Writings from West Virginia: From Buckhannon, West Virginia to ...

Hello Family and Friends!

There is a change on all things made! I'm leaving Buckhannon West Virginia! More on that later in the letter.

We had a ton of lessons it felt like this week. We started teaching a girl named S., who has basically been a member since she was little, but isn't allowed to get baptized until she is 18, which is at the end of November. We are actually having her teach us because she's so knowledgable in the gospel and stuff. It's like a primary review for her, but it's fun. We had a fun talk with her and her mom on Tuesday.

Wednesday we had a great lesson with MR!, who is getting baptized on Sunday! He is a fantastic man and is so prepared and elect and ready to receive the gospel. We taught the Plan of Salvation, which he ate up and was completely ready and prepared to receive it. It helps that he has awesome member support in SG and our lovely friends from Thailand (that Ryan has connections with in KongKaen).

Friday we taught MR again, only this time we went out to eat first at the Hillbilly Grill. They have really delicious and really cheap (like, $4 and huge) burgers there. Mom, write that down so we can go eat up when we come back. It's really awesome. But anyway, the lesson of The Gospel of Jesus Christ went great! As usual. Because he's ready. (see also pictures).

Saturday came the first part of the news. The way our mission does it, our Zone Leaders call us the Saturday before transfers to tell us if someone is leaving so that we can get a ride to Clarksburg, and then they call Tuesday to tell us where we are going, who we will be with, and who is replacing us. The system is complete torture, but what are you going to do.

So the call came Saturday night. One of us is leaving Buckhannon. Yeah, no question in mind that it would be me. I didn't WANT it to be me, but I knew it was going to be me. As Ryan said in an email he wrote me, "You can just kind of feel when your time is over." Yeah. You can. He's right.

Sunday started the goodbyes. I said goodbye to the L. family first. He is one of the coolest guys I have ever met. I got to know him pretty well because he would have us missionaries come help him cut wood for his wood stove a lot. He's a fantastic man who was shot in the line of duty a couple years ago (he's a state policeman). After a lengthy recovery and great blessings upon him and his family, he's back in full health and has a wonderful little family. I'm going to miss them!

Monday (affectionately nicknamed "Not P-day" by the missionaries when it's transfer week) also brought goodbyes. We had ANOTHER lesson with MR at his house this time, where our friends from Thailand fed us authentic Thai food. How Ryan does not spontaneously combust from the heat of that food I will never know. I believe the guy in The Polar Express summed it up pretty well: "HOT HOT!" Very hot! I said goodbye to him, SG, Si, and J then. That's where the pictures are from.

We then drove to M's house, where I said goodbye to her, her kids. Great little family that I've gotten to know over the last 4 months. They own a little Pizza place in town called Fox's Pizza and she gives us free pizza once a week. Isn't that awesome? The pizza is really really good too.

Tuesday! I said goodbye to sister RB, who I forgot to get a picture with. My bad. I think I've already explained her history in an other email.

The R boys were also included on that day. Great little guys. they are pretty much the definition of West Virginia. Very backwoods. Very thick accents. Very country and VERY awesome.

And lastly was The N. family. Also a great family. That ended the goodbyes up until now, but some are to come later tonight. I will report on those next Monday.

The moment you've all been waiting for/skipped ahead to see!

Tuesday night the Zone Leaders called us and said that I am going to Pikeville, Kentucky with Elder R. Davis! Sweeeeeet! I've heard it's pretty awesome down there. I don't know much about it, but I am really really excited. New adventures are coming! New possibilities and new opportunities! As our Mission President likes to tell us, "Ponder the Possibilities!" And that's exactly what I intend to do. My time here in Buckhannon has reached an end. It was a wild ride, and I'm forever grateful for the opportunities I was given, and for all the people I got to know. I'll miss it here, but I know I'll see it again someday.

I have been leaving a message with all the families that we went to say goodbye to. It is the final testimony of Moroni.

Moroni 10:30-34

30 And again I would exhort you that ye would come unto Christ, and lay hold upon every good gift, and touch not the evil gift, nor the unclean thing.

31 And awake, and arise from the dust, O Jerusalem; yea, and put on thy beautiful garments, O daughter of Zion; and strengthen thy stakes and enlarge thy borders forever, that thou mayest no more be confounded, that the covenants of the Eternal Father which he hath made unto thee, O house of Israel, may be fulfilled.
32 Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.
33 And again, if ye by the grace of God are perfect in Christ, and deny not his power, then are ye sanctified in Christ by the grace of God, through the shedding of the blood of Christ, which is in the covenant of the Father unto the remission of your sins, that ye become holy, without spot.
34 And now I bid unto all, farewell. I soon go to rest in [the lands of Eastern Kentucky], and I am brought forth triumphant through the air, to meet you before the pleasing bar of the great Jehovah, the Eternal Judge of both quick and dead. Amen.

My testimony stands with Moroni. I know that Jesus is The Christ. I know that through him, we will all find "peace in this life, and eternal life in the world to come." Deny not His power, be sanctified through him. Accept him as your Savior, your Redeemer, and your elder Brother. Peace can be found. Strength will be given. The light of Christ's hope will come. Earnestly seek for his guidance. Pray in earnest. Remember your personal miracles. I testify as one of his witnesses that He loves, and that He lives.

Brax