What a great week, ruined by the worst news ever. I'm getting transferred. Its the end of the world. I'm outta here. There's nothing that can calm my troubled heart right now. Just kidding. We kind of knew it would happen but we still had our hopes high. I am leaving tomorrow and will be in my new area with new people, a new house, new town, and new companion. AH. All right before Christmas. This is missionary abuse I swear. OKAY, enough being sad about it, I will be in a new area and I will learn a lot and meet some great people! Wish me luck and pray for me and also for Sister Thompson. We just broke down in the car a second ago when we found out. I am really really going to miss Arlington. I LOVE THIS PLACE.
So, as for what happened this week. On Monday all of us sisters went thrift shopping! WOO! I love thrift stores out here. There are like five billion of them. I met this really cute guy with a beanie. He didn't have much to say, but his eyes said it all.
Sorry about that first pic. After a few hours of shopping, we went to the Bluebird Cafe. It was quite nostalgic because the last time I went there, I was with one of my first investigators, Steven. This whole week has been pretty nostalgic though so here we go.
By the way, I splurged on a porcelain peanut at the thrift store for 25 cents. Worth it.
This week was fun because the Arlington stake puts on a huge Nativity Festival. We have been inviting people to come for weeks now and a bunch of our less active members and investigators came! It was great. The whole thing was so pretty.
Last night, as we were greeting people at the door to the Nativity, a woman came inside and asked us if we could help her with gas. She had just ran out and she needed to get home so she saw our building all lit up and thought she would try it. We brought her to our ward mission leader who took her to fill up her tank and he invited her back to see the nativities. She came inside and we talked to her for a while about things that were going on in her life. She began to cry as she expressed to us how she wanted to change her life around and make God a bigger part of her life. We told her how she could do it and asked if she would like to talk to the missionaries. She accepted the invitation. The spirit was super strong and I know that the Lord's hand was in that completely. I love being a missionary because I get to experience these amazing miracles first hand. I cant put into words how happy it makes me.
Speaking of things that make me so so happy, this is the Pontius family! This family is the sweetest thing that ever happened to me. These kids just soak up the gospel and they love us. We pull up the the house and they are right there at the door ready to welcome us in every time. I love it. AHHH I DONT WANT TO LEAVE THEM!!! AHHHH
This is Deedee. She is so so funny and she is such a great example to me of kindness and complete willingness to do whatever the Lord asks of her. Love her.
Here are the Lyons!! We have been teaching them the recent convert lessons since I got here! They are the sweetest little duo and I never want to leave them. Caleb, the boy, recently started to pass the sacrament for the first time. It was quite an amazing day. I love that I have been able to teach them. Caleb said to us a few nights ago, "the church has changed my life". His mom and I started to get a little emotional at that point. Did I mention how great this is??
Here is my favorite little lady, Sister Konek! She is the one who fed us a bunch of pie and cool whip! I LOVE HER!! She is a woman full of faith and love. I will really miss her.
This week was Zone conference. Here's my goofy zone. Love these fruits.
I got a kiss under the mistletoe with bishop's bunny! Merry Christmas to me!!
Funny story: the other night we went to invite a Hispanic family we know to the nativity. They invited us inside and they fed us the most delicious real Mexican food. Ahh I died. Every time I ate a taco he would say, "another?" I would say "oh no thank you!" and then he would proceed to get me another one. This happened like 5 times. haha.. This other man was there and was telling us that he was divorced and told me how I had a pretty face. haha he asked what time church was in his broken English. I decided we should probably get outta there so we were leaving and we turned around and this older man was there and told us how we were angels and he grabbed sister Thompson's face and gave her a huge fat smooch on her chin. hahahahahaha We left the house real quick and just broke out laughing so hard. good times.
I wanted to end my email with an ode to my beautiful, old woman, companion Sister Thompson. I cant believe that just a few short moths ago I didn't even know she existed. I think that one of the main reasons why this transfer will be so hard is because I won't be seeing her pretty face every morning. She is a powerful teacher, a hilarious weirdo, and one of my greatest friends. I love her so so much. We have grown a lot together and have had the most spiritual experiences with each other that I will never forget. She has made me better and I know she will change many many lives out here.
Wish me luck in my new area. I know the church is true and I love you all! Have a wonderful Christmas!
Love,
Sister K
This picture was sent to Brent on his phone. This is Rebecca with Jared Buckley. Jared was our neighbor and he was one of our first employees at Krazy Sub. He lives in Washington now. It's so fun to get random photos of Rebecca!
