Hey everybody! Today is kind of a shortened Pday because we are going to pick up the new missionaries from the airport! It's always a good time so I'm excited! This week was awesome and we had a good last week together to close out the transfer.
We got a referral last week from the Elders that serve downtown for a guy they met on the bus named Jim. They told us he was a born again Christian that he knew the Bible really well so it kind of sounded like he wanted to get together to bash... We got there and the set up was a little too good to be true. Snacks, beverages, the whole 9 yards. I thought he was buttering us up to try and throw us down. Turns out like always, I need more faith! Hah he turned out to be really sincere and just wanted to know why there was a need for the Book of Mormon. I felt like we did a pretty good job teaching him in the short time we had and he's interested in learning more. 👍🏼
The sisters planned a service project for one of their investigators that's going through a pretty rough time. We got together as a district after district meeting and went to town on this place. It reeked of the typical PA funk which I've determined consists of cat urine, cigarette smoke, and a mystery odor of your choice. 😬 It was really nasty, but this lady needed help. She lives in the hood and her husband passed away a year ago. One of those deals where you feel bad for the person and bad in general because the place is nasty. Hopefully she continues to let the gospel change her life!
This transfer was a beast to prepare for. Lots of missionaries being moved around and doubled in and out of places. It made for a little bit of added stress but we got through it! The Johnson's fed us lunch and it was good to sit down and talk with them for a little bit. I'm a firm believer that being a mission president has to be one of the most stressful assignments in the church. Each day they deal with so many things yet they always have a smile on their face. They're amazing people!
Well folks, I'm getting transferred. It's been a good run in Pleasant Hills and I'm now going to the Pittsburgh 7th ward! I'm super pumped because I'm going back Spanish speaking again!! The 7th ward has the only Spanish group in the mission and I'll be serving in that group. Back to group life. 😜 I'm only moving about 30 minutes away and our apartment is just south of the river in a place called Mt. Washington which overlooks downtown Pitt. It'll be sweet. 😏 My new comp will be Elder Ibarra who was born in Mexico and then moved to the States when he was pretty young. He goes home at the end of this transfer so chalk it up for another one transfer companion. This will be my 5th companion that I'll have for just a transfer. No one can handle me.
Jim came to church on Sunday and loved it! He said everyone was so kind and humble and he felt welcomed! So many ward members reached out to him, it was great! I swear you always have to leave a golden investigator behind. That's how it goes... after church we had an early dinner with the Connors and a quick lesson with the Bortz! We then made some rounds and just thanked some people and took pictures with some of the families that we've become really tight with! I'm going to miss this ward! 😢
Random thoughts
- Bro. Crossley makes some amazing healthy food. I'm gonna miss that man.
- The Mitchell's (from Arizona) made us enchiladas and it was so good. You don't realize how blessed we are back west with good Mexican food. 😢
- I have been out in the field for 17 months and never been out longer than any of my companions. 😳
I've learned a lot in my time here and it's been a blessing to serve around all these great missionaries. Going to the Spanish group is going to be a new challenge but I'm excited for it! I love the language and I'm ready to work at it as well as to continue to invite others to come unto Jesus Christ. We have work to do!
Con amor,
Elder Halls
Pictures: Bortz family; Ferguson family
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