Week 20 - Mission conference and a new assignment

Family!

Don't have any dramatic story to start with this week, so sorry if it's not as captivating haha but I guess I do have a little bit of news.

So Sunday night is when they let us know about the changes, so that we can pack that night and leave in the morning for our new area. Last week was changes and last Sunday, they called us to say that no one had changes. So assuming we would have another 6 weeks together, we all just went to work as normal. Then on Wednesday night we got a call and they told us because on the mission conference on Friday we would have changes Thursday and then on Friday leave with our new companions. I was assuming this would happen, but it was still sad when they said Elder Duran had changes. And then they got to my changes.

Gotta pause to make this more dramatic.

I'M TRAINING!!!! It was the biggest surprise of my life. At first I honestly didn't believe them, but they were dead serious haha. It didn't hit me until that night and I barely slept after that, just way too much to take in. The next day we went to San Jose and had dinner at the President's house (always the best meal I've ever had) and then they assigned our new companions. My hijo is Elder Hernandez, he's from Honduras, and he's just a little taller than me (which has thrown me off a little). He's 21 and has only been a member for a few years, but he's an absolute rockstar and I can't wait to see what we can do. 

With new companion Elder Hernandez

But wait there's more!

Elder Duran was the district leader and after he left I assumed it would be another elder in our district, who has more time in the mission and is a superstar missionary. But I got a call from the zone leaders and they told me I'll be the new district leader. Second biggest surprise of my life haha. So this week has changed a lot for me. But add it to the book of the Adventures of Reese, right dad? haha It's been a lot to try and wrap my head around, but I know that it's going to teach me a lot and I know with the help of the Lord I can do it. 

Last selfie with Elder Duran

Other than that, the mission conference was amazing. Elder Richard J. Maynes of the Seventy came and gave us an amazing lesson - some deeper doctrine that just blew my mind. Elder Duncan from the Area Presidency gave us a talk about the mission and his experience with a missionary who made a huge difference solely through his example and by never letting the negative things people said about an area affect how he worked. Then Elder Maynes got up and shared and experience of a young man he baptized. And it was the same missionary that Elder Duncan had talked about. Really amazing example of how much of a difference we can have as missionaries. 

Well that's about it fam, hope you're all doing great and I love you all. We're doing great out here, living the dream. 

Elder Hansen

Pictures posted by Sister Wilkinson on her Facebook page: