Well, the transfer news we have been expecting for awhile finally came this week. Elder Hansen is being transferred to Leeds, to again work in a University area. His new companion, Elder Read, is an English-speaking missionary, so opportunities to speak Chinese may be reduced somewhat. Elder Read goes home in 6 weeks, so they will not have a lot of time together. Elder Hansen feels like he will need to learn the area well in those 6 weeks, so he will be prepared for another new companion. He is excited about the opportunity and the new challenges he will face.
Among his new challenges will be new leadership responsibilities. Elders Read and Hansen will be serving as zone leaders in the Leeds zone, which Eric described as the largest in the mission. He didn't tell us how many missionaries they will supervise, but zones usually have about 16-20 or so missionaries, so I would expect it to be near the top of that range. This will be a heavy responsibility, but I'm sure he'll do just fine.
In Sheffield news, on Sunday the bishop asked Elder Hansen and their investigator Cindy to meet with him. Regular readers will recall that Cindy had expressed a desire to be baptized, but it had been put on hold for awhile. Cindy has been attending church for some time, paying tithing, and separated from her boyfriend in order to be baptized. The bishop, at the request of the mission president, wanted to meet with Cindy to discuss her commitment to baptism and living the principles of the gospel. Elder Hansen was needed to translate.
Bishop Whelan asked Cindy a number of questions about her commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ and his teachings, and about her desire to be baptized. When he asked her whether she wanted to be baptized, she said she really did, and that she also wanted to ultimately be able to go to the temple to be sealed to her family. For those who are not LDS, our holy temples are places where families go to be sealed together for time and all eternity, with bonds that transcend death. By expressing an interest in this sealing, Cindy was demonstrating a strong commitment to the gospel and to life as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. At the conclusion of the interview, Bishop Whelan asked Cindy if she would like to be baptized this Friday, July 3. Cindy and Eric were both very excited about this.
Eric leaves Sheffield with mixed feelings. He has been there for a long time, and has experienced great success and happiness. He will miss the people there, including those he has taught who have joined the church. Because of the transfer, he won't be able to be at Cindy's baptism, which is something of a disappointment, but he is thrilled for her. He is confident that she will embrace the gospel and enjoy great blessings from the Lord.
As we said before, Eric is also excited about the new challenges and opportunities he will face in Leeds, and knows that the Lord will continue to bless him and those he teaches. With him, we feel to thank the Lord for his grace, mercy, and love.
In Sheffield news, on Sunday the bishop asked Elder Hansen and their investigator Cindy to meet with him. Regular readers will recall that Cindy had expressed a desire to be baptized, but it had been put on hold for awhile. Cindy has been attending church for some time, paying tithing, and separated from her boyfriend in order to be baptized. The bishop, at the request of the mission president, wanted to meet with Cindy to discuss her commitment to baptism and living the principles of the gospel. Elder Hansen was needed to translate.
Bishop Whelan asked Cindy a number of questions about her commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ and his teachings, and about her desire to be baptized. When he asked her whether she wanted to be baptized, she said she really did, and that she also wanted to ultimately be able to go to the temple to be sealed to her family. For those who are not LDS, our holy temples are places where families go to be sealed together for time and all eternity, with bonds that transcend death. By expressing an interest in this sealing, Cindy was demonstrating a strong commitment to the gospel and to life as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. At the conclusion of the interview, Bishop Whelan asked Cindy if she would like to be baptized this Friday, July 3. Cindy and Eric were both very excited about this.
Eric leaves Sheffield with mixed feelings. He has been there for a long time, and has experienced great success and happiness. He will miss the people there, including those he has taught who have joined the church. Because of the transfer, he won't be able to be at Cindy's baptism, which is something of a disappointment, but he is thrilled for her. He is confident that she will embrace the gospel and enjoy great blessings from the Lord.
As we said before, Eric is also excited about the new challenges and opportunities he will face in Leeds, and knows that the Lord will continue to bless him and those he teaches. With him, we feel to thank the Lord for his grace, mercy, and love.
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