Oh H*ck

 สวัสดีครับ Hello!

This was a crazy week. Just insanity. My companion almost got sent home, fish were jumping everywhere, we waited over 5 hours for an oil change, and even more wonders! Yeah it was h*ctic, but I made it to the end of the week in once piece.

NATIVE EXCHANGE

We had a companion exchange this week. I got to stay in Orting with Elder Cheney, who is in his first transfer of his mission. That's crazy to think about. In the beginning of my mission I was in a totally different place, different people, mission president, language, all of that. A lot can happen in 2 years, let me tell you. We got to have a really good lesson with Norine, who really opened up to us. I can tell we're making a big impact on her. The ward mission leader payed for us to go get a fancy dinner, and we dined like kings. We did a little bit of finding with fishers on the river. Lots of people are fishing in the Carbon River this time of year. None of them seem to be too interested in the gospel, but I didn't see them catching any fish, either. That's what happens when you fish without the Savior's help. Have we learned nothing from the Bible? Maybe if I told them to cast their nets on the other side they would be more open to listening to us.

COMPANION CRAZINESS

So, let me tell you about my wonderful companion. He hates covid and is not afraid to tell you all about it. But, since the first presidency came out with a statement urging us to get the vaccine and wear a mask, we have to at least wear a mask as a missionary. He doesn't like that. He had an argument with the mission president in interviews on Tuesday and was on the edge of being sent home for the whole week, because he refused to wear a mask during meetings. So this week was very stressful. He called his family often and there was a lot of negativity and profanity being thrown around and it just wasn't a great environment to feel the spirit in. So for the week, I was unsure about how the rest of the transfer was going to look. Fortunately, sanity prevailed and he decided during a second interview on Sunday that letting a mask get in the way of serving a mission wasn't worth it. I could feel the spirit leave whenever he would start criticizing church and mission leaders. It was a testimony building lesson on following the prophet.

LAST THINGS LAST

- BYU apparantly picked up a W this weekend, so go cougs.

- We made a cool Facebook video this week, complete with jumping fish.

- Make no mistake. I love you!

เอ็ลเดอร์ เครียดนิหน่อย (Elder, a little nervous.)

Elder Barrett