Week 82: Another awesome week

Hey fam. How was your week? Mine was very busy, being the week of transfers and mission council. Early Monday morning we picked up Elder Prince at the bus station and returned home to get ready for the day. We spent a lot of time at the bus station buying bus passes for missionaries that would be traveling this week. We also spent a lot of time preparing the office for this transfer too. I finalized lots of flight plans and made departure packets for missionaries going home, and I made arrival packets for arriving missionaries. That evening we had a family night at Angelo´s house with his mom. He wanted us to teach him how to do a family night, so he can do them with his family weekly at his house. Everything went pretty smoothly during transfers. President made some last minute changes to the transfer (like usual) so that only caused a few problems. 10 new missionaries arrived this week and ten left the mission.

   On Tuesday we went to the airport to drop off a short term missionary that was going home. Then we stayed at the airport and waited for President Bangerter to arrive to greet the new missionaries. The flight came in at 9:20 am. and we saw them all get their bags and pass to our side. We gave them all hugs (except the sister haha) and welcomed them to the mission. There were 5 Elders and 5 Sister. Then we ate a snack and headed to the mission home, where they spent the day being trained. Elder Cantuário and I had to go back to the office a few times to grab some stuff.
   Wednesday we prepared for the mission council. Around 7:30 pm we went to Romilda´s house  and left a message and had dinner. On Thursday at 6:30 am Elder Cantuário took two elders to the airport. Their plane left earlier so they left first. Later at 8:30 am Elder Prince and I took the rest of the departing missionaries to the airport in a large van to fit all the bags. Elder Estevam went with Eddy to have his last taxi ride with him. I gave him my camera to record a few things on the way to the airport. He is hilarious. We will all miss him a lot.  We took pictures at the airport, eddy carlos cried, and we headed back to the mission home for mission council.

   Friday we had district meeting in the morning. I gave a training on how to do an effective family night with members and make a big list of references with that family. Then Elder Prince and Elder Cantuário went to pay the Valença home owner lady while I stayed in the office with Elder Pereira and Elder Saavedra. We left to our area around 5:30 pm and taught a total of 7 lessons. It is great with Elder Prince. I am teaching him how to do everything here. He is cool. I am also helping him relearn some piano since we have a small keyboard at our house. Our house has been being reformed for over 4 weeks and not much has changed.. Seriously, President Bangerter is expecting a lot out of it and I think he will be disappointed because it hasn´t really changed that much. He said he wants it to look as nice as a hotel when it is finished so he can have the new missionaries spend the night in it when they arrive. I can´t wait to see that happen. haha.
  This will be my last 5 weeks here as secretary. I love being a secretary. It has been an incredible opportunity and a learning stretch for me. I have gotten closer to the mission president. We do a lot of work for him and behind the scenes work to make the mission run smooth. I´m excited to be passing some responsibilities to Elder Prince, so he can learn how to do things.

   This week I am extra grateful for living prophets. I am happy for President Thomas S. Monson. Although he has passed away, I know he is in a great place helping other people know Christ´s church. I am grateful for Thomas S. Monson´s great example of selfless service and love for others. I´m excited for the next general conference to sustain the Lord´s next prophet.
   I love you family.  Have a great week!

-Elder McKay Hilton