Blessings Amongst Our Trials

On Monday, I didn't have a P-Day. We got transfer news at 9 p.m. Sunday, and I was up past 12 packing all of my stuff. Then, we woke up at 5:30 to head to the terminal. From Buga-Tuluà-Cali-Pasto. All of that traveling added to about 14 hours on a bus. It sucked sitting all day long. We arrived in Pasto just past noon on Tuesday.

 

My new companion is Elder Piñeros. He is from Bogata. He's been on his mission for about seven months, serving only in our area. I'm expecting him to be gone next transfer.

I'm just going to give it to ya straight. It's been a rough week! Our personalities are completely opposite. In my first interaction with him, I knew this would be an interesting transfer. When we were at the terminal in Pasto, he didn't come up to say hi. I had to be introduced to him. That was weird! Then, the next day, during personal study, he wore a mask . How would you take it if your new companion wore a mask INSIDE YOUR HOUSE(thank goodness he has stopped)? Then he was fighting with me on taking naps during lunch, saying that I shouldn't be taking a nap. He tells me all of the faults that I have, not realizing he has his own faults. I'm really hoping this is a one-and-done transfer.

 

Now the good about him. I really do appreciate his diligence. He is a hardworking missionary, and we do everything we are supposed to do. In our lessons, we do pretty well together. I have learned quite a few things from him.

Ok, No more about my comp.

 

This week, I gave my first blessing in Spanish. My comp was showing me around our area, and we went to a member's house. Their whole family was sick, including their month-and-a-half-old baby. My comp gave the first part, and I gave the blessing. Before I gave the blessing, I said, "Thank goodness you're worthy." The family loved the blessing.

 

You probably forgot, but I haven't forgotten. This is the week I got sent home from my Arizona mission, and man has flown by. I'm proud of myself. I could have said screw it and moved on with my life, but I knew deep in my heart that I needed to finish what I started. From then to now, it has been a huge growing experience. I remember being home during that time and feeling completely lost. I was beginning to feel like I was forgotten. I remember reading the scriptures and praying and feeling completely alone. One night I woke up and felt the urge to pray, I prayed with all that I had, and during and after the prayer, I felt nothing. I was pretty disappointed. The next day, I had an urge to walk through the Pocatello Temple, and as I was walking up the stairs, I started to get that feeling again. The more I walked up the stairs, the stronger it got. At the end of the stairs, I realized I was looking into the Celestial room. All of my emotions came over me, and I started to cry, and I heard this voice telling me that I hadn't forgotten. It was something that I will never forget. The atonement is real, and we can change through Christ. I was crying while I wrote this.

This is Elder Watt, signing out