It has been a very interesting last
couple of days. This week I had a much better week than the week before. We
picked up 2 new investigators. But
first, I need to tell you about transfers. I was thinking that I would be all set for Christmas
in Woodstock with Elder Steimle. I also thought that if I were to get
transferred it would be to a new area knowing that the possibility of
serving in an old area was very slim. So sure enough I woke up to a
pleasant surprise yesterday morning. I am being transferred back to
Bridgewater, Nova Scotia for Christmas and I will be serving in a trio
with Elder Quinton and Elder Dooley.
So I can't exactly say I saw this one
coming. It is not common for missionaries
to serve in an area twice on their mission and especially when they
served in that area for 6 months. On top of that, the possibility of
going back to an area you just left 4 months ago is very remote and
unlikely. Elder Steimle described it best in a conversation we had last
night. He was making a whale noise and then I said:
Me: What was that?
Elder Steimle: That was a whale in our hallway.
Me: That is very unlikely.
Elder
Steimle: If it's unlikely for you to go back to Bridgewater and it's
unlikely that a whale could be in our hallway, then there could be a
whale in our hallway.
Me: Haha! Very true but hey I'm not the one that made this decision.
Elder
Steimle: Not only is it unlikely that you could go back to an area you
already served in; it is very unlikely for you to go back to an area you
just left 3 transfers ago.
I have had all
sort of thoughts run through my head ever since I read the transfer
letter. "Why am I going back? Who am I going back for? Am I going back
to baptize somebody I began teaching? Am I going back to reactivate a
less active that I was working with? Am I going back to began teaching
somebody I tracted into and said no and now they are ready for me?" It
is clear to me that the Lord has a special mission for me in
Bridgewater. I have prayed about this transfer and I have received a
witness that this transfer was inspired of the Lord. Time will tell if I
find out why I got transferred back to Bridgewater.
So
for two Christmas' in a row I will be in a trio. Elder Quinton is a
really nice guy. I served around him for a while at the beginning of my
mission and he was actually my district leader when I was in Bridgewater
the first time. So he knows that this is my second time serving in
Bridgewater. He is also a really good missionary. He is a very
fun-loving, dedicated, energetic missionary. I don't really know much
about Elder Dooley. But from the interactions I've had with him he seems
very humble. I have no doubt the three of us will get along just fine.
With me having already served there already and it being a completely
new area for them, I know they will be expecting a lot from me and I am
preparing myself to take the lead in the area.
With
transfers in general, this was a huge transfer! There were a lot of
companionships affected. This was easily the biggest transfer President
Pratt has done since he got here. There will be 3 trios in total of
Elders and 2 trios of Sisters in the mission as of Thursday. Being in a
trio can be challenging sometimes and they require sacrifices from all
three. I like to compare it to the "Big 3" from the Miami Heat. All
three of them are very talented but they had to sacrifice some of their
playing time and some of their talents in order to best help the team
win games. It is like that with trios on a mission. Each of them has
to sacrifice some of their skills and their own personal desires in
order for the companionship to be united and best help the work move
forward.
Lost
in all this is the fact that I am leaving Woodstock. I have thoroughly
enjoyed my time in this area. I have picked up a lot of leadership
skills here. The work was slow-paced and frustrating at times and the
area wasn't exactly the most organized area I've been in. Investigators
not being able to cross the border was also a challenge. But I got
through the adversity and I built character here. This was after all the
bible belt of the mission and the people wanted to bash with me at
times but I held my ground and testified of what I knew to be true. I
have learned a lot more about the bible here.
The
branch has also been good to me. Although we had few dinner
appointments here, they still cared for us. Some of my favorite members
have been the Seaboyers. They were like parents to me. They even made me
my favorite meal for my birthday. Of course I can't forgot the time
when I burned my white shirt for my one year mark. The Hann's were also
great to me. I loved going over there and Brother Hann was so hilarious.
They are an awesome family. Sister Hann was a native of Southern
Alberta so I connected with them really well.
We went to a baptism
on Saturday. It was the Sister's baptism. The lady
had her name taken off the records a while back and the Sisters began
teaching her again and she decided to get re-baptized. It
was a good baptism. She is very out-going, very friendly. She seems very
intent on staying the course this time around. We had the opportunity of
taking part in the confirmation yesterday.
With
transfers this week I get to go the temple for the first time since
March on Thursday! I am so excited about that. Have a good week! Enjoy
the Montreal Temple Re-dedication!
Love,
Elder O'Brien (the older)
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