What a week... Where to start????

On Monday, we picked up the new missionaries from the airport. There were 8 in all. 5 elders and 3 sisters. One of them new Anthony Litchfield (my cousin) from the MTC. They all seem like good missionaries! Because the Albrights were leaving that week, there was nothing in the mission home, so the new missionaries were to stay in a hotel. While the APs and President took them to DC, Elder Dehaan and I went to the Hotel and unloaded all of the luggage. They gave us two trolleys to move the luggage. Both were filled to the top. It was really hot and humid outside, I was in a suit, and my trolley had a flat tire... Not the best combination. After we got their stuff into their rooms, we met them at Olive Garden where we ate!!! It was really good! After, we all went to the mission home for dessert, and a bit of orientation and slide shows. We then dropped them off at the hotel, and got to bed at around 1 AM. We woke up the next morning at 4:45, showered and dressed in our suits, and went to the hotel. The AP's needed to shower and get changed as well. So we loaded all of the luggage back into the truck, and ate breakfast at the hotel. I'm used to that kind of breakfast from all of the Dune's trips that I have been on!!! Anyways, Tuesday was transfer day. Elder Dehaan and I knew we were staying together, and we also knew who was going where. It was interesting to be on the other side, not being surprised at transfer meeting. It was a stressful day, getting everything to the Centreville Stake Center, but we did it. After transfers, I drove the van with all of the departing missionaries to Red Robin for dinner. Elder Dehaan drove another companionship back to their apartment, without a cell phone. So we were looking all over Manassas and Burke to find him. Luckily, someone saw him driving, and chased him down. That led to President having Elder Dehaan and I have our own cell phones. Red Robin, as most of you know is my favorite, was amazing. We had a testimony meeting at the Albrights, then went bowling. President and Sister Albright came as well, because it was their last time. It was such a fun time! We dropped the departing missionaries off at the hotel, and went to bed at 1:30. We woke up at 5:00 AM the next morning, to take the missionaries to the airport. I then had the opportunity to go eat lunch with one of my best friends DAVID POE!!! It was amazing to see him! He leaves for the MTC this Wednesday for Brazil. We had such a good time! Thursday President and Sister Albright left, and President Riggs arrived. President Riggs is SO COOL!!!! He is so wise and smart! Plus he loves to have fun! he wants us out of the office, and out in the field more! SWEET!!!!!! So Friday night we went tracting, and it was HOT! I was sweating so much! People here a lot meaner than they are in Woodbridge. I have about a 4 second window on the door before they slam it in my face. But! We found one new investigator, and she is solid! Her name is Kris, and she wants to learn more! Also, there was a lightening storm. We lost power, but we stayed up watching the lightening streak across the sky. It was really cool!... Then next day, we found out that a  ton of trees had been blown over, and taken out lots of power lines. I have pictures!!! So we didn't have power all day. President Riggs had a bunch of missionaries in the area who didn't have power sleep at the mission home. Many wards were cancelled Sunday, because no power to the buildings. We went to a sacrament meeting in one ward, then found out our ward was having just sacrament meeting at 3, so we went to that as well. President Riggs came to watch us take numbers Sunday night. He was making jokes and telling stories.. He is such a cool guy! We still didn't have power Sunday night, so we slept at the mission home again. We didn't get there till 12:00, so we quietly got into a bed and crashed. I awoke to President Riggs playing ping pong. He is so good at ping pong, holy moley! He didn't lose to any elders. He would give Anthony a run for his money ;) hahahaha!!!

President doesn't want us in the office at all today. He wants us to have a P-day! YESSSSS!!!! He told us that when it is time to work, work as hard as you can. When it's time to play, play as hard as you can.... This is going to be a fun 17 months!!!

Love, 

Elder Michael Litchfield