Really super hectically crazy
As you know from your spies, this week has been pretty crazy. Really crazy in fact. Really super hectically crazy. Man. As you also know, I was transferred this past weekend, and received a new assignment. As I know, you are all waiting at the computer to hear where I am serving now. As....... Okay, enough of As you know...
President asked to speak with me
On Saturday of this past week, while Elder B and I were driving to a birthday party at the chapel, we got a phone call from President Lew. Elder B answered, (it was on Bluetooth in our car, so I could hear) and President asked to speak with me.
"I have an assignment for you, Elder Larsen."
"Yes?" (Am I finally training??)
"I would like to call you to be a new zone leader in our mission."
"...Are you sure?"
"Yes I am sure. Which means you will need to pack your things. I have high expectations for zone leaders. I need you to be exactly obedient and lead your zone forward with faith. Can you do that for me?"
"...I guess, if that's what you want me to do."
"I expect it of you. Will you do that?"
"Yes. I will do that."
"Thanks, Elder Larsen. We will see you on Monday, then?"
"Yup. See ya then."
"Bye."
"Bye."
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| How Jarrad must have looked when he got the call from President Lew. |
What? This was not something even remotely on radar. What? I am still a bit unsure of exactly how I feel about it. A zone leader? I am totally unprepared for that. I have only been a district leader for 6 weeks. I have only been on my mission for 6 months (on the 9th of April). How can I be expected to carry out this assignment?
So clearly I am a bit frazzled at the moment. I really don't know how to feel about this. We found out that Elder Olsen was also getting transferred, and Elder Thomas from my district. Which was sad.
(Note: see Missionary Leadership to understand more about leadership roles in missions)
How transfers work
So we drove up to Mortdale on Monday, Elder B, Elder Tito, Elder Olsen, and I. We stopped in Bankstown for breakfast with the Bankstown zone leaders. And we went to the chapel. How transfers work here is you go into the gym at mission headquarters, and you look on the board at 10 pieces of paper (one for each zone) and you look for your name. When you find it, you can see what zone, district, and area you are serving in. Elder Thomas is now Elder B's companion! Crazy, eh?? They are pretty happy! Elder Olsen is a zone leader of the Ingleburn zone. Elder Tito's companion is Elder Bartholomew, another new zone leader (of 3). Oh yeah! Elder Shafer is our new assistant! He is the man! Remember, Elder Shafer from Canberra! One of my first zone leaders! The one yous emailed!
Elder Puriri went home (one of our assistants [you's should know]). He gave his departing testimony, along with two sisters and two other elders at the transfer meeting. He bore a powerful testimony. Very powerful. And very long. Hopefully by the time I leave the mission field, I will have learned as much as Elder Puriri, and bear as powerful of a witness of the divinity of the Savior, and the truthfulness of the Church. Missions are weird things! But good!
Elder Cocker and his comp are still in Woden. Sis Bushnell got transferred to Bankstown zone, and Sister Parr is training. So I got to catch up with them at the meeting. Woden-ites reunite! Elder Pedersen got transferred. I don't remember where but he is companions with my MTC comp! Elder Hammond! And Elder Searle got transferred to Orange zone! Which is straight bush. Waaaaay the heck away from everything. I also saw Elder Toangutu at the meeting. He is still the man!
They invited the newly called zone leaders and sister training leaders to bear their testimonies. Elder Bartholomew went first, then I went, then Elder Roberts bore his testimony (previously serving in the Canberra zone, in Gininderra. He is the man).
My new area and companion
Oh. I still haven't told you about my new area or companion. Hahaha actually that was on purpose. So, I looked at the board when we first got to the Chapel, and I saw "Canberra Zone: Zone Leaders Elder White and Elder Larsen" Yeaaahh buddy! I am in Canberra again! Actually, it didn't say that...
What it actually said was "Liverpool Zone: Zone Leaders Elder Winkelman and Elder Larsen". I am in Liverpool! Which is part of south Sydney. An area that I have heard heeeaaps of good about. And I am with Elder Winkelman. He. Is. The. MAN! He actually trained Elder Pedersen, and was trained by Elder Puriri. He served in Dapto right before Liverpool, and was replaced by Elder Olsen 2 transfers ago. He speaks Spanish. He is funny. And he loves basketball! Oh, he's a pretty good missionary too. Like, the best! I met him before this transfer and heard heaps of good from his mission son, Elder Pedersen. I was really relieved to hear I was with him. Oh, he is from Kaysville, UT.
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| Liverpool area of South Sydney - Jarrad's new stomping grounds. |
So that's transfers. I am now in a library in Liverpool. We serve in the Liverpool 1st ward, along with 8 other missionaries. Yes. 10 missionaries in one ward. Whaaaa? Apparently this ward is reeeaally on to it. It is a huge ward I think, and the area that Elder Winkelman and I run is doing really well. We have two investigators with baptismal dates. And a couple others that are progressing. Sweet as!
As far as other people in our zone that I know, Elder Perkins from the MTC (same zone) shares a flat with us, along with his comp Elder Trotter, who came in at the same time as us, and was just in the same zone as me (Southcoast zone). Sister Sorenson is also in my zone. That's cool! I don't know anyone else, or rather I didn't know anyone else in our zone (I have met most of them now). Wait, that's a lie. Elder Howse, previously one of the District Leaders in Canberra is now a District leader here in our zone. And his comp is Elder Stewart, who also served in Canberra. There are 20 missionaries in our zone. Pretty decent sized.
I am the youngest age-wise in my zone
So I am happy for the moment. I know that there is a lot to learn, and a big responsibility to fill. But I also am relieved, to be honest, to be serving with Elder Winkelman. He will teach me a great deal this transfer, and hopefully a few more after this transfer. I am excited also to be able to get to know so many missionaries, too. It was also a bit intimidating knowing that I am the youngest age-wise in my zone, and the youngest in the mission out of everyone (except of course those that came in with me). But I really am learning to love the members of my zone.
So that is the haps of the mission. I have to go now. Stuff to do! I have a camera card with heaps of pics to send you. Next week I will send some of me and my comp.
I love you guys! Have a great week!
Elder Larsen
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