November 23, 2020
HEY EVERYONE!
Sooo much has happened this week. I got transferred to Gig Harbor and it's been great! My new companions are Elder Stringham and Elder Stanger. They are both super great guys. They are both reassigned from Japan! That's so cool. Elder Stringham is going back to Japan in a couple weeks, so I am going to be solo training Elder Stanger for a but which will be way fun. We live with the ZL quad, so there are seven of us sharing a house! Its packed but it's also a party ;) Its nice to have a house and not an apartment. We live right next door to the church building! We walk over there all the time.
The members here are AMAZING. We have been fed meals almost everyday this week. We aren't allowed to eat in members homes, but they've been great at dropping food off for us and always making sure we are well fed. Apparently pizza is really big here. Members have given us pizza 5 times this week! I'm not complaining though.
My very first day in Gig we met this guy named Brian. All seven of us were doing service at Brother Ojas house and we started walking back to our car, and he stopped us and asked if we were the missionaries! Isn't that crazy?? Apparently he talked to missionaries a long time ago and wanted to hear more of what we had to share. We talked to him for the next hour on his driveway in the rain. He's read the whole BOM and we invited him to come to the church and take a tour with us. He accepted! We set it up for Saturday and it went super well. It was my very first church tour. We had the bishop pick him up (cause he doesn't drive) and fellowship. That worked out so well and bishop was great. We took Brian around the building and I think he really could feel the spirit. Once we got to the font, we asked him if he wanted to be baptized!! AND HE SAID YESSSS! We put him on date for December 19th! We have a lot to teach him before then, but I have confidence that the Lord will help us out. He came to church this Sunday which was super cool! I think he really liked it and the ward was phenomenal at making him feel welcome. It was just so amazing.
We did service with this super nice lady on Friday named Clarice. My companions ran into her while knocking earlier this week and set it up. She had a garage full of boxes that she needed moved to her basement. We were literally cleared that day from our mission president to go inside people homes (as long as we are wearing masks) and that was a tender mercy. It took 3.5 hours! She was the sweetest lady and fed us pizza. She originally tried to pay us for our service, but we had to explain why we can't take it. We told her about fast offerings and she donated! It was so cool to see her gratitude for us and it was such a great experience.
Speaking of gratitude, I'd like to quickly share my testimony of our beloved prophet. His message of hope was a message of inspiration for the world. I could feel his love for me and all of God's children while watching. He is a prophet of God. I know that he receives constant revelation of how to lead us in our day. I invite everyone to watch and rewatch his recent message and to apply it. Show gratitude in every way possible. Gratitude leads to joy and I have seen it these past couple months.
That being said... I'm grateful for my parents. I could never explain in words how much they have taught me and how much I appreciate them. I wouldn't be half the man I am today if it wasn't for them. I am grateful for my friends who make me better and make life easier. I'm grateful for my siblings who are basically my best friends. They have been with me through every step of life. They laugh at my terrible jokes and make me feel at home. I never really express my love for them and my gratitude for there examples. I'm grateful for my past and current companions. God has put amazing young men into my life to help me and to teach me. I'm grateful for all of you. Finally, I am grateful for my Heavenly Father. He is my #1 fan and is rooting for all of us as we go about life. He's answered every prayer and helped me through every trial. He loves you and cares for you.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
Elder Macfarlane
Pic 1: President Nelson's Message of Hope
Pic 2: Service with ClaricePic 3: Elder Stringham made Tofu!