Life as an Uncommon Elder

So, A lot has happened in the week and a half it's been since I wrote last. I'm no longer in the Bronx, but my visa came and I am writing from Australia. Funny story... So I had been working with some investigators and such, and was having a fair bit of success. The people in the Bronx were amazing, and I loved them. My companion and trainer, Elder Fuller had been steadily increasing the amount of work, we had been slowly but surely increasing the numbers for the area, and we were starting to see some real growth in our investigators. Then, as I was out getting lunch after the district meeting  on Monday , I was at the Checkers off Fordham near the church, and I got a call from Sister Dennison who worked in the mission office. She informed me that my visa had arrived and that I needed to get my things ready because my flight left at  6 PM that afternoon. This call was received around  2 PM . Due to the international nature of the flight, I needed to be at the airport...

Temple in Manhattan!!! I don't have a lot of time to write today, but I want you all to know I'm doing well. Missionary work is so rewarding. We've had a fair amount of rejection, but we've also seen some amazing miracles!  I ate stewed fish yesterday. I'm so grateful for the strength that the Holy Ghost gives me to endure some of my strongest trials. Anyone who knows me knows that I don't really like fish, but I was able to eat it, and not get sick. I love the Holy Ghost.  I hope you've all been able to recognize the atonement in your life. It's so amazing!!! Pray for it, study about it, it will bless your life. He has his visa and is now is Australia. :) more to come!

So, I have officially been in the Bronx for 1 week. It's a totally different place than anywhere I have ever been before. There are so many people here, it's insane, and most of them are not the least bit interested. But the vast amount of rejection makes the successes so much sweeter. We have had so much success this last week. Through faith, determination, and hard work, we have been able to meet new family members, talk to some inactive church members, and really bring people closer to Christ. The people in the ward are amazing! There is so much love at church, it's just really hard to get people there. They have a lot of excuses; they're too busy, they want to relax on Sundays, they don't have enough money to ride the train or bus. Some of these are definitely true, but for a lot of them, it's truly just an excuse. My trainer, Elder Fuller, is awesome!!! He's from Sandy, UT, he's been in the area for a long time, he really knows his stuff and he ...