What an extraordinary
blessing to have this Elder in our family and in our home. We have a first hand witness to his growth
and evolution as he is in the service of the Lord. Things he wouldn’t have thought of doing a
year or so ago, it is now no difficulty at all.
He is simply amazing! We love him
and are so very blessed to have him as our son!
Enjoy!!
Hi everyone! September was a really long month for me,
mainly because I was sick for almost the whole month. Fortunately, even though
I was sick and was unable to work with Elder Hayward or be at Save the Family
for almost a month, I still had some events that I was able to be a part of
that I wanted to keep as a record. There was Elder Ferrell’s surprise party,
the joint conference between proselyting and service missionaries and a joint
district family history event that I was able to lead with Elder Ferrell and
Elder Atkin.
Elder Ferrell turned 21 on September 20. Because he is my
amazing companion and has become one of my best friends, I decided to take some
of his missionary friends and we were able to surprise him for his birthday.
His other main companion, Brett Zollinger was there as well as Elder Sanders,
Elder Haws, Sister Briggs, Elder Fisher, myself and my family. We were able to
have his favorite dinner of Panda Express be catered to us and we played party
games all night long. He had no idea and I’m sure he absolutely loved it.
For the last few months, I was able to collaborate with
Elder Ferrell and the district leader of the Gilbert Farm/ FM Group/ Chandler
ROC/ Midwest Food Bank, Elder Wesley Atkin. Together, we chose to have a
district social activity consisting of finding names to bring for our district
baptisms events. A lot of people came to the activity, with almost everyone
from both districts able to make it as well as Elder Haws and Hayward were able
to join us as well. Most of us were able to get on to Family Search and find
multiple names from our ancestries. Not only that, but we were able to look up
how each and every one of us were related. I was able to learn that I am 9th
cousins with Elder Ferrell, 10th cousins with Elder Haws, 6th cousins with Elder
Atkin, and even 4th cousins with Elder Hayward. It was an incredible event and
I am so glad that the turnout was so amazing!
Finally, we had our joint conference with the proselyting
and the service missionaries. The two presiding leaders that were able to join
us were Elder L. Whitney Clayton, and Elder Gregory A. Schwitzer. Elder Clayton
is the Senior President of the Presidency of the Seventy and Elder Schwitzer is
currently the Assistant Executive Director of the Missionary Department. It was
an amazing conference. I was able to shake their hands and be able to have a
small conversation with both of them as well as Elder and Sister Greer again.
It was a little strange to be on the service mission side instead of the
proselyting side but I soon became proud of where I am and I became proud to be
a service missionary on this first-ever joint conference between the two kinds
of missionaries.
I have been thinking a lot lately on my mission recently. I
have been reflecting on where I started my mission to all of the amazing
experiences that I have had. I had no idea that my mission would have all kinds
of amazing memories for me to hold on to for the rest of my life. I have been
able to not only meet Dayton from Dayton’s Legs but also, I have been able to meet
and work with Elder Haws and Elder Hayward to that I get to hang out with
Dayton and help him at least once a week and be able to spend time with them. I
have been able to receive so many amazing friends and memories at Save the
Family and I have been able to learn so many interesting things while
simultaneously be able to help so many people while I have been able to be
there. I have been able to have such an awesome companion, Elder Ferrell. I
have been able to learn how to take care of him physically as well as be able
to gain such an amazing friend that I will be able to be friends with, even
after my mission. I have been able to obtain many friends that I will continue
to cherish even after my mission. None of this would have been possible without
our Prophet, Thomas S. Monson, who was able to receive revelation about service
missions and how they will be a new mission for people like me. He receives
revelation from Heavenly Father and so I know that Heavenly Father is real. If
he is real, then this Plan of Salvation is also real. It all links together and
I am so grateful for the increasing knowledge that I am able to receive each
and every day of my mission. I am so thankful for how far I have come and how I
can notice with myself how far I have come and to see for myself how I have
grown. I am so thankful for my leaders, my family and my friends and I am so
thankful for my mission and my Heavenly Father. I love everything in my life
right now and I am so excited to see what this next month has in store for me!
Love you all - Elder May
