Artesia week 1

Last of the cow photos!

I'll start from the beginning and move forward. I had to try to get a couple more cow pictures before I left Hereford. I didn't end up getting them all. Sad day. But I tried my best. Wow, just looking at those pictures is crazy. I cannot believe that was just one week ago today. It seems like forever ago!

Tina and me.

Here is the gross tradition of the Hereford apartment. Leave a toothbrush with your name on it before you head out.

I had to add my toothbrush, and then we took it down and threw it away though. Sisters came in and replaced us, so we figured we had better make the place nice and clean. Yup, that's why they sent both of us out. Can't really keep one of us there if sisters are coming...

Here is Elder Walker and me with Joe

JT and Me

                      Guess who I saw at the transfer sight?!?!

I got to see Sister Villondo, who is a friend from college. Super cool that she came into the mission! And she is going up to Pampa. Too funny.

I got to see Elder Pahulu too!

Aaaaaaand he's staying in Pampa. Again. And yes I was senior companion when I was with him. I just didn't mention it because I didn't want to sound braggy or anything. But it was super fun to see him again. We talked for like 20 minutes. It was great. I love that guy.

Elder Walker and I got to ride the transfer bus for a little while, but then we had to say our goodbyes.

 And here is his little mustache on a stick that he insisted on carrying around with him what seemed like every day in Hereford.

Here are Elder Ramirez and Me. I'll tell you more about him, but first... a selfie! I'll start from last Tuesday.

Our very first day together was a huge adventure. The transfer bus just drops all the missionaries off that are going to New Mexico on the Texas border because if the bus goes over into New Mexico it costs a lot more for the church. So, here we are, dropped off on the border at  this gas station with a few other missionaries. We take all our stuff off the bus and start loading it into the car. It's only us, one other companionship and the zone leaders. Everybody takes off, and we're the last ones at the site still loading stuff into the car. We took a little longer because there were 2 of us putting stuff into the car. Then we hop in the car to make the 1 and a half hour drive to Artesia. Only problem: no keys. Dang, let's give the zone leaders a call. Only problem: no phone. Oh snap. What do we do now? I am stranded with my brand new missionary on the border without keys and without a phone, not even knowing the zone leaders number to call if we could. I rack my brain and we say a prayer. Then we head into the gas station. Luckily, I had our number back in Hereford memorized, so I called them. They then called the Amarillo zone leaders who called the Hobbs zone leaders who came back to the car in about 20 minutes to give us the keys and phone they had accidentally forgotten to give us. Whew! That was a stressful adventure.

We have had many adventures since then. From giving a baptismal interview as my first day as a district leader, to being called inside because of a tornado warning in town, to getting our frizbee stuck in a giant tree on p-day. We've had a fun time this week, but it has been good. My responsibilities as district leader consist of making about an hour of phone calls every night to everyone in my district and then call the ZLs. This morning I directed and taught my first district meeting. It actually went really well I think. 

A little bit about Elder Ramirez: He is 19. He is from Arizona. He is the youngest of 5. He speaks Spanish super well. He went to the MTC back in October, and out to Mexico for 3 weeks. Then he ended up coming home for a little bit, helping 2 people get baptized while he was at it, and now he's back out on a mission but in NEW Mexico this time. He's not very shy, which is really good and he's a fun companion. And he also loves hot pockets.

Our main investigators right now are Daniel, Monica, and Mark. Daniel had a baptismal date for this last Saturday, but it got cancelled before we got here. He is close to baptism, but says he doesn't feel quite ready yet. Monica is a lady we picked up last night in an outside town, Dexter. She is a member referral. We set a baptismal date with her for June 14th, and she told us she already knows Joseph Smith is a prophet. Awesome! Mark was taught the restoration the week before we got here. We had one lesson with him this last week. And he said he was going to come to church but didn't make it. The ward is about 100 people here. Yup. That's about it. I love you mom! I love you dad! I love you Meagan! I love you Courtney!