Dear Family,

Big news about transfers…Both Elder Gasser and myself are leaving Connersville tomorrow. Yes, we are both getting transferred at once. They call it a double transfer. I just don't know what to think about all of it myself. We have one Investigator getting baptized Saturday. We also have a few investigators who could be baptized in the next few months. I just don't quite know what to think about all of it. I do believe that the Lord does everything for a reason, but I just wonder what the reason for this was. I do know that if this is what He wants, then I have faith that He will help our investigators stay strong. I am just sad that I may not be here for Tanya's baptism. I only hope that I will be able to come back and see it this Saturday. That is my only hope. That is all that I know about it. I won't find out where I am going until tomorrow, so sadly you won't find out until next week.

I have loved the weather here in Connersville the past few weeks. Unless we get a freak storm, I don't think it will do any more freezing this year, at least I hope it won't.

I was going to wish you a happy birthday, Dad. I forgot it was until yesterday. While we were walking around yesterday, Elder Gasser and I were talking about the date and everything, and it just hit me. I realized that it was your birthday today. Well, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!  I hope that it all goes well, and you are able to enjoy it. 48 isn't really all that old. I realized this when I hit 20. Time goes by so fast. I can't believe that Braxton is 15 and in the process of getting his license! I didn't know that he was that old. So, I am only 5 years older than him? I always thought it was a bigger gap than that. WOW! How does that happen?  That means that he is in High school as well.  I was just sent for a loop.  How much bigger are all of them going to be when I get home in January? It is only a little over 9 months away, but I guess a lot can happen in 9 months.

That is really funny about the “Wheel of Time Series”. I really like those books. I plan on re-reading a lot of the books I have when I get home, but I don't have them all yet. I hope to be able to read the rest of the series. I never did finish them. I will probably just borrow them from the library though. I also have a growing list of books out here. One in particular that I would like to read is called “The Screwtape Letters”. The story is about a Devil named Screwtape who is writing letters to his nephew (I think) who is a devil in training. Screwtape is trying to teach his nephew the ways to trick, tempt, and mislead people in this life. I was told by a lot of members that it is a cool book to see the other side of things. It gives you more of a perspective on life, and how to resist temptation. The funniest thing is that it was written by the same author who wrote the “Chronicles of Narnia”, C. S. Lewis. Go figure.

Our investigators are doing really well, and I just hope that with this transfer, they continue to do so.  Vicky Ward and Greg Shaw are doing amazingly well. I called them this morning to break the news to them, and it was so cool to hear what Vicky had to say. She told us that she will miss us, but she still has a Testimony. I know without a doubt that they are going to join the church one day. They just need to get over some minor stuff first. My happiest thought though is that the Lord was able to use me as a tool for their conversion. I will always be grateful for that. I will always be grateful for Tanya because she is my first baptism. We were able to see her grow, and it was a blessing. We saw the spark light up in her eyes, and I’ll always feel blessed for knowing her, but Vicky and Greg are different. Tanya is related to a lot of members, and she decided herself to come to the church. I know that she will always be OK. Vicky and Greg, on the other hand, we found ourselves. We taught them from the get go, and we have been able to see them slowly progress and grow. I really do love them very much, and I just hope the best for them. I will also continue to stay in contact with them. I just don't really want to leave them. The only thing that makes me happy is that I know the Lord is sending me where I need to be at this moment.

Well, I just found out yesterday that the dentist found a few more cavities. He found six more, but he said that some were just little things. I was also told that I had really good hygiene, and my gums looked healthy. Just bad teeth genes I guess. Because I am being transferred, I will probably have to travel back to get my teeth taken care of. He doesn't think that I should wait for 9 months before I go to another dentist. I have tried to cut back on pop as well.

It sounds as if things in Cedar are changing a little bit. Hopefully, I will be able to recognize it when I get home.

Well, thanks for everything. I am so very grateful for all of your support. I don't think that I could do this without my family to back me up. I just hope that as I go forward, I will be able to continue to work hard and learn. I hope that this mission will be able to change me for the better, and to help me with the rest of my life. I love you all very much, and I will let you know where I am next week.

Love you all,

Elder Savage