I realize why I was intended to stay in Toms River for my last six weeks. Alexandria is baptized, George receives a powerful blessing, and our Bible Study group extends tender farewells. Thank you, New Jersey. For everything. I loved you then, and I love you now. May God bless you for your kindness.

Elder Cox and I are thrilled to be working with people so eager to learn. We continue to sense the gravity of our callings to testify of the truth, and benefit from the help of local Church members.

I pack my things for my final six weeks as a full time missionary. We make some new and intriguing contacts, and see people we care about continue to choose troubling roads.

We discover that God knows our attitude (go figure?) and we experience powerful outpourings of the Spirit as we share the new film Finding Faith in Christ.

The bay freezes solid (not an every year occurrence), and we brace for a heavy Nor’Easter. We learn some difficult things about people we care about, and new faces are coming to church! I realize I need to refocus where I can derive true joy and satisfaction, which is in Christ the Lord.

I find myself being transferred to Tom’s River, and I’m serving with Elder Hardy for the second time. We meet a pair of young troubled brothers, as well as a devoted Bible study leader named Paul. I begin to sense my time as a missionary is winding down.

I feel deeply my kinship with the people I meet, also while struggling to navigate concerns that my heart is not always as humble and appreciative as it could be. I sense my time is running short, and recommit to pour myself into the work.

I’m transferred to a new area. We have the singular opportunity to hear the Prophet, President Gordon B. Hinckley, in Philly. And we compare cheese steaks in Philly against NJ’s. The results were surprising.

Elder Chatterton and I seem to be finding our flow. A woman shares her incredible experience in coming to know the Book of Mormon is a true testament of Jesus Christ. And a young man is tired of being a tough guy.

We continue to be fed spiritually and literally by the great people of New Jersey, and we are thrilled to have Ed and Rose come out to Church for the first time.