This week we had transfers, and so now Elder Root and I are officially staying together for at least 6 more weeks. I may have said that in my last email but I can't remember. This week was pretty sweet. We got to go to the transfer meeting because Elder Jeffs and Elder Pulotu needed a ride to the Irmo building. I gotta say transfer meetings are way better when you know you and your companion are staying haha. Elder Pulotu was transferred out into Greenville so he went pretty far. Elder Jeff's new companion is ELDER HUNTSMAN. He came out with me in the MTC and he was in my district there. I was way happy to hear that. He and Elder Jeffs are getting along super well and it's nice to see him around again. He's had a rough time since he came out and he's dealt with a lot of stuff that he shouldn't have and he's definitely learned a lot. I got to see a lot of missionaries that I've met since I came out at this transfer meeting too. Elder Rodriguez was being transferred so I got to see him too! He's lost 40 pounds since I last saw him! He was so skinny it was insane. He's tiny now haha. He's doing really great right now too.
Transfers was fun and so was Fort Jackson this week. I was able to teach Pvt. Mei (May) about The Gospel of Jesus Christ since she has been wanting to get baptized for some time now. She was really great to talk to and she definitely is going to be solid for baptism soon. I talked a lot about that with her and she's praying for a day that she thinks she wants to have it done, along with some other things that she wants answers to. It was one of the better lessons I've taught at Fort Jackson and I really enjoyed getting to know her. I also met a soldier that was from Cedar Hill, Texas after church too! So that was cool.
Other than those two days, the week went by really good too. The ward had a trunk or treat and they had Elder Root and I and the Sisters run the games for the kids and judge the costumes haha. It was a good time to be with the members and other non members that they brought to the activity. A lot of less active members showed up too which was great. The next day after the activity was Halloween and so we were on lock down for the night. We pretty much all just hung out together and ate candy.
But then the next morning I woke up to Elder Jeffs telling me that there was snow outside. I thought he was messing with me at first, but then I looked out the window AND THERE WERE HUGE SNOWFLAKES SHOOTING DOWN TO THE GROUND. I was so excited haha! It came out of nowhere and there was a lot of it too! Apparently it only snowed in Lexington and Chapin throughout the whole state. It hadn't snowed on that day here in South Cackalaka since 1889. Pretty cool. It melted by the end of the day, but dang it was freezing. It's been around 30-40 degrees since then. It's nice to not have to worry about the heat anymore haha. I'm pretty happy about that.
Other than that. We weren't really able to teach our investigators this week. We had a lot of meetings, and we had to drive to Charleston for a doctor's appointment. Every time we tried to see Logan and Janet, they weren't home, and they texted us on Sunday saying they were going to be at church, but they didn't show up. We'll have to see what's up with them.
We were able to teach the Restoration to a lot of members though since that's what our mission is pushing right now. That has been going great and it's help the members see what we teach and like us better. It's always a good experience. The members here are really great people and getting to know a lot of them has been a blast.
I'm mostly just really happy with where I'm at right now. Elder Root and I are always having a great time together and my mission has been flying by faster than it ever has before. I can't believe that it's been about 9 months now. It's been great. I think that this week I've looked back at where I've been and who I've met since I came out and I feel like I've made a lot of changes about myself for the better and I've definitely learned more than I ever have before. It's crazy how fast the Lord can push you to learn new things and to become better when you're actually doing what you're supposed to and helping others so much! I definitely could not have done any of it without His help. The perspective I've gained, the knowledge I've learned, and the witness of so many things that I've built in such a short amount of time has been unreal. It's a roller coaster man. I think if I summed up this week in a phrase it would just be "Man I'm so glad I came out on my mission." Because I really am. If it wasn't a good thing for me to do I definitely wouldn't be having as much fun as I am now haha.
Anyway, that's this week. I hope y'all had a great week too!
Elder Bills