December 16, 2014

Hey.... So.... Surprise!!! It was transfers!! And I completely and totally forgot to tell you!! And the story about what happened today is a bitter-sweet one. I don't have a whole lot of time unfortunately but I do have time to tell you about transfers and such. :)

So Grandma Despain texted me and told me that "Pineapple Express was leaving for East Tucson!" I was so confused... But then I realized that Elder Gilson is from Hawaii and would be leaving, hence "Pineapple Express". She was pretty excited and that made me laugh pretty hard admittedly. Bless her heart, I miss her so much! Anyway, I called and asked how she knew and she said that Elder Gilson had checked online. I got all excited and asked her to look mine up! She did and sure enough, I had a new name next to mine. Elder Derrick Dale Deyarmond from Dorr, Michigan (It's pronounced de-arm-un-d). I didn't recognize the name though... No one had. Elder McKenna thought he did from somewhere but he couldn't remember from where. Then he remembered... The ATM (Arizona Tucson Mission) News Letter that they give us every month has the names of all the missionaries going home AND COMING IN. Guess who's name was on the list of missionaries coming in! Yup, I'm Training again! I have another son!!! Now I have 2 sons and 2 daughters. I also have 3 grandsons and 2 great grandsons. I don't even know how many nephews or neices I have! It's just too complicated. ;)

Here's the weird part about this transfer... I hit 18 months today... That means that all 18 sisters that I came out with are going home tomorrow!!! Also, some of my favorite missionaries including Elder David Netane (He is Tongan) is going home!!! You have to go to his home coming if you can! I think he goes to a polynesian ward in Salt Lake. Because I am training and he is going home, we both needed to be at the transfer site for the meeting. But there is a shortage of vehicles in our zone and we have to pack missionaries in tight on p-days alone, not including all their luggage and other stuff. We were asked to have Elders Billhimer and Jones pick us up at 5:00 a.m. and drop them off at the Benson transfer site where all the other missionaries from Sierra Vista and surrounding areas go for transfers. Then Elder Netane and myself were to drive from there to Tucson and be there around 6:30 a.m., 7 at the latest. So we get up and we get a ride over to Elder Netane's from a member. The night before I called Elder Billhimer and reminded him to set his alarm for 4 a.m. so they could finish packing and then drive the 30 minutes to get from his house to Elder Netane's. They said they would do it.....

....They didn't set their alarm....

We called them about 43 times (not "about"... we counted. 43 times....) and got voice mail every time. 3 times is an emergency, 43 times means the world is about to end if you don't pick up your phone. Needless to say, we were stressed, tired, and mad. They finally picked it up at about 5:10 and said that their alarm didn't go off. Then when we questioned a little more, it turns out they didn't even set their alarm! They stayed up playing games with some members and got home late, finished packing most of their stuff, then right to bed. They got to our place at about 5:45 and we ZOOOOMED out of there! We dropped them off at the Benson Transfer site then headed to the Tucson Site where all the other missionaries were. We texted President and let him know our situation and he asked us how long we would be. We said about 15 minutes late (That was our prayer at least. It normally takes about just under an hour to get there and it was already 6:30...). He said that he would stall and just hurry but don't speed (too much!). So I didn't speed, too much... :) As we were driving there though, I realized that I had let lots of people down before too and had forgot lots of times to set my alarm and such. So I couldn't stay mad at them. Unfortunately, they don't have a good reputation in the mission for this stuff though. We pulled into Tucson and into the Transfer Site at exactly 7:15... Miracle? I most definitely say yes!!! We got our companions and had a trainer/trainee meeting with all the new missionaries and their trainers. We left there and got some lunch then headed for home. We got here at about 2:30 but it feels like it's 9:30 cause I'm exhausted!!! But Im super excited to be with Elder Deyarmond! He is about 5'7" and 180 or so. He likes most sports but loves to swim and any winter sport. He just graduated this year so he's only 18. Funny fact actually!

In my District there are:

Me - 18 months out

Elder Deyarmond - 0 months out

Elder Farnworth - 1 month out

Elder Mitchell - 3.5 months out

Sister Walter - 3.5 months out

Sister Goodwin - 1 month out

My whole district is under a year old!! We could combine the number of months they have served and it still wouldn't equal a year!! That's ridiculous!!

Yup, that's about it! Crazy to hear that Jeni Bodine is home!!! Tell her I say hi and to email me her new email! Also crazy to think that Nick gets home TOMORROW!!! Time is flying by so fast! I can't believe it... But that's okay, just gotta live it up while I can!

I talked to Elder Gilson at the transfer site by the way. Of course, Hope came up very first. From what he says, she is doing AWESOME!!! She is reading from the Book of Mormon and both her and her mother want to be baptized before Hope's birthday in January!! God is blessing her in so many ways and the best part is, she knows it's coming from Him!! Keep praying for her! :)

Terrick is in Texas and will not be returning.... He did some really really dumb things and if he comes back, he will be arrested. For a long time. So keep him in your prayers too please! He needs it now more than ever!

I think that you should pick out an ornament for me this year. I have been looking but haven't been able to find one yet. Also, I have been looking for presents to send the fam but I can't think of anything either! Any suggestions?? Do Tell! I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH!!!

~Elder Kyle Harris