Transfers Again!!!

Hi Everyone!

It is amazing how quickly transfers come and go out here. Tomorrow marks 6 months since I reported to the training center! It is pretty crazy!

And... I'm staying in Loveland in the Bison Ridge Ward for another transfer. Elder Clark is transferring to another ward in Loveland. However, this time I REALLY don't know who my companion will be. I believe today is his last day at the MTC. There are about 12 Elder missionaries who are coming to the mission and one of them will be my companion. It'll be interesting. One of the two new missionaries in my District this transfer only would eat meat and bread for dinner. The only things he would buy at the store are coco puffs, microwavable mac & cheese, and pop tarts. He said he has never eaten a piece of fruit in his life and doesn't like/eat vegetables. I don't know how he made it to 22 years of age and isn't dead of malnutrition! I know that new missionaries are a little crazy and on fire when they come from the MTC (that's what I was like). I am excited and hopeful for this transfer with the opportunity to train.

Fun news, last Monday I went golfing! It was pretty awesome. I think I lost 10 golf balls on 9 holes. :) But I hit some of them far, though most were sideways. I don't think any of them actually went where I tried to hit them. I have a lot more respect for professional golfers; golfing is definitely not an easy sport. Two retired grandpas in our ward took us to the driving range and golfing and then to lunch. That was SUPER nice of them since it is not free! They are awesome. My companion and I had never gone golfing before.

For the last 4 months the missionaries in this ward have been working with the Ramirez family. Primarily we work with Gabe, the head of the household. We have been there at least 1x/wk and sometimes 3-4 talking with him, sharing some lessons, and helping him with service. Although he is only 55, his body is not in the best shape. Before I came to the ward, Elder Hendrix and his companion would invite him to church and drop by before church to make sure he was going. Never worked. He came with Elder Hendrix and I once to pray in the church building on a weekday and once with Elder Clark and I to do the same thing. Two weeks ago we almost were able to help his 30-yr-old son get to church, but we weren't able to get him a ride. Then the next week he said he would be there and his son would and maybe more people, but it didn't happen again. We were in their house and he wouldn't get out of bed or something. It was pretty disheartening. So the next week (this past week) when we finally were able to meet with him Saturday, I committed him to church about 6 times in 1 minute. Will you come to church? For sure? Will you keep your word? etc. My companion thought it was excessive. It was excessive, but I wanted it to actually happen!!! AND IT DID!!! *exhale. He made it by the end of the opening song. And I felt pretty fulfilled. Talking with him after, he said it was not as weird/different as everyone makes it out to be. I am so happy he could see that. Yes, a church service at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is different than other church services. I am glad that he trusted us enough to go even when his friends and some relatives were telling him negative things. And he said he wants to come next week! I'm proud of him for making that step that had been a long time coming. Missionaries have been a part of his family coming over for multiple years and this was the first time he made it to church. Yay!

 

Elder Campbell