Transfers week is here already! It's been an amazing and unforgettable six months here in Northampton, nine months total in the zone now, but now it is time for me to leave. Tomorrow I leave for Colchester.
Leaving any area is like leaving home all over again, especially in an area where I have been for so long. I am moving somewhere very familiar, to Colchester! My first area was Braintree which is just down the A12 from Colchester and I know Colchester well. The zones I have been in are in a palindrome: Ipswich, Northampton, Watford, Northampton, Ipswich. My new companion will be Elder Santiago, who I also know well! We were in Bedford district together all the way back in January but not companions. Elder Parkin will be staying here and getting Elder Lindsey.
Transfers week always brings a higher level of excitement into the mission, most likely caused by all the changes that happen. As missionaries, we experience lots of change. Change is something I have grown to accept and take as a challenge because I have been able to find comfort knowing that everything happens for a reason, or as Lehi puts it "But behold, all things have been done in the wisdom of him who knoweth all things" 2 Nephi 2:24. So everything does happen for a reason because it is part of a bigger scheme that we cannot see in its entirety. Here is an example of a people stuck in bondage and persecution, and how they were able to rely on this knowledge:
"12 And Alma and his people did not raise their voices to the Lord their God, but did pour out their hearts to him; and he did know the thoughts of their hearts.
13 And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came to them in their afflictions, saying: Lift up your heads and be of good comfort, for I know of the covenant which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people and deliver them out of bondage.
14 And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions.
15 And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord.
16 And it came to pass that so great was their faith and their patience that the voice of the Lord came unto them again, saying: Be of good comfort, for on the morrow I will deliver you out of bondage."
Mosiah 24:12-16
To liken this unto myself, I replaced the words "afflictions", "bondage", and "burdens", with words like "change" and the effects of change. Sometimes change can feel like an affliction or a burden, but God is always mindful and "know[s] the thoughts of [our] hearts".
I have seen this purifying and delivering power of God in the people we teach, especially those who have struggled with certain commandments. Living commandments often invokes an uncomfortable purifying process to burn out the desires to go against the will of God. This process of change is called repentance. I saw this process happen over the past weeks with a particular friend who struggled to live the Law of Chastity, or the commandment on moral standards. The situation was tough for them, but through this process of change they were able to gain a knowledge that this small sacrifice would open up the floodgates of blessings to come. There have been many lights along the way to help guide this friend to make the right decision, and accepted the invitation to fully live the commandments and to be baptised on November 19 to which the band of followers Alma "clapped their hands for joy, and exclaimed: This is the desire of our hearts." (Mosiah 18:11) Again, we see that "all things have been done in the wisdom of him who knoweth all things" and that by "submit[ting] cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord" this great process of change can be brought to pass.
Have a great week!
Elder Spencer Ammermon
England London Mission
64-68 Princes Gate, Exhibition Road
South Kensington
London
England SW7 2PA