Elder Weyland

Well what a week it has been here!

The first half of this week was just a lot of running around and doing the usual pre-transfer goodbyes for Elder Jeppesen. And also a lot of him packing, haha. He and I got along really well and I'm grateful for the time that I was able to serve with him.

Some of the former and current Sevierville missionaries

On Wednesday we had to be at the transfers in Knoxville at 10 a.m. so I could go to a trainer Meeting. Unfortunately, there was some pretty bad  unexpected traffic on the freeway so we didn't get there until about 10:20. I walked into the chapel and was promptly called out by President Pickett so all 17 trainers and all 17 new missionaries got to watch me walk in and sit down late. What a great first impression for my greenie. About halfway through the meeting all of the trainers went into the High Council room for about 30 minutes and received further instruction and training from President Pickett, then we headed back into the chapel with everyone else. Then one of the assistants started reading out the letters stating where the new missionary would go and who their trainer would be. From there we would stand up and Sister Pickett took a picture with us by the mission map and we were on to the regular transfer process. 

Saying goodbye to Elder Nixon

Elder Nixon was E. Roden's first comp in Kingsport

Transfers are always one of my favorite things to do. It's really fun seeing some really good friends that I've been able to make out here, but it's also really weird seeing some of those friends go home.

Anyways, my new companion is Elder Weyland from Highland, Utah.  He's a really good kid and is willing and ready to work hard. We get along pretty well so far and have been having a good time. We haven't had a ton of appointments  planned so we pretty much just tracted the whole time since he has been here. It is not the absolute most fun thing in the world, but it is some good experience for him. 

The District (before Jeppesen was transferred)

One funny story we had when we were tracting a trailer park, was when we walked up to some pretty big Arab dudes smoking some 6 inch long cigarettes on their front porch. I just asked if I could give them a couple pamphlets and they hesitantly said yes. I then started to trying to strike up a conversation by asking where they were from, to which the really big dude said in very broken English, "We are US citizens. Why does it matter?" We then realized they were fairly uncomfortable with us being there and he also had a 9 mm on his hip. Then the other one kind of awkwardly said they were from Iraq and that's all they could tell us. So we just said have a good day and moved on, haha.

Also, on Weyland's first door he got the "Are y'all mormons?" So he said, "Well we are missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints if that is what you are asking". It was pretty funny. 

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So it was a good week here, hopefully y'unz have the same. 

Elder Roden