Family and friends, I’m back!
Since it’s been so long, I thought I’d do something different this time. And so, as a summary of the last month, I present to you some excerpts from my very own journal (obviously with personal details removed). This might me a long one, hope you can follow it all, enjoy!
Thursday, May 27th
Today was fantastic. I mean aside from the torrential downpour all over Sacramento, we really did have some good times. The day started with District Meeting at the Deseret building (aka. Mission Office) Elder Collett asked me to train on teaching to our investigator’s needs – once we’ve discovered them by asking good questions. It was fun. It’s Sister Pack, Sister George (from France!), and the APs (Elder Webber & Elder Thompson), in our District; so the meetings are small but usually pretty fun. Sister Pack and Sister George helped with the training too. The APs had to leave early for a transfer meeting with President; at least they were there for a part of the training!
[...]
Before we knew it, 6 o’clock was on our heels and so we hopped in the van and sped off to our appointment with Stephanie. She lives in a cozy neighborhood not too far from the office. Alyssa was there, as well as Jeff, both from the College Oak Ward, and then another kid named Lorenzo, all of them member friends of Stephanie. Score! We started with a prayer, and then just started talking. Once we got to know her more, Stephanie opened up pretty quick. She started asking all sorts of questions, and we definitely jumped around a lot, but we had a great time. We brought up baptism and she expressed a strong desire to be baptized, despite not fully understanding the doctrine. We taught her about baptism, and even set a date of June 19th for her to be baptized!
Friday, May 28th
We went to the office before home and finalized and printed out the program for Ashley’s baptism tomorrow. It’s going to be great! I can’t wait. She’s so ready and excited too.
We texted Stephanie, but she doesn’t respond for some reason. And when I called the signal faded… very strange. Well, hopefully it’ll work out. We’d love to setup an appointment for tomorrow.
Saturday, May 29th
Well, today was awesome! Ashley’s baptism was a great success. We spent a bit of time in the office before heading off to fill up the font and get the room ready at the San Juan building. Ashley texted us before we even got there, “So are you inside?” … she got there earlier than us… and we were an hour early! But hey, I guess that’s better than really late! We arrived soon enough and shortly discovered that we did not have the keys for the font; uh oh, and the only missionaries that had them were Elder Smith and Elder Byrum, who just wouldn’t answer their phone. After some prayers and patience they finally called back, and we met them at their house and brought them, along with the keys, back to the San Juan building. I guess they were planning on coming to the baptism anyway.
It all worked out perfectly in the end. I gave a talk on the Holy Ghost. Daniel her BF did the actual baptizing, two of Ashley’s friends sang a pretty song by Sally DeFord, and to top it all off, Ashley bore her testimony at the end. That’s always my favorite part of any baptism.
Sunday, May 30th
Another Sunday in the College Oak ward has come and gone. Ashley was confirmed by Elder Collett and he did a great job. Daniel was there assisting along with his dad. The spirit was really strong.
[...]
Stephanie wasn’t at church. I texted Alyssa about it in the morning and she said that she thinks Stephanie “might be feeling pressured” – but more from her boyfriend that she’s supposedly not with right now. It’s complicated. So yeah, even though she didn’t have work until 3, she passed on church. Well, we will just have to work this from the friend angle; she’ll come around in time. I hope.
[...]
After church we went to President and Sister Jardine’s house for dinner with them & the Assistants. The food was great; beef steak, garden salad, popovers, corn, and for dessert we had fresh strawberries on angel-food cake with whipped cream; yum. President asked Elder Collett if he wanted to know his transfer call, right there. (Yup transfers are tomorrow!) But Elder Collett said no. President will just tell him tomorrow I guess. Before we left President called the new Assistant who will replace Elder Webber; Elder Buhler. But he didn’t answer. By now I’m sure he’s called back and knows all about it!
[...]
Well, Elder Webber is packing now, he goes home in a few days and Elder Buhler will take his spot with Elder Thompson. I’ll find out who my new companion will be tomorrow. Lembi house, the office, heck the whole mission is going to be very different this next transfer. It will all be revealed soon…
Monday, May 31st (Transfer Week Begins)
Elder Collett and I went to President’s house in the morning so we could take pictures of his transfer board (and thus update our own at the office.) He gave us both our transfer “calls” there. Elder Collett is going to Elk Grove to be a DL with Elder Dalton in the Elk Grove Park & Waterman Wards. I’m staying in the office, and Elder Feusner will be the new office elder with me.
When we got to the office around 4:30pm we updated our transfer board with the APs. President Jardine arrived shortly after and helped finish to job. When we were done President sat down in that room, around 5pm, and transfer calls began. Just before he started, the new AP, Elder Buhler, arrived at the office, and helped Elder Thompson with some of the calls they needed to make. He seems happy to be the new AP, I think he’ll be great.
