First Week in the Field

We had the opportunity to talk to Samuel tonight for the first time since he left!
After a tumultuous departure, he arrived in Tempe Arizona on Tuesday,
November 3rd. The night before we received information that the Pacific Area Presidency had given approval for him to go directly to Tahiti! His flight to Tempe was cancelled! Of course Samuel was excited! The Visa Department of the Church told him to stay home that week and that he would be flying out soon.

The next morning we all went to work and school. We received a phone call mid-morning that the Area Presidency had changed their mind because they didn't realize how bad the situation was with Covid-19 in Tahiti. To keep him safe, they decided to go with the original plan, send him to Tempe Arizona. Samuel ended up on a flight to Arizona after all, and on the same day originally planned. He arrived after all the other missionaries arriving that day.

The Tempe Arizona Mission was very welcoming and I will be forever grateful. Thank you President and Sister Goaslind for taking care of all this young men and women.

He was assigned to be companions with Elder Smart and Elder Larson. Both have been fantastic with Samuel. Elder Smart is on his last transfer before returning home. Elder Larson was serving in Mexico when Covid-19 hit, was sent home for a while then ended up being reassigned to the Tempe Arizona Mission.

They live in Arizona City where it's really dry and Samuel experienced his first sand storm!!

The 3 of them are assigned to just one ward and the members have been fantastic with him. They often feed the missionaries and take care of them. One family told him that he was too skinny and needed to eat more!! He probably thought I was in contact with them or something🤷‍♀️!!

Samuel does a lot of service which he really loves. His P-Day today was very busy and he wasn't sure he was going to be able to write something for the blog but he was able to answer to our emails to him. We talked to him for a very long time.

It brings peace to my heart to know how much he's loving the work and how he enjoys the time he spends with his companions. He can't believe it's been already a week!

We saw some pictures of his apartment and it looks really nice. His desk is full of books, French, Tahitian and English!!!

I'm so grateful to my Heavenly Father that he sent our son to a wonderful place with wonderful people. I couldn't ask for better! I pray that he will continue to love serving others and that he will grow his testimony by doing so.