Highest of Highs and Lowest of Lows....AND Luke's getting transferred!

 Well Luke is getting transferred!  So tomorrow he will go to the last province that he hasn't been to yet.  It's "out in the boonies" and is very beautiful.  It's where Iguazu Falls is located.  His area is called Missiones and he will be in Posadas.  He will continue to be a Zone Leader and his companion will be Elder Childs from Utah.  He went to Lone Peak High School.  Luke has already been on exchanges with Elder Childs and just loves him.  He is a skateboarder and also wake boards and has already invited Luke to go with he and his family some day.  I'm so glad he is excited about his new companion!!!  And can't wait to hear about his new adventures in his new area.

Well what a week.  It was going great...awesome Eric got baptized and the baptism was beautiful!  Definitely a highlight of the mission for Luke, he loves Eric and it has been an amazing experience to teach him and see his love of the Book of Mormon help to convert him and bring him closer to Christ.  Even President and Sister Reber were there for the baptism!  What a beautiful day!!!!

And then his amazing day took a turn.  Missions are amazing how you can feel so lifted up and full of the Spirit one minute and then you can feel so low the next.  The Elder's friend that they had in one of the discussions with Eric started following Eric on social media and somehow Eric's old girlfriend got ahold of this person and shared some things.  Long story short, and it's none of my business to share, but there are some things that came to light that are not great.  So the Bishop and Stake President are going to go visit Eric today.  I hope things get resolved and that Eric can stay strong through this trial.  And what I really hope is that the Ward continues to embrace him.  Already people have been hearing things and 2 members said they won't come to church if he is there.  :(  I hope people remember what the Atonement is for and that they need to forgive.  I hope and pray things work out.  Luke is just sick about it.  And now he is leaving so it is sad that he won't get to be there while things get worked out.  He and his companion said they got a glimpse of what life is like as a Bishop.  Matt said he could totally relate!  

Luke is trying to not let the news get him down.  When you get transfer news you reflect back on your time in your area and there have been so many tender mercies and great experiences in this area!  Not only with new converts, but members too!  I remember at the beginning of his time here in Resistencia, he felt like the members didn't really like him.  They had just had some social Elders that the members were buddy buddy with and they weren't too keen on Luke and his companion who were more strict on the rules, etc.  And now to see him so close to the members and how he has really gained their trust and their love.  One example is a family where the dad is a counselor in the Bishopric.  They were usually very stand off-ish and kept to themselves.  They have a son who is autistic and the wife is pregnant.  So they have a lot on their plate.  They went to visit them and at the end they asked if they could share a message about the Plan of Salvation.  As they did they could see the wife sobbing!  The Spirit was so strong that even the dad, who is very reserved, was also in tears.  And now they have given referrals and even helped with lessons with their friends.  Amazing to see the change when the Spirit is there.  I shared with Luke that I remember my Patriarchal blessing tell me that on my mission I would gain many true friends as I share these spiritual experiences with them.  These friendships and love goes deeper than just being the cool missionaries that hang out and are social.  I love to see these lifelong friendships Luke is making through his love for the gospel and his brothers and sisters in Argentina!  

So there you go...quite the week with highs and lows!  Can't wait to hear about Luke's new adventures in Posadas!