Westfield, W.A., Australia
Thursday, November 24, 1988:
Well, Happy Thanksgiving!
After a thirty-two hour trip we finally got here.
Pres. Campbell is a neat man.
He has a very strong testimony and has a lot of very high expectations for his mission.
I myself have even highter expectations for myself.
Tomorrow sounds like it will be an interesting day.
Today I got all settled in — met my companion Elder Davison.
He’s from Sydney and really a neat guy — very spiritual.
I’m sure he’ll teach me a lot about the mission field.
I’m looking forward to working with him.
This morning, after a very restful sleep, we had an orientation (Boomerang) Mtg.
It was neat.
After that we went to the Bank, and then went for my interview.
I told President Campbell what I expected of myself and also he told me what he expected of me.
Then I bought a second-hand bike.
It’s not too bad — hasn’t been ridden but a few times, so it should last me.
So far I like it here.
I’m just so amazed at all the new things — like “culture shock.”
Hopefully I’ll adjust soon.
Since we are both new in this area, we went over the Area Book and made plans for tomorrow.
It sounds like it should be pretty great.
I’m so looking forward to my mission here.
I gave Jason a B.ofM. and committed him to read parts of it.
Hopefully the Spirit will touch him and he’ll be converted.
On the plane over I talked to a Jewish girl and had a great talk — hopefully made her think a lot and gave her a B.ofM.
She said she didn’t have time for it.
I still have my Grandma & Grampa’s B.ofM. and need to find someone who needs it and would feel good about it.
Friday, 2 December 1988:
Boy, how time flies! already December.
You know I’ve been so busy this week that I haven’t found the time to write.
I think, though, if I write here in the morning, I’ll be able to do it.
We are both new in the area and don’t have many leads yet.
We are trying to get some members involved, so that we can get some referals from them.
We’ll do the Set-A-Date program tonight with Bro. Squires and see how that goes.
We’ve met lots of members, so now we have to build some trust and invite them to set a date.
Yesterday was a real wake-up to me.
We taught Fred Nice the First Discussion and got him to say he’d pray about it.
Then after that we met this Born-Again who used to be a Mormon.
I couldn’t tell what the story was with that though.
He was a missionary for his church and pretty much led the conversation.
And that, we found out, was the most important, that is, asking questions.
I came to the realization that I don’t know very much scripture and need to study more and that’s what I’ll do.
Saturday, 3 December 1988:
Well, yesterday was a better day.
The old door approach that we had been using was, “Hi, we’re missionaries. This is a Book of Mormon,” etc.
Well, we tried a new kind of survey.
This got us to talk to the people longer & help the Spirit come in.
Since you’re talking to them, the Spirit has a chance to work on them.
If the people are ripe, then they will listen anyway and those who would slam the door anyway still do.
But those way-not-interested sometimes turn around.
I think this new door approach is working better.
Out of eight people we had three call-backs for B.ofM’s and one First Discussion.
We talked to this Born-Again, who really avoided any questions we asked.
But anyway yesterday was a good day.
Sunday, 4 December 1988:
Well, yesterday was OK.
In the morning we couldn’t see anyone and we just didn’t feel the Spirit, so we sat down and prayed for a place to tract.
We just couldn’t find one that we really felt inspired to go to, so we just went home, ate lunch, then went and tracted a few streets.
We got about three people to get B.ofM’s and we’ll take them back.
This week, today, should be a fairly regular Sunday.
We’ll go to Church, make some appointments with members to come over, and do the “Set-a-date” program with them.
Last night we tried to go to some members and no one was home.
So we came home early and got to sleep early.
So we caught up on sleep — now, that might have been the problem yesterday.
Monday, 5 December 1988:
Yesterday was a good day, although I did realize one thing: Mormon chapels are the noisiest chapels in the world.
You go anywhere else and it’s probably quiet.
But, anyway, we talked to a Biker yesterday — real nice and everything.
