September 11, 2012
Well this is an interesting week to report on! This would be one of those roller coaster weeks!
So last week I reported that we got
a new companion, Elder Nelsen. He is great and I really do love him! The branch
already loves him (obviously, he is deaf!) and he is such a hard worker! The
three of us really were busting our butts this week trying to get some new
stuff going for us. And it worked! We have a teaching pool of around 8 or 9 now
(half of them are actually really solid) and we found two new investigators! It
was a really good week and we had some really good lessons with them.
Unfortunately, due to the lack of cars among them, there was no one that was
able to show up for church. This was ok because we had a really good experience
while at church with the branch and the speakers that were there. Brother
Agardy came with the High Councilor from his ward and it was great to see him
speak! It was a super spiritual meeting! I am going to start to really understand
sign language now (or it will kill me) because I am using it so much! Now I get
to use it all day as I converse with Elder Nelsen, I usually interpret when we
have a hearing person come to the branch, I interpret for the entire YSA ward,
and I interpret for whenever we are with people that don't sign. Imagine
how many people that is.....every time we go to a store....every time we go out
to eat....every time we talk to someone on the street...and whenever we visit
anyone that is not deaf......it is a lot! But that is ok! Because I will be a
pro sometime in the future!
We also were able to go the the
temple this week! That was honestly one of the best and most spiritual
experiences in my life! It has been a long time since I have been. About 4 months,
I don't think I have gone that long missing the temple since I turned 12. Maybe
when I was a little younger but it is totally different now actually going
through. That was one of the best days ever! It felt like home! It really did!
We were able to have the ASL going for Elder Nelsen and it was cool to see that
again. It actually showed me how far I have come with the language as I was
able to understand everything they said! And I am not exaggerating! I
understood everything! But the best part was the Celestial room! The feeling in
that room is not of the world. Having been so long without that peace, it was
even more apparent. I couldn't help but have the biggest smile on my face the
whole time we were in there! Also there was some serious revelation being
received there! I received an answer to a question that I have had since day 1
in the MTC! It was beautiful! Also Elder Bradley received some cool revelation
that we discussed in there. And then as everyone else left, there was only me
and Elder Maughn left in there. He came over from the other side of the room
and shared some revelation that he had just received about his life. It was
such a great experience! Few experiences can build friendship like that. It
truly was an amazing day! That was a good example of our week till Sunday.
Sunday night however is when the roller coaster dropped......
So being transfers, we had a few
other companionships come over to our place to be with us for the calls. We had
popcorn and cards and all of that jazz! It was fun! We waited for a long time
for the calls to come.....and then they came. The other Elders went into the
other room one by one as they were called to get their calls. Of course we
weren't going to be moved! We were doing good, having a good week, and why
would they move any of us. So.....when our phone started ringing, I was
startled! It was Elder Walker (the new AP, I love him! And funny story,
he knows the Sweeten family from Moab! Ha-ha) and he asked me to put it on
speaker phone. Then he told us that Elder Bradley is getting transferred to New
Mexico!! What the?!? Why?! He only has the one transfer left and they are
sending him to white wash an area! Oh I was not happy at all! I guess that
shows how good of a guy Elder Bradley is. We have been together for 7.5 months
and I was so disappointed when he has to leave! Also that changes so much for
me! Now I will only be with Elder Nelsen which means I am going to have to
weather the "Deaf Pride" storm alone. I will also have to interpret
everything now; Elder Bradley would whenever he could. And then I found out
that my district will be changing as well. And two of my best friends in my
zone will also be transferred to the other side of the mission. The two areas
that are really doing well are gone. That was a rough night for me. I mean, it
wasn't that bad but I allowed my emotions to get the best of me and I was
extremely disappointed and even angry. I don't think I have been angry since
the MTC! It has been a long time! Ha-ha
It is ok, I came to terms with it
and accepted it later that night and everything is good now. I am just a little
stressed about doing this alone. Don't get me wrong, I love Elder Nelsen; it is
just going to be really different now. We will do great things and I am excited
for the opportunity to learn, but I will now be the only hearing person most of
the time. That actually is a big difference. But I did ask for this, this is
the answer to all of my prayers! I now can become very skilled in sign, we will
now have some success start to happen in the branch, the branch will be taken
care of and I know what is going to happen now where before it was uncertain.
This will be a good experience! This roller coaster will continue this week to
a high point as we will be getting the opportunity to have Elder Ballard come
down to speak with us! I am so excited for that! Also I heard about Utah State beating
the Ute’s......GO AGGIES!! :)
Well....that was my week! We'll see
where it goes from here!
Elder Banner
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