What a craaaaazy week it has been. A little overwhelming for sure, but that's missionary work at times. I guess this doesn't make sense until I tell you what happened, so here it goes:
- I got transferred after 2 transfers in Northport and only 1 transfer with Elder Rasmussen. I loved that guy, he's super sick. We got along great and I was honestly hoping we could stay together so you can imagine the disappointment that followed when I got the transfer call from President. It was mostly because the work in Northport was moving. We had 2 on baptismal date and I was hoping to see those finish out. But hey, duty calls, duty calls. Elder Rasmussen is a super solid missionary, he'll knock those out regardless.
- My new area is Cullman, Alabama. It's real interesting. I've heard many things about this place. One being the KKK had a huge connection with this area. That being said, you don't see a lot of African Americans around here. So many white people. Anyway, I am training. I have a son guys, his name is Elder Hayes. He grew up in Provo, Utah and now lives in Idaho Falls. He's a very creative guy, loves art and drawing. A little bit of the shy type, but hey, that's usually every greenie when they first come out. Since I'm training in a new area, that also means I am white washing which means that a whole new companionship gets put into an area. White washing is pretty confusing to begin with, but then you add another set of Elders who also have a trainee, who share the area with us, and we share a car?! Oh, and our apartments are 7 minutes apart. Just gets better and better, right? I'll hit you with one more thing; this has been a Sisters' area for 6 years. Guys and girls do missionary work soooo differently. I'm sorry but I will not heart attack a dang door (heart attack means to put a bunch of heart shaped notes on someone's door that have inspiring messages on them). That's just not what guys do, but the Sisters did A LOT of that when they were here. Super weird scenario to follow after. But you know, we improvise and adapt. Safe to say, I was mad stressed the first day in, I just didn't understand who thought this would be a good idea. It's working out though, piece by piece. But a lot of problem solving is needing to happen.
- On a brighter note, the members in this area are phenomenal. We get fed like every fricken night and I can't complain, I really can't. Such a blessing. They come to love missionaries very quickly and they constantly offer up people for us to go and visit. They were super stoked to hear that 2 sets of Elders are coming in after so long. So, when we went to in-person church on Sunday, you can imagine the amount of people that came up and talked to us. And of course, we were asked to speak on the 22nd. All 4 of us. Kinda weird, but okay. This ward is just very involved and shows much love to anybody new who comes in. Heck, they even have a non-member running our missionary meal calendar. I don't know how they pulled that, but that's so sick. I know that as soon as we get all the kinks worked out with blind dating an area, we'll be really busy.
- Oh yeah, You know like inbreeding? I thought that was just a joke that people say when they talk about Alabama, but nah. That's like a real thing here. This old lady we did service for the other day just started spitting facts about how a lot of people in the southern part of Cullman are all a part of the same family, and not the way you'd want. What a weird use of agency.
- All in all, what a solid area. I know I'm cracking jokes at it, but I'm super excited to get this place rolling once again. It'll take a lot of prayers and patience, but we'll make it happen. I mean, this is the Lord's work, right? That must mean He will help us out, and I know He will.
That's all I got guys, I'll let you know how it's all working out in the next email. Definitely being tried and tested, but I'm gonna learn to love it.
Have a blessed day,
Elder Jackson Batman
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