Happy to be Home!!!

Dearest Family and Friends,

 

It is with utmost excitement that I write you all today! Wednesday's transfers meeting came with the news that I would be called as a Zone Leader. There were two possible destinations for me , either the Toledo Zone with Elder Kitchen or the Kirtland Zone with Elder Dransfield (former AP). With all love to Elder Kitchen I had my fingers crossed for Kirtland. I have joked several times to my friends out here that I "covet the calling of Kirtland Zone Leader". Sure enough the news came and I have been called to serve as the Kirltand ZL. In being trained in East Cleveland I was raised up by the Kirltand Zone Leaders and my companion. I am back in the same apartment in Shaker Heights that I lived in as a new missionary for 4 and 1/2 months! I cannot say enough about how thrilled I am to be back! I missed the city, the sounds, the people. I feel like I am walking in a dream because I am right back where I started and yet a very different person. My calling consists of working in the Shaker Heights Ward as well as the Kirtland Stakes Young Single Adults Branch,as well as overseeing the spiritual and physical well-being of 15 other companionships. There are around 22 Sister missionaries in my Zone who spend their time between their areas and Kirtland Historical sites giving tours. The Mission often refers to my position as the "Relief Society President":). I feel it will be a good fit considering I have 5 sisters, a Mom and a step-Mom I learned from growing up, unfortunately all my dating experience doesn't really help me in ministering spiritually to my Sister Missionaries! I don't want to get carried away and become overly excited but for every reason selfish and spiritual I wanted to be here in this place doing what I am doing. I can't say how blessed I feel. We live with the East Cleveland elders,one of whom is being trained which is special for me because I get to minister to him as I was ministered to by my leaders whom I now love and respect with all my heart. I also have one of thee most, if not the very most dedicated missionaries in Ohio as my companion, I am like a sponge around this Elder learning from him every day. I know that many challenges lay in head but I also know that I will never have had to rely upon the Lord more. Also a quick side note, I truly don't know how I am going to find time to write personal letters anymore. To my friends and family just know that I am happy and am losing myself in the work more and more each day. I feel so blessed, so excited and so ready to further forget myself.

I also want to relate a brief story to you that happened to me the day before I was transferred from Canton. Last week I wrote about Danielle and the bond I had formed with her and how excited I was that she decided to be baptized. I hesitatingly called her to announce I was leaving on Tuesday. We talked for a while and then I told her I had some bad news. Fortunately by this point she was all ready crying from the spiritual conversation we were having, then I told her I was leaving. What she went on to tell me was truly one of the most humbling and powerful experiences of my mission. She could only tearfully thank me. She said that I had change her eternal path and that for the fist time in her life she "KNEW she was a daughter of God".She said she feels certain her son will one day go on to serve a mission. She then went on to bare her testimony to me about the truthfulness of the Church, The Prophet Joseph and the our Savior Jesus Christ. She also said "I want you to know I know that this is right" and " All I can feel is that you are needed elsewhere". I assured her that we had taught her how to fish and now she had to go out and live. She said she promised she would do just that and that she would pass it on. All disappointments, set backs, stress and grief are dispelled in moments like this. I will forever have a sister in Canton, Ohio.

I hope there is not a boasting overtone in these letters. I hope that these events may serve as a strength to those who read. I hope that all may see the power of God in changing lives. Last week I celebrated three years of my living a sober life. Three and one half years ago Bishop Cannon reached out to me and as a result lives are being affected in Northern Ohio. People are coming unto God and assuring their salvation. People are coming to know the Father and in consequence coming to know themselves. I know that Christ lives and that with His stripes we are healed. Any truly good thing we attain in this life is made possible by living His commandments and experiencing the Atonement. I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me, confused at the grace that so freely her proffers me. . I testify that Christ is the Author of all good things. His range and impact are found in everything from our hope of Eternal Families and salvation to the small and overlooked socks on our feet today, they are all blessingsfrom and by Him. May we all come to know who we truly are. I want to again thank all those who affected me and helped Father in Heaven in His work, I pray that I may pass it on. O how glad I am to be home again!

Love, Elder Prince