December 12, 2016
Mom and Dad!
HI! Today is my last
time emailing you as a missionary! That's crazy, I would say that it's crazy
how time flies, but I think I've been saying that for the past almost 2 years.
My time here has been wonderful. The past week was also solid; we finished
transfer planning in record time, low stress and high success. We had a really
cold street display in Frankfurt where we closed out by caroling. The week was
a blur between that transfer planning, finishing little jobs that I was in the
middle of, and yes, passing on what I've been doing to my two companions who
will fill my roll as I leave. One helpful resource that we also have is the
"tech tutorial", a small booklet written by tech (office) elders for
their successors. I added references to things I've organized, changed and done
during my time in the office.
Yesterday I had a cool
experience with personal revelation at church as I pondered my past two
transfers here, working in the office and in Frankfurt. I pondered what success
means. I wanted to do more 'normal' missionary work in my time here and that's
something that we constantly work towards while projects and assignments
prevent it. We read in the 3rd hour of church from the teachings
of Howard W. Hunter and from 1 Corinthians 12.
These chapters teach of unity and the importance of working hard in whatever
capacity we may be called to. The eye shouldn't be the ear and the hand not the
foot, all
of the body parts are essential for the body to function as it ideally
should. I realized that my time in this area has been well spent, I've
continued to do my best to bring others to Christ and been a support in a
different way to missionaries involved in the same work. That was good.
Tonight we, a big group
of Frankfurt missionaries and members, are going caroling on the Zeil, a strip
mall type of street. Tomorrow I'll have my last street display and new
missionary welcoming/orientation activities, always a lot of fun. We have a
sister coming from Mexico and a couple of German Elders as well adding
diversity to our predominantly American group of missionaries :). Our district
over here in Frankfurt is also being split up a bit, one Sister is headed to
Hanau and an Elder is going to Dortmund, Elder Stiles and Penrod get to stay
together and enjoy at least another 7 weeks in Frankfurt. On Wednesday we have
"leaver activities" and a testimony meeting at night to which I've
invited a few friends from past wards. President Heckman, for example, will
make it out. That will be a great day.
I think I'll close for
today and see you on Thursday! Thank you for reading my emails and writing me
each week. Also, thank you, dad, for your letter! I got it in the mail just a
few days ago.
I know that Jesus Christ
leads this work and this church. I'm so grateful for the opportunity to have
been in His service in Germany and for all of the wonderful people I've met and
meaningful relationships I've made. God, our Father in Heaven, has a plan for
each of us, loves and listens to us. We are imperfect people in an imperfect
world, striving to make it better and through the Grace of Jesus Christ we can
become better, not just in our behavior, but in our nature. I love it.
Thank you!
Elder
Blanchard
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