Elder Curtis is being transferred :(

This email is from August 29th.

Whelp, we just got the news and Elder Curtis just got transferred and leaves tomorrow. It's kinda sad because we wanted to stay together for at least one more transfer, but it was a good 6 weeks. I feel like we got a lot of work done and had tons of fun together.

As far as the work goes, we had to drop Benito's baptismal date because we weren't able to meet with him at all last week. We still texted back and forth with him, but when we tried to set up a time to meet he kept giving us the olé flakeski. It's been pretty frustrating because we don't know what his concerns are, so we don't know how to help him. It seems like this happens a lot in missionary work. Investigators start progressing towards baptism and are doing really well, and then they get cold feet and fall off the face of the earth. That's the thing that I've liked about being with Elder Curtis is how we always find ways to laugh and enjoy the work no matter how good or bad things are going.

Our favorite family from Venezuela--the Fuenmayors

This week caused me to reflect on how as a missionary we are called to find those who are 'searching for the truth, but are kept from it only because they know not where to find it.' We can Bible bash all we want, but we will not see very much success from doing that. It's gotten to the point where I can tell pretty shortly after knocking on someone's door whether or not they are prepared. It is always nice to remember thatmissionary work is not my work, but rather the Lord's. He knows what He wants us to do and be, so all we have to do is strive to do our best, and He makes up the rest. We don't have to do it alone. 

We got to go to the temple and I met your cousin, Mom! She
was working in the baptistry. She saw my name tag and asked
if I was related to you. Small world. So great to go to the temple.

I read a talk called The 4th missionary by Lawrence Corbridge as well as "Becoming a Consecrated Missionary" by Tad R Callister. Both of those talks suggested sacrificing our worldly desires and submitting our will to the Lord's and it has made a big difference. I feel more focused on the work and less interested in what's going on back home.

The district at the park on PDay

Exchanges with Elder Norton