Transfer Calls

TRANSFER CALLS:

Probably the highlight of this week was Saturday morning at 9 when we had our transfer calls.  This was a HUGE transfer as only about 5 companionships in the mission were not changed.  We found out that I would be leaving Rogersville to go serve in the Brainerd Ward, which is down in the Chattanooga area.  I think the most exciting part about it is that I’m sharing the ward with another set of elders, and one of them just happens to be Elder Haynes, who was my best friend from the MTC!  I can’t wait to be able to serve down there.  Also, my new area is actually in Georgia, so I will have served in 3 of the 5 states in the mission so far (TN, VA, and GA). Now I just have Kentucky and North Carolina to go.  

P Day ping pong

I will also be finishing training a new missionary, Elder Jeppeson. Training consists of the first 2 transfers, so this is his 2nd one.  Haynes is actually going to be training a new missionary as well, so it should be a fun ward! I’ve heard nothing but great things about the district so far, so I’m excited to come join and help lead these great missionaries. 

WOOD SPLITTER:

One morning we headed to the house of a member, who is slowly moving from Florida, to help out with service.  He owns 125 acres of forest and has a beautiful cabin home.  We did something I had never done before, which was assemble a Hydraulic wood splitter. This thing was huge! It weighed about 1000 pounds and I think he said it ran off of a 270cc engine, haha. It took a while, but we finally got it all set up. I don’t know if i took any pictures or not but if I did I’ll send them. 

Elder Roden's surprise visit from the Courtneys in the church parking lot

COURTNEYS:

My companion from 3 transfers ago, Elder Donahoo, is going home this transfer and he is just about 45 minutes west of Rogersville, which is about 25 minutes west of Kingsport.  So the Courtney family from the Rotherwood ward in Kingsport went to go say goodbye to him at church today, and then on the way back they surprised me at church because they heard I was leaving to go to the Chatt area.  If you don’t remember, they are an amazing family that I got to be really close with.  Matt was the one that I just barely got transferred out before his baptism, haha. But they are doing so well and I was glad I could see them again! 

Elders Roden and Donahoo with Sister Courtney

Not a whole lot else to report on that I can remember. I’m excited to get down to Georgia! 

Elder Roden