Week 1 in Watauga

Last week's concert with David Archuleta

Buenos!

Greetings from Johnson City! Transfers were this week, and I am excited to be in my new area, the Watauga ward. My new companion is Elder B. He is from St. George, Utah, is the 7th out of 8 kids, 18 years old, and is one of the biggest goofballs ever. He has been out on his mission for about 6 months. He loves doing just about anything, and is thinking about becoming a cop someday. He is also the first English companion that I've had, so it'll be interesting to see how things will work out this transfer.

The first few days in Watauga have been a little slow. After my first day here, we realized that we had gone over our monthly allotment of miles on our car, so for the next few days, we were "grounded." We've had to travel completely on foot, which has been fun, but tiring. Let's just say I've become really familiar with everything that's within a two-mile radius of our apartment. It has definitely made me appreciate having the car more. We were definitely thankful when the new month rolled around.

Of course, the best part of this week was conference! It was amazing, as always. I can't really pick out my favorite talk, but there were a lot of things that stuck out to me. I liked how Russell M. Nelson taught that there is nothing easy about becoming a powerful disciple, but it is faith in Christ that propels us to do things we would not normally do. I also loved Ronald A. Rasband's counsel to act on the first promptings that we receive from the Holy Ghost. I was also particularly grateful for David A. Bednar's talk about mission reassignments. I've struggled to understand why I was originally called to the Nashville mission, but it brought a lot of peace to me knowing that the call to serve is more important than the place. As long as we follow Christ, we "cannot go amiss."

My ponderizer this week is 2 Timothy 3:16-17, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." Our prophets have spoken to us this weekend. They have given us our "scripture" for the next 6 months. Let us heed their counsel, so that we may become perfect men and women of God, furnished unto good works. I hope y'all have a great week! 

Love,
Elder Mitchell

PS Most of these pictures are from last week because he forgot to send them:

At the concert, they had a "family reunion" 

with all the greenies he has trained

R receiving the Aaronic priesthood 

on his last Sunday in Lenoir City

Saying goodbye to Br. E, the ward mission leader 

and "Crazy Johnny" who they work out with sometimes

Saying goodbye to another long time investigator

At transfers he met up with Elders R & M,

who he served with in Dalton

With his new companion, Elder B