Tuesday we drove up to Orlando to meet our new companions. Elder Changchum and I are trio training a visa waiter named Elder Hekking. He was originally called to the Madagascar Antananarivo Mission but because of visa complications, he is temporally assigned here for at least a transfer.
A little bit about my companions:
Elder Changchum is from Bangkok, Thailand and lived in Utah for 5 years before coming on his mission. He's been out since June 2017 so he's the most experienced of the three of us. He has a thick Thai accent and is super funny. It's fun to listen to him talk because it's simple English and sometimes I can't understand what he said. He also knows a bit of Mandarin which is cool.
Elder Hekking is from Cincinnati, Ohio. He is fresh out of the MTC and spent six weeks there learning Malagasy, the native language of Madagascar. He was born in New York, then lived in France until he was nine years old. He is fluent in French but doesn't have an accent which is super cool. It's safe to say that I am the most boring person in my companionship.
This week, I've heard Thai, French, Mandarin Chinese, Malagasy, Spanish, and Haitian Creole. It's awesome because even though I'm in Florida, I see and experience a lot of different cultures. It's almost like being out of the country, in the country.
As for the week, it was a lot of finding and stopping by either potentials or former investigators. I am now the one who knows the most about the area so it's been a little stressful, and getting new companions is always a bit of a learning curve, even if you like them. I introduced my companions to a lot of the members and showed them around. We also have extra study time for Elder Hekking's language study and the first 12 weeks study. The extra study time is both edifying and exhausting.
Elder Hekking is hitting a brick wall. I see it and it reminds me of when I first came in the mission. I don't feel like I had as rough of a time, but it's possible that I did. Elder Changchum and I have had to talk to him about our experiences and calm him down.
I really hope and pray that this transfer is a successful one. I know I am where I am and with who I am with for a reason. I love my mission. I love my companions. I love the members and people we teach. I still have hard days and I'm stressed a lot, but I have joy in the work. I love every minute of it.
"And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it." (Mosiah 2:41)
I love this scripture. Even though we all go through trials, when we keep the commandments, we can find joy in hardship. I know that to be true.
Something else I've also been thinking about is how divine the things we go through are. I know that everything is part of God's plan.
“None of us ever fully utilizes the people-opportunities allocated to us within our circles of friendship. You and I may call these intersecting ‘coincidence.’ This word is understandable for mortals to use, but coincidence is not an appropriate word to describe the workings of an omniscient God. He does not do things by ‘coincidence’ but … by ‘divine design.’” - Neal A. Maxwell
Have a great week!
Elder Poulsen
Last time seeing Elder Pottle for a time.
A little frog on a member's porch.
Out proselyting in the Florida heat.
The updated Cocoa Zone
Brother Castro, one of my favorite member families.
The Trio
