Office Elder for a Day, Left the Mission, and Actual Emergency Transfer, and Temple Dedication

 So it turns out I don't know what "Emergency Transfer" means. I thought that they happen when normal transfers are changed but just to a place that wasn't planned. An actual Emergency Transfer is when I find out that my companion is going home right away, and I have to learn to direct the area I've had with less than two weeks in. We found out on Wednesday night that Elder Sanchez, my companion, was going to go home. Having my companion go home was stressful, and I was really worried about leading this area when there is so much I don't know. I'm not going to lie, there were times when I really wasn't sure I would make it this week, and I wondered if I should go home, too. But I've just stuck it through, and now I feel a lot better. There is a lot of value in "weathering the storm."


We thought Elder Sanchez was going to stay here until Tuesday (tomorrow), but then it got moved up to last Saturday early morning. Thursday we worked like normal, but on Friday Elder Sanchez had to pack. I cleaned the house a bit. With the transfer on Friday, we thought we'd leave for the mission office at 5:00 in the morning on Saturday, but it turned out that Elder Sanchez needed to be at the airport at 3:00 AM Saturday. So we spent all day getting him all packed up, and then left with the office Elders in their car at 7:30 PM Friday. I asked them if any of them knew what would happen with me getting my new companion. None of them knew for sure, but they did tell me I might be in a trio with a couple of them until Tuesday. I was a little worried about that because I hadn't packed stuff for that long.

I waited in the office for my new fate to arrive, but it turns out that President Ostler doesn't come to the office very often because he can do most of the work from his house.

While I was waiting, an Elder Valdovinos came up to me and asked if I wanted to run some errands with him. I hadn't had breakfast yet, and he said we could stop somewhere, so we went ahead to San Pedro. After we took care of some things, we went to the San Pedro Sula West Mission Office to pick up some things they left behind, but it turns out that Saturday is their P-Day, so I got to leave the mission for like 20 minutes. Pretty cool.

After we got back and got some Pizza Hut (It was amazing), we set out for William Hall to get more things for me, before we'd even left La Lima (that's where the office is), President called me on my phone and asked to talk with Elder Valdovinos. So he's actually now my companion. He's happy about it, because he gets to be a normal missionary and not work in the office anymore (he's been there as a secretary for six and a half months of his 14.5 months here). He's from Los Angeles, but both of his parents are from Mexico. It is really cool working with him in an area neither of us knows. It is pretty good, and I feel really good about it now. With the Lord's help, we can do all things!

Yesterday we got to see the 2nd session of the San Pedro Sula Temple dedication from the Stake Center in Palermo. It was awesome. I am so grateful that there is a temple here close and that it has been dedicated. Elder Renlund gave his talk in Spanish, which was awesome! A recent convert named Thomas from La Masica gave a little talk. I knew him and his family when I was there. They're a super awesome family.

My spiritual thought this week is from John 8:32, which reads: "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." In this chapter, Jesus is teaching about how He is the Messiah. Lots of people didn't understand what He was saying, but those who did had a greater responsibility and freedom to follow Him. In the exact same way, we are free to choose, and whenever we learn a principle that is true, we have the choice and the freedom to decide whether we will or will not conform our lives to fit that principle. Truth and freedom are wonderful blessings, but there is also greater responsibility that accompanies them. 

Welp. That's all I've got. I hope you all are doing well and taking care. May God bless all of you.

Photos are:
Beautiful San Pedro Sula Temple 


Before he left, Elder Sanchez and I had some fun photographing me teaching Spiderman from the Book of Mormon.
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Elder Valdovinos and I

Two friends from La Masica were baptized! (The two girls in the middle are girls Elder Paton and I taught in my last area--I am so happy for them! They were sincere, and Mercy--the older one--used to love reading all of the pamphlets we gave her.) The bishop from La Masica is on the far left and Hermano Julio is on the far right.

Evil Bunny





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