Week 28: Going Senior Companion

Merry Christmas, 

This email might be a little rough cause I had 10 minutes to write it but I'm just gonna go right into it. 

Well what an exciting week! Probably my favorite week of my mission but I know it will only get better from here. First of all, I went พี่ this week, meaning that I am the senior companion (the one that is in charge down here in Phuket). Honestly a little bit more stressful but definitely doable! I feel like I have grown so much and pretty much understand everything that people are saying to me. 

My new companion's name is Elder Robinson and he is starting his 3rd transfer and I am starting my 4th. He is awesome and is such a hard worker so I am excited!

Transfers were on Thursday meaning I went to Bangkok and picked up my comp. Got to see a lot of my good friends, but then I was back off to Phuket with just me and my comp. What an adventure I've got ahead of me. 

Honestly this week has been so great. We have found 6 people in 3 days that we have began teaching. I have also met with a lot of members this week, and all the members love me and my new companion! I know this transfer is going to be full of miracles and excitement. 

A lot of changes are going to be made to this area and I'm so excited. To start, our house was filthy so we spent most of the day just cleaning it up and getting it prepared for the rest of the week! Trust me it was filthy (mom you would've flipped out haha). I have also been given the opportunity to translate at church every week from now on. I feel like the Lord has blessed me with the gift of tongues because I was able to translate no problem! But I still have so much work to do!!

I don't have much time today but I just want to say Merry Christmas to everyone. Thank you so much for all the letters you have sent and all the emails. I really appreciate it and feel so loved. I am so grateful for your support and you all are in my prayers. Happy holidays everyone. Love you!!

1) cleaning a car for the #LighttheWorld season.  Doing service or a nice deed for someone else.

2) me and my new comp (sorry it's a dark picture)

3) bought this sick Phuket hat

4) Elder Robinson and I at lunch

5) Elder Tu (RIP gonna miss you)

They got my letters

Awe - don't those sister missionaries look happy!

 

Sister Lowe told me that Sister Brunt loves to receive mail, so I wrote her a letter.  Then I wrote a letter to sister Lowe!

 

Happy Letter Day!!!

Devon - week 56

Elder Schulka is now transferred to Boise North and will be a Zone Leader. 

I got a new Companion named Elder Belden from Texas. We are co seniors together.  I am super excited to go out and work with him.  I found out that he has a bone spur on his hip, (extra bone growth on his hip) which causes him a lot of pain good thing we have a car so that he is not as much in pain as he would be if he was walking.  

Last week we got a new investigator that we are super excited about.  Her name is Veronica.  We found her through a referral from her friend, Jennifer.  This was Jennifer's first time being a member missionary so she was really stressed; then Veronica was even more stressed out.  She was stressed during most of the Lesson which made the beginning tough but it ended beautifully.  She is going to read the Book of Mormon and try to get Sundays off so that she can go to church.  The spirit overcame her stress. :)  We will try to set a date with her a soon as possible.  We felt that if we had asked her that she would say no because of all the stress she was in.  She is 47 divorced and has kids. Really nice lady. Elder Belden and I will pray to know the will of God for her. 

We had a couple people at church this week but it's hard to get people to church consistently in this area.  In total we have many less actives, actives and some investigators that can come to church but they usually come once a month.  Consistency is the key to lasting conversion.  If they aren't consistent in keeping the commandments and consistent in feeling the Spirit then they cannot be reactivated in the Gospel.

Elder Jones my old companion is now my district leader which is super exciting!!!