Week 15, 1/8/2018

Good morning class,

I hit my 100th day this week.  Which means I'm already over 1/8th of the way done. I don't know how it's been feeling for you guys, but it's been kinda crazy how fast it's been going. What's even weirder is that Elder Nielsen was at this point when we were first paired up, and now he's at 6 months. I always heard that the two years go by fast, but I didn't really believe it till now. People have also told me that the time gets exponentially faster. Meaning every transfer goes by faster than the last. And I can definitely tell you that this transfer was way faster than my first.

Speaking of transfers, it is that time again. We learned that I am staying in the Wakefield and Fairfax area, but that Elder Nielsen, my trainer, will be leaving. He will be going to an area called Tysons. It is said that Tysons has the best shopping in America (aka most expensive). Elder Nielsen is going from being my trainer and a district leader to being a zone leader.

The way a mission is split up is in "areas". Each area usually has one set of missionaries. A group of 3-5 areas makes a district. One of the missionaries in the district is assigned to be the district leader. A group of about 3 districts makes up a zone. One of the companionships in the zone is assigned to be zone leaders. There are 8 zones that make up the Washington D.C. South Mission. And the Washington DC South Mission is lead by our mission president, President Huntsman.

So I am going to miss Elder Nielsen a lot, but I'm proud of him. (Being a zone leader is a big deal. Especially when he has only been out for 6 months.) I'm also excited to get to know my new companion, Elder Roper. Other missionaries have told me that he's a good guy. I will be meeting him tomorrow and saying goodbye to Elder Nielsen.

I'm also going to miss my district. The districts are getting switched around a lot, and I am changing districts. I love all of these guys. Even though I won't see them as much we’ll still see each other from time to time. And 21 months is plenty of time to become companions with one of them at some point.

Gallaway is kind, Moran is loving, Shakespeare is fun, Baxter is hilarious, and Nielsen is compassionate. Every single one of them has made me a better me. 

Stay safe and drink plenty of fluids.

From my biggest critic - Eli