Week 10: First Transfer

WOW!! TIME IS PUSHING ON RAPIDLY!!!

I can’t believe I’ve been in this land for two whole months!! I know I said that last email but I got my dates confused 😕 It’s crazy how quickly it’s flown by!

It’s a weird feeling. I love it and I know I have so much left to do, but the speed at which time is travelling is mildly terrifying. Before I know it I’ll be home… and I don’t know how I feel about that. In the wise words of John Mayer:

“Stop this train, I wanna get off and go back home again. I can’t take the speed it’s moving in. I know I can’t but, honestly, won’t someone stop this train?”

Growth comes from being uncomfortable, and I think that is a lot more than being uncomfortable merely in a situation. Whether it be the seemingly rapid passage of time or any other aspect of life, life itself is sometimes daunting and worrying, but if it were all fine and dandy then we’d never learn and grow. Part of growth, I think, is an understanding of opposition. The tree of knowledge didn’t give Adam and Eve a knowledge of simply good… it was of good AND evil. We’ve got to know BOTH in order to learn, grow, and become more like our Heavenly Father. I am so wise.

Anyway… I’m sure you’re not interested in my ramblings! On to an account of the week.

Let’s get ‘er done!

6^th June

Don’t eat ½lbs of pistachios is the lesson of the day. Not good. I was pretty sick today and can’t blame anyone but myself, really. You live and learn. I also felt bad keeping Elder Smith indoors because it was his birthday 😟

We went to dinner with the L*****s as usual. We had Mexican Lasagna which was an experience (substitute lasagne sheets with tortilla and béchamel sauce with nacho cheese). I accidently spilled my drink in Brother S*****’s plate. You can’t drink the water here so everyone drinks bottled water. I just sat there as I watched my water glug out of the bottle and fill the plate he had just filled with hot, nutritious food. It all happened so fast and yet so terribly slowly. It lasted for an eternity yet was over in a flash. I felt so bad. Oh well… at least it wasn’t my food!! 😊 Had Peach Cobbler for dessert. LIFE CHANGING!!

7^th June – Transfer Calls

So….. we got a call. Well… Elder Oldfield got a call specifically. It wasn’t good news. It was terrible news. The worst news of the mission. He’s getting transferred. RIP in peace. [For those who don’t know, missionary transfers happen about every six weeks. It is the time for some missionaries to change areas, for departing missionaries to go home, and for new missionaries (“greenies”) to replace them. As “new guys”, greenies are unofficially of low status in the mission field. Jake will be considered a greenie until he and his trainer, Elder Smith, go their separate ways. Usually only one missionary in a companionship will transfer and, sometimes, there is no change in a companionship for several months. Transfers can be a blessing or a curse for all concerned and are the biggest subject of rumours and speculation in the mission field.]

Sad times 🙁 He’s an excellent missionary, and an amazing person. He loved Logan, and Logan loved him. 

Today is also the day we lose Elder Dana! He’s going back home to do a service mission. Good luck! [Service missionaries serve voluntarily in charitable organizations, Church functions, and within the local community. They do not proselyte but they give practical service to those around them].

We went to the J*****’s to do the usual service and be fed. It was West Virginia ‘slaw dogs and pepperoni rolls. I’ll be honest… the food here may make me forget about all the difficult aspects of living in America and cause me to move here. Nah, it’s not THAT good… but it’s very tasty 😁

Helped both of them pack and then dropped Dana off in Charleston. 

Took one last photo as a quad, and then headed home.

The J*****’s had us round and we just chatted whilst chilling round the bonfire. Saw some lightning bugs (fireflies) and they’re so sick!!! 

8^th June

Today is Oldfield’s last day in Logan, and we spent it helping him pack and saying goodbye to members and friends that he and Elder Dana were teaching. We bought cowboy hats and Stars & Stripes durag hats then headed over to Sister T*****’s for dinner. They LOVED the cowboy hats and took lots of photos. They’re like family to us! Because it was Smith’s birthday on Tuesday, she cooked us whatever he wanted. He wanted Chicken Alfredo.

NB. West Virginia is like a parallel universe in which things are pretty similar to what you would expect but different enough to be off putting. Basically, be prepared to be weirded out by something even if it sounds completely normal. This maxim especially applies to food.

