June 15, 2015

"Nothing is so painful to the human mind as a great and sudden change."

- Mary Shelley

I have had transfers this week, and it looks like I had to be the one to get switched. I now have a new companion named Elder Lima from Brazil who will be going home in 6 weeks, so it will be awesome to work with him to the end. I am in a new area with a new apartment. It is strange to be moved from my old sector. I have only been in one sector for about 10 months now... how strange is that? Now, I am in a new area, and I get to learn everything all over again. 

This whole past week was really good. We were able to do all that is necessary and passed by many people. We had a baptism planned for this week. It fell through, but he will be baptized in a week or two. Sad, but, he still wants to be baptized. I had the zone leaders in my pension to tell me the changes for this next transfer, and they told me the news that I was leaving. I was sad that I have to go, but I knew that I had to. So, I began to pack my bags... thinking of everything that had happened and how much I was going to miss the ward.

Sunday came, and as I’m standing and counting all the members that are there. We begin to share testimonies, and the bishop`s wife gets up and announces to the ward about my change. Then, the whole ward looks back to where I am, and they all look sad. I had the opportunity to say good bye to them in the chapel, and as we were saying our farewells, a brother in the ward comes, hugs me, kisses me, wishes me well, and then hugs me again and kisses me again. I’m really going to miss that brother. I had many people tell me goodbye. Many members wanted to hug me, and I felt so sad to have to leave. The ward is amazing, and I will miss all of them.

As I came today to the area to be changed, another brother in the ward took us in his car with all of my things, and we got there. I just kept waiting for the call to say that it was all a joke and that I wasn’t really leaving. But, it never came. Now, I am all unpacked in my new apartment, and I see now that this is no joke. I am also in an apartment with only Latinos which means 100% Spanish at all times. I’m going to learn so much Spanish and forget so much English. Even after being out here, at times I forget words and speak in Spanglish, but, I guess I will speak only Spanish now. I am very excited for this change in my mission and ready to go out and work even harder in a new place with new people. I’m so ready!

Elder Gale