Week 96: Tuesday April 7, 2015

Dear Family,

   Weeks and transfers come to an end, but I feel so blessed to still have another transfer to serve as a missionary. It has been an incredible 6 months in Escalante, but it's with excitement that I announce that I will be transferring to a new area! The area that I will be transferring to is one of the most well know and popular areas in the mission...Dumaguete! I can't tell you how excited I am to be going there! I am also so excited for my new companion, Elder Ray. Elder Ray is a fairly new missionary and I can't wait to work with and learn from him. Also, one of my housemates will be yet another fellow "St.-Georgian", Elder Arsilanian. He played football for Pine View and has a scholarship to play at BYU after his mission. Somebody tell Brett...he'll be excited to hear about it!

   I've been visiting everyone in my area these past few days - members, recent converts, investigators, etc. It's always hard leaving an area, but I love the feeling that comes with knowing that you have done everything that you can. I'm grateful for the experiences that I have had here. I have learned so much. I've taken beautiful pictures too! I can't wait to go over them all with you when I get home.

   I'm excited for General Conference this weekend! I've already heard a little bit about it. I'm not sure if any of you were able to catch it, but my former mission president, Evan A. Schmutz, was sustained as an area seventy. I am so excited for him! He truly is an amazing man who has effected my life the most incredible way.

   Going into my last transfer, I am doing my very best to give everything that I have while I am still here. If my e-mails are shorter than they have been in the past or if I don't seem as excited as you think I should be, just know that I am trying not to let it distract me. This last 6 weeks is so important. I still have so many important things to do and there is still so much that I know that I need to learn. Having said that, I am looking forward to our last call together. I'm not sure when the exact day will be, but I have a feeling that it won't be any longer than a week before I return home. I can't believe it's coming to an end.

   I love you all so much. I'll talk to you soon.