Well, Damon Chlarson here. Still alive, still breathing, and still holding on. I survived my first transfer in Alpena. Now, I'm going to summarize a few things.
To be 100% completely honest, I probably couldn't have drug my feet anymore than when I got transferred here. I wasn't happy one bit. There was one glimmer of hope: it was temporary. I was in Grand Rapids, around great people whom I loved, and I loved the city and most importantly the ward. Then, I got the call. Alpena with a companion I wasn't too particularly excited for, to state it nicely. I was feeling a bit slighted. But, then I had a thought pop in my head, obviously of divine origins that spoke to me, "Seriously Damon, I have hooked you up with so much your entire life. I gave you six months in Grand Rapids with amazing people and amazing times. When you get home you will be blessed. So can you not help me for a few months in Alpena?" Point taken.
There's a talk by Elder D. Todd Christofferson called "As Many as I Love, I Chasten and Rebuke." He tells a story of Hugh B. Brown purchasing an old farm in Canada. There was a currant bush that wasn't growing quite right. In order to make it be a proper currant bush, he cut it back to let it try again. He said it was as though the bush was saying (I'm paraphrasing) "How could you do this to me? After I was doing so good and was moving forward, how could you cut me down?" Then he said, "Look, little currant bush, I am the gardener here and I know what I want you to be. I didn't intend you to be a fruit tree or a shade tree, I want you to be a currant bush, and someday, litle currant bush, when you arel aden with fruit, you are going to say 'Thank you, Mr. Gardener, for loving me enuogh to cut me down.'" Years later, Hugh B. Brown almost had a promotion in the military he had worked so hard for and he was denied it because he was Mormon. He went home and threw his hat on his cot and was so angry. "How could you do this to me?" and suddenly he heard "Look, I am the gardener here..." and he immediately prayed for forgiveness. He was the currant bush.
Now I am the currant bush. The deck was slightly stacked against me, and the hand I was deal was one I wasn't too fond of, but I was blessed. This has been probably the best situation for me. It has forced me to change some things about myself I was holding on to, that needed to go. The progression has only started. The next 12 weeks will be amazing, I'm so excited for what's in store.
Anyway, transfers are this week. I'm getting a new comp. I don't know his name yet, I'll meet him on Thursday. I get to spend two days on campus at Michigan State University down in Lansing. I get to see civilization! Also, there's one of the only two Panda Express's there. I'm so extremely glad for that most of all! I haven't had it since the night before my mission.
I'm not really sure how I got here. I was reading the scriptures on Saturday night at around 1 am because I couldn't sleep, and I thought to myself, "What has happened to me?" I was so excited. I was reading 2 Nephi 9 and just thinking about how great it all is. I mean, that's a really good chapter and all, but I was overly excited to be studying. I really don't understand how this change happened. I mean, three years or so ago, I wouldn't even be considering sleep at 1 on a Saturday night, let alone reading the scriptures.
I mean granted, I am on a mission and that's sort of expected. Then I thought about things and how I used to be. I'm not sure if anyone is at all acquainted with my temperament and my disposition, but cynicism and sarcasm were probably two of my top attributes. I was a pretty negative kid. But, now I'm happy. I can't really explain details, but I can say that it truly is the Gospel. Why in the world would anyone not want to follow it? I was quite scared to leave my family, my friends, and my comfortable life. In the words of the Swellers, "It's not the friends you thought you had, or your location on a map. It's what you feel in here." The gospel improves what's in your heart. I'm done preaching.
Well, 17 months, 15 pounds, a few shades of white, and a couple more centimeters of a receding hairline later, I am doing great. "The road ahead brings a worn smile when I look back at the last mile. Break my bones, cut my feet, shake the ground 'til I quease. Bring on blisters, bugs, disease, there will be no more wasting time for me." (I still remember song lyrics)
Now, I'll go back and lace up my gloves for another 12 weeks in Alpena.
-Damon