Five hours later President finally made his last transfer call. It was just past 10:30pm, and he was exhausted. The mission has changed a ton; almost every companionship. There are some very young new Zone Leaders too. Elder Black (Elder Webber’s boy) is probably the youngest of all. He skipped District Leader and is going to be junior ZL in North Stockton with Elder Reidhead. Elder Knudsen is also a Zone Leader. They’re great missionaries, and I know they’ll be great leaders.
Wednesday, June 1st
[...] the new missionaries. They stayed over at Lembi house last night, and it was hilarious. They are SO green… it’s a beautiful sight, especially since I remember being in their shoes… though I did come in a little differently.. After some preparation, breakfast, and the parting of the hair ceremonies, they all hopped into the big Ford 14 passenger van, “Moby”, and were off to the Deseret building. While they were oriented by President and both Senior Couples over Cars and Health, the new trainers arrived and were also given instruction by President Jardine. There was so much chaos at the Deseret building today, with departing, arriving, and transferring missionaries running all over the place! Luggage was scattered everywhere, and every other missionary coming through the office was searching the pile of mail, to see if anything was for them.
Thursday, June 3rd
The departing missionaries were up early this morning, showering and getting ready to leave. At one point they all gathered downstairs, sitting around on the couches. They read the 8th chapter of 1st Nephi as a group. When they finished reading the chapter many spoke of their feelings on how it could be understood and applied, especially to a returning missionary staying strong in the gospel. Once they finished, I said a few goodbyes, and then before I knew it, they were off to the airport in our big white van “Moby.” Lembi house was quiet again. The mission just lost some great leaders, now it’s up to us to rise to the challenge.
[...]
The rest of the day was busy. We had a lot of calls with questions on cell phones and general transfer troubles… I have also been keeping a “to do” list recently that seems to grow every hour. Elder Feusner did some work on the transfer board cards while I was in a leadership meeting (Yup, I’m the District Leader here in Carmichael now). That went well; Elder McConkie (the other DL) and I will be training tomorrow in a Zone Meeting. We’ll be talking about being cheerful in the work, and I specifically will discuss ways we can do that; the how. So that should be fun. Elder McConkie is a solid missionary, very faithful. He’s currently training one of our newest missionaries, Elder Buttars.
Sunday, June 6th
[...] I got a letter that same day from Sister Catudal, who was my seminary teacher growing up. Contained in it was my contribution to a time-capsule our class had made five years ago! There were three items inside. One was a picture of me at the time, which was hilarious because I looked hilarious, with my giant fro-like hair. Second was a list of questions and answers that I had filled out, though that wasn’t very funny because my answers were short and not very funny (“Who will be the prophet when this is opened?” – “Only God knows…” and that was the longest answer!) Third was a list of where they are now statements which was neat because it updated me on some friends I haven’t heard from in a while.
[...]
The quote of the day is “Justification is the #1 attribute of a terrestrial missionary.” – Elder Cummings.
Thursday, June 10th (Best day ever…)
Tonight night was the night that Manuel, Renae, and Sophia—three of my converts from Hurley Ward—went through the Sacramento temple and received their own endowments. It was perhaps the sweetest experience a missionary can ever have.
Before the session began Elder Groshong and I met for an exchange, and then the two of us drove up to the Sacramento Temple. It was a beautiful day, the sun shining in the sky, but a steady breeze cooling the air. We arrived on the grounds and watched as people came in and out of what I’ve been told is the “busiest small temple in the world.” Eventually we approached the entrance and went inside. We had only one issue that concerned us at that point; there were two sessions that we wanted to attend, but couldn’t because one was right after the other, and we would not be able to make it in time. The first at 6:30pm was for Renae & her husband Rob. Manuel and Sophia were going through at 8:00pm. Fortunately after talking to the temple workers, we decided on the perfect compromise. We went through the 6:30pm session with Renae & Rob, visited with them, and then waited in the Celestial room until the 8:00pm group came in. It was beautiful. To see the light and happiness in the eyes of Rob & Renae was a priceless experience. The spirit throughout the entire evening was so strong.
We spent the next two hours in the Celestial Room, just the two of us, talking quietly, praying, and reading from the scriptures. There was a temple attendant present, but otherwise we were completely alone. Though it was a long time, it seemed to us to be but a small moment, for soon we recognized that the next group would, in a matter of minutes, come in. I was so excited to see members of the Hurley Ward come in, and we greeted them warmly as they did.
Manuel came through shortly after; we embraced him, and congratulated him. Sophia followed, President and Sister Jardine, Bishop Ibey and his wife, Brother and Sister Hew Len, the Calvins, the Henshaws, and many more faithful members of the Hurley Ward. Elder Alfaro, who first found Manuel with Elder Stout over a year ago, was also there, along with Elder Pugmire, who had come to know Manuel very well after he took my place in Hurley ward last year.
I’m so grateful to my Heavenly Father for the experience I had in the temple, on that beautiful night in Sacramento California.
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Well, I think that ends it all nicely. I recently saw Renae & Rob sealed, just a few days ago, along with their two children. It was amazing.
Things are going really well. I love my mission. I love the people. Till I write again, take care!
Love,
Elder Macpherson
