A surprise ending

The heavy, humid, winter air had its cold grip on my entire body. We had just left the capilla after correlation finished (the first organized meeting I have done with members from my whole mission) I may never be a starving artist or a a struggling actor trying to make it in the big city, but I will always have this moment. My old black jacket that I bought in Ayolas, socks that I bummed off of some random missionary in the office, and my permanently stained white  &collar shirt tell the tale of my many experiences and shortcomings. My ties are old. My feet are tired. My voice is raspy from a sore throat. We put our hands in the middle of a crowded street corner. On the count of three, the four of us shout at the top of our lungs:

"¡SAN LORENZO!"

I had such a perfect ending in my mind. I had it all. Loved my area. Loved my comp. I knew all of the members. Many of the people we were teaching had come to church that Sunday. It was all looking like the fairytale ending I had imagined. But it was all too perfect. The Lord still wants me to grow. But I had never thought for once in my mind that I would finish my mission somewhere else. Some even say that I'm the "King of Encarnación." A flattering nickname that I may or may not have given myself. But 9 transfers is a long time to be I one zone. Or zone 1 ;)

A common theme throughout the conferences and counsels I have participated I have been "the area/comp may be different but the work is the same" I had always accepted the fact that I "could" leave but I didn't think I had too. 

But I've always been a sucker for a Surprise Ending.

I am in a city called San Lorenzo now. I love it. It's huge. It's a river of traffic and a symphony of sirens that echo through the tall buildings. It's the first time I have served in the "big city" and it's the closest I have been to Asuncion my whole mission. It's quite different than Encarnación and the Paraguay I'm used to, but it doesn't take too long still to walk and find yourself in the middle of the jungle. I've had to adjust in many ways but I'm learning a lot. The story that I started with was something that happened with my companion and the sisters that share this area with us. 

4 more weeks

Later ska8ters