Well, we went over to a member’s home and tried to talk about the “Set-a-date” program, but the Spirit just didn’t let us.
I don’t know why, but we couldn’t ask about the program.
Today, I guess, we have lots to do.
I just can’t think of any of it right off hand.
Tuesday, 6 December 1988:
Well, yesterday was an interesting day.
It was P-Day, so, of course it was good.
P-Days are real nice.
I’m glad we get them; just so we can sort of unwind.
They let you relax and everything.
We had a Zone Development Mtg at 6:00 last night.
They gave us some really high goals, but I prayed about them and I feel a little better about them.
I think that if we work real hard and sacrifice a lot, then we will be able to accomplish these goals.
I know that through my dedication, humility, and the Spirit I have the potential to be an outstanding missionary.
But if I slack off any, I’ll be just another missionary.
I like it out here on a mission.
If anyone tells you it’s easy, don’t pay any attention.
I know that I’m where the Lord wants me and I know of the importance of me being here at this time.
The mission is moving forward real fast and I hope I can be on board
Wednesday, 7 December 1988:
Well, yesterday we put the ball in motion; it was the hardest day we’ve had yet.
We were working from 10:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. straight with only a few breaks.
It was incredible.
Being a missionary is hard work.
Well, also missionary work is a lot of disappointments, because people decide that they don’t like the B.of Mormon and tell us to stop coming.
For example, Fred Nice read the book and prayed.
He said that it was written by lesser prophets, so therefore he didn’t need it.
What about the lesser prophets in the Bible?
Oh well, lots of different things like that.
We talked to Wayne, a just divorced father of two kids.
We taught him the First Discussion and really felt the Spirit.
We tried to help him recognize it, but I don’t know how well he did.
I get sun burned everyday.
Oh, did I tell you about the bugs?
Flies are everywhere.
I still love it here though.
Friday, 9 December, 1988:
[Day before] Yesterday we overslept, so I didn’t have any time in the morning to sit and write in here.
On the seventh we lost another lady, but she was really thinking about what we had to say.
Her boy friend was there (an athiest) and I think that he was thinking too — maybe someday.
Yesterday was a cool day.
We went tracting and gave a few Books of Mormon away and taught two discussions.
Our total proselyting hours is really high.
We usually try to work all day from 10:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. and sometimes longer, but we still need to work lots harder.
I’m still trying to work out how you are inspired.
I think almost got it figured out.
Saturday, 10 December 1988:
Yesterday was a good day although I’m starting to realize a few things and where I need to grow.
I need to be more dedicated, more humble, and use the Spirit more.
These three things are attributes that I need to work on.
We’re trying to get some members involved and it’s kind of hard.
I think maybe we’re doing something wrong.
I don’t know what, though.
I am happy though; don’t get me wrong, but I think I could be a lot happier.
I want to be the best missionary that the Australia Perth Mission ever saw, but I don’t want to always be thinking goals.
I want to think goals, but I want to think instead how can we help that person, … not how can we get three more discussions taught.
I need help with the spirit of inspiration, when we need to go tracting and don’t really know where to go.
I want the Spirit to tell us, but I really don’t know how to get it.
Sunday, 11 December 1988:
Well, I’m feeling a little spiritually down yesterday and today, but I think today will revive me.
I need to somehow get to the point where I’m always happy.
When I figure that out, I’ll be OK.
We did a “Big Bad Zone Tract” yesterday.
I tracted with J. Christy; it was a lot of fun.
But anyway Maureen’s coming to Church today; so is Kim.
One of these days I think we’ll be getting someone to be baptized.
I don’t know who, but somehow the Lord will help us find, teach and baptize.
I don’t know why, but it seems each day goes up and down as far as spirituality and me being happy and stuff like that.
I’ve only been out two weeks, so I’m sure I’ll learn what’s going on [eventually].
Tuesday, 13 December 1988:
Well, another week went by.
Yesterday was P-Day.
Boy, if we didn’t have a P-day each week, I think that all the missionaries would go crazy.
