I warned Bishop Hamblin when I first got in the area, the last 2 Bishoprics I have served with ended up being replaced. He laughed a bit, yet was replaced yesterday by our ward mission leader of all people. This caught both Elder Halle and me off guard but we are stoked. It is awesome to have someone in charge who is so missionary minded already.

Now for the huge news. We are in an interesting predicament with the family we have been teaching. Turns out she lives across the street from what is actually our area. So she belongs to another ward because she is off the boundaries by 1 home. We got news that she has to transition to the new ward eventually but after she received such a strong confirmation in sacrament meeting yesterday with Bishop Thomas being the new Bishop, it was a little difficult to have the heart to break it to her. So we haven't yet. Lucky for us, the stake president is teaching her with us on Tuesday and that is what we think would be the best opportunity... Hopefully I don't get into to much trouble. President Smith directed us to, no matter what, keep teaching her and although they may go to a different ward, we would still be the missionaries. It nearly broke our little hearts yesterday after a lesson when she started tearing up explaining how hard it is going to be when we get transferred. We have had many concerns to help her overcome but on the other hand, some excellent spiritual experiences. I opened up to Hebrews 10:32 before we finally left.

This week was full of much 'data collection' as we prepare for yet another stake president report. The leadership thing is starting to test me more and more. As I am sure all of us have faced frustrations as we take leading roles in certain situations, it is funny when we remind a companionship 3-4 times of things we need and when we need them by, and they space it, or have no idea what we are talking about! However, I have caught myself a couple times and have needed to ask "am I doing this with charity or anger?" Thank heavens for the gift of the Holy Ghost to give us even the smallest 'heads up' in life when it can make all the difference of trust or friendship.

We had a meeting with all the missionaries in the zone and the stake president. This is the 2nd time that this has happened. Something remarkable that I picked up on immediately the first time was that president Wright, even in a 'adminstrative' meeting, spends the first half (if not more) of the meeting talking about the gospel. I later asked "Is this something you always do?" He responded to something like 'I find that in church business meetings that getting the spirit first is essential.' Since that first meeting I have applied this a lot. For example, while setting my goals or working to set them, I found that instead of diving right into it I read a chapter from the Book of Mormon and the goal setting became much more smooth.

We had dinner with the Harty's this week and we picked up the missionaries in the area that were actually assigned to their ward (yes, the Harty's are not in our actual area) and on the way over they debated who should give the message. I felt an impression and acted on it "I'll give it!" and sure enough, my favorite 3rd Nephi 11 lesson was used. A special lesson for very special people. I will tell you, there is no other chapter of scripture that has had a more dramatic impact or personal meaning than that one. The savior and redeemer of the world, a God himself invited the entire nephite crowd to come forward and He met with them one by one. I would imagine that He called everyone by name as well. Powerful.

I also gave my training on Tuesday and it went really well! I couldn't have been assigned a better topic- the role of the Holy Ghost in conversion. That is what its all about. Elder Bednar says something like, everything in the Gospel is intended for us to have the companionship of the Holy Ghost.

Well anyway, I will hope to update you more on investigators as soon as we find them all this week!

Pray me some luck!

Love, Elder Metcalf