Hi Y'all,
Well, I thought all the curve balls were behind me, until I found out that I was going back to the Westbank.. The same branch that I started my mission serving in. So I get here and it was almost exactly this time last year when I was here. So I've been thinking on why I didn't like it last time haha... I guess it was a combination of my lack of Spanish, me being a new missionary, and being out in Marrero on bikes 7 miles away from the church. Here I am in the same ward boundaries, about a mile from the church, I know my Spanish, and we have a minivan!! I am pumped to be back..
Ok first up. Elder Lyons. From Gunnison, UT. Well here is the cool thing. He knows the "Dyreng" Family out there, including Parker! So yeah, Elder Lyons and I began our missions together, although he began in Mexico MTC and I was in Provo. We flew out on the plane together and now he we are serving in the westbank. He is a great missionary. It is cool being with Elder Lyons because I have seen how much he has grown on his mission and I always kinda linked that to my growth. I always have looked at him because we came out at the same time and kinda compared that growth, so It's cool having that along side you because it really helps you to recognize truly how much you have grown.
First night we got here we went and saw a couple of people. He begins to introduce me and all these Hispanics are telling him that they already know me. It is quite funny! So it is pretty cool actually being here and actually being able to talk with them now. I remember when i was first here I didn't really speak that much to them because I was nervous I guess, but the time is now! I'm excited to see what the westbank brings us.
So this past week was a big one in the mission. Mainly because some of my biggest examples in the mission have gone home. When I first came into the mission I remember A few certain Elders and Sisters that I really looked up to and they were the 'Old' Missionaries. They had been out just over 13 months and there Spanish was great and they were awesome missionaries.
Well, this past transfer meeting, we had a chance to hear all of them bear their final testimonies as Full Time Missionaries. It was a really cool experience.
What makes it even bigger to me is that I am where those missionaries were when I came in.. What that means is I am that missionary to some other younger missionaries. That really encourages me to continue to work hard and do what I need to do but Also to be that loving example that they were to me! Hopefully I can be close to like they were for these newer missionaries.
Ok funny story of the week... Well, I have been trying to take alot more pictures and videos and so I have been looking for every possible opportunity to capture a moment so that I can somehow save some of these memories. Well, we were at a less-actives house. His name is Anthony Charles. I think I talked about him about a year ago but I love this guy. So he is apparently a 'Word Class Martial Artist' Well we are at his house and was talking to him about it and so he was telling us about the world championships coming up.. I asked him for some boxing gloves and we went at it... Well.. I'll attach a video below and you can tell me who won haha.
Love you guys so much!
Hope y'all have a great week :)
Gracia por todas las cartas que me han enviado!!!
ELDER WHITMARSH
Well, I thought all the curve balls were behind me, until I found out that I was going back to the Westbank.. The same branch that I started my mission serving in. So I get here and it was almost exactly this time last year when I was here. So I've been thinking on why I didn't like it last time haha... I guess it was a combination of my lack of Spanish, me being a new missionary, and being out in Marrero on bikes 7 miles away from the church. Here I am in the same ward boundaries, about a mile from the church, I know my Spanish, and we have a minivan!! I am pumped to be back..
Ok first up. Elder Lyons. From Gunnison, UT. Well here is the cool thing. He knows the "Dyreng" Family out there, including Parker! So yeah, Elder Lyons and I began our missions together, although he began in Mexico MTC and I was in Provo. We flew out on the plane together and now he we are serving in the westbank. He is a great missionary. It is cool being with Elder Lyons because I have seen how much he has grown on his mission and I always kinda linked that to my growth. I always have looked at him because we came out at the same time and kinda compared that growth, so It's cool having that along side you because it really helps you to recognize truly how much you have grown.
First night we got here we went and saw a couple of people. He begins to introduce me and all these Hispanics are telling him that they already know me. It is quite funny! So it is pretty cool actually being here and actually being able to talk with them now. I remember when i was first here I didn't really speak that much to them because I was nervous I guess, but the time is now! I'm excited to see what the westbank brings us.
So this past week was a big one in the mission. Mainly because some of my biggest examples in the mission have gone home. When I first came into the mission I remember A few certain Elders and Sisters that I really looked up to and they were the 'Old' Missionaries. They had been out just over 13 months and there Spanish was great and they were awesome missionaries.
Well, this past transfer meeting, we had a chance to hear all of them bear their final testimonies as Full Time Missionaries. It was a really cool experience.
What makes it even bigger to me is that I am where those missionaries were when I came in.. What that means is I am that missionary to some other younger missionaries. That really encourages me to continue to work hard and do what I need to do but Also to be that loving example that they were to me! Hopefully I can be close to like they were for these newer missionaries.
Ok funny story of the week... Well, I have been trying to take alot more pictures and videos and so I have been looking for every possible opportunity to capture a moment so that I can somehow save some of these memories. Well, we were at a less-actives house. His name is Anthony Charles. I think I talked about him about a year ago but I love this guy. So he is apparently a 'Word Class Martial Artist' Well we are at his house and was talking to him about it and so he was telling us about the world championships coming up.. I asked him for some boxing gloves and we went at it... Well.. I'll attach a video below and you can tell me who won haha.
Love you guys so much!
Hope y'all have a great week :)
Gracia por todas las cartas que me han enviado!!!
ELDER WHITMARSH