More shuffling

Hey everyone!

So, transfers have happened again, making for an interesting week for me. First and foremost, no one has left the mission; the new leadership positions are mostly because of an expanding mission. The new district leaders are Elders Shults, Simper, and Wright (yes, my former companion). We also have some missionaries serving in the mission office, training not new young elders like our current young elder training leaders, but instead senior missionaries - these are Elders Whiffen and Clark. As for myself, I am still in Data Services (what else is new), and P-Day is still Tuesday. I didn't even have to move apartments, which is nice! The only change for me is my companion, as you have likely already guessed. I have, for the third time in my mission, been assigned as a trainer for a new young elder in the mission, whose name is Elder Bastian from southern Arizona. Helping someone adjust to missionary life is always a bit of a challenge - one does not simply go from living his own lifestyle to living one fully dedicated to the Lord, and so there have been challenges with that. However, he is actually doing pretty well with doing so; therefore, after some getting used to things, I look forward to seeing him go on to do some pretty great things while serving in this mission!

Also, in zone, it finally happened - we are no longer providing mission support. To put it simply, it would have taken too much to have gotten new young elders trained up on doing this type of work, and at this point, they had already gotten some church-service missionaries to do this work and only this work; therefore, we were not quite as necessary for them anymore. But, we did teach them that we were capable of doing this type of work, so we have fulfilled our purpose in doing this little project. Besides, this may open up more opportunities in the future. If what President Fenn says that he is trying to do with this mission does come to full fruition, then this mission will be doing some pretty awesome stuff - and the Data Services zone may be at the forefront of it.

So, I have been trying to work on my own genealogy whenever I get an opportunity to do so. Unfortunately, the tree is very well explored, and there is not much new stuff to try and uncover; the collateral lines are all at a brick wall as well. Genealogy is not easy, even when you know your stuff. However, I do keep on trying, and every now and again, I am able to find a little bit more information to add on to the family tree, which makes me just a little bit happier. I guess you could say that if my family tree were a proselyting mission, it would be a somewhat difficult mission, with few baptisms to be had. But, for as long as there are blank spots in the tree where there should be people, there will still be work to be done; therefore, I will keep on keeping on.

Anyway, yesterday, we did have a planned day instead of our usual zone work due to Labor Day. The day plan was very much similar to the one from the last time we had a day off - it began with a hike to the Capitol, followed by a lengthy lunch/free time period. After this, we had watched a movie, "The Work and the Glory Part 2"; we will likely watch the third part the next time we go and do something like this. I feel that there may have been a different activity for us aside from the same thing we had done last time, but then again, I have never attempted to plan something like this for such a large group of people on a day when most things are closed down; therefore, I do not know what it was like planning this. Don't get me wrong, I still enjoyed the day - if nothing else, I was able to get out of the basement and enjoy the sunshine for a moment! I also have hope that the next thing like this will be different and interesting.

So, that is my most recent week on this mission. I will continue to work hard in training my companion, and in managing the affairs of the young elder portion of this zone. Thanks again for supporting me through this, and sending your support. I will see you all again next week. Have a good one!


--
From,

Elder Bryce Petersen


Challenge: Modern prophets have spoken much on the importance of reading and having a testimony of the Book of Mormon. President Monson made it the subject of his final General Conference address, and President Nelson spoke on it in the next. So, I would like to ask a question for you to think about: when is the last time you have read through the Book of Mormon by yourself? It has been said that, if one reads through the Book of Mormon entirely once a year, and he/she keeps personal prayer and church attendance in his/her life, then this person will never fall away from the Church. So, I would challenge you as President Hinckley did a long while ago - read through the entire Book of Mormon by the end of the year. If you have not yet started yet this year, it is not too late - there is still plenty of time to read through it. If you finish it by the end of the year, then don't be afraid to pick it up and begin reading once more. Whenever you have some downtime throughout the day and the week, consider spending it immersed in the Book of Mormon, and getting a few verses to a few chapters of valuable scriptural supplement in before returning to your responsibilities. The Book of Mormon is power - power to resist temptation, to do the right thing, to seek out the kingdom of God, and to do all that is necessary to return to His presence. Reading and application of the principles therein will imbue you with this power.