Transfer Week

The base was way cool on Sunday. Actually it didn’t start out all that well. It seemed like I just wasn't seeing any success. Every soldier I taught was either graduating or not interested. Super lame. Elder T taught the investigator class and he taught this awesome soldier named Brother C. He’s cool. I has just met him, and he committed to baptism. It was Elder T’s last Sunday on base so he's having me teach Brother C tomorrow.

So now I’m approved to drive the mission van and the trailer. 12 passenger! I’ve driven it all week. I’m sick of it already. That thing is huge!

Transfer week is always an adventure.

Monday we were just crazy before the plane arrived with new missionaries. We got there just in time. Their flight came early. That never happens. So President was late.

New missionaries - they were an awesome bunch. Actually all of the trainers are stellar. Elder T is one of them. He has left me to fend for myself. haha. He actually got the best missionary of the group to train. They will have a great transfer.

We took the new missionaries to the temple grounds. We call it the sacred grove experience. We got them up really early their first morning and drove them to the temple. We didn't let them see the temple, so we drove the back way. Elder T and I dropped them off in the forest right behind the temple and President led them out. Elder T and I then parked the van and president's car. President McConkie took the missionaries and had a short devotional saying that, "This is sacred ground." They all read from the Joseph Smith history and sang the first vision hymn. He then let them go pray and have their own sacred grove experience. He pointed them in the direction to go afterwards and then.... he left. When the missionaries came out of the woods they saw the temple. It was a testimony builder for all of them. They loved it. President then talked about bringing our converts to the temple.

Transfer meeting is always hectic.

Transfers went smoothly. Usually something goes wrong. Something did. There was a missionary who had to go home due to health issues. It was tough to see him go. Great elder. So we had to make a few arrangements so that his companion would have a companion. Other than that it went really well.

The departing missionaries were quite the bunch of missionaries... haha. An interesting bunch for sure!... but a lovable bunch at that. Elder W was one of them. Honestly... it was tough to see him go.

So I have a new comp. Elder Douglas. He is the man. I’ve been waiting to serve with this missionary for a while. He is one of my best friends out here. I am so pumped. He is from Cottonwood Heights Utah. He played basketball in high school... he actually played with Sam McConkie - President's youngest son. He was good buds with Sam growing up.

Elder Douglas served in Mt Pleasant - which is the downtown Charleston area while I was a zone leader there. He is a star missionary. I remember he was always a huge help to me and Elder P. He baptized some really neat people down there that I got to interview for their baptisms.

At the transfer meeting when he walked up to meet me after President called his name for the transfer, he said to me.. "It's a long walk. Longest of my life." He's nervous to be an assistant but he will do awesome.

So yeah - Elder Douglas and I get along great. We're gonna have a sweet transfer. We're working hard and we'll have success.

We’ve already had some sweet adventures - we needed to take beds around to the missionaries that didn't have them. Namely Elder T. We brought bunk beds. Elder Douglas and I broke into their apartment and set up bunk beds. Surprise!! I left a note that said, "Bunk it up, brethren!" haha. We drove to the upstate to do that. Along with a dryer. It was like Tetris trying to fit it all in the van. We had to take seats out.... anything to not have to take the trailer. I hate the trailer. I’m good at driving, but the trailer just stresses me out.

Then we went on exchanges in Spartanburg. We had a great time. I taught some Spanish guys. My Spanish is struggling – apart from exchanges and L, I haven’t studied or spoken Spanish in months! But it was still a good lesson.

Love ya!

Elder Stoneman