3655 Edenberry Ct.

Virginia Beach, VA  23452     that's my new address!!

 

         This week was so good, yet so bad. I will start with Saturday, which was 65% bad and 35% good. Saturday started off really bad when I stepped in dog poop! I think there will be a special place prepared for those who don’t pick up their dog's poop from off the sidewalk and for those who spit out their chewing gum on the sidewalks, because I am always the one to step in it!

         Also, I was on exchange in downtown Newport News, when President Weed called for transfer calls. He assigned Elder Riddle to go to Harkers Island, NC, and Elder Riddle told him about a dream he had the night before in which he was transferred to Harkers Island to be with Elder Hargraves, which is exactly what is happening! President Weed was thrilled and relieved. He told Elder Riddle, "Thank you for the confirmation. I am so glad I made the right decision," which I thought was pretty incredible. It's not every day you receive revelation through dreams. Next President Weed said to me, "Elder White, what did you see in your dream last night?" I told him that I saw nothing and assumed that meant I was staying, but President Weed said, "Nope, you're leaving!" 

         So now I'm getting transferred to the Cape Henry Ward in Virginia Beach . . . They ain't even sendin’ me back to North Carolina! I also assume that this will be my last area on my mission, but as you can tell, my assumptions are rarely accurate.

         After all of that we attended the funeral for our investigator who died a few weeks ago. He was incredibly smart and accomplished. He had a PhD in Aeronautical Engineering, was a Major in the Air Force, even started as enlisted, so he worked hard. He was one of the chief engineers on the flight systems for the F-16 and has been part of just about every aircraft used in the Air Force for the last 20 years. The funeral was done with military honors and was very moving, with several high-ranking officers in attendance.

         But now the good part of Saturday: We went with Alberto (who is a super-amazing recent convert), to teach our investigator, Maria, who is the best person I have ever taught. She is getting baptized on the 27th, but I will not be there because I am getting transferred, which is very frustrating, but-- Oh well, I can’t do anything about it. The lesson was so great. Maria has understood 2nd Nephi better than a lot of people who have been members for a long time, but then again, it's because she put a lot of prayer and effort into understanding it. Most members skip it, or just read quickly through it.    After the lesson we all went to this super-good Mexican restaurant that was kind of sketchy and we were the only ones there who didn't speak Spanish.

         The funniest thing that happened this week was on Tuesday. We were walking out of our apartment complex and we saw our funny Nigerian neighbor standing on the corner, so we went up and were talking to him. Now he is not a member, mind you, but he wanted to do some street contacting, so when he saw two guys walking toward us, he said to the first guy, "Hey, have you ever heard of the Mormon religion?" The guy said no, so he asked, "Well, do you have a faith in Jesus Christ?" --which really was a good start, but then the other guy walks up (who is 5' 2" and wearing Hawaiian-print swim trunks, two coats, a beanie and aviator sunglasses), looks at our Nigerian friend, quickly rips off his sunglasses, gets up in his face and points his finger at him saying,  "If I weren't a GENIUS! --and a SAVANT! I might be deceived by yo’ false religion!" He told our friend who happened to be holding some random papers, "YOU can take yo’ little papers, and your false religion and shove..." I'll end the sentence there... and then our friend looks at him, and tells the guy, "Oh, you're definitely going to hell!" and then straight bee-lines it out of there while the guy continued to yell all manner of obscenities at him. As the two guys walked away, the one who didn't yell at us turned around and told us, "Ya’ know, y'all really brightened my day. Y'all really did."

         All in all it was a good week, but I am very frustrated to be leaving. I still haven't packed anything. . . Well, I hope y'all have a blessed week!

 

--Elder White