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Tender Mercies (Ch7: Lake Wheeler, W6)

And it came to pass in the final week of the sixth transfer...

Exchange with Elder Ord! 

It started out great! Monday night we got a text from our zone leaders saying that President Stevens was felt inspired that Tammy's baptismal date should be moved from the 14th to the 7th (this last Sunday)! She is incredible and so prepared for baptism! She had another break in on Tuesday that caused chaos and she missed her baptismal interview that was supposed to be Wednesday night. Fortunately we were able to reschedule and it happened Thursday night. Unfortunately, chaos continued and she wasn't home Friday or Saturday and she didn't answer the phone. At some point on Saturday we got a voicemail from Tammy saying that she was staying with her aunt and to call her back. We had been calling for the last 2 days every 30-60 minutes because her phone is super buggy but when it's working she answers. Still no contact on Sunday so her baptism did not happen. Still no contact as of today.

Sandy stopped responding to our texts so we stopped by and showed lots of love and they said they wanted to come to church so we were excited to see them! Sadly they didn't come.

On Saturday we were expecting to see around 6-8 of our friends at church. On Sunday morning everyone canceled. A few of them people that had been to church even told us they aren't interested at all anymore. This is the first time in months and a year or more that the Lake Wheeler Ward did not have any friends (investors) at church.

Since I've been here we have had countless friends on date for baptism. 6 people were 90% or more taught, passed their baptismal interview, and came to church 3 or more times. Of those 6 only 2 are baptized. I have faith that Tammy will be baptized in the near future making 3 out of 6.

I've spent much time reflecting on those 3 souls who were within days of baptism as well as those who became disinterested and cut contact, each of which were dear friends to me, and it has left me with a broken heart. I still love and would love to hear back from each of them, unfortunately my efforts were vain. I hope one day they decide to be baptized and I hope I get to see it. I know I've done all I can for them. I've been reassured that I've done all I can and that I've done all God asks of me. I think that's supposed to be comforting but I find no comfort in knowing that even after my best efforts I'm still left with a broken heart and they are back where they started. 

I'm not even going to try to begin to say that what I'm going through is anything compared to Christ, but I think I feel a fraction of what he must feel when we turn away from His gospel and cease praying and stop communicating with Him. I'm sure it is more heartbreaking for Him than it was for me when my friends stopped texting us back. He loved us so much that He suffered for all of our pains, sicknesses, afflictions, and most importantly our sins (Alma 7:11-15). He also loved us enough to go through His own heartbreak. I know He loves each of us more than any of us could understand and I believe when we turn away from Him His heartbreak is deeper than any of us can comprehend. 

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
Matthew 11:28-30

"Come unto me all ye ends of the earth, buy milk and honey, without money and without price."
2 Nephi 26:25

"Yea, verily I say unto you, if ye will come unto me ye shall have eternal life. Behold, mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I receive; and blessed are those who come unto me."
3 Nephi 9:14

"I have given you the law and the commandments of my Father, that ye shall believe in me, and that ye shall repent of your sins, and come unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit... Therefore come unto me and be ye saved"
3 Nephi 12:19-20

"Now this is the commandment: Repent, all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me" 
3 Nephi 27:20 

Repent, meaning turn away from sin and towards Christ. Let Him heal you. Let Him give you rest. Let Him bring you home. That is all He wants. He loves you and He loves me.

Although it has been a tough week I have found peace in Christ. He has also given me many tender mercies this week. Here are some.

• In my very first transfer I met one of my favorite missionaries, Elder Ord, a Spanish speaking missionary that lived next door to me. I always wanted to do an exchange with him but it wasn't going to be possible because English missionaries don't exchange with Spanish missionaries. However, he is now a DFTL (digital finding and teaching leader, basically he spends half of his time recording ads and running the Christ First Facebook page).On Monday I got to do an exchange with him! It was such a fun exchange! We went up to Roanoke Rapids to film some ads. We also had dinner with the Bishop and his family as well as an African family they are teaching! It was epic! He's also one of the few people I've met that actually know what Settlers of Zarahemla is.

• At church we have a table for things people don't want anymore. Usually it's just books. On Sunday I saw someone left a game! Settlers of Zarahemla!! I grew up playing that game. It's basically Catan, in fact it's based on Catan. They stopped making them in 2008 but this one is still in pretty good shape and it's only missing one white temple square (a piece that will not be missed) and nothing else!

• I got 2 other games! We helped the Garner Elders move apartments and they have several games. Elder Ord goes home in 3 weeks and Elder Memmot isn't a big board games guy so they let us raid their games and I now have Command of Nature and Here to Slay! Both of those are from Unstable games which is an excellent game company.

• My grandparents 50th anniversary was recently and I was able to call them during the week and talk to them as well as some of my cousins and immediate family that were visiting! (with permission from President Stevens of course)

• Our new member Tamarcus has some disability I don't know what but he can't talk very well because of it and he also can't read. He was able to bless the sacrament this last Sunday! One of the priests whispered the prayer into his ear and it was loud enough that we could hear it, so the words wee all said correctly, and Tamarcus did his best to repeat it, although it wasn't perfect. The didn't make him redo the prayer, probably because we could hear the priest who was helping him. It was awesome to be here for that!

• Tammy gave us ties! There are some really good ones


Transfer news! Last night they sent in the list of people who need to pack. I'm staying in Lake Wheeler and Elder Freeman is leaving. Oh wait just kidding. We got this text: "We have exciting news! We have been notified that there has been some last minute inspiration. Final transfer news will be sent out officially tomorrow! We love yall! "

They sent out another list this morning. Nothing changed for us. With the new stake opening they should be making a new zone and my area will be in it so while I'm not leaving I should be in a new zone. I'll find out who my new companion is tomorrow morning.

I love all y'all!
And thus ended the sixth transfer


Settlers of Zarahemla (Elder Ord won)

Met some cool young ladies!

Roanoke Rapids 


June 10, 2026

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