The Big Island

July 23, 2018

Hiya! 

This week was semi-solid with some ups and downs, but one of the more productive weeks I've seen this transfer.

We were going to turn in the keys to the apartment of the old area, but there was a hiccup so we still have them until further notice. District Meeting went well despite the fact that the elders from Torrevieja needed to video call in because they were in Alicante. 

Elder Burnard and I bussed on up to Murcia on Wednesday for our interviews with President Galli. Because of weird bus schedules, that was pretty much our whole day, but it was totally worth it! He's a good guy. After talking for a bit, he asked me if I had any concerns regarding the mission change, and I just happened to have a little list of exactly that written down just in case. We had a good little talk and he let me know that a lot of what I was talking about were things that are on a list of his own, but that changes will need to come slow and steady, step by step. Naturally. The mission is in good hands. The way that they set things up, whichever companion wasn't in with President Galli had a little "get to know you" chat with Sister Galli outside. We filled out a little bio sheet for her to provide some conversation fuel. That was also an enjoyable experience. I ended up providing an endorsement for one of my mom's books. I'm a fan of the Gallis. 

We had exchanges with Elder Castagnetto and Elder Power from Torrevieja on Thursday and Friday, and everything went rather well.

I went out with Elder Castagnetto for the evening. We had time for about two hours of being out and about, then ended the evening with English class followed by a ward FHE. We were able to find one potential investigator (...person with interest?) when we were out finding. She knows the Church a little bit and told us that she'd like to come on Sunday, so we'll see how that goes. Both English and the noche de hogar were poorly-attended, but they were quality experiences nonetheless. Elder Castagnetto led the message at the FHE by sharing the story of Christ casting Legion out of a man, with a focus on something that I had never really considered before: The obedience that the recently cleansed man had when the Lord told him to go and share the gospel. He asked to go with Jesus but he was instead instructed to go share what he learned and saw with his loved ones at home and he did just that without a second thought. Elder Castagnetto then pointed out that if a man who had just been housing numerous demons didn't hesitate to go and spread the gospel, how much easier it should be for us to try to share our beliefs or be a light to the world in the small ways that we can. It was an interesting insight. Elder Castagnetto was also sick for this entire exchange, but was a champ in going out regardless. He has one transfer more than me in the mission, yet we've had completely different missions, which is kinda interesting.

In the morning, I went out with Elder Power (he is in his training), but the way things worked out we only had a little over an hour to be out and finding. In that time I became a little more familiar with who he is because I hardly knew him at all going into this, and we knocked an apartment building. One person answered in the entire complex and didn't want anything from the get-go. We have now received a little boost to our potential teaching pool, so we'll be figuring out if anything sticks this week. 

Friday evening we had a big ward activity that was Hawaiian-themed, but the member turnout was a big disappointment. There was music, food, games, and decorations, but no people. It was still enjoyable and some of the people that the hermanas invited came, but a lot more people should have been there from the ward. That seems to be a common theme with the members here. I won the limbo contest. 

Ya boy Ygor looking like he's smaller than us though he's like 6'4"

Hermana Reed hit 9 months (halfway point for sisters)

On Saturday we helped a member with her assignment to clean the chapel, then went to the nearby court to play soccer. Once again, nobody showed up, sooo we went back to the apartment and officially got ready for the day. Not much else happened that day beyond going to Domino's with a member and eating a lot of pizza buffet.

Thaaat is about it because my Sundays are full of studies, district leader stuff, and church meetings. We'll see how the coming week goes with our little boost from exchanges. Living with Elder Burnard is getting interesting. July is starting to go by pretty darn fast. I will hit a year and a half the first full week of August...

Bus Station Snapshot

See ya!

Elder Jensen :)