Regarding transfer news, it was ALMOST what I anticipated. Yes, Elder Purcell is going upline to Kenema. As for me, I'm receiving a branch missionary. Ugh. That's even LESS than a greenie! At least greenies have MTC training. I don't even know who it is yet. I was really disappointed to not be training, especially with all of the others that are training in the coming transfer. I had hoped and prayed for it, but I guess the Lord has other ideas for me. Maybe the Lord just trusts me enough to handle a branch missionary. This transfer means I'm likely to be here for at least another 3 months, maybe 4.5 if I train. I'm just gonna get my feet sunk in here and get comfortable.
This week brought us an interesting experience. I think the best part about being a missionary is when you run out of your own ideas, and then turn yourself over to the Spirit to figure your predicaments out for you. This week was particularly cool.
We got done baptizing most of our teaching pool, and so our plan for that day was looking a little thin. We decided to schedule in an appointment for "Bro. Prepared Soul." We didn't know who, or where this person was, but we were determined to find him. When that time in the day was reached, Elder Purcell and I headed down the main road. We reached a certain junction, and both of us felt the need to turn right. We went down down down, and we reached a point where we ordinarily turn again, but this time, we felt that we needed to continue forward, so we did. We walked until we met a young man cooking in front of a shop (everyone here cooks on open fires. Stoves are pretty much unheard of). Yes, this was the man. We sat down, had a sweet lesson, and invited him to church.
Most of the time, first time contacts like this will never attend church unless a friend takes them. This time, however, he came. EARLY. He went to the branch that met before ours (at 9:00), stayed for all of their meetings, then went to our meeting (12:30) and stayed for all of OUR meetings! He has accepted a baptismal date, and we are so excited for this man. Having the Spirit with you like that is truly the best experience ever.
Yeah, sweet right? That's a trick I'm going to rely on later as our pool shrinks again. It just felt right at that particular time to go in no particularly predetermined direction to find someone that the Lord knew. It was so awesome!
As far as stuff to send me, the white shirts are holding up fantastically well. One of them has gone missing, which isn't hugely inconvenient, but it would be if I lost another one. I have eight, which gives me one for each day, and one to wear on P-Day while my others are drying outside. If you send another one, send something smaller than 16. The ones that I have wear really big on me. I'm considering having them sized. Slacks are okay, but one of mine got bleached a little. I don't really need any more... I still have the four I came with (including the one that saved my butt, well, more my legs, in that nasty crash). My shoes are doing fine. I just had them resoled, so they should last a LONG time (The guy basically glued a quarter inch of rubber on the underside. Yeah, even the mountain will struggle to spoil that!). That, and some new insoles. The ones on my current shoes are dying. I think that's about it! Oh! And a new thumb drive. I'll be sending you one very soon with all of my pictures/videos to date for Christmas. I'm sure you'll like that. :-)
So, yeah. I think that's mostly it! I guess we'll see what this week brings. New companion, new adventures. It'll only be for six weeks, so for better or worse, I'll make the best of it. Love you!
Love,
Elder Vaughan
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