Sunday Maureen was supposed to come to church, but didn’t.
But they were still good meetings — though Sacrament Meeting speakers were rather boring.
I got to pass the sacrament.
It was great after not doing it for the last month.
Not much exciting happening — my contact [lense]s are not even working.
I put them in yesterday morning and this morning my eyes are irritated and red.
So I might give them one more try, then that’s about it.
Today the best experience happened yet in my mission.
Then to top it all off, when we were coming home my companion stacked (wrecked his bike).
About 3:00 this afternoon we had to decide if we were going to do call-backs or do more tracting.
E. Davison felt good about tracting and I thought we should do CB’s, because we told them we would come back.
So we prayed about CB’s and nothing.
Then we prayed to do more tracting and I, as my companion was praying, felt the Spirit strong as he said that we decided that we should stay in the area.
So I told him what I felt.
Then we were talking about it and I felt it again — so that’s twice.
So we had to find a street to tract.
So we tried the Liahona method, which is: One missionary uses the map, the other the cards.
Then find the corresponding streets and tract them so we were trying that and they all felt the same.
So this one [lady] named Ramako came by and we were talking and we said, “Name a street in the area.”
So she said ’Townly,” so OK.
Then we individually prayed about it and whatever, so we kept trying the Liahona and same thing.
Then John came up (both of them were in the sixth grade) and we asked them what street we should tract.
After pausing for a while he said “Townly,” so OK.
I guess twice should be enough.
So we prayed and the Lord probably said, “look, can’t you hear Townly?”
So we did Townly.
We had some good talks and stuff; we’ll see what happens in a little bit.
So that was my great experience.
Now I just have to tell the work.
Our goal for this month is to have two baptisms.
I know that the Lord will help us and provide a way for us to accomplish that goal.
I’m on a spiritual high now — it’s great.
Thursday, December 15, 1988:
Yesterday was a pretty basic day, except in the morning.
We had a ZDM (Zone Development Mtg) so the whole morning was pretty much wasted.
We had all afternoon to work, so we got eight hours in.
It was good.
I sure do get tired at night.
Sunday, 18 December 1988:
Yesterday was kind of a waste.
We went surveying in the morning and gave away Heavenly Father’s Plan tapes.
Then we had lunch, went to a Christmas party outside in the rain, then to Sister Jones’ for tea and spent the rest of the night there.
We talked about all kinds of things.
My D[istrict] L[eader] Elder Campbell is pretty knowlegeable.
I hope when I’ve been out that long (16 mo.) that I’ll be that smart in gospel things or more.
Wednesday, 21 December 1988:
Yesterday was a good day.
We had twelve hours of total proselytizing time.
It goes down from there.
I think we either just run out of things to do or lose steam.
Both fit, I think.
We had a real good talk with Ted Hume.
He is going to pray about whether God is there and the Bible is true.
He felt the Spirit real well.
Next we’ll get him to pray about the B.ofM. and J. Smith.
Then we’ll baptize him.
But I can only hope and pray for these things to happen, then work to make it happen.
Almost Christmas, although it doesn’t even feel like Christmas yet.
I’m not really homesick.
Maybe it’s because no one writes me any letters.
I haven’t received any letters since I’ve been here (except two).
My legs are so sore all the time.
I ride my bike and they get sore all day.
But I’m still having fun, even though I’m tired “as” (“as” is a mission slang sort of thing out here).
Friday, 23 December 1988:
Well, yesterday was the big Christmas Party for the Mission; everyone came in and we had a little party — it was quite fun.
I finally got some mail — a few cards.
I’ll have to send a few letters back.
It’s kind of hard to not have anyone really writing to you except Mom every once in a while.
I guess that if I immerse myself in the work, I won’t even think about it.
I had this vision of myself; so happy and outgoing.
I think that if I keep praying for help and also keep trying, I will be able to be a really happy person.
I just hope that I will be able to.
