All right, well this week has been another crazy
week. I don't even know where to start. I guess I’ll start with last Tuesday.
Last Tuesday was going home activities. The day before the departing
missionaries end their mission, they spend the day with the Ostlers and cruise
around the city and do some fun stuff. Because I am one of the only
missionaries in the mission that has a license, I was the one cruising them
around (Did I mention that I drive a 12 passenger van? Yeah, no one messes with
me on the manila roads). We went to the temple, the American war
cemetery, then to the mission home for some food and words of wisdom from President
Ostler and his wife. Fortunately, we don't have to be at the portion when
President counsels the missionaries, because all they talk about is getting
married and starting a family. That's the fastest way to make a missionary
trunky. During that time, we were taking luggage to hotels and getting all the
other things ready. It was a good experience though. A lot of the
missionaries were some of my good friends. Sister Grant, the sister in my
district at the MTC, was also in attendance. You know you're old in the mission
when the sisters you came into the field go home. That's crazy. It's amazing to
see how much we grow over years. They had an amazing testimony meeting and the
spirit was very strong. The lives of those missionaries has been forever changed.
President made a very profound statement that I would like to share. It's quite
applicable to everything going back at home. He shared with the
missionaries,"Your missions are the greatest things you have done thus far
in your life. However, it's not the greatest thing that you will ever do. There
are bigger and better things in the future." Missions are the greatest
foundations for those "bigger and better" things. It is a stepping
stone that takes us farther in life then we could ever have gone without it.
What will be happening this Friday is one of those "bigger and
better" things.
The next day was transfer day, the craziest day
ever. We welcomed 28 new missionaries into the mission. Elder Limocon and I
awoke at 4:45 am to get everything ready and were running till 10:30 pm. It was
quite the day. It was great to experience that day with all of the new
missionaries. It reminded of me when I was in that situation. That sure was a
long time ago. The first real day of the best 2 years. I loved seeing the
excitement and joy on their faces. They have no clue what they've got
themselves into. They will experience the most difficult, rewarding, joy filled
years of their entire lives, years that they wouldn't trade for anything.
The rest of the week has been great. We had a
baptism this week!! We began to teach a kid right when I got into the area and
he was baptized last Saturday. His parents are members, but had been less
active for quite some time (sound familiar #lessactivepartmemberfamilies); they
had a "come to Jesus" moment and decided that they wanted to return
to church. We were right there to help them do it? They are now active in the
church and their son, Daejiro, is now a member of the church. It was great. I
sure love missions. Nothing better than witnessing a family take major steps to
being sealed in the temple. Actually, there is one thing better than witnessing
a family take those steps. Being a part of that process is a lot better then
just witnessing it.