Odd Day

Hello everyone, the mission surprised us this week by having our P Day moved to Saturday, I guess they wanted to move transfers to Monday so that as much work can be done on the 4th as possible. Makes sense to me with all those families out and about.  I guess I am also sorry that I didn't warn the people at home that transfer calls were coming in today too.

The news is that I will be staying here in Machias and will be receiving Elder O`Rourke who is coming from Rockland Maine. Elder O`Rourke started his mission with me so it should be a good time and I really look forward to working with him.

Elder Nicholls is moving down to the Bangor area and follow up training Elder Sika. I am sad to see Elder Nicholls go, but we had a good time and we were able to learn a lot from each other. We were able to see a lot of cool miracles and I am grateful for him and his faith.

This last week was filled with a lot of goodbyes. Our district leader, Elder Butler goes home at the end of next week, and by what I have heard so far it sounds like other missionaries will be moving on to other things. I had really come to love all the wonderful missionaries that I was serving with in the Ellsworth district. It's hard to see people go but that's just they way that it is.

On a less sad note, one of our investigators that we have been working with for a while told us that he thinks the Book of Mormon is true and that Joseph Smith is a prophet called of God I this last dispensation, not his exact words but it's close.

It's truly amazing to see what can happen when people are willing to share the Gospel with those that they love. Cliff, this particular investigator, is a dear friend to one of the branches recent converts, Shawn. Cliff agreed to have the lessons because his friend was willing to share what he knew to be true and how it has blessed his life in the hard times. Now he has that same opportunity.

A lot of really exciting things are happening and I know that no sacrifice, no matter how small, goes unnoticed. As I continue to serve and indulge myself into the Lords great work, I realize how little time I actually have here in the mission field. It may seem like a long time some days, but the fact of the matter is that it's only a small percentage of the time that we have been given here in this life. It is our job to make sure that that time is spent in the service of those that we love. I can say that I have progressed a great distance in my capacity to love those that I diligently serve and serve with.  As we work hard to do the Lord's work and uplift the rest of his children, we can begin to understand the ultimate love that he has for all of us.

I apologize again for the odd timing, It will be normal again next week. I hope you all know that I love you, have a great week!

Until then.

-Elder Starr