It's been a great last week out in my new area. Lots of change, lots of new people. Change is always great fun out in the mission field, a chance to put aside old bad habits and commit to do better. We should all be growing, constantly improving. Always gotta give it our best.
I've got a ton to share from two weeks of not writing (sorry) so I'll spit this all out as cohesively as possible.
Let's start with the new area. I've been transferred to West Melbourne, the westernmost (duh) area in the Chinese Zone. My area covers a portion of the city itself, and stretches all the way out west, past Footscray. Technically, if there are Chinese people anywhere between here and Big Desert, it's our responsibility to teach them. However, our chances of finding people out there are pretty slim, so we stick with finding in the city. It is right up next to Heidelberg, my first area, so I'm going back to my original district. Feels like going home. I'm back to serving in the Chinese branch and it has been great fun to see so many old faces - and to see how much they've grown in the last several months.
My new companion is an Elder Zhao, a fiery Elder from Jiangsu. He's been serving for a couple transfers less than me. He's full of energy and fun to work with and I'm very grateful for this chance to serve with him. We've got an area with a lot of potential, and we hope to be able to see some investigators baptized this transfer. I've enjoyed listening to Elder Zhao's singing for the past week. He can't hold a pitch to save his life, but that doesn't stop him from singing American and British national Anthems on a regular basis. I've got "My Country 'Tis of Thee" in my head and I don't expect it to leave any time soon.
I had the opportunity to go back last weekend for Bowen's baptism - August 11th, 2018. What a sweet experience. He's been progressing for a long time and he finally made the decision to enter the waters of baptism. Pictures attached below. It was an honor to be there with him. I'm sad that I had to leave that area after he's made so much progress, but I'm sure this isn't the last chance I'll have to work with him.
We've been cooking in our flat recently. Neither of us have been big cooks in the past, so we've been experimenting. So far, I can say nothing about our food, but I can assure you that both of our fire alarms work in our flat because they've gone off seven times each since I've arrived. But we've only thrown away one ruined pan, so that's a plus. Shopping for food has also been fun - no car in this area, so every P Day we take a little two-wheel trolley bag down to the market and drag it back full of food. Last week, one of the wheels snapped, so we literally were dragging it. Good fun.
Last week, back in Waverley, I was calling a few of the sisters in my district last week to congratulate them on having five new investigators in one week. I reminded them that back in the city, when you get five investigators, the zone leaders buy you Tim Tams. I asked them if they wanted a reward as well. They turned down chocolate, but asked for "qinqin" instead. I invited them to brush up on page 33 of the White Handbook and get back to me after that. Sisters. They're all crazy.
Besides that, we're rocking and rolling and back on the streets of the city. I love this work and I'll love sharing the gospel with others. I've got a pretty good streak right now - every day we've gone out GQing since I've arrived, I've found a new friend I could just sit and chat with for an hour plus. If you told me a year ago that the highlight of my week would regularly be my chances to talk to strangers, I would have laughed in your face. But here I am. Loving with more love than I ever thought I had in me for other people. It's a magnificent work to be a part of - sharing the message of the Lord with everyone who will listen. I love being a missionary and look forward to sharing it with a few more of my brothers and sisters.
Have a great week, everyone. I miss you lots. Keep on doing good.
Elder Blackhurst
