Transfers

Bare with me for this post, guys. It's going to be quite a bit of information in one post.

Missionaries bounce from area to area about every 6 weeks. Now, sometimes they have emergency transfers, but it's mostly in 6 week periods. Fun Fact: Elder Wille was sent here on an ET. Elder Wille and Elder Carter survived 2 transfer periods with me. That 3rd one, however, Trent was transferred out and we got Elder Kirby.

Now, I am a HUGE fan of routine and having familiarity. I wasn't too sure how much I would actually like this new guy. Ryan assured me that he would be amazing, as this was his last stretch before going home. From what I gather, the last 2 or 3 transfers of their 2 year mission, they generally don't move; they "die" in that area. (Die simply means end their mission. These guys and their code words.) This was an usual case, but in my recent days, I completely understand why it happened.

Kirby with Chubby

This is where I am throwing in a flash back. I used to go to church all the time growing up. When I was a teenager, I went to Sampit Methodist Church under Pastor Scott Johnson. He lead us to the Salkehatchie Camps. It's an amazing one week camp where you go to an unfamiliar area and repair homes for those in need. The first day of camp, you tour the homes and you get a list. It has numbers by the homes and a basic run down of what needs to be completed within the week. Then you mark them in order of which you would like, 1 being the one you want the most and then the rest in the orders of preference.

My first year, the last house on my list was the one I got, which was highly unusual. They tried to get you in your top 3, but I got the last house! I wouldn't have traded it for any other house in the world once I got started. I fell in love with the family, and made some incredible friends. God put me in that house, and now that I am older, I see that. Which is why Elder Kevin Kirby was transferred to my area during his last leg of his mission.

When I first met Elder Kirby, I was unsure. I missed Trent, he became the little brother I have always wanted. I mean, I didn't not like Kirby, but he was no Trent. I mean, I had just spent the better part of 12 weeks with Elder Carter and Elder Wille. I was familiar with actions and wording, how the heck was I going to learn all of that about this new guy in 6 weeks!?

Kevin is one of the best guys I could have asked for. Even during his last weeks, he had so much love and passion for the gospel and leading people to it. He worked just as hard as Ryan and Trent did to bring me closer.

Kevin was the missionary that did it. I know, I know, Ryan and Trent worked hard. (And I mean they surely did!) I saw the love for Heavenly Father in Kevin's face one night. Jeremy was home and asleep, because this shift work is no joke. Ryan and Kevin popped in for a lesson. The subject: Why Heavenly Father wants us to be happy. I remember this well, because Kevin looked me dead in my eye and said, "We just want you to be happy. Heavenly Father just wants you to be happy. That's all we are here for, your happiness."

You could just feel the calm presence of the Holy Ghost. Honestly, it scared me. What is this feeling? What are these crazy guys talking about, Kevin doesn't even know me like Ryan or Trent! Who was this kid, telling me HE wanted me to be happy? They asked me to pray on it. God will give you answers in ways you will recognize. And boy, did He. I had three prayers about this, and three solid yes's. I couldn't deny it. I knew these guys where right.

I didn't realize the process of being a member took at least two weeks, so Kevin missed out on my baptism. It shook me some, but I knew Ryan would have my back for sure. Kevin transferred right before my interview, so I got to do it with Ryan and our new missionary, Jeremy Petersen.

I will explain the baptism in my next post. I am just glad to have met these wonderful guys, and I can't wait to meet more.