So we just got transfer calls and there are some pretty crazy things going on.... a lot a lot of people are leaving our zone (11 out of 21 missionaries) but of course I'm not one of them :) I should have known better, thinking that I would go anywhere except Yuma or Mesa. Elder Twitchell is taking off though, and we're pretty sure that he's going down to Yuma finally! He's been wanting that his entire mission and now it might actually be happening. I remember how jealous he was from the very beginning of his mission that I was staying down in Yuma for such a long time, and that he couldn't. So we'll see what happens there. The other Spanish companionship right now has been a three-some, because they have a missionary that's waiting to go to Monterrey, Mexico. He's super cool - Elder Mills from Idaho Falls. Elder Helvey has also been in that companionship, a missionary who served a year and a half in Columbia and then came here for medical reasons. He's an interesting guy that sometimes forgets that he's not in Columbia anymore and we need to do things the Mexican way.... when in Rome do as the Romans do, right? Anyway, that companionship got whitewashed out of the area, so we're fairly sure they are going to bring sisters into the Liahona 5 ward! We're interested to find out what happens, but for right now, I'm the only one of five that's staying in our Spanish ward! Que loco! There's another white-wash and we're giving up a lot of leadership, but it seems like Mesa is definitely a place that cranks out leaders. A lot of people that serve here go district leader or zone leader or something when they leave. So I guess I get to hold the zone together a little bit since it's getting pretty ripped up. It'll be good though - our ward needs some changes.
So last preparation day was pretty fun. We played this game "The Newlywed Game" where you have a companionship and you ask a question geared toward one of them and they both have to submit the answer they think would best fit that person. It's basically to see how well you know your companion. Everyone knew since Elder Twitchell and I have been together for so long that we would be pretty good at it and we definitely were... We made it to the finals and lost in a tie-breaker to a companionship that had been practicing for weeks for it (they're pretty crazy - you'd understand if you met them), so that was a way entertaining game and we got to know a lot about a lot of people. The companionships that are the most unified and get along the best definitely did better in general. After that, we went to Dairy Queen because one of the sisters is going home tomorrow (it was her last real p-day) and because they didn't really want to bike, Elder Wheeler and I rode their bikes and wore their helmets as we headed over. Let's just say there's definitely a difference between sister missionary bikes and elders - I'm sure somebody got a kick out of it.
We've had a couple solid member visits in the Spanish ward and the bishopric seems to like us a little more - the 1st counselor has a couple solid families he's working with and we're starting to sense that they trust us a little more. I think sisters will probably help as well. It's also been cool to see a difference when we meet with stake presidencies to discuss missionary work. We have a super solid relationship with every single one of them, and for some reason they really respect us and like us. The stake that Dobson Ward is in used to be a real struggle, but I think now they're probably our most solid one! They gave us all kinds of compliments and really want us to stay - it's cool to see how important those relationships are with ward and stake leaders and how much it can change things.
I've been on a lot of exchanges lately and been doing ridiculous amounts of biking... I went with this big guy Elder Knighton and he really surprised me. He might be a big guy but he can really move on that bike! He just takes off and never slows down! And this happened after a way long day of biking in our own area, so it was extra fun. There's something that's exciting about going into other people's areas to meet the people they're teaching and to see how they do things. Every companionship does things differently, and it really helps to be able to make suggestions and work on different things to see them really improve and do well. I went on this exchange out in Gilbert and it's just a different place. I don't know what it is about Gilbert (maybe it's the fact that there are so many members) but let's just say there are a lot of "fair and delightsome people" there. There are absolutely incredible amounts of members, but those who aren't are pretty much nice and open or 100% against you - makes for some interesting stories. It definitely is a different style of work though, because on most streets a vast majority of the people and the houses on the street are members. Tracting would be way ineffective, and the only way you can really find success is totally working with the members. So that's been a huge push for us as we go on exchanges and train our zone members. We've been practicing them a lot and that's the only way to really improve and get better at them. We've been seeing how important it is for us (and everyone) to be able to just go out and work and try things! When people suggest ideas and things that might make the work more effective, we have to be able to just try it even if we don't know every little detail. I just like it when missionaries go out and work! Buckle down, be obedient, and do the things that we need to do! Especially in the evenings from 6-9 (the time we affectionately call "prime time" because more people are home) we have to be effective in how we use the time, but we have to use it nonetheless! So we've been working like crazy this week and biking ridiculous amounts, even though it was rough and we did not teach much at all... We found some solid potential, and we're looking forward to teaching them this week.
One investigator that we're teaching (his name is Gerardo) is going through a rough time. He just found out a few days ago that he needed to leave his house by Sunday, so we're not sure where he's at right now, or if he was able to find a place. He was way solid and really wants to change his life around but with all this going on and a whole family to worry about, it's been quite the burden. So keep him in your prayers. It's interesting how I feel such a responsibility (even financially) for these people even though that really is not what we're called to do. It also was tough with some investigators the sisters were teaching that were supposed to get baptized this last Saturday but they got kicked out of their house and are now living in a homeless shelter in Phoenix. It's a rough time for people economically and it sure doesn't help missionary stress. We feel 100% responsible for them but don't have lots of resourses or means of helping them. We've also been seeing because of how busy people are that sometimes we just have to be a tiny bit more persistent and just teach a 5-minute lesson. We did that a couple times this week and it actually worked out really well! You have to really know the lessons well to be able to teach it that quick, and know that they know what's most important. Spanish missionaries definitely learn a lot of tenacity and persistence.
One thing that we are pretty excited about is a bunch of recent converts in our Spanish ward are going to be going to the temple this Saturday to do baptisms for the dead and do this tour type of thing there! Alberto and Adriana, as well as Hugo and Johana, are crazy excited for it, since they prepared by going to this class last week about family history and temple work. Adriana's been making all kinds of phone calls to relatives and trying to figure out some family info so they can get rolling with all of the family history stuff. It'll be pretty special.
So yesterday, we had another Mission President's Fireside and it was awesome. Somebody from our mission presidency spoke and told all these great personal stories, and there were a lot of testimonies of missionaries going home this transfer. It seems like when nobody Hispanic shows up that our translation is always a lot better... So we definitely translate, even if nobody's listening, and let's just say yesterdays was pretty solid. It also helps to be able to prepare with prayer and reading a little bit out loud in the spanish Book of Mormon. What helps now is I'm able to speak faster so there's a lot less catching up to do. It still is a unique concept of hearing it in one language and spitting it out in another. So Elder Matheson is home tomorrow, and we are now the oldest missionaries in the mission! Crazy how time flies.
We're looking forward to see what happens Wednesday and I'll let you know mas la semana que viene. hasta la proxima! ~ Elder Carlson
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