Hello, Seattle (For real this time)

 เฮลโล Hello!

Hey hey everybody! It's been a pretty typical week in the life of a missionary. A lesson here, a missed appointment or two there. But hey! Can't complain. I have some good news, though! I'm getting transferred! I know you die hard Benson Hill lovers will be a little disappointed, but all of you Seattle homers will be excited to hear that I'll be serving in the Alki YSA Branch!!! That's in the Seattle Stake, so blast that Owl City song and let's do this!!

I LIKE TO MOVE IT MOVE IT

We shifted our furniture moving ability into high gear this week. We were helping our friend Jim move out pretty much all week long. We went some pretty crazy places to drop off furniture. I'm talking about a random trailer in Enumclaw, a house in Auburn, and a fire pit in Kent! It was a party. Especially when we picked up some subway on the way back.

TIN FOIL HAT ON

Ok, so I need to talk to y'all about something. It's very important to me, so please pay attention. A little over a year ago, Elder Andersen came to speak to us in the MTC for Thanksgiving. It was great! Had a great time, shook his hand, all that jazz. Then I go to Thailand. Who shows up to talk to us? Elder Andersen. That's pretty funny, isn't it? Like, what are the odds? Then I get reassigned to the Washington Seattle Mission. This last week we were informed that an apostle would be speaking to us. Do you know who it was that came to speak to us? Anyone wanna take a guess? No, not Jesus. No! It was ELDER ANDERSEN! The third time in a row. So, I'm being stalked by an apostle. It's whatever.

UNLESS SOMEONE LIKE YOU CARES A WHOLE AWFUL LOT

Nothing is gonna get better, it's not! I was reading a talk by Neal A Maxwell called "Encircled in the Arms of His Love." I had a cool impression come to my mind and I figured I'd share it with you:

"Laman and Lemuel, for instance, were aware of ancient Israel’s miraculous rescue from Pharaoh’s mighty armies, but they murmured and were intimidated by a mere, local Laban"

   - there are so many trials that come up in my life that I'm too proud or too selfish to actually accept help. I feel like Laban and Lemuel were honestly content with just having the problem. Not being able to get the plates from Laban proves that Lehi is crazy and that what's been asked of them is too hard. It validates their complaining and murmuring. But we don't get better by failing and saying, "well I cant do anything about it anymore, looks like I was right and this thing was too hard." Anything can be done and accomplished through our efforts and faith in Christ. If we are humble enough to want to overcome our trials, we will become more like Jesus Christ, who overcame everything.

So, hopefully that makes sense to you, like it did in my head!

LAST THINGS LAST

- A member explained the entire history of how Laos became an independent nation. In Thai! So that was awesome.

- I lost my last game of cover your assets I will ever play in Benson Hill.

- I'll see y'all in Seattle! A change in scenery doesn't mean I'm ever gonna stop loving you!

เอ็ลเดอร์ ซีแอตเทิล (Elder Seattle)

Elder Barrett