One thing I’ve been trying to do is develop Christ-like attributes.
I have so much to learn and do here in Perth.
I think I’ll need lots of help.
I need to start learning the discussions so that I can teach — if we ever get anyone to teach.
But, of course, that’s up to us and the Lord.
Tuesday, 27 December 1988:
Well, the last few days have been kind of hectic and real disorganized — I guess basically because of all the holidays.
But now we only have five days left for this month.
We need a miracle in order to reach our goal of two baptisms.
I wish I could find out where the two people are.
Either we know them already, or we have yet to find them.
I got to talk to my family yesterday; it was pretty cool.
They got a new car.
Man, wouldn’t you know it: as soon as I leave, they get a new car.
On Christmas we went up to the city at Kings Park — Sister Jones, Belinda, and Glen.
It was so neat to see the city at night.
I got a bunch of pictures I hope turn out OK.
I certainly appreciate what the Jones do for us missionaries.
They are so cool.
I hope that after I get off my mission that I will be that good with helping out the missionaries.
There are so many things that I want to do when I get off my mission.
I’ll have to write them down sometime.
Wednesday, 28 December 1988:
Yesterday was an exciting day; our first Second Discussion.
It was great.
His name is Ted Hume.
We committed him to baptism.
He knows that he needs to be baptized, but he just needs to know when.
So he’s praying about the 31st of Dec. and hopefully he will get an answer.
It was so cool to be there and feel the Spirit and then commit him.
It was great though Elder Davison did most all the talking.
Of course, I put my two cents in almost all over the place.
After we talked to him, time just flew by — we totally missed an hour and a half.
It’s my testimony that the Lord really looks after his children.
I am so grateful to be here on a mission and get all these wonderful blessings from it.
I hope and pray that I will develope into someone that the Lord can trust and be able to work through to bring about righteousness on this earth.
Thursday, 29 December 1988:
Yesterday we tracted for seven hours and gave away ten B.ofM. — a new record for us.
We went to see Ted in the afternoon and talked to him about his prayer.
The devil really worked on him last night and made him really depressed, so he though that that was his answer.
So he was against baptism now.
But we convinced him to pray some more that that would have been the Devil doing that.
I was inspired to ask him to pray as soon as we left and before he went to bed.
We have to go back and find out how it went for him.
We feel good about Saturday the 31st as his date for baptism.
Friday, 30 December 1988:
Tomorrow is the last day of the month.
That means that we have only two days until the new year.
We have a goal of two baptisms.
Now that goal wasn’t set prayerfully, so I don’t know if it will come about.
We have Ted, who will be baptized as soon as he feels good about a date.
What can we do to convince him that Saturday is his day — for that matter convince myself?
Pray.
I guess that’s the only way.
Yesterday was hot and today I think will be a little worse, I heard.
It was so hard to go tracting or for that matter to do anything.
But hard as it may be, I have to press on always.
(Work without vision is drudgery; vision without work is dreaming; work with vision is destiny — E. Campbell.)
Sunday, 1 January 1989:
Well, here it is the New Year.
This morning I was reading about fellowshiping in the November 88 Ensign.
[Elder] Ballard tells us who important it is to fellowship new members.
[He asks,] when we baptize people as missionaries, and then no one even talks to them, how will they progress and keep coming to Church?
I called Maureen to come to church yesterday and talked for a while.
Then she called me back, crying, saying how much all the kids and herself are going to miss me in two years, when I go back home.
We have to get her baptized soon, so she can have the Spirit with her always.
She is able to get the Spirit so easily, but then loses it so fast.
A funny thing happened yesterday.
Elder Davison stuck his hand in the fan, twice — just about broke it.
Anyway it’s been a good few days (five weeks).
We tracked this door and this guy gave us some anti-Mormon literature, “The Visitors.”
As soon as I looked at it, I felt the Spirit leave me so much.
We went to the end of the street and ripped them up and threw them away and prayed to get the Spirit back.
