One-n-done!

The following is an attempt to recreate what happened yesterday morning.

Rancho Alegre, Scene 6:

Four missionaries gathered in the kitchen. They had been studying, but recieved a voice mail from the zone leaders. Sunday morning, 8 A.M.

Elder Chavez: (over phone) Well, Elders and Sisters, we don't want to take too much of your time, but the transfer calls are in. So here it goes. Elder Dominquez will be leaving. Goodbye Elder Dominquez. (Elder Dominquez is the 2nd Zone Leader, dies in 2 days) So sad. Goodbye Elder Dominquez. But now the transfers!

Elder Felix will be getting transfered.

Elder Latu will be getting transfered.

Sister Moody will be getting transferred.

Elder Chamberlain will be getting transfered.

The four missionaries sit, stunned. Elder Chavez continues naming Elders and Sisters, but no one is listening. Until finally Elder Felix breaks the silence.

Elder Felix: Elder Padron, you're the only one staying!

Elder Latu: My dawg, Elder Chamberlain, you just did a one-n-done on your first transfer! Holy crap!

Elder Chamberlain: Guys! They're white-washing your area! What the CRAP!!!!!

Shouting at random intervals occurs. Utter pandemodium as the Elders realize how many people they will be leaving behind. Shouting about Rudy, the Diazdado family, Mark, and many others occurs.

End of Scene

That just about sums up yesterday morning, from 8-8:30 a.m. I'm leaving Rancho Alegre! This is insane! And no, I don't know where I'm going yet, so I'll let you know next week. We still haven't recieved the message saying where we're all headed off to, but Elder Padron is the only one that's staying! I have to say goodbye to my papi! Mucho mucho triste. me amo este area mucho, pero este significa que qualquier cosa yo nesesito aprender es en un otro area. (for those of you who don't speak spanish, I included that to show that what I really need to learn is SPANISH! Andi I'm not going to do that very well here. My bet's somewhere in the Valley.)

But other than that surprising piece of information, this has been a really good week! We had 2 baptisms in the branch (one a member who turned 8, the other a 14 year old named Rudy. He's Elder Latu's and Felix's investigator.) So I got to play the piano at both of those!

Thanksgiving was very different away from home. We did basically the same things, but it was so strange to not see family. However, one of the things I remember from the MTC was somthing said by Elder Seegmiller, one of the Elders in my district. I don't know if he quoted it, or if he came up with it on the spot, but either way it's very true. But he said, "We're away from our families for two years so other people can be with theirs for eternity." And it's so true. We're away from our families, but it's only for a short period of time, especially thinking on an eternal perspective.

I've actually been doing quite a bit of that lately. Just thinking about things in an eternal point of view. And it's mind boggling! I still can't quite grasp the concept of what eternity is. I've been trying to do it for a really long time, and I'm not very much closer than I was earlier in my life. I'd like to challenge you all to do that, if you haven't done it lately. Just sit for a while, and think about eternity. Is what you're doing now going to help you be happy forever? Is ther anything that you could be doing better on? Or, if you don't want to ask yourself a question about this, just ponder. We're here, away from our Father in Heaven for a very short period of time. This life may seem long, but compared to eternity, it is NOTHING! So hopefully we're all doing the best we can to make it a good one!

I don't know if I've talked about this yet, but this mission is really a microchosim of life. We're away from our families (Heavenly Father) for a short period of time, especially in comparison to how much time we'll be with them. We're away from our family to learn, and to help others to learn. So much changes during this time when we're away from  all we've known, but so much of what we do here is dependent on the kind of a person we were before. And all of these relate. I don't think I'm doing a very good job of explaining what I'm thinking, so sorry if everyone's confused, but I'm a little confused as well. But missions, the pre-mortal life, earth, eternal life, are all microchosims and macrochosims of each other. Crazy to think about.

Sorry, I just spent most of my email time rambling about eternity, but not all that much has happened this week. And what has happened is hard to talk about, because I don't know where the story is going to end! I could tell you about Mark, or Alan, or Belquiz, or Casper, but I won't be able to follow up on it!

Actually, I'm going to tell you about Casper. Casper is a former member of the church, who requested his records removed because he believed that the teachings of the church were incorrect. We actually even haven't talked to him other than the first time we met him. But we met him because he came up and introduced himself. I'm so sad I'm leaving, because I really think I could have helped him with his doubts! But I guess I've learned what I came here to lear. But Casper! We were riding our bikes, and he drove up beside us and started talking to us! He's been a nonmember for 6 years, but somthing just made him decide to pull over and talk to the missionaries of a church that he'd previously decided must be incorrect. I know that the Holy Ghost works in many ways, and he must have been whispering to Casper right then. Elder Padron better follow up with him!

That's essentially what happened in my week. I don't know yet what this next one will bring, but you know. Same old, same old. I NEVER know what the next week will bring! And I love it!!!

I continue to be strengthened by the letters everyone sends. Thank you for your love of me enough to take time out of your already busy schedule to spend just a little time with my writing, that doesn't even make sense to ME half the time!

Remember! The Lord loves you, and so do I!

Adios! Mas en un otro locacion proximo semana!

Con Amor

-Elder Chamberlain