My new temporary area is.....

So my new area is....Tallahassee, Florida! 


I am so sad to leave the MTC because my instructors and leaders are wonderful.  They fulfill their callings and I know that Heavenly Father is pleased with them. I wish I could bring them with me.  The district that I am in is shrinking.  Most of the Elders and Hermana's are going to either Chile, Peru, or Argentina.  But because of the difficulty of the Visa's going through we are serving mini missions in other areas.  Please pray that our Visa's will go through.  I know that Heavenly Father has a plan for me before I go to Colombia.  I need to be more fluent in the language and perhaps there is someone that I need to teach in Florida.  Before leaving, we received 2 new Elders  from the Hawaiin and French Polynesian Islands.  Both of them exemplify the cultures of these islands.  It was great that I was able to brush up on my French.  Elder Lauto doesn't speak much English and his Spanish is improving but I'm the only one that can understand his French, which is such a great thing because it helps him to come out of his shell. 

Before everyone left we had a testimony meeting.  It was so powerful.  We touched each others hearts and I feel so positive that they will have successful missions and feel happy that I was able to spend time learning with them.  It is a great experience.  I have really treasured my time here with them,  It is just the most awesome thing to be surrounded by people who share the same core beliefs as yourself 24/7 and to know that whatever you do is OK, because in here we are the complete majority.  We can share our testimonies, our beliefs, our feelings and impressions and they are heeded as they should be, not ridiculed or put to the side simply because those we share it with don't appreciate it.  I have to say that it has been such a strong testimony builder for me to see so many other LDS youth here to serve and to know that I'm not as alone as I thought in being a member de la Iglesia de Jesucrist de los Santos de los Ultimos Dias.

Thank you so much for all the goodies that you sent me for my birthday.  My companions and I appreciated all of it and especially thank you for the birthday wishes,  they meant a lot to me.  I'm sending a few pictures of the district during our weekly temple walk, which is especially nice, since we get to go to the temple to perform ordinances every week and then we get to go on our walk just to be on the temple grounds.

Love you all,

Elder Bandy

 

Elder Couch from Mesa Arizona going to Chile, Antofagasta mission
Elder Critchlow from Utah, going to Chile, Antofagasta
Elder Adams from St. George, Utah going to the Antofagasta, Chile mission
Elder James from Sugar Grove, Utah going to Chile, Antofagasta mission
Elder Adamson from Utah, going to Chile
Elder Laulu-Pututau from Hyrum, Utah going to Chile, Antofagasta mission
Elder Bandy from Chicago, Illinois (the best looking in the bunch in my opinion) going to the Bogota, Columbia North mission
Elder Jones from Utah going to the Chile Antofagasta mission (he also has a twin who is in the MTC right now with him)

For the Hermanas it goes from left to right,

Hermana Ashby from Boise, Idaho.  She is going to Tempe, Arizona, and her original mission is to the Buenos Aires West Mission in Argentina.

Hermana Miller from St. George, Utah.  She is going to the Portland, Oregon mission (not Washington St.). Her original mission is also to Buenos Aires West in Argentina.

Hermana Brown from Mesa, Arizona.  She is going to a mission in Peru.

Hermana Rindlisbacher  from northern Utah.  She is going to the Chile, Antofagasta mission.

Hermana Bills from Utah, going to a mission in Peru

Hermana Rohm from Carlsbad, California.  Staying an extra week here with me and going to the Buenos Aires West mission in Argentina

Hermana Agle and Hermana Winters going to a mission in Peru