Busy August
Hey everyone! I pretty much just copied what I wrote to my Mom and sent it to you, hopefully you can follow along well enough. I don't have much time to elaborate on some things.
This was a crazy week! Early in the week, I watched as Elder Parker left for Macon and then on to home. It reminded me so much that I'm not too far behind and it's a crazy thought. I already miss him and can only look forward to talking to him and seeing him again soon. I worked with Elder Rice and Elder McKee (the other companionship in the apartment) the rest of the week, while we waited for Transfer Meeting on Friday.
Friday was Transfer Meeting. Pres. Bowman wanted to try a different setup than Pres. Evanson had previously implemented. Instead of using members to take us all up to Macon to meet, we met in three different places and we used the mission vehicles. When we got to the meeting, no one knew what was going on. Even though I didn't even know, I stepped up to help out as much as I could. Everything eventually worked out though, so I guess I can't complain.
My new companion is Elder Stoddard from Penryn, CA. He's a great guy and he'll keep me working all the way up until I head home. I found out earlier in the week, but on Friday, we officially took over another Zone, doubling our size. We are now in charge of 15 missionary companionships in like 8 cities around south Georgia. What that means is a LOT more work! We'll be gone at least one day a week (sometimes more) being in other areas, helping the work. The pressure will also still be on us to baptize and serve in Albany. Two more Elders were put in Albany, also, bringing the number to 6. With the traveling, we've been given more miles to cover such a large area & Zone.
I was really frustrated by all of the changes, especially since we've been totally left in the dark as to the changes until the minute we need to act. I didn't even get a phone call about our Zone doubling until Saturday morning, the day after I NEEDED to know... but the phone call from Pres. Bowman was actually really nice. He counciled with me and took my opinion and advice on matters related to such a large Zone. Then he paid me a compliment, telling me that I should look at this responsibility and added work as a measure of what he feels about me and my capabilities. It was nice to hear that, because previously he pretty much ignored me.
We also moved apartments. Because the other 4 Elders will be sharing a car it made no sense for us to live with one of those sets as we had previously done and required them to drive across town to exchange the car. We moved in where the Senior Sisters previously lived. It's a MUCH nicer place and we got all of the best furniture too! We spent part of Friday night and Saturday trying to get the apartment organized and then we spent a terrible amount of time on Saturday planning for the next six weeks. Since we have 4 District Leaders that report to us, it was almost a nightmare trying to get coordinated with them.
Yesterday was a good day, we kind of took it easy, seeing a couple of members and then going out to the Bishop's so the new missionaries could get to know the family.
Today, we're running a little late, because a member took us to WalMart today and bought us all kinds of things that we needed for the apartment (and groceries too). She spent over $400 on us. We tried to just buy what we needed and get the cheap stuff, but every time we did that, she would tell us to buy the nice stuff. It was so nice, as we would've had almost nothing without her. She kept telling us not to worry about it, because her and her husband were sitting really comfortably and this wouldn't even put a dent into their budget. It was like Christmas... but we barely splurged... except for some ice cream!
This week will be very busy. We leave tonight for Tifton, to catch a ride tomorrow to Macon for our Zone Leader meeting. That will take all day and we won't be home until late tomorrow. Then Wednesday we'll spend most of the day preparing for 2 almost identical meetings that we'll have to conduct on Thursday, one in Albany and one in Thomasville, GA. With all of the travel and meeting time, the whole day will be spent. Hopefully we'll get some time to see some people this week in between meetings and such. My last 12 weeks are going to fly right on by at this rate.
That's all for here.
This was a crazy week! Early in the week, I watched as Elder Parker left for Macon and then on to home. It reminded me so much that I'm not too far behind and it's a crazy thought. I already miss him and can only look forward to talking to him and seeing him again soon. I worked with Elder Rice and Elder McKee (the other companionship in the apartment) the rest of the week, while we waited for Transfer Meeting on Friday.
Friday was Transfer Meeting. Pres. Bowman wanted to try a different setup than Pres. Evanson had previously implemented. Instead of using members to take us all up to Macon to meet, we met in three different places and we used the mission vehicles. When we got to the meeting, no one knew what was going on. Even though I didn't even know, I stepped up to help out as much as I could. Everything eventually worked out though, so I guess I can't complain.
My new companion is Elder Stoddard from Penryn, CA. He's a great guy and he'll keep me working all the way up until I head home. I found out earlier in the week, but on Friday, we officially took over another Zone, doubling our size. We are now in charge of 15 missionary companionships in like 8 cities around south Georgia. What that means is a LOT more work! We'll be gone at least one day a week (sometimes more) being in other areas, helping the work. The pressure will also still be on us to baptize and serve in Albany. Two more Elders were put in Albany, also, bringing the number to 6. With the traveling, we've been given more miles to cover such a large area & Zone.
I was really frustrated by all of the changes, especially since we've been totally left in the dark as to the changes until the minute we need to act. I didn't even get a phone call about our Zone doubling until Saturday morning, the day after I NEEDED to know... but the phone call from Pres. Bowman was actually really nice. He counciled with me and took my opinion and advice on matters related to such a large Zone. Then he paid me a compliment, telling me that I should look at this responsibility and added work as a measure of what he feels about me and my capabilities. It was nice to hear that, because previously he pretty much ignored me.
We also moved apartments. Because the other 4 Elders will be sharing a car it made no sense for us to live with one of those sets as we had previously done and required them to drive across town to exchange the car. We moved in where the Senior Sisters previously lived. It's a MUCH nicer place and we got all of the best furniture too! We spent part of Friday night and Saturday trying to get the apartment organized and then we spent a terrible amount of time on Saturday planning for the next six weeks. Since we have 4 District Leaders that report to us, it was almost a nightmare trying to get coordinated with them.
Yesterday was a good day, we kind of took it easy, seeing a couple of members and then going out to the Bishop's so the new missionaries could get to know the family.
Today, we're running a little late, because a member took us to WalMart today and bought us all kinds of things that we needed for the apartment (and groceries too). She spent over $400 on us. We tried to just buy what we needed and get the cheap stuff, but every time we did that, she would tell us to buy the nice stuff. It was so nice, as we would've had almost nothing without her. She kept telling us not to worry about it, because her and her husband were sitting really comfortably and this wouldn't even put a dent into their budget. It was like Christmas... but we barely splurged... except for some ice cream!
This week will be very busy. We leave tonight for Tifton, to catch a ride tomorrow to Macon for our Zone Leader meeting. That will take all day and we won't be home until late tomorrow. Then Wednesday we'll spend most of the day preparing for 2 almost identical meetings that we'll have to conduct on Thursday, one in Albany and one in Thomasville, GA. With all of the travel and meeting time, the whole day will be spent. Hopefully we'll get some time to see some people this week in between meetings and such. My last 12 weeks are going to fly right on by at this rate.
That's all for here.
Posted by: Jon
Comment (1)
12:56 AM
hey elder dilts!!! this is sister carter aka becky... sounds like there is a ton of changes and that president bowman is a wonderful man. i hope that you are handling the stress of being a leader. what a handfull.
i have been reading your blogs from month to month and it is nice to hear what is going on in the mission. thanks for keeping us updated.
i hope that you are well and happy and find a lot of success... cherish what you have left, it sure will fly REALLY fast.
take care!
love your friend, becky
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