HO HO HO TIME FOR CHRISTMAS! Gosh I just love the holidays. We
are officially in the countdown to Christmas. It is crazy how that time of the
year is already here again. It's been funny here in Utah; people seem to get ready
for Christmas much quicker than back home. Some people had Christmas
decorations up in early November! Now, a lot more people have decorations up,
but it made me laugh to see Christmas stuff in early November.
This week has been a crazy one. What's new though, right? I
think the difference between this week and the previous hectic weeks is that
I'm shouldering more of the load while I'm training a new companion. My
new companions’ name is Elder Valdez. He is from Guatemala but came out of Layton
Utah. He has been a really great son so far! hehehe When we went into the
relief society room and we were looking at all the new missionaries I saw him
and figured he would be my companion. Elder Hayden and I had seen his
picture in the mission office and Elder Hayden “called” me getting Elder
Valdez. Speaking of Elder Hayden, he went home the same morning I got assigned
to Elder Valdez. On Thanksgiving I saw a picture of him at the airport in
Redmond with his family. He looked really happy. We had way too many fun times
to even count!
This past week has been weird for me seeing so many missionaries
I know go home or prepare to go home in two weeks. It's weird to me to think
I'm training a new missionary that less than one month ago was just a regular
person. It makes me feel old in a sense and at the same time I'm missing the
Elders that I looked up to when I was a “greenie.”
Training has not been as hard as I expected it to be, which is a
blessing. The hardest thing about training is just planning out our day on my
own. Having to plan who we will visit and at what time so that we can be using
our time effectively is crucial. Anyone can be a missionary but it takes a
concerted effort to make sure you are maximizing these two years we have been
called to serve. On top of that, I forget at times Elder Valdez doesn't know
some of the little things and I just expect him to already know what to do. I
have the up most faith in him that he is going to become a great missionary.
This week I also did something I've never done before and that
is baptismal interviews. I expected it to be hard but it is actually a lot of
fun. I love doing baptismal interviews because something I've learned is that
we all have a different story one reason as to why we love this church so much.
Leadership has also taught me to have more respect for numbers. Looking at how
other companionships are doing number-wise helps me to know how to help
them and help our area as well. Patience and Christ-like love have been attributes
I have grown in the past week. I have more love for the Elders and Sisters in
our district and I want them to succeed.
The mission is going really well right now. At times it feels
like the world is resting on my shoulders with all the hats I'm wearing right
now but I love it out here in San Geezy. In times of need I remember my Heavenly
Father is only a prayer away. Replace fear with faith.
We had another baptism yesterday and it went really well. The
members came out in truckloads for the service. I just love these members of
the 28th branch aka "La rama verdadera". I feel like this branch is
home to me. The members always want to feed us and I feel their love every
Sunday when I see them. I'm so thankful for this area, my Father in Heaven's vineyard!
I'm thankful for the members and I'm thankful for my family. Thank you for all
you do for me! I love you mom! Vaya con Dios.
God is love,
Elder
Bennion
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