It wasn't too unexpected but I did leave Solidaridad in an emergency transfer. Last Tuesday after lunch we got a call at 2 and at 4 I had to be in the office. My new area is called Pamplona 1 and my new companion is Elder Infante from Trujillo. So far, I like it here but it did hit me at some point that I will never see any of the members or investigators in Solidaridad. We had 11 baptismal dates for Pete's sakes.
The mission likes you to get familiarized with the area and the people, establish some friendships and love everything and then it gives you a transfer.
So I am back to the learning stage as far as the area.
Elder Infante pranked me on my first day here. Our very first lesson he told me we were going to a family who had baptismal dates but were having difficulties living the Word of Wisdom. So we got there and the daughter, age 20 something, started making tea. She said she understood why no drinking and smoking but didn't quite get the tea deal and took it a step further to say that if we didn't drink the tea she was preparing we weren't accepting her culture and she wasn't going to be baptized. After contesting for a little Elder Infante came out and said "OK if it means you will be baptized I will drink it". To exaggerate only a little, I had to stick my hand in his mouth so he didn't drink. After burning him a little bit, the investigator felt bad and admitted they were playing a joke on me. She is a member and the rest of the family recent converts. Unfortunately, they were recording so they caught an embarrassing moment but fortunately I passed the test and didn't stoop down to different standards just for a baptism because that would have been way worse...
One thing I forgot to explain last week were the fireworks. I had been told that Christmas and New Years would be nothing I had ever seen but I had also been told that the fireworks were a little more regulated this year. Whatever the case, midnight on Christmas Eve and New Years at 12 I thought the world had just about exploded. I bet every house had over 100 US dollars worth of fireworks. We went up to the roof and looked over the whole valley and I had never seen a worthy comparison.
Thanks to Jackson and Emily I listen to a lot of Jeffrey R Holland talks and the one that I always have in my mind is when he explains that after the death of Jesus the apostles aren't quite sure what to do. Looking to Peter they judged it best to go back and fish. Which is often what we find ourselves doing after having a really good general conference, devotional, or just a spiritual experience. Elder Holland paraphrases "you can't go back to boats".
Love,
Elder Craythorne
With the passing of Ben's grandpa he wrote this in his letter to me this week.
Erik
"Today the Mission President called. That is something you don't want to hear as a missionary. More than anything I hope Mom is Ok. It is a rough combination to have your kid gone for the holidays and lose your dad.
Basically the only thing I have to tell you is Dad, take care of my good mom!"
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