The Bingham6 Missionaries: Thanksgiving Week--December 3, 2014

Hello Everyone,

Wow, it’s been a while! I apologize that I have had so many problems the last couple weeks with emailing and sending pictures. These computers have been very rough! But I guess I can only be grateful that I can E-mail!

So much has happened in the last couple of days! I guess I will start with Thanksgiving! Well, I have definitely gained weight this week! Haha First off, my amazing mom and her awesome package was so great to get! I loved it; getting stuff in the mail and packages really does make missionaries so happy! My companions and I ate very well because of that one. :)

We ended up getting invited to two different dinners on Thanksgiving Day! We first went to the Turpins, The Turpins are great; they always take us out to dinner or have us over. They are an older couple in their 60’s, so not too old, but they are as southern as it gets! Haha We had an amazing dinner. I have to say it--They put our Thanksgiving dinners out west to shame! The food was unreal super good and so much to eat! Just for example, they had five different kinds of smoked turkeys! It was too good and very fun!

We then went to the Bird’s house; they’re a couple from Utah with a few little kids and that was also fun! It was kind of sad; they are here for school, so brother Bird can go to V-TECH, but they missed they’re family back home and so did we. . . But we still had a great time and their kids are too funny! It was a great day!

So one of our more promising Investigators, Kenny Harris’ brother was walking to the post office in front of our town home and got hit by a car. Really sad accident! His brother was kind of blind, so he shouldn't have been walking on the streets. We think he just didn't see the car... But the cool thing is that we were the first ones Kenny called. Kenny doesn't have a lot of family anymore and the Plan of Salvation has always been a big thing for Him. It answered so many of his questions. But anyway, that night, he wanted to meet with us at the church, so we did. We went and I was really nervous. I didn't know what we were going to say to him or do. My companion and I just prayed in the car for a while and asked for help before he got there. He arrived and we got started and he broke down. It was rough and then I guess with all the trust we have, we put it in the Lord’s hands and we just told him with all of our hearts that we know he will see his brother again. It’s hard to explain these situations because they’re so powerful at the time they happen. We were able to give him a blessing. In the blessing, it told him that his brother is going to help him make covenants with Heavenly Father so they can be together again. It was a very special experience.

I guess the next big news is that I am getting transferred! After six months in Radford, Virginia, I am getting transferred. My mission President called me the other day and talked to me for a while. He is such an amazing guy. He is so smart and intelligent! He released me from being a District leader and a trainer. I will now be a normal missionary for a while, but one of the reasons is because I'm going to a struggling area that needs a lot of work. I'm going to a small town called Richlands, Virginia! It is on the border of West Virginia and Virginia. It is a small town with a branch--not a ward, a branch. They say there are 15 to 20 members that are active and they have had big trouble with leaders such as bishops and branch presidents making bad decisions financially that caused a lot of people to leave the church. I'm really nervous. But I’m excited! My new companion is a young one; He just got done being trained. His name is Elder Blaine and that's all I know about him! Haha We will see how it goes!

I have been having a hard time leaving Radford. I had to say goodbye to what feels like my family now. All the awesome members that I have been so close with. The hardest people to say goodbye to was my convert Elias and his family; that was a tear jerker. It was hard to say goodbye to the Vaught family last night, as well. Sister Vaught was crying really hard, which made me tear up a little. She expressed so much thanks to me, for how she put it, rescuing her family. It was hard to say goodbye to them, but I can write them and I will be able to keep in touch with them the rest of my life, and continue to be a missionary to them.

There is a Boy Scout saying that has always stuck with me. Always leave your campground better than you found it. I am proud to say that I am leaving this amazing area better than I found it. I sat back this morning and reflected on all the work my companions and I have done here and we did way more good than I realized. I have loved it here and I know that God puts us exactly where he needs us.

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! I love you all and Keep the Faith!

- Elder Kaleb Bingham