And then I lit up and had a great day!
Tuesday, 3 January 1989:
Well, yesterday we had a big missionwide volleyball tournament.
We, i.e., Westfield District was placed last out of twelve and we took third — so what a comeback!
Everyone go burnt so much.
My neck and calves are sore as.
I ripped my pats right in the crotch, the ones Sister Jones gave me.
Here it is the New Year.
We’ve set some goals that I know can be achieved, if we put our minds to it.
We can work harder and better each day of this month and we can baptize —
not just because it’s a stat, but because someone in this area needs to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ and we are here to teach it.
We need to start being more bold yet not overbearing and I think we can accomplish all the Lord wants us to accomplish.
Friday, 6 January 1989:
Well, yesterday was Zone Conference.
It was real neat.
I enjoyed listening to President [Campbell].
When we had our interview, it was cool to be able to talk to him.
That man just sees right through you.
It’s incredible.
He told me that he could see me as one of the leaders in the mission in the short time, if I keep working hard.
Our new goals for the mission are T[otal] P[roselytizing] H[ours] 60, F[inding]&C[ontacting] 25.
Although That pushes us more, I think that it is entirely possible to reach each week.
I know that the Lord will bless us as we put forth the extra effort to serve him.
We must keep our eye single to his glory and we will be blessed.
Saturday, 7 January 1989:
Yesterday was an all right day — we did some tracting and some ted.
Nothing much happened.
I’m just a little bit concerned about the future, when I get transferred into a new area or even stay here.
I don’t have enough enthusiasm to do the work and also my dedication is on a low.
I don’t know why — it might be because I’m not praying enough with real intent and with all my heart.
I want to be able to pray as Enos and just pour out my heart and soul to the Lord and be more spiritual so that I will be able to have the prompting of the Holy Ghost and be able to bring the Spirit into homes.
I want to grow in knowledge each day, which I feel I am, but not enough.
I want to be the best little missionary, but at the same time be humble.
All these things I’m trying to achieve with the help of the Lord.
I know that I will be able to be a good missionary and do my best for the Lord.
Monday, 9 January 1989:
Today I learned an awful lot about the Spirit, it’s influence, and how it works through me and others.
Saturday was a real bad day for me as far as spirituality goes.
I had a real hard time trying to figure out why the Spirit wasn’t saying anything to me.
Finally through inspiration Elder Davison went with it and got some cards and said, “OK Lord, here are the cards.
I’ll say the name of the street and Elder Despain will say, ‘yes’ or ‘no.’”
So that’s what we did and tracted Oaktiek and found someone to teach, taught the First and we are going back tomorrow night.
Tonight, I was listening to some Truman G. Madsen tapes — lectures on the Prophet Joseph Smith.
He said basically, “If we follow the first impressions that come into our head, nine times out of ten they are the Holy Ghost.”
Now, if I could only learn to recognize those things!
Another saying was,
| Cling close to the trunk.—J.S.
| |
| Gratitude
| |
| If you will thank the Lord with all your heart every night for all the blessings of that day, you will eventually find yourself exalted in the Kingdom of God.—J.S.
| |
| If a man will seek to elevate another, the very work itself will tend to elevate him.—J.S.
| |
These tapes I got from my mom are great.
They sure help me a lot.
Tonight, while listening to them I felt the Spirit telling me the things that I heard were true.
So I sure believe them.
Now the only thing will be to LIVE THEM.
Brother Jan Ellifson is the studliest guy I’ve ever met.
I hope that when I get home from my mission, I will be able to do the great missionary work that he does.
Today he called us up and said, “Well, I think I’m going to need some help teaching Quentin.
Could you teach him all six discussions and baptize him?”
So I guess all we could say was, “Well, OK.”
Last night he was at the fireside and I think that Quentin really felt the Spirit and talked to Jan about it and decided that he wanted to be a “Mormon.”
Today I feel a hundred times better than Saturday.
It must have been something to do with the fasting that we did on Sunday.
