-------- Forwarded Message --------
So I was wrong! Elder Finlinson was up in
Fairfield (Allen area), not in Gilmer. The guy that was in Gilmer (who
Elder Pattee replaced) did come to Plano, just not my companion. Elder
Finlinson is from Salt Lake City, and has been out for 20 months so
he'll more than likely die here, this is his second to last transfer!
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| This is the new district, Elder Finlinson is the one on the far left. |
We're wondering what's going to happen now though, because you usually
stay in an area for 3 transfers, which would mean we would leave the
area at the same time, but they typically don't double people out (both
companions leave and the area gets two new missionaries who don't know
anyone or anything of the work (definitely happens, just not
particularly often)). So either, I stay here for 4 transfers total
(which is a long time to be in an area, 6 months, which is not likely,
but not unheard of, Elder Pattee just served 4 transfers here), but more
likely this will be my last transfer here, so that Elder Finlinson and
teach the next person the area before he leave leaves. I'm going to be
sad, I love the branch here. You never know though!
(To "die" in an area means it's your last area before going home.)
More than half of the district got transferred, mostly banished out east.
Elder Pattee is out in Gilmer, one of the other sisters got sent to
Nacogdoches, the other Elder is just north of Tyler. It's kind of cool
to meet the new guys. When I first heard Elder Finlinson's name I didn't
remember it, but I remembered it was a Scandinavian country of some sort
lol, so I was trying to say his name to someone, and all I could think
of was Elder Denmarkson lol!
With Pattee gone it's been pretty hard to try and teach the area to
someone else, I'm still learning people's names myself! Elder Pattee had
been here for 6 months, so he knew everybody and where they lived, the
city, who's home when. I've been here for 6 weeks, and now I'm trying
to figure out who to stop by and who needs what. We're doin' alright
though.
We've started teaching a couple ladies, one from Colombia and one from
Guatemala, they just got here and live with a member and they really
like us, so that's cool. We also found a guy who's name is Cienfuegos,
which means One Hundred Fires, how cool is that name?? He's a member who
hasn't been active as far as anyone around here knows, but we were in
his neighborhood (one of the apps we use is a map app that has pins for
all the members, less actives, old investigators, etc.) and saw his name
and we were like um heck yeah we want to meet Mr. Hundred Fuegos. Turns
out he's from Mexico, and his wife is from Japan, what? The dad is the
only member. Supposedly they all speak Spanish, Japanese and English.
We're going to try and get to know them more.
Also this week we helped a member cut down most of a tree this week.
That was pretty fun. The Dad is from Chile and the Mom is from
Venezuela, and they're super nice. They have a son who served his
mission in Chile is headed out to BYU-Hawaii soon. One time she got mad
at Elder Pattee for being to skinny, and was concerned he wasn't eating
enough on his mission lol. Latter I realized my arms and neck, and my
face kind of, are all sunburnt! Sunburnt in March, what's up with that!
It's been like 70°s, 80°s, here lately. Some days in the morning it will
dip down to the 40°s or 50°s.
I love hearing about (almost) everything back home!
I got my bike! And tell the cats I miss them! Lol
Anyway not much else exciting going on, I'll email some more in a little bit.
Thank you!!!!! I love you
No armadillos yet, but we
found a tiny lizard, and a cicada (or however you spell it), Mom would
love em! They're just giant beetle things, this one was just a molted
shell or whatever:
(I believe the Book of Mormon is for size reference... haha)
