Gage's countdown

Monday, July 21, 2014

July 15, 2014 email "Bye Folsom"

We got our transfer calls this week and I am going to a little town called Georgetown to be a District Leader. I dont know too much about the area, but i do know that it is not civilization. It is going to be the exact opposite of Folsom. Im going from one of the Wealthiest areas in the mission to the most... unwealthy area. haha i will wait till next week to talk more about Georgetown.

It was a great last week here in Folsom. The members here have made it lots of fun. 

On Wednesday we had the amazing experience to go to the Temple with Janae and do baptisms for the dead for her family. Because she was just baptized a few months ago she has been doing family history and preparing names. She was baptized for a few of her ancestors, then Elder Dorff and I did the baptisms for the Men. I was able to Baptize Elder Dorff for Janae's brother and as we were doing that name there was such an amazing spirit that came over us. You could feel the presence and acceptance by her brother who passed away when he was 18. It was amazing for us and for everyone in the room. A few of the youth from the ward came with us to participate. Going to do baptisms for the dead with recent converts is a new thing our mission has decided to do and it is amazing.

Dalila is going through some struggles with her husband right now that will take 6 months to resolve, so she said she wants to wait to be baptized until she has straightened out the situation a little. We met with her on Tuesday and she basically bore her testimony to us. It was so cool to hear someone you have been working with for the past few weeks tell you what God means to them and how they know that Joseph Smith really did restore God's true church again here on the earth. She loves the Book of Mormon so much and has been trying to read it every day. She is such an amazing lady, and is planning on being baptized as soon as she can. She also came to two baptisms with us on Saturday and loved them. She has been able to become a part of the ward and is loved by all the members.

We did a couple of service projects for people this week. We helped a lady clear all her carpet out of her house into a trailer and redo the floors. That was quite the adventure. She fed us another full Thanksgiving dinner for lunch. It was amazing. Then later in the week we helped fix the backstop of the baseball field up on temple hill. It is always fun when you are able to get out of your shirt and tie and do something fun like serving people. :)

Last night the Hamiltons had a BBQ and invited some members of the ward to come over so we could have one last night together. We had a great time, anxiously waiting for the call to come in to tell us what would be happening with transfers. It was kinda like the NBA draft when the athletes have their family and friends gathered around waiting to hear where they are going. Except it's a little different. Because im a missionary, not Jabari Parker. I was able to say bye and take pictures with some of my favorite members that have become family. It will be hard to leave this amazing place, but i am excited for a new adventure in Georgetown.

This work is real. It is being Hastened for a reason. I love being a part of it.

Love you all,


Elder Gage Black

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