Email from January 2, 2023
Hi everyone!!
What a week! It has been so busy, I couldn’t even update my Facebook status till 3 days after it happened ?.
Last Monday, we delivered the rest of the cookies, and I was able to say goodbye to everyone because turns out I was getting transferred!!! We were able to go to Macon during the day though to play basketball, which was fun.
Tuesday, I can’t even remember what we did lol. I know that we actually had a bunch of lessons, so that was cool! I finished up packing and it was a super busy day.
Wednesday, we wake up super early, go to someone shouse that we are teaching and I got to put a handprint on their wall. I guess that all of the Missionaries who have gone to their house for the last like 10 years have done it, so that was fun. Then we went to Macon to Pick up Elder Law because long story short, he needed to make it to transfer meeting. It just so turned out that we became companions haha ?. So now I am in Dublin Georgia, which is about an hour drive away from Warner Robins.
Thursday, I got to know the area a little bit more and we had a good lesson with someone and we weekly planned. There are quite a few people in our areabook, so I am excited for the change of pace. The city itself seems to be a lot more mellow, so people are actually willing to talk, whether or not they are interested, so we shall see how this goes!
Friday, we had a few more lessons and I got to know the area a bit better. We made a crap ton of contacts, which is always such a good thing! The ward had a New Years Eve Eve party (Day before New Year’s Eve) and that was super fun! It was the first time that I was able to meet a lot of the ward members.
Saturday, we had a few lessons and I continued to get to know the area ( I think you get the idea ?.
Sunday, the ward asked me to give a talk, so I have a talk about new Beginnings with Christ at the center. I think that it turned out pretty good :). The ward is a lot smaller than most (I dare say), but it is indeed a ward and not a branch. We had a member meal at the Tippetts which was super yummy. It is cool because instead of this being a military area where everyone is from Utah, everyone from here is from here (they’ve never left) which means the food is very traditional, super yummy! (man, I am writing this way later in the evening and it shows haha. I think I’ve said the word yummy too many times in this paragraph lol)
But today, I found a Stylophone in our apartment, so that’s been fun to play with haha. I am grateful for the opportunity to not be whitewashing as well. It is weird having a companion that actually knows the area ?.
But for a spiritual thought today, I wanted to share something I learned about new Beginnings. It is a new year, and that gives us a chance to start new years resolutions and become the best that we can be! As I was preparing, I realized that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is full of New Beginnings. Each time we repent and are able to take the Sacrament, we are essentially starting new and committing to the Lord that we are going to do better. I would like to invite everyone to set new year resolutions this year that will allow you to come closer to the Savior :). Be prayerful and the Lord will help you, and I say this in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Love you all! Sorry this is so skatrerbrained!!
Elder Claussen
