Monday, September 24, 2012

take 2...

Monday September 24, 2012
 
This e-mail came back and said it was too big to deliver.... so I'll send the pictures separately. weird...So today is transfers and me and Sister Tuigamala are staying put in Lake Charles. Actually, no body in our entire ZONE is getting transferred. How weird is that? We have a small zone though. I'm definitely going to die in Lake Charles. It's going to be great.

The only reason I'm sad that nothings changing is because I won't get to go to transfer meeting tomorrow. Transfer meeting is where the Elders and Sisters that are going home give their departing testimony. And this time we are losing some Elders that I just love with all my heart. BUT we are also getting an Elder back who had to go home for 6 months due to his companion's disobedience. He's coming back today!!!!! AH!!! I'm so excited. I also wish I could go to transfer meeting to see him. I will tell you what transfer meeting is like:

Everybody gets there and if you're staying put in your area you sit on one side of the chapel and if you're getting transferred to a new area you sit on the other side. In the middle is where the new missionaries and the trainers sit. We all sit there and the departing missionaries sit on the stand. We hear from President and Sister Crawford, watch a slideshow of the previous transfer in pictures, and then we do what President calls "The Match Up". He says "Serving in the Lake Charles South Area... Sister Tuigamala and Sister Hicken!" And then we go and sit together (President prefers if we greet each other at the front of the room and say "Hurrah for Israel!" and then hug. It's OH SO lame haha. But we love President so we do it.) Then when we're all matched up, the departing missionaries give their testimony. And then we close. The departing missionaries line up at the front and all of us file by so we can shake their hand and say goodbye... you know so we dont' spend 12 hours cupcaking and saying goodbye and carrying on. And then we go. President always says at these meetings "I don't know who is out there working if yall are all here!" James, Dad, did your mission president have "isms"? I love Crawford-isms. We also call president Crawford "Craw-Dad." haha I'm not sure if he's aware of that one.

So yes, I'm not going and I'm sad about it. Elder Sadleir was my zone leader when I first came out and then he was the AP so I served around him for a long time (he's the one that looks like Jonny kinda. haha it's so bizarre.) and I'm sad that I won't be able to say bye to him. Also Elder Robles was my zone leader when I first got out to Pasadena. He was like my first friend out there, he's so funny. I love him too. And Elder Paletu'a is from Tonga and he is coming back and I'm SOO excited. I love this mission so so very much. It's like we all belong to each other out here. We're on our own, except for each other so we belong to one another. We're responsible for each other; to help and love each other. That's why I get so sad when I think about leaving.

Anyway, last week was good. Thank yall for your letters! James I got your letter and Mom I got yours. Did you know that Emily Freeman is like super published author?? I'm definitely sure you knew that, but I didn't know that. I saw one of her books at a member's house and I was like "... heeyyyyy! My mom knows her kinda."

Tuesday we met with Gabriella. SHE IS AWESOME! We took Sister clifford who is also a convert from Mexico who used to be Catholic. It was a really good meeting and we love her, she loves us and I believe she will get baptized. Her two daughters as well. PLEASE pray for them. I love them so much. Susan will be getting baptized in January. So that's kind of sad that Iwon't be here for it, but I'm so happy for her! She is committed. We just now have to get here there. We will do our best. Dear old Betty is not sponging anything. So i'm not sure what to do with her. I don't know if she's mentally capable of understanding. We thought she was, but she just doesn't absorb ANY thing. So we're going to have to pray about it a lot. We love them all.

Wednesday we went to the TEMPLE! AHH!! I need yall to come down here and go to the Houston Temple soon. I LOVE this temple; it is one of the most beautiful one's I've ever seen. I know I'm biased, but it really seriously is exquisite, We left at 6:25 and got home at 6:00. It is far away from here. It was amazing though. And I'm always happy to be back in Texas.

Thursday we did weekly planning and I didn't want to shoot myself, which is kind of a miracle. It went very well. Sister T and I sometimes get fed up with eachother, but we're working pretty well together. We will continue to improve. This week I'm focusing on prayer. I am going to pray for 10-15 minutes every night. My prayers have gotten less... good. So I'm going to work on them. I love to pray it's the greatest blessing.

