Mission Week 53 - One Year Down

Hoi,

On Friday the 27th of May 2016, I reached one year of serving a full time mission for the Lord. It's been great and one of the best years of my life. It hasn't been perfect and there have been lots of hard times, but the joy that I've seen through serving others each day and the personal progression I've felt along the way out weighs anything else. It's been great and I'm excited to keep on going for the next year of my mission and be better and work harder and devote my time and life to God.

It was an eventful week. On Tuesday I had a "driving test" and got my license, on Wednesday I got to spend the day with Elder Ord in Ommoord, on Thursday we spent the day on exchanges in Amsterdam with Elder Da Silva and Elder Hirsch, Friday was my year mark, and Saturday we got our transfer calls. 

The day in Amsterdam was really cool. I got to see the city for the first time and work with Elder Da Silva all day. We did some service for this crazy Turkish guy, had a really cool lesson with one of their Iranian investigators, had dinner at the Amsterdam Hard Rock Cafe with a really cool member, and helped another member move an enormous bed into her not so enormous apartment. It was sick.

Saturday night we were all at Oma Buntin's eating dinner and we got our transfer calls! Elder Harrop is heading to Alkmaar next transfer. And the one and only Elder Crowder will be coming to Rotterdam South. We were at BYU at the same time and in the MTC together. We'll also be getting two more missionaries in Rotterdam South, Elder Gemmel and Elder Mostoller. I'm excited. It should be a really fun and solid transfer.

On Friday we had a dinner appointment with Familie Staal. They're one of my favorite families and we always have really great, spiritual conversations with them afterwards. One thing that Broeder Staal mentioned is that God has promised us that if we are obedient, He will bless us. Therefore, as we try our best to follow his commandments and be obedient, we can, with all respect, expect to be blessed. It has giving me a big push and motivation to do my best to be obedient and do all that I can to be diligent in the work. As I do this I know that God will bless me and lead me where I need to go and to do what I need to do. 

I hope everybody has a great week and happy Memorial Day!

Love,

Elder Wright

pics - I AMsterdam, Rijks museum in Amsterdam, burning our shirts for our year mark