February 10, 2010

Hey Hey Hey!

So this area is awesome! I love A! I don't like having to spell it however. Hard!

My companion is Sister W. She is from Hawaii. She is from Maui and I think the city is called W or something but I'm not super sure. She is so awesome! It totally brings the scripture to life for me of after the trial of your faith comes the miracles.

Transfer day was a interesting. I am only about 6 miles from the mission home/office so I had to ride through most of the mission. I worked with Sister M. for the first few days (I'm sure I've already told you this) and we have been working in A since last Wednesday night. It is great!

We tract a lot but it is good too. It is hard because this area is so so different from my last area. In P A there was a lot of storm damage and smaller houses and such. Here, we have a LOT of mansions. I would say that 80% of our area is more well-to-do than most people. I've only been in 2 trailers in a week so that is a little different to me but I'll get used to it. They are nice though. I like it....

If you haven't gotten it yet....I LOVE IT! This is what it is about. We are finding people. We are teaching people. I feel the Spirit so strongly so much! It isn't just bearing the day and the transfers but living in it! Thank you for all the prayers! :D

ok mom, I will answer your questions. I even brought your letter so I can address them all for you. ;D

1) No I didn't really talk to President about the woes until the week before we were getting transferred because I had been yelled at the night before and it ticked me off enough to say something.
2) We go on splits about once every six weeks so we can learn from other missionaries, but yes, I had alterior motives for getting away for a day but it is routine...

There....the questions have been answered. I did learn so much from her though.
I learned boldness. I learned that I can commit people to change their lives if I mean it and love them.
I learned that I can handle anything! While living at Raintree, K, M, and I would say, "if we can survive a summer at Raintree we can survive anything!" and it is so true. this added that testimony to me. If I can survive three months with someone hard to live with, I can survive anything! I learned a lot about commitment. If I were not truly committed to the work I wouldn't be able to do it. Kelly and Nick and pretty much everyone believe that I am commitment phobic. Well, I learned that even when things are tough, we can take it day by day and it will work out. Sister R and I were both working for what we believed in and we could work together. I know that it will be much easier in relationships now which is something that I didn't have before. When things would get serious or I thought it might get that way, I was gone! Now I think I'd be able to handle it.

Sister R was really cool. When we were able to work through things and talk we were able to do well. It took a while (about 11 weeks) to learn how we can work together, but that last week was powerful! I know that I had to learn these things and I am grateful I was able to see the positive.

So this ward is awesome! Oh yeah, we have a baptism coming up on Sunday. His name is A. He is 9 and awesome! He has a strong testimony. We get to fill the font. That will be fun.

It was cool this week because we were tracting and found a family that was willing to listen (kind of) but after we got in and talked to E she asked to come to church. Her, T, and B came to church and liked it. We are going to meet with them again this week. We are way stoked. It is amazing how the Lord prepares people and how if we are doing our job he will put them in our path. we are searching for the searchers and are finding some! YAY!

This is super long and I don't know what you would like to include in the blog. I hope the blog doesn't make Sister R out to be a terrible person. She is nice and I learned a lot. She was crying when I left. It was kind of sad. She will do well though. Anyway, I gave the blog information to Brother H (the ward mission leader in P A) and I wondered if that may not have been a good thing after, but I'm sure it only has truth on it. Anyway....haha

Oh, and the C couple is heading home next Wednesday but they may not come right away. They are getting released sometime next week and will probably be around. I will have to get their phone number to you another time....They do have yours though and the address and directions how to get there. They are so amazing! I can't wait for you to meet them! :D They also thought Sister R and I got along really well, like most people did, so if you say anything, don't tell them everything. :D

So Kel told me that Jeff and Ewa just bought a house! Congrats! Is it in Iowa? I know it isn't in Tremutton.... I need the address if I may.

Oh, p.s. The area is so so much safer. I feel like I could leave the apartment unlocked and go to sleep and not even worry. We lock it, don't worry, but I feel so safe here! So no more worrying about me being robbed or killed or the church being broke into. It is great!

Wow. This is long and I still need to write everyone. Maybe I'll just include everyone in this one....I love you all and am excited to work in A (still hard to spell) and I'm loving the letters and packages and such. :D Ya'll are great!

Love you!

Jackie