I'M FREEEEEEEEEEEE!!

So I don't want to throw shade at Encarnación (my last zone), but apparently I really hated it there.  We had transfers on Wednesday and I got changed to here in Paso de oro.  I had nearly forgotten the joy of teaching the gospel before getting here.  I didn't realize quite how badly I was struggling until I was reminded of the great joys of being a missionary and disciple of Christ.

In my 3 different areas in Encarnación, I was rejected.  It was sooooo hard to find just one person that wanted to listen to what I was saying.  Even worse, they seemed to want to listen to all the missionaries except me.  I still can't explain it.  I served under some unique circumstances, but still, everytime I left the area on exchanges my comp would see some great miracle and then I would come back and we'd get nothing.  I'm very thankful to a great comp, great missionary leaders, and great supportive members for being so helpful, but it was just different.

For a good comparison of the two areas read Alma 8: 3-13 replacing the following words:

Alma = Elder Blacker
Melek = Paso de oro
Ammonihah = Encarnación


After just 4 days here in Paso de oro, I feel like I have already taught more lessons than I did in the 4 months back in Encarnación.  This. Area. Is. Heaven.  It's almost too good to be true.  Everyone wants to listen.  Everyone wants to get baptized.  All the members want to give us lunch.  My comp is one of my best mission friends that I had met in the office.  It's all just too amazing.

I had a rather fun experience this week.  After being out of the office for 4 months, I went back for transfer day.  As soon as I got there, the current office Elders gave me a big list of things that they needed help with.  I stayed a whole extra day just to help them solve all their problems.  They still need me🥹.  I got to see missionaries that I hadn't seen in too long and do all the old office work for a day.  I even got to go to the temple and do a session for the first time in 18 months and for the 4th time ever.  The temple is the best.  It is literally the house of God.

This week reminded me that God is amazing, being a missionary is awesome, and there really is joy in the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I love it here.

Have a great week y'all 🤠

Elder Blacker




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