We arrived at Sister T*****’s to find that Chicken Alfredo is a kind of baked chicken spaghetti. Not super weird but different. She also cooked a Chicken Casserole that was chicken-filled croissants baked in a cheese sauce. It was nice but not what you expect when you hear the words “Chicken Casserole”.

For pudding, Sister B***** (who is Sister T*****’ daughter) made a “cupcake” (a normal sized cake but in the shape of a cupcake) for Smiths birthday! I love that family!!

We finished helping Elder Oldfield pack his stuff, and then filmed a story of Smith and Oldfield getting lost in a very sketchy place called Bald Knob (pop. 992). I laughed when I first heard that name. In fact, I still laugh when I hear it. Bittersweet day!

9^th June – Transfer Day

 So, we drove up to Charleston for transfers. It was a weird energy on the journey… it was good fun… but we knew that when we arrived it would be goodbye. (We were all incredibly close if you couldn’t tell).

We socialised with everyone else. Because I am English I’m still a performing monkey;

“Oh, say aluminium”

“Say tea and crumpets”

“Hi, Redcoat”

“How do you feel about losing the Battle of 1812″ [Actually the Royal Navy sailed up the Potomac River and torched major rooms in the Capitol, which then housed the Library of Congress, as well as the House, Senate and Supreme Court. The White House, the Navy Yard, and several American warships were also burned. After that the US sued for peace. Hardly a stunning victory for the colonials!]

We met the new missionaries coming to Logan; Elders Leatherman and Chamberlain. I came out with Leatherman; he’s an awesome guy! Excited to serve with them! 

We headed over to Sa***’s for a water fight with the kids (gotta break down those defences and get them to open up to us somehow). They weren’t in so we arranged to come back later!

Then we met with A***** and checked that she’s all good for her baptism on the 17th! She’s awesome!!

Back to Sa**** for the water fight! It was a good time. We destroyed the kids! They had no chance. And by the end we were basically best mates! The power of launching water balloons at kids’ faces!

10^th June

So, because transfers were on Friday, District Council in Huntington was today. All y’all know my opinion on driving up there a lot… no bueno. BUT, before the misery of the drive, we had breakfast at Sister T*****’s. THIS LADY IS SOOOOOO AWESOME! If I somehow have daughters, I’m 100% naming them after her and A*****!! AMAZING WOMEN!

District Council was very talkative because of the new missionaries. We have three new missionaries; the new bois in Logan, and a new sister missionary. I bet my firstborn she listens to Lizzy McAlpine. She’s got that look about her.

Headed home, had a lesson, and then went over to S*****! At the end of meeting with her, she gave us some ties and homemade donuts!! 

We then went over to Bro M*****, and he pranked the new boys. When they knocked on the door, he gave them loads of grief for being Jehovah’s Witnesses. Love him 🙂

11^th June

After church, we went to meet an old member who doesn’t get out the house at all. Let’s just say endogamy is a genuine thing here and leave it at that.

Swung by Sa**** again and managed to teach her the restoration! (Basically how our church came about. If you’re curious, message me. This is kinda my job). She and her granddaughter, M*****, were really into the lesson. We did an object lesson where I smashed my finger with a can of beans and it didn’t hurt… they were beyond impressed (other missionaries, it’s an amazing object lesson for kids. Message me to learn more). At the end of the lesson Sa**** asked us, “How do I convert and join your church”… so we put her and M***** on date for baptism!! THE FIRST LESSON AND WE ALREADY HAVE A DATE FOR THEIR BAPTISM!! Elect.

Then went to the J*****’s for dinner. Brother J***** played some rock music. He’s amazing at guitar. Shreds it! He’s impressed by my taste in music, so thanks Mum and Dad for raising me properly!

12^th June

So we headed up to Huntington for P-day and hung out with the rest of the District. Played a social deduction game called “Secret Hitler”, which was fun and just got to know each other. Oh! guess what… the new sister missionary listens to Lizzy McAlpine. CALLED IT! We have the same taste in music… it was sick chatting about music!!

Went to Chick-fil-A. Very good. Would recommend.

Been a good week!!! 

I think you all should watch “The Parable of the Slope” it’s a sick video with an awesome message! (It’s a guy making art out of sand).

Let me know all the gossip!

Love all y’alls (you’re wrong if you disagree 😜 Y’ALL IS NOT PLURAL)

Elder Bishop