Taking The Reins

This week was my new missionary's third week. He's pretty capable so I decided to throw him to the wolves by letting him "lead" in planning. I even left him in the area "alone" on an exchange for a day. It was nice to see that he did pretty well! Training after having been a missionary for 21 months is a more relaxing experience -- because I'm more willing to let him lead because while I still have room to improve, I've seen that I know how to do it already...and don't mind letting him try.

 

We will have a special baptism this Saturday. The lady we've been meeting with has such a strong and special spirit and is full of questions. It's refreshing for a person like me to have someone who enjoys asking so many questions...since I do the same! However, as she's been reading the Book of Mormon and attending church she has found the answers she is looking for and seems excited and ready to take the next step.

 

We are also starting to keep very busy in our new area. For example, tonight my companion and I will be "split" from 6-9pm because we have too many appointments and cannot make them all. That's a good problem to have!

 

Elder Bolling

The Old Becomes New

At the beginning of my mission, I started in Draper in some of the most affluent stakes in our mission. Now, as my mission begins to come to a close, I am returning to a similar environment. For this transfer I will be training Elder Hansen, a new missionary, in the South Mountain stake. The most exciting part of that is that I am serving in the same stake where a former missionary who taught me lives. In fact, his family is helping us fellowship and teach someone in the stake! What a small world!

 

Now, we have to talk about where we live. I'm learning about "finer living". We have our own separate guest house which is nice enough in its own right. In addition, our landlord has offered home-service dry cleaning once a week, stocking of our apartment with food, and the service of weekly cleaning. I always knew people lived like that...I just haven't experienced it myself. When Jesus talked about receiving "mansions on high" for faithful following of his commandments, I didn't know this was what he meant!

 

It is also a nice relief to be back in a family stake. I love all of the young single adults, however, there's something refreshing about the dynamics of a family ward. There are always lots of crazy kids running around and things are a lot more lively. On top of that, we have the opportunity to teach families instead of just individuals.

 

Elder Bolling