Pres. Brown called this morning with a transfer for me to (a) Rio Grande, NJ, in the Cape May Branch, as a (b) Junior Comp. to Elder Powell. I am excited! Farkas is off to Frankfurt in No. Philly. Gledhill to Vineland. Page to Vineland.
We walked Hamilton and then the mall. Lori Shoop is taking us down for transfers. I said all of my (c) good-byes. Elder Dougherty is moving in here.
Visited a former member of the Allentown Ward that moved back in, Shirley Hamm. And an (d) Ex'd Stephanie Callaby's mom. Maybe something will turn up there. Good bye Allentown again, and let's work with our (e) "heart, might, mind, and strength" and show the Lord, the church, Pres. Morley, my comp., my family, and most importantly myself that I can! (9 months today)
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(a) After getting back on my feet in Allentown with Elder Holcomb for a couple of months, I was officially on my way to a whole new area: New Jersey! The trip from 230 North 10th Street in Allentown, PA, to 30 Church Road in Rio Grande, NJ, is a good 2½ hours (142 miles). Members were kind enough to drive us to Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia where we all met up and from there loaded our stuff into cars with our new companion and/or members of wards from the areas we were transferring to.
(b) Junior and Senior Companions, District and Zone Leaders, and Assistant to the President were all callings within the mission field. As Junior Companion, you are to support the person you are with who then is essentially in charge of what you are going to do as a duo in your area. In a sense, it is as if you are not ready to assume more responsibility, and in my case, coming on the heels of an emergency transfer out of Pottstown, I was clearly not "leadership material" at this point in the mission.
(c) I loaded my belongings and bike onto Lori Shoop's car and together with Elder Holcomb, we were on our way out of Allentown. This was my last day ever in Allentown, Pennsylvania. I still have a fondness and special place in my heart for the Allentown Ward and the people of this part of Pennsylvania. It was my first area (Bethlehem) and after a stint in Pottstown which was filled with spiritual potholes, Allentown got me back on my feet. And not just Allentown, but one very special companion, Elder Shawn Holcomb. I could not have gained my confidence back without you, Elder Holcomb. You were a guiding light and a spiritual buoy that rescued me at a low point early on in the mission field. Thank you. I love you, man, wherever you are. You saved me.
(d) Ex'd is in reference to being ex-communicated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The member is no longer in good standing with the church but can, if they are willing, make their way back into the church.
(e) This is in reference to Section 4 of the Doctrine and Covenants (a.k.a. D&C) in which we read in verse 2:
Therefore, O ye that embark in the service of God, see that yeserve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day.
It is a popular Section throughout the church when discussing missionary work, and the D&C, in general, which is another book of scripture and part of the Standard Works of the LDS Church (Old and New Testament; Book of Mormon; Doctrine and Covenants; Pearl of Great Price).
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My new home:
30 Church Road #2
Rio Grande, New Jersey
My companion, Elder Powell.
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