It's been an interesting week

It's been transfer week so we spent almost no time proselyting and even less time sleeping, almost literally.  Ill try to give y’all a brief run down of some of the experiences.

Tuesday we 3packed with Elder Calaway and worked on transfers and did an emergency three way exchange. That was crazy. We got back to the office at 10:00 pm and we worked till after 2 am. 

Then Wednesday morning we got back to the office at 8 and worked until 5.  Then we went out and worked a little bit and went to an amazing meeting.  It was a priesthood-training meeting for recent converts and investigators who would soon be ordained priest or elders. It was incredible. The Spirit was so strong in that room as these men discussed how to be priesthood holders and they were being taught by leaders who hadn’t been in the church much longer than themselves! It was a powerful experience. Then Craig had his baptismal interview. He passed with flying colors.

Thursday we trained the new missionaries. It went really well. Then in the afternoon we taught a few lessons and found a bunch of new investigators. Then at night we got back with President and we worked late into the night. Transfers are such an incredible process. It is logical but still very spiritual. We wanted to submit the scenario but we worked in the area in the morning and then we worked all night.

Saturday morning we finalized everything and then we got all the packets and information ready to be delivered. Then we went to Craig's baptism!!!!!!  YAY! (I left my camera in the apt so I’ll have to show y’all the pictures in two years.)  It was an incredible experience. Craig is a navy veteran and a nuclear scientist and he has a testimony of the Book of Mormon.  It was a touching experience to hear him stand before the ward and bear his testimony, born of the Spirit. He's so, so smart but he has so much faith. His love for the Savior is inspiring. Craig has been on of my favorite investigators. I've taught no one else like him.

I love being a missionary.  I've spent the last however long of my life serving others but I’m the one who grows the most.  I think that's probably what Heavenly Father planned. That night we got a call at 10:30 that two sister missionaries had bed bugs so we gave up our mattresses and drove them up to drop them off. Thankfully I didn’t even feel tired. (D&C 84:33.)

Sunday was sad.  All the members said bye and that they'd miss me.  That made me feel good. Then we had a great dinner with the famous Ann Taylor.  Then we spent an hour with Sister Neider.   She's amazing.  Then we drove to California and back to pick up some elders. We didn’t get home ‘til super late and then we woke up at 4:30 to take President and Sister Neider to the airport. That was sad and hard.  I wanted to cry and not let them go.  I love them both so much, they've given me so much guidance over the last two years. I will miss them. But they said many kind words and even gave me a super sweet book.  All today we've been working in the office.  I love getting things done!

I’m just happy!

Life is good

I love you all so much

Sam

That's all folks!

I'm about to finish my 2nd week in the MTC!

omigosh the mtc is so fun!

jokes
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It's been a good week. We gave the last two zone conferences. I gave the same training 12 times and loved it each time.

It was interesting to see some missionaries grasp the skills and concepts and others who just let it all wash over their heads. I've learned on my mission the important lesson of being present. If you are somewhere, you need to want to be there. If you don't want to be there either change or repent. If you just sit through a meeting expecting it to be lame, you're going to be bored. But if you seek revelation you can receive it. Luckily I noticed that soon into my mission.

I guess it's like texting friends. If you want to talk to them so bad, why not just be with them. Do what you want but make sure that what you're doing is best. This is hard to explain and I don't know why I'm making you all listen to my rant. 

Craig is getting baptized on Saturday. I'm so excited. He's one of my absolute favorite investigators. I realized I haven't taught very many men in my mission.

This upcoming week is transfer week so we will probably be spending lots of time with President Neider. I'm excited to work on this and hopefully help him make all these things go smooth. 

Life is good here in Vegas. I don't have too much to write about. I got sunburned for the first time in like forever.

My life is so exciting and full of cool experiences but ... I just cant think of them right now.
Ya'll deserve better. 

Maybe sometime in the next two years I'll figure this thing out and send a half decent letter.

I love you all so much.

Sam

I feel like it was just yesterday that I was writing you all

It's been a good week.

Monday we had meetings.

Tuesday was a zone conference.

Wednesday was MLC. My last. And probably my favorite.

Thursday was a zone conference.

Friday was a ZTM. A zone leader was sick so I had to train at it.

Saturday was another ZTM that I was just there to evaluate. 

Sunday was church.

It went so fast!

I love all the things I get to do. I say it all the time, but training missionaries is like my favorite thing to do in the whole world. I really want to work at the MTC after I’m done being an RA.

It's been crazy with investigators this week. Everyone has been so busy with the end of school and with all our meetings it’s been hard to meet with them. So hopefully this upcoming week will be good and we can have more lessons.

I think Craig will be the last baptism I have on my mission. I think everyone else that we’re teaching will get baptized early July. I’ll be sad to miss them. But it's okay. I really love Craig. I've learned a lot from him and his excitement and faith. 13 days to read the Book of Mormon and his retention is incredible. He knew that Alma 13 was the chapter about the 'higher priesthood' that was cool. He will be getting baptized on the 21^st, more on that next week. 

I went on another exchange with Elder Sullivan. He's grown a lot. He's a really good missionary.

That's all I got.

I love you all so much.
Sam