We had a few people we wanted to stop by and check up on, but as we
were riding our bikes I just felt like I needed to stop. I didn't want
to quit, but I also didn't want to be stupid and not listen to my body. I
was strugglin'. We made it back to the house and I just crashed on the
couch. I made a quick bite to eat, drank some Nyquil and was asleep by
8:30. The next morning was fun with our stake coordination meetings. I
just sat back in Surprise and let Wood do most of the work. Come time
for Surprise North, Wood had to go to a ward council training with
President Morris while I went with President Taylor to Surprise North. I
was pretty much alone there. Neither of our district leaders were
there, and I knew one of them was perfectly aware of and capable of
attending the meeting...not sure why he didn't though. The meeting still
went well and we got our point across to the stake presidents.
In preparing for the stake meetings, we met with our stake high
councilman over missionary work. We tried to figure out what we need to
do to inspire our members to be better missionaries. We read through the
handbook to try and figure out where it needs to happen and we
concluded that it was with the bishops and stake presidents. I had an
idea that we should give each of the stake presidencies a copy of the
Book of Mormon, a Family Proclamation, and a For the Strength of Youth
pamphlet, and invite each of them to attempt to place one by next
month's stake meeting. Elder Wood took it a step further and said that
we're going to invite all of our bishops to to it too. Once they do,
they'll take every opportunity in group settings to bear testimony of
those experiences to the members of the wards. Bro. Haught, our stake
high councilman in Surprise LOVED the idea. All day we kept talking
about how cool it will be. Come stake meetings, the stake presidents
didn't hesitate to accept the invitation. Pres. Rolfe in Surprise North
said, "Great idea Elders, I already know who I'm giving to to!" That's
how we fire up a group of people, we start with the top. The rest of
this week will be devoted to helping our missionaries get in touch with
their bishoprics to do the same thing.
Following up with last week's people, we've only been in touch with
Eric. That concerns me that we haven't been able to contact Tim,
especially since he has a baptismal date. If this goes any longer, I
fear he won't be ready for Feb 11. Eric on the other hand, is doing
pretty well. On splits this week, Elder Wood taught him about the
Atonement, which he really needed to hear. He was invited to be baptized
in February and he gave it some serious thought. He didn't accept it
right away, but he didn't decline it. He wants t pray about it more and
talk to his daughters about it. I'm happy that he'll be praying about it
more, and I have a feeling that if he prays about it in the lesson,
he'll receive a very powerful feeling of the Spirit in his home right
there.
I'll wrap up by sharing our Sunday night experience. We called Ron,
a man we met while trying to fill a window of heaven in Citrus Point
(WAY out in the outskirts of West Point ward) about a month ago. He
invited us back, and we went over on Sunday night. The lesson was very
brief, just talking about the Book of Mormon. His girlfriend Holly was
there too, and the two of them had very good questions that opened the
door to a great conversation about the church and the Book of Mormon. We
both bore testimony and you could see that each of them wanted to know a
little more. Ron accepted the invitation to a church tour this next
week, and ended by saying, "You know, I've got to hand it to you
gentleman. The two of you are very professional in the way you present
yourselves and the way you present your message. I can tell this means a
lot to you. I'm honored that you're in my home and I would tell your
parents that they did an excellent job of raising their children." Elder
Wood and I were very grateful for his comments. I would go as far as to
say that it was probably the most sincere compliment I have ever
received over these past 17 months. It was a good opportunity for me to
feel the Spirit confirm that it wasn't something my parents (or Elder
Wood's parents) did on their own. I don't doubt that it took a great
deal of patience for our families to try and teach us correct
principles, and I bet it took a great load of faith to send us into the
world in hopes we wouldn't ruin the family name. I think that was the
reassurance that I needed that I'm doing ok out here. I'm representing
the Savior and others are starting to recognize that, even if they want
nothing to do with us.
I love your letters of support, and I pray everyone back home is doing well. Write back soon, take care and be good.
Much love,
Elder Eric James Turner
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