Before I forget, we had a really funny moment this afternoon. Our mission president took us out to lunch with another companionship today, but he wanted to go to the nearest Ihop which is in the Mesa mission. So we went there and were walking up to the door when a car of 4 Mesa missionaries drives past slowly. President Howes just waves and says, "Hey elders!" before we walk in. They looked so confused. It was classic :)

Whoa, so weird to hear that Brandon is now a married man. I'm impressed he managed to pull it off, haha. And Brad too. YSA wards talk about that stuff a lot. But otherwise its pretty sweet being in YSA wards as missionaries. We're getting to know the members really well now. In Gospel principles class I was meeting the person in the seat next to me and she said, "Oh yeah you guys are new. In ward council they said you're super solid missionaries." Sweet! What's sad is that we might get a new ward when the mission splits. But wherever we're needed. "The kingdom of God or nothing."

So we had a really powerful training this Wednesday with two reps from the Missionary Department who came down to train us. Dad might recognize their names. It was Tracy Watson and Lee Donaldson. Absolutely fantastic! They addressed the fact that our mission is splitting and prepped us so that the handover between mission presidents doesn't result in a drop in the work. Tracy shared a lot of general advice as well. He is the director of proselyting for the church and used to be the Mesa mission president. He said that missionaries do best when they focus on just 2 or 3 things that they're working to integrate into their teaching and lives. And that when we set our focus, we must be loyal to it. Do not give up until you achieve what you set out to do. Hit it again and again until to get what you want. It inspired me to focus more on the most important and to be diligent in my efforts. The same counsel goes for anyone. Stay focused always and stick with it. Ask and ye shall receive. 

One more quick thing, and you can ask me more next week. But those reps from the missionary department also came down to initiate a test in one of the districts in our mission for electronic area books and planners. Those missionaries are 8 of 44 in the church now using ipads and iphones, and who are instructed to proselyte on Facebook! It's wild, but apparently President Monson's reaction was this: "I don't see any problem with that. Do you?" We got to go to the training to witness it. Things are changing. God is hastening His work. It's a blessing to be a part of it. 

I love you all. Stay safe, work hard, and have fun. Happy summer!

Elder Gathro