Hunter Lake 2

 

Last monday was our last Zone activity for the transfer. It's crazy how fast the last 6 weeks have gone by. It does not seem like too long ago that I was living out of my suitcase back in Summit Ridge. We actually got to go back there on Monday because we needed to do our laundry. It ended up taking forever because we had to dry our clothes like 3 times each because the dryer is some straight boof. Anyway some Sisters in the Zone got together and made a poster for me and Elder Erickson who is going to Ghana in like a week so that's super exciting. But it was so awesome because everyone got to sign it--so it's sort of like my Reno transfer journal. It's so cool though because the sisters put SOOOOO much effort into it. I have it right above my desk so I look at it all the time. I consider it a prized masterpiece. The rest of that day was pretty fun except I came in second with chair soccer so that was lame, BUT it brought me back to the good ol' days as a Barracuda playing soccer my senior year. 

It is wild to think about how fast December came up. I remember exactly where I was at the beginning of last December. December is when most missionaries get really trunky which basically means they want to pack up their trunk and go home. It is for good reason too. You are out here preaching family togetherness and peace while you are far away from home and family.  It's also definitely weird knowing that my whole family is going to be moving for Christmas, soooo I guess I dodged a bullet there. It also makes me pretty sad that my whole Zone is changing up this transfer. For one, 3 missionaries are going home and they were all super awesome. I can't really tell If I'm jealous of them or just really sad they are leaving, but I wish them the best. I don't really even know why I care so much considering I am going to be packing my bags in about 10 days.

On Wednesday the Zone Leaders called and said they needed help with some service, so I spent 2 hours digging this giant hole. I love digging holes. It sounds weird but it's just you and the ground and you can see the progress you are making and no matter how far you dig, there's always one more scoop. It reminded me of what a Sister in my Zone said about seasons in missionary work. This sister told us that, yes, the field may seem like its ready to harvest but sometimes it's sowing season, and you have to put in the hard work of planting all of the seeds so then the next person can reap the harvest. It made me feel better especially considering our area has put 5 people on date and none of them have been baptized (yet).

At home I have an old felt advent calendar that I have been using since I was like 4. For some reason in my journal I wrote down exactly what December 3rd was: it's a little green tree. We have had our missionary Christmas tree up since August but that's neither here nor there. For some reason the sisters dropped off a ton of food for us. We didn't know the reason until we found out that they are moving the sisters out, and Elders are coming in their place. Like I mentioned before, the whole Zone is changing. 

I did appreciate the muffins they brought over though. Also that night we had some  REALLY good chicken pot pie. I love chicken, right. And I love pie nearly just as much. Imagine if both of those things were put together. I always pick up one of those Marie Calendar ones from the store and that is something Elder Dalton hooked me up with because he has a slight addiction to those.

Friday I had exchanges with an Elder who's really been struggling with his companion. They both have grown pretty unproductive and are sort of just waiting for transfers. I really had to tug his leg to get him to work with me, but we actually ended up having a pretty good day. We had a really good comp study and we planned a lesson which I don't think he's ever done. We were out doing some contacting and we started talking to this guy who is always outside his apartment drinking some coffee/smoking. I oughta just slide a word of wisdom pamphlet under his door, but anyway he said he was sort of on his own spiritual hunt and appreciated us talking to him. That's the classic missionary-contact line "I really appreciate it but I'm not interested."

Saturday we helped with a move and we moved this enormous wardrobe thing. The people we were moving had these super bossy friends that were helping us move so that was fun. They never let the missionaries helping do anything right. They were like "how dare you put that box right there" and "what were you possibly thinking putting that old bag into the donation pile." So yeah super fun. But they did pay for our lunch so we went to Panda for like the 5th time this transfer. You know I had to get that beijing beef/orange chicken. Dang that place is fire. 

We had a super busy Sabbath day. By then we had also found out transfer news. Elder Hustead is going to Sparks while Elder Fuller is moving to another apartment but training in the same area. Elder Dalton is becoming a Zone Leader in Reno North and I am introducing 2 new Elders coming from Elko into the area. It's pretty crazy. The whole OG quad is getting split up. Elder Fuller is the lone survivor AGAIN. The news sort of got leaked and all the members were super sad. I remember being really depressed when one of the missionaries from my ward left. I remember all the good ones like Elder Lino, Elder Romero, Elder Withers, Elder Peck, and more. They were all super good Elders and it's weird now being in their position I only have one more Sunday here. It's flying by. I'm kind of sad I'm leaving. Everyone says to not forget about them and I already promised them I won't.

"My latest sun is sinking fast my race is nearly run" - Johnny Cash