Letter from Tacoma #91: July 24, 2017

Alright, let's get to it! Transfer calls are here, and I will be leaving Belfair. Instead, I will be serving in Olympia 3rd ward, with Elder Kido! That's exciting! I've never been in Olympia before, and I've already served as companions with Kido, too. Just the right amount of adventure and familiarity for me. I'm sad to leave Belfair, mostly because the members here are so cool and we've got a recent convert here, but I'm ready to see somewhere new before my mission ends.

The only thing though is Olympia 3rd... is a bike area. I've gone my whole mission with a car in my area, and sure I've ridden my bike here and there, I haven't actually used it on a daily basis. This will be interesting... not sure if I'm excited, but at least I know I'll be in shape by the time I come home at the end of it. I'll probably end my mission in Olympia.

I've put the apartment address I'll be going to down at the bottom of the email, under my signature. Just so you don't miss it!

Daniel and Brittany's wedding looked really great! I wish I could have been there! I hope it was a memory to be remembered forever!

Just a few highlights from this week:

On Wednesday we had interviews with President Leishman. The more I talk with and meet with him, the more I realize how loving he actually is. One thing I noticed that he does is that he only shakes the hands of the sister missionaries. For us elders, it's always a hug. He's really pushing for the focus of the mission to be doing everything out of love. We need baptize people because we love them, and we need to be reaching out to people because we love them.

Took a selfie with President and Sister Leishman:

On Friday we did exchanges with Key Center again, and this time I stayed in Belfair and got Elder Hoffer for the day. But right at the start, I got this really good idea. I mentioned the Gerou's in my last letter, how they just moved into Belfair from the Ocean Shores Branch. Well, Elder Hoffer was the one who baptized Sister Gerou. So, the first thing we did when we exchanged was visit Sister Gerou.

On the way, I told Elder Hoffer that we were going to visit the Gerou's, but of course he didn't quite get who it was we were seeing, because he baptized her back before she got married, when she still went by her maiden name. So the genuine looks of surprise that came to the faces of both member and missionary was pretty hard not to laugh about. They were so happy to see each other again.

It'd been almost a year and a half since they last saw each other, and we had a moment to see what had become of Sister Gerou's life ever since Elder Hoffer had shared the gospel with her. She's happily married to a man who, though not a member (yet), supports her in going to church, with four children, one of which was born a few months after her baptism and, to my shock, that little girl is now able to walk.

I've come to find that little children give people the biggest shock when they haven't seen them for years, because they are the ones who change and visibly progress the most over a short period of time. Funnily enough, the same can also be said about recent converts, who seem to change in a process of leaps and bounds when they receive the restored gospel. No wonder the terminology the Lord used was "Be born again", cause the effect and aftermath is so similar to an new-born infant growing into a new life...

Sorry, I kind of rambled on there, so I hope that made sense. But it was a great experience. Here's Elder Hoffer and Sister Gerou:

(Wonder if anyone recognizes Elder Hoffer, because he's from Highland as well, and he graduated from Lone Peak, too.)

Funny thing: Ever since we got transfer calls on Saturday, I've been spending decomp time getting all my stuff organized and figuring out how to pack all of it up. During the time I spent experimenting with all my books and a suitcase, I realized that I can actually fill my small suitcase to the brim with all of my books. The colorful parts in the picture are socks that fit in the small nooks and crannies leftover, but only on the top layer. Underneath those, are solid books, which somehow fit perfectly with no room to spare.

It made me think, "Gee, I wonder if I have enough books... well, considering I've read them all, or am in the process of reading them, I guess not."

That's all for me though! Sorry I can't write more, cause we need to get going and get everything set up for transfers. Elder Stewart is going to be training a greenie, so he wants the apartment to look somewhat decent when he gets here. So we'll be doing that on top of everything else we have to get done this P-Day!

Wish me luck on bike! Pray I don't get run over! (Haha... but seriously though)​

Love you all!

Thanks for reading!

-Elder R. Austin Moe

Wa-Tac Missionary

Area Mailing Address:

2350 Cain Rd SE Apt #20

Olympia WA, 98501