Feb. 1, 2010

Hey, this week's been a grand week. First, to answer your questions, we use the trailer about 3 times a transfer. We use it to move missionaries into new apartments and to close old apartments. When visa waiters come in and they need a third bed at the apartment we sometimes use the trailer or we'll just take the seats out of the van and use the back of the van. We don't use it too often, mostly its just used as extra storage :) but it's always nice to have just in case.

I put my memory card into its labeled and addressed package. Now all it needs is postage and it'll be on its way tomorrow. I had to wait for tonight because tonight we burned the altar that we used at zone conference where everyone put the things that they were going to sacrifice. We'll be collecting the ashes and putting them into little bottles and distributing them throughout the mission so everyone can have one as a reminder of their sacrifice.

So this weekend it snowed!! Lots!! This is the worst storm that Tennessee has seen in about 15 years! It snowed straight all day Saturday and a little bit Friday night we got about 2 inches. I know 2 inches sounds pretty weak, but for Tennessee its insane. Everything shut down, fast food places (including Subway the national chain,) grocery stores, our office building sent everyone home (not us of course), it was insane. We had all of the cars parked in the mission and it was one of the best weeks we've had number wise. It was a fun weekend.

Over the past year and over the next year the number of missionaries in our mission is being reduced. We've already lost 12 missionaries from this year to last. So in order to combat having to close areas down President Hutchings has become very good friends with the lady in Salt Lake who is over deciding where missionaries who are waiting for visas go. We currently have about 14 companionships that are sustained by visa waiters. This Friday we got a call from Salt Lake informing us that 7 of the visa waiters are flying out over today and tomorrow. Usually when they go they go one at a time, but this group is going together. So we've had to realign a few companionships and we're hoping to get some new visa waiters in next week. It was kind of funny because that same day Elder Hansen and I talked about how if all the visa waiters got called to their missions then pretty much an entire zone would be completely gone!

That's pretty much what's been happening since last Wednesday. Zone conference and ZLC are this week. We're focusing on understanding the Holy Ghost and receiving revelation. Elder Hansen and I are training on asking the right questions in order to receive revelation. It'll be fun. That's about it though. Hope everyone has a great week!