Caleb:
Well you've now had your new companion for a few days. I'm interested to see how the change is working for you. My first companion was Jed Packer. He was a total stud. We were in Hutchinson, MN and had the time of our life. I was his last companion. After him I got Elder Ragle. Ragle was a good dude but we had absolutely nothing in common. He was a surfer boy from SoCal. Three weeks into our companionship, we got Elder Christensen midnighted into our area.
That was the beginning of me figuring out that some things were up to me. Christensen hated to get out of bed in the morning and would drag his sorry carcass around all day and want to go home early. After two weeks of that I asked him what he wanted to get out of his mission. He told me that all he really wanted to learn was how to play hockey. So, I cut a deal with him, we'd knock off at 7:30 on the nights that we weren't teaching and play hockey IF he would get up on time and have companion study, pack a lunch, and get out of the house on time. From that point it was "game on" with him.
He bought a crap-load of hockey stuff and I bought the cheapest gear I could find. We'd go all day long and he'd started getting stronger at 6:30pm. By 7 he was asking if there was any way we could knock off a bit early... If I ever wanted to tick him off, I'd schedule a discussion for that night. Anyway, we struck a balance and actually had a great time together. About two weeks into that regime, the AP's called and told me that I didn't have to lie to them about hours and discussions. I told them I wasn't. Their comment was that Christensen hadn't worked more than 20 hours a week his entire mission. They didn't believe me so they asked Ragle and got the same story. Both Ragle and I knew that if we told them how we were get the production and the hockey ended, the jig would be up. So, we never told the AP's about what we were doing.
The night before Ragle was to go home, we were playing hockey and I lifted a puck into his face and split his lip. I feel bad about it to this day; he wasn't able to kiss his mom when he got off the plane. Anyway, I think that was the most rule-breaking I did on my mission. Christensen and I were together for 2 months after Ragle left. The AP's were stunned that he continued to work with me. I think it was about March and the ice rinks started to melt. Christensen's enthusiasm waned with the weather. One morning, I asked what else he wanted to get out of his mission. He took the bait and told me he really wanted to learn to play racquetball. I told him to buy the stuff and we'd start the next morning.
Two days later was transfers and as luck would have it, he was transferred. He was super-bummed. I remember that when he found out, he went into the other room and sat in silence, just staring at the wall. He would have stayed with me if whole mission if he could. A year later, I heard from President Thompson that he'd finished his mission and wanted the president to tell me thanks. He didn't tell the president why, he just told him that I would know what he was thanking me about. I've never seen him again. I have no idea what he's done with his life but I hope he's done well. I suppose if he got a good woman he might be okay.
Enough reminiscing... I hope you like your new companion.
Also, I'm interested in your PPI if you get a minute.
Love you,
Dad
No comments:
Post a Comment