Transferred to Alice Springs!!!

Email #91
Area: Alice Springs
Companion: Elder Olsen

Excerpts from Mom's email:

Hey Mom!

Well I have a lot of crazy news! First off am update on transfers! So I have been transferred! You won't believe where.... Alice Springs!!! I will be training a new missionary names Elder Olsen! I was so surprised! President told me in his email "I want you to know that I have been having the strongest impression the past three or four weeks that you would be going to Alice Springs. This is the will of our Heavenly Father and I've had the spiritual confirmation that this is where you are needed and supposed to be at this time." I hope that gives you the same feeling it gave me! I'm excited! I'm ready for a fresh start to finish strong!

Sorry for emailing so late I just arrived in Alice about 20 min ago BTW.

Anyway my only concern was that I would miss Ford's sealing, but he even addressed that saying "I know this will be disappointing as it will not allow you to be in Adelaide for the temple with your past convert. I am sorry about that but I truly know that this is what Heavenly Father wants for your mission--not for you to be denied the blessing of Alice Spring for a worthy desire like attending the temple."

I've never had such mixed feeling about a transfer ever. A lot of sad things... I love the ward so much that I was in!!! My companion and I finally figured things out and aligned nicely. I will miss many missionaries so much that I might not see again. It is sad to leave all of that.

On the bright side, I have a fresh new start! Elder Olsen is awesome! I hear Alice Springs is amazing! I'm really just excited for the next transfer. Oh I'm the district as well and the funny thing is that the district and zone is comprised of 7 missionaries and a senior couple. So that's funny those under my stewardship are the zone leaders and the northern Territory STLs. I know some of them pretty well because I've met most of them except my companion and one of the elders. Should be a fun transfer though.

Here is some bad news that I don't think you will really like, but it is not all that bad. The pacific area presidency has requested that we would discontinue talking over email back and forth with family including using the google hangouts feature. So I won't be able to talk to you back and forth on Mondays anymore, but that's not to bad because I don't have all that long left. I can still email you the of coarse and you can send as much as you want, I just can't reply. I'll just try to put as much as I can in emails and make it worth it. Maybe send questions you want answer in emails as well if you want, but make sure it is prior to Monday so I can read them before.

Well this past week was actually pretty good. My companion and I had figured things out for the most part and had a really good week serving together. I found out on Saturday that I was packing and so we made Sunday the best that we could. It also so happened to be Elder Turcotte birthday so we did a lot. I went to say goodbye to a lot of people who I would miss, mostly being members. They have served us so much and I am so grateful for each of them!

We also had our mission tour this past week with President Haleck! I had learned so much from the MLC (Mission Leadership Council) he attended and as well for the multi zone conference that we had. It reminds me back to when Elder Stevenson visited the mission over a year ago. Always a spiritual feast to be a part of and it is crazy just how much you learn.

We recieved some training on how to use the new Light the World program and it should be huge! Much of the training was on setting goals. We learned in the eld that President Haleck feels with the way the mission is right now, we could be the leading mission in 2019 in the pacific area with an exception to only a few missions that are basically far beyond. It was an honest and exciting thought. I believe that is possible as well and that would be a huge jump from where we are right now. It's unfortunate I won't be here to see it, but I will be watching from a distance.

On Sunday, like I said we went to many homes! We started with coordination Meeting and turns out our WML's wife had lunch prepared for us. From there we went to a recent converts home where one of his non member friends was there (she also came to church and she is not taking the discussions). They gave us cake and everything because of my comps birthday and that I was leaving. We continued to have this special treatment all day haha. Another member from Africa really wanted me to try her Fufu dish before I left so she made that for us and we had to pick it up. Then we went to dinner at bishops house and they fed us heaps including one of the best cakes I've ever had that she made from scratch!!! At this point I was just soooo full and we still had one more visit for the night. We went to the Davison's home were their less active son had a non member there for dinner. We couldn't attend dinner, but we said we can try for dessert. So we get there already filled and they have more ice cream and sweets for us..... Haven't been that full since Mildura!! What an end to my time there that was! Again, the members were a huge light there since it wasn't the most successful area work wise.

Well love you and have a great week!


Excerpts from Dad's email:

Hey dad!

I'll try to include as much as I possibly can, but idk how much I have. I am emailing on my phone since I just got here, but I can't use the instant messaging anymore anyway. Ask mom about it. So yeah sorry about that I am disappointed to.

I will be talking to president my next interview about my departure date and should be recieveing word from the mission office soon for a estimation. Pretty crazy how fast time is flying. If you haven't heard from mom yet, I'm going to Alice springs! I have now served in almost every zone in the mission, but two (City and Modbury) which I am okay with not going there haha.

From what I have so far learned about my new area, it might be some what similar to Katherine. My companion is from Utah I think so it will be cool to have him. Training again is pretty exciting! President literally told me that he needs a trainer more then he needs a zone leader right now. There are so many missionaries coming into the mission so we need more trainers. I figured I would train at some point because he warned me about it a while back that he want missionaries to finish missions as the trainers to raise up a new generation of missionaries.

I'll have to give you the full down low about Alice once I have experienced it, but from what I have heard it is a cool experience! I've always wanted to serve there so we will see how it goes. Only worry is it is super hot, but that's okay I will adjust... maybe. At least I can come home with a good tan! It's 35 today when I flew in.

I'm excited to be working with the little aboriginal kids again!!! That will be so great! That was my favorite part, so I hope it will be similar. I hear we have communities there as well. A huge bright side to coming here at the end of the mission is that when a Missionary goes to Alice, they always come back with dirty cloths stained a reddish color from the sand. I won't have to worry about that haha.

Lots of members from America, because I guess there is a military base here.

The flat I am in is pretty nice and comfortable. Luckily the air con is super good in it so that will be nice!!

Besides all that good stuff, I am doing well! I have taken my rear view mirrors down and am just looking forward from here.

Love you heaps and have a good week!