Tuesday, 10 January 1989:
Today was excellent.
We committed Quentin to be baptized on this Sunday.
It was all Jan Ellifson’s work.
He deserves mot if not all the credit.
There are some things we cleared up, but nothing major.
The Lord is continuing to teach me each day.
I am able now (pretty much) to recognize the Spirit prompting me.
My only problem is getting the material down so that I can teach.
Well, it’s late, so I’ll tell more about today in the morning.
Wednesday, 11 January 1989:
Well, yesterday was indeed about the best day I had out here.
Yet, now all we have to do is teach Third–Sixth Discussions and we’re set with him.
He is going to see us every day.
It’s great.
Then, last night we got a call from Maureen, who was drunk.
And finally Davison and Campbell went down to her house to make sure everything was OK.
I haven’t talked to Davison yet, so I don’t know what happened.
I sure hope that I can continue to grow each day.
I have to learn so much.
I still don’t know heaps.
I can do all right at the door and give a book away, but as soon as they start asking questions, I just boom clam up, “I don’t know.”
So I hope that each day I continue to learn and grow so that when I’m “in charge” I’ll be able to take the conversation
and do something with it and through the Spirit be able to convince men that Jesus is the Christ and he lives and through him all mankind may be saved.
Thursday, 12 January 1989:
Yesterday was a good day.
We were at Jan Ellifson’s house for six and a half hours, teaching and resolving concerns with Quentin.
Finally the Spirit told us to ask Quentin, if “you will get down on your knees right now, and ask” for an answer.
So he did — twice.
The second time he felt the Spirit like he was going to explode.
And we committed him again to be baptized.
So it was good.
But after, that night, I didn’t feel really happy and everything.
Even now and this morning I didn’t feel real great about the whole thing.
Did I lose the Spirit? because Pres. Campbell was giving us heaps for a while about being there too long.
I don’t know.
Anyway, that’s life here on a mission.
Wednesday, 18 January 1989:
Well, a week has almost gone by and lots has happened.
On Sunday we baptized Quentin.
Jan Ellifson baptized him and I confirmed him.
It was pretty emotional and I was nervous, so the blessing was wierd.
The way I talked was high pitched and shaky, but it was good.
Yesterday we went by his house and saw him — he’s doing well.
He really yells at his mom a lot, but that’s life, I guess.
We can only keep trying to help him.
I want him to become an active part in the Church and grow to be a spiritual individual.
Now I think he’s moving down to Bunbury, so I don’t know how much we’ll be able to see him.
Yesterday had to be about 40°C. — man, that’s hot and there was no wind.
We stood talking to this one guy for about a half hour and he felt so sorry for us, but never invited us in, gave us water, but didn’t help us out of the sun.
I’ll tell you, that’s the closest I’ll ever get to swimming on a mission.
P-Day was a good recovery day. And there you have it! Lots of laughs!
Friday, 20 January 1989:
Well, yesterday was a big day in this missionary’s life.
When I woke up, I thought to myself, “What am I doing here?”
Then, all through the day, pretty much the same thing went through my mind.
I was just going through the motions and whatever.
Then we did this block of flats with no results except two books, one CB and then we went and sat down and I was just wiped out.
So we got to talking and then everything came out, “Why am I here? What am I doing? What’s a missionary really supposed to be like?” and stuff like that.
I felt a little better after that talk and so then we went to Kim Christensen’s for tea.
I, of course, ate too much — I’m getting so fat.
Then that’s about the extent of the day.
Elder Davison asked me to do one thing, “Pray tonight and see if He’s pleased with the work you are doing.”
So I did.
Today I feel lots better and everything, but I still don’t know if He’s pleased or not.
I hope He is, though.
I’ve been reading Enos every night for two days now and am going to each night all this month and next.
It’s going to teach me how to pray with all my heart and give me a desire to do things.
Transfers are next week and the week after that.
It’s going to be a big one.
