Don't Blink

Good Morning!

I want to be 100% real with my new area; I love it! I feel that the field here is very white and very ready to harvest. Maybe that's because I just left Ephraim, where I had quite the opposite perspective, but I am very grateful to be in the Cedar City area! Especially once campus hits and the YSA kicks into action. Then missionary work will be a party. 

I'll be more honest; I was pretty nervous to get my new missionary. I wanted someone who could work hard and be diligent, while handling a very busy first couple transfers. I have a lot of knowledge and wisdom I could share, and a few missionary skills, but I needed a new missionary who could handle the pressure and step up to the plate. 

When I walked into the new missionary meeting, I realized just how many new missionaries there are. President Staples called a few missionaries to the front and paired them off, and then he asked Elder Cammack to stand. The moment I got a good look at Elder Cammack was the moment I realized I'd be training him. The Spirit just hit me and I had no doubts in my mind. I was already standing when President called my area and my name. 

Receiving Elder Cammack as a new missionary has been really good for me. It reminds me of Elder Dearing, when I first became his companion. The Spirit works in mysterious ways, here's what I mean. For Elder Cammack, I received a spiritual witness that he was going to be perfect for the task at hand. With Elder Dearing, I ate lunch in the same room as him and didn't know he existed! Elder Dearing is a fantastic, amazing missionary and one of my favorite companions. But I didn't recognize him or consider him as a potential companion until he stood up and I was called forward. There are many reasons for this, but I feel that I was too busy analyzing everyone when I became his trainer, so I needed a fresh perspective. But with Elder Cammack, God knew I needed to know that he was the right Elder for the job. 

Three days later and the work is moving forward! We've taught quite a few lessons together already, we've met most of our teaching pool, and I love the members in Cedar City. I know the Lord provides miracles, and we are witnessing those each day. 

We've spent some time this weekend in the Kolob Canyon Ward. It's a beautiful spot twenty minutes south of Cedar. It's a longish drive, but worth it. I had some of my favorite tacos ever out there just yesterday! It's funny because I told Elder Cammack I didn't really care for tacos. Then on Saturday and Sunday we've been fed tacos for each dinner. Every time Elder Cammack looks at me with an expression that says "you literally just told me you don't like tacos and yet here we are eating tacos again". Yet on Sunday I had some of the best tacos I've ever had! I digress.

Kolob Canyon is one of the many places in Utah for people to hide from the Church. Everyone sits on at least 5 acres of property, their houses are too far to walk and too close to drive, and they're not interested but everyone is super nice. We haven't found anyone to teach out there yet, but we're trying really hard. We had an amazing experience with a gentleman named Jim. He's been in war and seen many horrific things in his life. However, something touched him through the questions we asked and he accepted a copy of the Book of Mormon. We are not yet teaching him, but he will definitely read the Book of Mormon. 

Kolob Canyon is beautiful. The work moves forward at an accelerated place out here. This is my first transfer in Cedar City, and also my first time teaching someone who has an FLDS background. I will continue to work hard, but I'm afraid to miss this entire transfer if I blink for a bit too long. The work will fly by, I have yet to inform my new missionary that his mission is going to fly by before he knows it. That's exactly how it's happened to me. 

- Elder Williams

Mailing Address:
881 South River Road
St. George, UT 84790

Pictures:
1. Kolob Canyon part 1.
2. Kolob Canyon part 2.
3. This is Elder Cammack.
4. A striking sunset.
5. The Redcliffs Temple.
6. Elder Bagley and I!
7. Ephraim in the rain.








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