Week 44; President Greer

Photo Album: https://photos.app.goo.gl/QuW5JQQJL6emqhb68 It's been a hard goodbye this week to the Hoffmans since their mission presidency is unfortunately over. The new mission presidents are President and Sister Greer, they are just awesome. President Greer was told by Elder Bednar to go on exchanges with the missionaries even before he unpacks. So lucky for us, Northside was the first campionship out of the whole mission to exchange with. We only had 2 hours with him on tuesday before dinner, but it was such a blast. I'd never met the man and I was doing missionary work with him. Luckily, he's not as intimidating and brash as President Hoffman was in a good way. He served his mission in England and he is an incredible missionary. We didn't have many teaching opportunities, but it was a great time to be able to get to know him and take some advice from him. I'm so excited to see how this mission is about to change and how fast it will. By November we will go from 180 missionaries to over 220. They will have to open over 20 new areas and open some biking areas to compensate for the surplus of missionaries. They are definitely walking into a lot of stress, and we are in a time where across the world we have the most missionaries ever at one time. On Wednesday the day after our exchange we were able to have a meet and greet with President and Sister Greer as the Pittsburgh zone. It was a cool experience, they are just the funniest people ever. We were able to have a suprise exhange right after the meet and greet on Wednesday with Southside. I was with Elder Beynon in Southside and we had a blast. We didn't know how long the meet and greet was going to be and so we had our schedule cleared for lessons that day. So we just had a full day of just finding. At the beginning of our day we knocked into this king young lady named sara. She has a son with severe autism and hadn't found a church that has really made them comfortable. We were able to talk about our church and how inclusive and family-centered it is. We are also able to talk about the Book of Mormon and how that's really brought us closer to our Savior inside of our lives. We were able to set up a time to meet with her to give her a copy. Other by then is an amazing Elder, me and him will become great friends over this transfer. In our area we have a few people that have been taught by missionaries a lot in the past and were on date for baptism. For the last three transfers I have meant to stop by this guy and we just never had time to. This last Thursday I had the impression to put him in the schedule and we were able to stop by. He answered the door and was so excited to see us. His name is Tommy and him and his wife both remember missionaries and everything they taught. Without us even saying anything he brought up baptism and the word of wisdom. He mentioned how it's a big struggle for his wife but he is willing to get off of that because he's done it before and he can do it again. We were able to set up a time with him and to be able to start teaching him. I have lots of faith in him and definitely see him in white within 3-6 weeks. Unfortunately he's old and has some health complications with his back and his hips so it is really hard for him to be mobile. We really promised him that the Lord will magnify his efforts and after he's baptized the gift of the Holy Ghost can really strengthen him in his life to more easily get to church and participate in the gospel. Please pray for tommy. This Sunday we were finally blessed to have two friends at church which is a big relief. We've been working with our recent convert Isabella's family and she brought her mother and her friend we've been teaching. After 5 weeks of no one coming to church, we were finally able to see the fruits of our labors. I'm confident and have lots of faith that this area of Northside will see lots of success from the fruits of their labors and these next coming transfers. Unfortunately transfer week has arrived, we will get news tomorrow and I'm excited to see what will happen. This is the end of my 3rd transfer in Northside so I'm most likely gone. I have no predictions or thoughts for next transfer, literally anything could happen. In 2 Nephi 9:50-51, Jacob is quoting Isaiah, and the imagery is all about thirst and feasting. "Come, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters" is an open invitation with no fine print. Christ doesn’t check your wallet, your resume, or your track record. Water for cleansing, milk for nourishment, wine for joy, He offers all of it “without money and without price.” Grace isn’t transactional. You can’t earn it, and you don’t need to. You just have to be thirsty enough to come. "Wherefore, do not spend money for that which is of no worth, nor your labor for that which cannot satisfy." That’s a mirror. How much of our time, energy, and attention do we pour into things that evaporate? Promotions that don’t fulfill, relationships that drain, habits that numb, purchases that lose their shine by next week. Jacob calls it like it is, expensive emptiness. The contrast is stunning. The world sells us snacks that leave us hungrier. Christ invites us to “feast upon that which perisheth not.” A feast isn’t a rushed bite between meetings. It’s sitting down, lingering, being filled. When we “hearken diligently” and actually listen and act, He promises our souls will “delight in fatness.” Not literal excess, but spiritual abundance. The kind of peace, purpose, and joy that doesn’t spoil when circumstances turn. Because Christ’s table is already set. The only cost is walking away from the vendors that never satisfy and choosing to sit where real nourishment is being served. With all my love, Elder Batman