Who knows if I’m done here in Westfield or not.
Saturday, 21 January 1989:
Well, I’ve been asking the Lord if He is pleased with the work I’ve done so far in this area.
I haven’t had a direct answer, but I do feel good about it.
I also (and Elder Davison) can’t get over the feeling that we are all done in this area.
So I don’t know.
Sunday, 22 January 1989:
Friday and Saturday have been rather exciting.
First, on Friday at about 5:00 p.m. we were riding down Champion, and this truck was coming out of a driveway.
Somehow I happened to be in front of it when he started to go, hitting me and knocking me off my bike, which went under the truck.
The driver was nice.
We threw our bikes in the back of the truck and went to the bike shop and had them fix it for us for $50.
We would have to pick it up the next day about 1:00 p.m.
So we did CB’s in the morning.
Then at one we went and got my bike.
I had borrowed Elder Jones’ bike, so we had three bikes.
This meant that I would ride Jones’ and push mine alongside.
Everything was just fine until we got to the railroad crossing.
No cars are coming — go!
And so, whoops, my handle bars are stuck!
The back of my bike meets the front.
I get to the middle of the road, out of this lady’s way.
OK, now just wait for all these new cars.
Ding, ding, ding, ding.
Yikes, a train is coming.
Quick — get over the railroad tracks!
OK, safe.
“Here, Elder Despain, I’ll take that bike and you take this extra wheel I’m carrying.”
“OK”
So all’s well until we get another half a kilometer when CRASH!
Elder Davison’s on the ground with the two bikes.
How’d that happen?
I don’t know.
OK, everything is bent all over and nothing is working.
So we locked up Davison’s bike, rode Jones’ and mine back, returning on foot to get Davison’s.
We went back home and fixed his.
Finally, after a few hours we left at 3:30 and went to do some TRACTing.
We’re going our usual way down Gronelands when it’s finally time to cross the street.
Whoops! Car coming — wait for it to come by.
SMASH!
Two cars drive onto the sidewalk and smash the sign continuing on into the fence of the primary school.
Well, quick, see if everything is OK.
Yep, everyone is all right — OK.
“See ya!” “Let’s do some tracting.”
“OK.”
“Well, you know, Elder Despain, if we were 10 or 15 seconds earlier, we would be dead right now.”
“Yikes!”
“I walked through that little garden thing at the house.
That wasted 10–15 seconds.
I didn’t know why, but if I didn’t, well?”
’Yes, Elder Davison, it looks like from you walking through there we had our lives preserved!”
And that’s what happened the last two days.
Exciting, huh?
Tuesday, 31 January 1989:
Well, not much happened the last two days, although I am starting to get a grip on life.
I think I’ll be OK, but I still need lots of moving forward.
Last night we had a Zone D[istrict] M[eeting], which was good, and then we went up the hills to see the fireworks in the city.
I would have loved to be there.
Transfers are coming up.
I wonder what will happen.
We’ll find out tonight if we get transferred or not.
I’m kind of hoping I will so that I could get a little bit of a change and maybe I’ll learn more or something.
Thursday, 2 February 1989:
Well, I’m all packed and ready to go.
I’m being transferred today.
I found out on the 31 Jan that I was going and yesterday I went around to different members and said good-bye.
Quentin is still his same self and probably always will be.
I hope that he could somehow show a little more compassion and maturity.
I know he’s only 18, but talking to him yesterday he just seems so set and doesn’t want to change.
The people around here have treated me well and done everything to make me feel at home.
I felt love from them so it’s been all right.
Sister Jones especially is nice to missionaries.
This area has been great for teaching me what a mission really is and what you need to do to be a good missionary.
I think when I figure out who I am and what I’m doing in Australia, I’ll be OK.
I’m praying for knowledge and wisdom and stuff like that, so I’m in good hands.
Put your trust in the Lord.
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THOU ART AN EAGLE | |
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SPREAD FORTH THY WINGS AND FLY | |
