Transfers

"I was transferred down south to Fredericksburg!! We call it "the burg." The biggest stake geographically in the mission by far.  All the way south! I came from all the way north. The people are so nice! We live right by Mary Washington University.  We are the only companionship in the mission who covers a singles ward without another ward coupled with it. It is the Rappahannock singles branch. We cover the whole stake. This isn’t a typical BYU ward. I’ll ask them here and there, "so, you going to school right now?" "No."  "Oh, so you are just working then?"  "Well.....not really."  "Oh, ok...ya"  Then suddenly I am overcome with thirst and head hastily to the drinking fountain. 

A lot of the branch seems to be stuck here.  I don't blame them though, probably just a victim of circumstance. A lot of them do work and some go to Mary Washington. There are some fun people though! And there have been a bunch of baptisms lately. Half of the ward is converts so it is on fire with missionary work. We have 2 people on date for March. Taylor is 21, half black, my height and a pretty cool guy. He’s on for the 31st; conference Saturday. It's fun teaching people you can relate to.  Testimony meeting yesterday almost every testimony was on missionary work,  just naturally!  A girl who got confirmed yesterday brought her sister and told us she wanted us to teach her.  She told us this.....from the pulpit during her testimony! haha. So we are teaching her Tuesday.  

Yesterday we had break the fast, and we even munched and mingled.  How the heck do I mingle again?!

So it is a lot of fun. FHE tonight then institute Wednesday. It will be a lot less tracting and a lot more hang out and referrals. I can deal with that.

Elder Walker is my new companion. He's chill and we get along really well. It has been great! I live in a stinky missionary apartment again....dang. Everything is dirty down here compared to Ashburn. I guess I've had a pretty pampered mission so far.

love you!

Elder Church"

Pictures from the last few weeks

Elder West and the Nerf Gun

Eating at Carolina Brothers. Popular BBQ place.

Emailing you!

  Welp.

Golfing in Arlington

And lastly: Fernandos baptism! Awesome guy and such a good service.

Life is good

"We had an amazing baptism on friday!  Check that...2 amazing baptisms!  The Chungs (Korean couple)
got baptized and couldn't be happier.  We found them tracting on a December afternoon.  2 and a half months
later their lives are much happier. Hannah (wife) was in tears after the baptism. She has moved many times in
her life and said she has never felt so welcomed anywhere. This family has come into the fold, because they felt the Spirit testify truth to their hearts, but the kicker was the members in the ward who live the Gospel. The Gospel is
like a bike (no missionary pun intended).  It may be nice and shiny but it only works when someone puts it in motion!  Like our Savior, the members in our ward opened, and are continuing to open, their arms to all. It is only
when the Spirit if truth is coupled with the Spirit of love that a conversion may take place. Even though the Chung family's lifestyle and culture is different than most of the people in the area, they have received countless invites to dinners, family home evenings, children play groups, and even a 'girl's night out' for Hannah or a 'game night' for Dave.  This is not to mention the unplanned contacts like cookies dropped off at the door step, notes, emails, or phone calls to check on them. All of these are independent of missionary lessons and of the full-time missionaries themselves. This family's conversion would not have happened if it were not for the Tall Cedars ward putting into
action our Master's 2nd great commandment.  They will now receive callings and Dave will
receive the priesthood.  Their two kids will get to grow up learning the restored gospel and
possibly serve missions. All of this is because the ward pedaled their bikes...

The other day we tracted into this lady who told us about how her mom just passed away.  I shared Enos verse 27 with a quick testimony. She teared up and said we could come back and teach her so we did! Just another day in paradise.

The church is true!  Life is good.  A rich guy offered to take us to hawaii. He was serious.  Shoulda done it.  

love you all!

Elder Church"

The Chungs