Friday was district meeting and then just work as usual. It went pretty well. It was HOT this last week, High 90s. We had had a cold front last week, so I got all spoiled with my dream weather (which, by the way is 80 degrees and humid. I'm going to DIE when I get home!!) and then it got hot again. Lame.

Saturday was a good day. Nothing too significant to report. Sunday was wonderful! It was Elder Hamilton's 20th birthday so we celebrated. We had dinner with the Rabalais, our ward mission leader. He is SOOO great. He's a convert of about 8 years and we love him. He's Cajun! Except his dad was in the army so he doesn't have the accent. Darn. He's very genuine and sarcastic and great. Who is the ward mission leader in our ward? I don't even know. Dad that new mission plan that yall are doing in the stake sounds AMAZING!!!!!!! I'm so loving it! I've been thinking about what I can do as far as missionary work when I get home. I'm going to invite our neighbor Sharon to my homecoming. Ugh, I kind of hate it that I'm going to be home SOO soon. I'm so excited to see yall and there are parts of being home that I'm going to like... but yikes. I only have 2 transfers left. I can't believe it. This is my life. This is what I do, this is how I live and this is what I love SOO much.

This week will be good. We're going to find all the time and I'm going to be so much better and etc. Have yall written down your questions for conference yet??!?!?!?!?! YOU MUST! Write them down please please please. The Lord wants to answer them. But if YOU don't even know your questions, how can He do it? And write them down. Just do it, it will make your thoughts more concrete. I'm so excited for general conference!

I love yall so much. I am so proud of each of you. I brag on yall all the time, to everyone down here. It's true though, yall are awesome. I hope you have a great fun week. It sounds like it, with a taco stand in the backyard who can go wrong??

Mom, thanks for your letters always. I love you so much. My companion thinks youre the coolest person ever and Mokeaki always texts me when she gets a letter from you or someone in our family. How are you doing? How's work? How's that emergency preparedness night coming?

Dad, thanks for your e-mail. It's okay, I forgive you :] I know you're busy. Hows work for you? I'll write you a little e-mail to answer those frigthening questions about coming home. I'm glad though, becuase I need to get it all worked out before hand. I need to get in touch with MIKELLE NORTON! (does she even read my blog??) Because I'm gonna live with her! Unless she flees the country again. (Don't do it Kelle! I need you! :] ) Good luck with the new mission plan! The work is different back home, but we should always attack it with all the same excitement that is here in the "mission field".

James, thanks for your letter That sounds like an AMAZING weekend! I love Elder Scott and I adore Elder Holland, as wel all know. I love it when he yells, it's awesome! Elder Scott's remarks sounded really inspiring. I totally need to use them, so thank you. How's school and work for you? What are you taking? Who are you dating these days?? Don't get too attached, I'm setting you up with my companions when I get home, mmkay??

Jonny. You are so grown up! Mom sent me these pictures of you openning your call and you have, like, a beard. Way gross. Shave that sucker. I'm excited to see you- but thou shalt not have facial hair when you pick me up from the air port or else I will die. How's SLCC? Let me tell you something, Jonny. I know you love your friends and I'm sure you're hanging out with them as much as you can before you leave. But I have amazing friends who I haven't heard from at all on my mission. Not that I'm upset about it, it's just that make sure you spend time with Mom and Dad and James as much as you can too. There's no one better that you could be hangin out with. I LOVE YOu though. I wouldn't be your big sister if I didn't give you some healthy advice, right? Keep your mind on the mission as much as you can! Don't let anything or anyone get in the way of it. I mormon.org stalked the new mexico albuquerque missionaries. You're going to have the BEST time!!

Family, I love yall oh so much! Be good, keep praying and keep serving. We know how to be happy. If we do the things we know to do, we will be happy. I promise :] LOVE YALL! The gospel is true and the church is Christ's!

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