Tomorrow is the first day of my 2nd transfer here in NY, and 3rd transfer if you include the MTC. SO much has happened but time still flies as fast as it can. My two trainers were Elder Barnes and Elder Allen, and Elder Barnes was here before Elder Allen got moved into the area. This transfer (a transfer is every six weeks when missionaries may or may not be switched around the different assigned areas within Western New York) Elder Barnes is getting transferred to a place Northeast of Buffalo, called Brockport, and me and Elder Allen area staying in Buffalo, without a third companion. Although it is sad that Elder Barnes is leaving us, we will have much more room in our apartment haha. This week was awesome, especially at church when people you invite actually come, and even people you've never met before, that want to learn more come too! This week was one of those weeks. We're teaching a man from the Congo, who came to America to seek more opportunity. There's also a man from Uganda who is in a refugee camp seeking opportunity and more freedom. It's amazing to see everything they gave up, including material things but especially their families for a time, just to try to form a better life for them and their families in the future. Among all the bad in the world, esp in the Middle East right now, there are people out there who have their eyes set on freedom and peace. Sacrifice is often a sure requirement and I love seeing people fulfill that requirement. Love you all and I hope you have a great week!

Love,

Elder Jake Hirschi 

This begins the last week of the transfer and time has definitely flown by. When I look back it seems like I just got here but it also seems like life before the mission didn't really exist. Kind of an odd feeling. This week was especially great because we got to go to Palmyra, which is about 2 hours away, with a guy we are teaching. Palmyra is the place where a lot of church history took place, such as the Smith log cabin, the Framehouse, and the Sacred Grove. There's also a visitor's center where you can watch the Restoration movie and dig deeper into the history of the early church years. What a great experience it was not only personally but to see the guy we took also experience a spiritual boost of peace to help him deal with what's going on in his life. He said he finally felt a feeling of peace that he hasn't felt in a while. To be in the exact location that thousands of missionaries talk about, and millions of church members bear testimony of, is pretty amazing. I'm so lucky and blessed to be in this place at this time.