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| Bratislava District |
Well things have been
rolling and we're now at the new transfer already, it's really interesting
because this transfer for has gone by super quickly but when I look back at
certain moments they seem extremely far away, such as my surgery that I had at
the beginning of the transfer now seems crazy far away. And just when Elder
Boysen came it feels like the person who I was at the beginning of the transfer
compared to now is completely different in regard to working sense. I feel like
I have just learned how to really work and how to do things if I want to have
success. I did feel as if this next transfer packed less of a punch than the
last ones because the last ones were really wild and exciting because of
training and being a zone leader were all surprising to me that they would
happen at all, let alone so quickly. But this transfer, I kind of knew who my companion was going
to be and that I was staying as a zone leader and stuff like that so it wasn't
as crazy or fun and exciting as previous transfer calls but at the same time I'm
excited about what I'm going to be able to accomplish this transfer. I'm
expecting at least 1 baptism in the following weeks with maybe more closer to
the end so I'm pumped about that. I suppose we'll see where this transfer takes
us but I'll start with what happened this week.
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| Zone Leaders, Elder Boysen and Elder Ferrell- The 6' 8" Elder Boysen returns home to Great Britain this week. Elder Ferrell says that he has learned so much from Elder Boysen. |
Well, I suppose the first
thing that I should mention is my new companion, which is in fact, Elder
Ringger. I somewhat expected this but President wasn't 100% concrete in having
him come here at this time. And was thus talking to Elder Boysen and me about it
before-hand. I think I had figured out in his mind what he had on plan. My
theory is that I will be here for this next transfer and then another Elder will
be coming in to take me place.
In retrospect, I think that I will probably be going to Zilina next transfer and
leaving Bratislava, of course, everything is all dependent on what president
McConkie wants from me and from the rest of the zone, but that's just what I
think could happen. As well, the sisters were a little shaken up this transfer
in the respect that Sister Johnson left Zilina and went to the Czech Republic in
a city called Mlada Boleslav, and Sister Scerra, a sister from the transfer
after me, is now in Trencin. So that's exciting for them. The district here is
Elder Calderon as district leader with Elder Sharp, Elder Mason with Elder
Christensen, and Sister Wilson with Sister Belibi Minya. So that's the district
for this transfer, I'm pumped to work around them and that my first son, Elder
Christensen, is also here!
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| Sisters and Elders in Zilina |
Other than that, this
week was a killer week for me and Elder Boysen, we found so many people and we
taught a ton of lessons that we stopped counting a few member lessons that we
thought weren’t 100% lessons but that we could have called them as such. We just
had a great time finding new people and we actually found a kid who was really
nice and really interested and wants to follow this religion but he actually
leaves for New Jersey this Tuesday, but we gave him a book of Mormon and the
number to call the missionaries in New Jersey and he also gave us his email and
I plan on keeping in touch with him while he's there. He was very adamant that
we find him the number for the people in New Jersey, and says I hope your people
there can help me while I'm there and make it a good trip. He's working there
for a summer job and studies medicine, and returns back on the 16th of September. So quite a long time
away, but still we may have another member when he gets back :). As well as we
met with a ton of other people who we committed to come to church but
unfortunately they didn't make it a few forgot and a few had other plans but
said they would come if it was bad weather. Thus we were praying for bad
weather, but it never happened. We had also a miracle with the fireside with the
member of the seventy and the leaders of the church in that we had 3 people
there and there was 2 parts to it, 1 for the women and then 1 for everyone. S we
had 1 investigator who went up to sister Reeves and said I'm not a member of
your church, but I might get baptized, maybe soon. When Sister Reeves said
that the spirit told her to ask everyone to share their conversion stories, and
she changes her entire plan and focused the lesson on Anna, our investigator. As
well as we went contacting with a member because our lesson cancelled and we
talked to a woman who latched on to the member and then came that same day to
the fireside and loved it and said she would try to come to church but couldn't
because she has an operation on Wednesday but really over our meeting that we had, all in
all, an epic week working with people for sure.
Well, that's pretty much
everything that I have this week. Elder Boysen is still here because he doesn't
leave until Wednesday morning
because his flight doesn't leave until Thursday and on Wednesday they do an interview and dinner for all the
returning missionaries and so he doesn't leave until then so he'll still be
here. Another cool thing is that as zone leaders, twice a transfer we have a
missionary leadership council in that we meet and discuss what to train on.
Well, Elder Teixeira of the seventy is training us this time next week. So me
and Elder Ringger and the sister trainer leaders will have our own private
meeting with president and Elder Teixeira, so that's really awesome. Then I also
might be conducting the training for Elder Teixeira next week as I'm the senior
zone leader. So a lot of cool things that are happening this transfer. It's
weird because sometimes I am a little down when I begin to write this letter but
as I write it, it kind of picks me back up, and it’s really fascinating.
Anyway, I haven't gotten my license yet but president said he would bring it
down when we have the meeting with Elder Teixeira so by then I'll be able to
drive and do everything which is good because Elder Ringger has no license
because it got stolen and hasn’t asked his dad to get on getting him a new one,
so he can't send away for his international one ha-ha. The license has just been
taking a really long time and frustrates me but its fine, I guess it's here now
and I'll be able to drive soon. Well that's everything thanks for all the help
and the emails and all of the support, I love you all and miss you all. You're
wonderful, make sure you're all being safe!
Elder Ferrell
Congratulations, Elder Ferrell and family! If I've got my math right, that's 12 months, 2 areas, 6 companions, 2 "sons", 1 broken ankle, 1 surgery, 2 leadership callings, dozens of solos, duets, singing displays and concerts, and thousands of people invited to hear the restored gospel of Jesus Christ... what an eventful, successful, outstanding year. Trees were felled, concrete was laid, buckets were lowered from balconies, epic train journeys were undertaken, halusky was consumed, vocabulary was memorized, blessings were given, invitations were extended, knees were bent, hearts were softened, minds were enlightened. Well done, thou good and faithful servant!
ReplyDeleteAnd now the months are really going to evaporate like the dews upon the grass; you'll be counting down now instead of counting up.
May this coming year of mission life be just as fulfilling, enriching, and interesting as the last (but without the health emergencies!). With very best wishes to you all, from the Jones family.