Elder Andrew Sheffield: Today was Transfers

April 20, 2016
Love the fam more than smores! Elder Bouwhuis and I for our last night tipped over an old rusted out grill, the upstairs neighbors had, and we made ourselves a sweet little fire. I forgot how sticky marshmallows are, but after flooding our house with smoke from burning old clothes/blankets/water damaged pamphlets etc. we felt like we were in the states for a little while.

Yep so today was transfers, and I left. We saw it coming because I had been there for three transfers and just finished training, never the less it was sad leaving my campo.

The first part of the week was interesting:

Thursday morning we spent the morning cleaning out the baptismal fount and preparing for the baptism. It was super stressful and a little frustrating, trying to figure out who could come and give talks and such since the baptism hadn’t been announced in church. It was crazy especially considering the fact there was a temple trip on Saturday so we had the baptism on Friday. Elder Hola and Elder Green came over to our area for the interview with Cristopfer. The three of us waited in the family room talking and having a good time, while Elder Hola and Cristopfer had the interview. Cristopfer was ready so we celebrated with popcorn!

Elder Hola and Elder Green were acting strange which I didn’t really think to much about till later....

Friday we filled the font up and spent a good amount of time reminding people that the baptism was that day and everything. I think we invited every less active, investigator, member and investigator we knew. Cristopfer and his dad German, showed up first and we talked to them about it all. Later, our mission leader and his brother and dad who are part of the presidency came. The branch president couldn’t make it because he lives out in Licey, which was having problem with some civil uneasiness type of stuff. Not many people could actually make it, but it turned out really well! I gave a little talk and used clorox to make some soda turn clear, to represent baptism. German baptized his son and while he lifted Cristopfer up out of the water they almost fell down. They were laughing and it was great. We ate cookies and drank soda while listening to Paul Cardall postlude music.

The next few days felt strange since we had just gotten a baptism and it was strange to think that we finally got Cristopfer baptized. We had a great lesson with the new investigator Cristofer (a different one) who is really interested and willing to investigate. I’m sometimes amazed when I see people that are open without needing to much nudging towards the gospel. In church, Cristopfer came and was confirmed and was sustained as a member of the church. The branch needs the excitement, so I thought it was really great. From that point, I kind of warned people I was probably leaving. Pedro and Gishayley our investigators finally had time to share again! He is really sincere and a smart guy which gives me a lot of hope. Sometimes people can't really grasp some concepts, mostly due to our Spanish I think, but he does well. I can see him getting baptized, yet it’s been hard, since he works a lot. Sunday night we passed by less active Delma and while we were there we got a call from president on our cellphone. Elder Bouwhuis didn’t check the caller i.d. so he answered and asked who it was and suddenly his eyes got wide when he realized it was president. I was feeling a little relieved as they chatted, thinking I was safe from something crazy, when I got handed the phone. I am now a district leader. I was and still am really nervous but it will go great.

So the mission has like a network of information, as soon as something new and interesting happens, the whole mission seems to know immediately. Elder Dickson my second companion called me to see if i knew anything about transfers. Little did we know but our District Leader, Elder Hola, got called to be the new assistant to the president.

My favorite food in the mission "Mangu"

Monday and Tuesday were crazy days with a district leader in training to be an assistant and just the nerves of transfers. I said goodbye to everyone I could and printed out picture for Cristopfer. I finally found out about transfers on Tuesday. At the zone meeting they announced it all and we took pictures.

My Zone

My new area is Buenos Aires in the north part of Santiago. My companion is named Elder Markham who is an interesting but great guy, we should get along great. The new area supposedly is great and has amazing members. Elder Bouwhuis got the dream with a Puerto Rican step dad who also speaks great English. His comp will be finishing the mission this transfer so he is thinking he might be there for a while.

My companion as we are walking the streets of Tamboril

Transfers were nuts with figuring out taxis but on the Brightside I know more about using a taxi.

This week I was thinking a lot about a few things. I love thinking about the story of Christ walking on water as us in this life. Using the words of Elder Holland, we often are frightened by the help Christ offers us and in our moments of despair we shrink away from help thinking it is a challenge even harder. Also we cannot be found in the arms of the savior if we will not get out of the boat and draw close to him. Peter may have started to think but of the twelve he was the one embraced by the savior. On my last day in Tamboril we passed by a family, bouwhuis following promptings like a stud, who lived pretty far away. At the house I could tell something was up and then found out. The husband had packed up and left. I was amazed at the faith of the sister as she had gone to the temple on Saturday and was moving forward trying to take care of the three sons. We gave her a blessing and I couldnt help but crying. I felt the saviors love so strong. Never stop trying because he will never quit on you.