Grandma Shaffer's party sounded like such a hit! The story about her
watching my video made me laugh! She's the cutest!! I'm so sad I
missed her 100th birthday, I've been looking forward to this one
my whole life. But--I'm aware this is the cliche thing to say--I know that
this is where I'm meant to be right now. I'm not just saying that; being
with Elder Taylor right now, meeting Tsukagoshi and Xia, brother Hamada and
Bishop Touma, there are so many people that I needed to meet at this time in my
life. I wouldn't rather be anywhere else, no matter how much I would love
to be with all of you. The day for us to be together is coming all too
fast! Let's make the most of right now. "We haven't a moment to
lose!" :)
I hope I don't miss Grandma by a short time, but if I do, I know
that that's God's way of saying she's needed on the other side. I love my
Grandma Shaffer!!!
Today was transfer calls. After interviews with President
Nagano, I thought maybe I had figured out my transfer, but I couldn't be sure. President
had made it pretty clear in our interviews that training is a very important
role and that he "actually trained twice and really loved it."
He also said that district leaders and zone leaders are important, but that
training is more important. SO, I think you know where I'm going with
this ;) When the phone rang, Elder
Taylor and I both jumped a foot in the air before scrambling to pick it
up. It was President Nagano. Something big is happening. He
said, "This call is for Elder Stout. Hello, Elder Stout? Are
you ready for your transfer?" "I'm ready! Ready as I'll ever
be."
"Elder Stout, you are going to Urawa, your new companion
will be Elder Frazier, and you're going to be a zone leader!"
I am still in complete shock. All 3 of these announcements
were completely unexpected and I don't feel capable of the calling the Lord has
asked of me. But I know he will qualify me for this work, because he did
when I became a trainer (even though I was so unsure of my capability at the
time, somehow Elder Taylor and I did ok.)
I'm so excited to start a new chapter of my mission and my life, and especially
with someone I look up to so much as Elder Frazier! He was in the Shibuya
Flat with me for 3 transfers and all of us think so highly of him. In
fact, yesterday before the calls, Elder Gonzales had said, "You know, I
really respect Elder Frazier. He's just so firm and bold and yet just the
nicest guy." Elder Taylor's new companion is Elder DiCastri, my old zone
leader in Narita! He's a phenomenal missionary and this area is going to
take off with the two of them working hard together! Elder Taylor has
made a massive impact on my life and I owe so many lessons learned to him. I've
been honored to be his companion, and am so glad that we've become such good
friends. I'm really gonna look forward to seeing him whenever our roads
diverge throughout our missions, and know we're gonna hang out again after these
best two years! I'm so blessed.
I'm excited to have the opportunity to work with so many amazing Elders and
Sisters. As Elder Clark once said, "This calling is nothing more
than an opportunity to serve." I'm so excited to serve so many
people. That's my favorite thing in missionary work and really in life:
serving others and making friends!
Speaking of friends, this week we had an amazing lesson with Tsukagoshi
and he came to several activities! We gave him a picture Book of Mormon and he's been reading it
daily! :D Xia and his friend Zen met us for pizza and afterward we had an
awesome lesson that Ikeda and Koji both came to. For the most part our
other investigators have been hard to contact, and I'm sad to say I won't see
most of them before I leave. However, on splits, Elder Ulrich and I road
down to Tanaka's house and he said he wanted to have dinner with me before I left.
We had an awesome lesson with him on the atonement and he seemed to really open
up again. I love that man.
Saying goodbye to all of my Shibuya friends has been so sad the
past few days. I never imagined what it would be like when it came to an end,
but just like Narita... somehow it did. I can't wait for Urawa and my
adventures with Elder Frazier!!
Seeing pictures of our family just
makes me so happy :D I love all of you so much!
スタウト長老! ^o^
Elder
Stout! :D
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