Josh Mission Email September 15 2026: Back to Buisness

I feel like every missionary email I see after they take a little break always starts with an apology for it being a while. I’m sorry? I don’t know, I’ve been going into the city every P day so it hasn’t left much time for emails. I knew I wouldn’t be here for long so I lived it up while I could. I hope you guys are all doing well!

Transfers are tomorrow, and I am going to be out of the Kensington area. More than likely, I’ll be back to Chinese in a trio which will be awesome. We are getting a native from Taiwan so the Chinese should be on the up and up. He’s already done his military service so he’s going to be older than both of us but Elder Evans will be the trainer which I think makes me this guy’s step father. Except this guy’s going to have way better Chinese than both of us. It’s kind of like when an older dude marries a girl that’s like his daughter’s age and she’s technically her step mom. But like the opposite. Please let me know if this analogy tracks.

Anyways this has been a good transfer, we worked hard and had a good time. I’ve been praying for opportunities to serve others and make a difference, and I’ve seen how people are led to us so we can help them in some way.

Highlights:
– I’ve served in 3 zones now so Zone conference was a blast.
– More lessons at the temple. Everyone go to the Washington DC temple visitor’s center if you get the chance
– Going out with members is the easiest way to farm miracles. We went out with our ward mission leader and we were going with a returned missionary who just left for BYU, and every time we met awesome people and had phenomenal lessons.
– We had a 70 year old member who is the sweetest old man go street contacting with us and he invited a guy to church who low key started pressing him. Tony is the perfect example of charity because he remained perfectly calm and kind while this guy was getting up in his face. Elder Erickson and I were both not about to let someone mess with Tony but he calmed the situation down.
– A dad of 3 came out with us too and we had a lady start bashing us. He told us beforehand he didn’t get to even teach that much on his mission because he served in Scandinavia but he was awesome, he knew his stuff and eloquently addressed all her concerns.
– Got to go to the Bible Museum and see some of the dead sea scrolls. The production of the whole experience there was awesome. We ran into someone I taught in Annapolis who totally ghosted us and ended up spending all day with him at the museum.

SPIRITUAL THOUGHT 🚨🔥
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1sk2wKX7lWaD-yQ7B9BhpzCleY_51vN2a/view

https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/patrick-kearon/peace-and-rest-even-now/

This is the stuff right here. Read these two in sequence, and I think you’ll understand exactly how you can pattern your life to be a doer, a creator, and a devoted disciple. The first talk really emphasizes all the excuses that get in the way of real success for us. Elder Kearon then talks about how we can be this type of person and also find real meaning and joy in our lives. The principle of “joy now” instead of “joy when…” is something that can really make our lives much more meaningful. I’ve said it before, but because of Jesus Christ, we can find Joy even when life circumstances aren’t the happiest. I invite you all to think about how you can be 100 Percent Responsible and find joy and rest throughout it all.

Love you guys!
Elder