10 FEB 2020: Transfer 12 Week 1 - Transfers, Bye Korean Program 😭

안녕하세요!!

잘 지내고 있나요?? 잘 지내면 좋겠어요!! I hope yous are doing well! Things in Sydney have been crazy lately with the fires that have covered us with ash and smoke, then as of recent we've been getting slammed with so much rain (which I'm not complaining), and high winds that have knocked down heaps of trees. So Australia has been very bipolar lately.

So in addition to the ever changing weather, I also have been changed... at least areas... You know how I've been serving in the 1 Korean area in this mission?? Well... My Korean career has officially come to an end... Got our transfer call and I will now be serving in Normanhurst... the reason why I know my Korean is over... cause my transfer call came from my Mission President... I'll be serving with him and helping the whole mission from now on...

Really super honored because of how great and wonderful President and Sister Runia are. My companion, Elder McKeon, and I were talking one night and we both wouldn't be surprised if President Runia were to become an Apostle one day. He's so incredible and learning from him and his wife will be one of the greatest experiences of my mission. I'm excited and nervous, but grateful for this opportunity. When President Runia called me, he told me that he expected to have me serve in this capacity for the remainder of my mission... So there we go, that's my mission everyone! Excited for what's to come!

Lately I've been thinking a lot about my commitment and future commitment to the church and Heavenly Father. This past Tuesday, as the Assistants to the President (AP), we were able to do a temple session with the missionaries that were going home. And I've been really pondering about the Covenants we make. In the Book of Mormon, in the book of Mosiah it talks of a people that were united in their covenant to serve God and keep His commandments. In the temple we make sacred covenants with great, wonderful blessings in store. Covenants that are important to keep. Promises that we make with God... What helped put it a little more in perspective for me was during a conversation with President Runia. We had picked up the new missionaries from the airport on Wednesday and on Thursday we were doing the new missionary training (APs and Mission President and his wife). So after we finished our trainings, we chatted with President Runia about his interviews with the new missionaries and a question that he asks each of them during his interview: "Can I count on you to be obedient (to the missionary rules and standards)?" He asks them that so later on, if things aren't going so well he can remind them of how they told him that he can count on them to be obedient... And that's almost what Heavenly Father asks of us when we make promises with Him. "Can I count on you to keep my commandments? To remember my Son? To bear one another's burdens?" When we are baptized and go through the temple, we promise Him, we tell Him " Yes you can"... Which is heavy... Because it is... These are essential things for our salvation, for our progression after this life... Fortunately, He knew we'd be imperfect, so He provided us a Savior. Jesus Christ. It's through Him we can change and are able to re-promise and re-say "Yes Heavenly Father, you can count on me."

I love you. I hope you have a great week. Remember the promises you've made and stick to them. Be someone Heavenly Father can count on. 사랑하고 정말 보고 싶어요!! 我爱你! 好想你!!

Elder Brandon Escamilla
에스카미야 장로
Australia Sydney Mission
호주 시드니 선교부