Transfer Five, Week Two

Dearest Familia,

I have to say, it is really weird to be in my 5th transfer. It is crazy that I am working on my 7th month. The time is really going by fast. I can still remember the day that I had to say goodbye to you. I can still see mom's face as I walked away at the MTC. At that point I was so ready to come home already.  The time on the mission has been hard. I am going to be honest, missions are very hard. I know that y'all already know that, but it is something that I have really come to realize. I knew that this wouldn't be a time of partying, but I never realized how much stress the missionaries have. There is so much information being given to us, it is amazing that we are all still getting through it. We are having to really pick up from the beginning. It is just very different. After being on my mission I am realizing that when I get home there are things that I am going to do while I am a member missionary. One of them, is to always have something for the missionaries. Whether it be food, drinks, snacks, investigators. I am going to try my best to help the missionaries wherever I am. It is amazing to have the support from the members in a ward. It is also hard, when things aren't quite what they are supposed to be with the members. Everything is so different. Every area I have been in has been an experience. It is amazing, do not get me wrong, but it is definitely an experience. I am learning so much about everything while I have been out here. The spiritual growth that I have experienced is amazing. I love having the Spirit with me always. It never goes, unless we are at a place we aren't supposed to be, and then we leave that place and get the Spirit back.

Okay, so maybe that was a lot of ranting. I just have learned so much. It is crazy!

Can I just say, that my companions are amazing!!! I love them so much! This area and the work that we are doing right now would not be the same without them. It is going to be really hard if we get transferred. This transfer is definitely one of my favorites. I thought that it was going to be really difficult to be in a trio, but I love it!! It is all about the missionaries that you are with. Sister Stewart and I get along so well! We are the same age, well I am actually 10 days older than she is, just saying. She is great! If we were back home, we never would have gotten along, or been friends. It is amazing what the mission does for you. You meet people that you never would have met, and get along with people who you normally would get along with. It is amazing! I love the people that I have met! Sister Litster is also so great! I am learning a lot about her, and everything that she has gone through. The experiences that she has had, and the things that she has gone through, it is amazing. I am learning so much about having a good attitude, and really experiencing the things that I am going through. The trials I have had to go through, are nothing compared to what she has had to go through. Both of my companions have gone through great loss. They have been able to move forward. It is amazing to me the strength that they have. I love them both!

We have been overwhelmed with information here. We have a ton of people that we need to visit. We have such a huge area too. We technically cover 3 cities. Little Creek which is in the mountains, and about a 45 minute drive from our apartment, San Bernidino, which is a 20 min drive from our apartment, and then some of Rialto, but that is also a 10 min drive from our apartment. It is just so crazy!! We are really working on planning our day so that we don't go from one side of our area to the other side in one day. Our area is HUGE! It is great though :) I love it :)

This work is really progressing. Like I said, the mission is hard, but everything is great! I am learning a lot, and having a great time.

I love you all so much! I hope that you have a great week!!! Know that you are all in my prayers!! Have an awesome time!!

Love you!

I love these sisters!! They are amazing!! This transfer would not be as good as it is without them!!

Transfer Five, Week One

Dear Family,

I love this area!! This transfer is going to be amazing!!!

I am serving in the Rialto 1st ward. It is amazing how missionary minded this ward is! I love it so much! The ward has 7 missionaries in it. 2 sets of elders, and my sister trio! It is so neat! I have never served in an area that has so many missionaries in one ward! They have the ward split into 3 different parts. North, which is what the sister have. It is the biggest part, so we have the car, and a lot of miles. Central and then South. The elders both have central and south. It is actually really neat. We are hoping that the ward will really start using us sisters. We are able to go into places that the elders can't, so it will hopefully go well :) Things are going to be great! The elders that were here before us found a lot of people to teach, so now we are just going through and seeing if they still want to take the lessons. It is a lot of work, but we love it!!

My companions are amazing! I am in a trio, and I honestly thought that it was going to go awful, but it hasn't! My companions are Sister Stewart, and Sister Litster. We get along so well! It is amazing! I have been out the longest, but we are all the senior companions. I think that they did that, so that one person isn't superior to the others. It is working out great!

Sister Steward, Sister Randall, Sister Lister

Sister Stewart has been out for 4 1/2 months. She is just one transfer younger than I am. She has served in the San Bernadino 4th ward, so she is totally cool with going into the ghetto parts that we cover. There aren't a lot, and we do not go down there at night, but it is nice having someone who is okay with being down there. She has our backs :) She is currently from Malad Idaho. It is about 13 miles from the Utah Idaho border. She grew up in Utah though, and claims that as her home :) well, kinda. She does the same thing with Idaho that I do with Saudi. It is where home is, but was not born there and didn't grow up there.  It is great :) She reminds me a lot of Emily Holmes. We have so much fun together! Sister Stewart's trainer and last companion was Sister McCoy. Sister McCoy went to school with Tysha (Chaylee's older sister) and they were in the same singles ward. It is so crazy the connections that we have. Craziness. Apparently, I remind sister Stewart of her best friend back home. It is way fun :) Kinda freaked her out a little though the first couple of days.

Sister Litster has been out for 3 months. She just got done training by one of the sisters I was in the MTC with. She is an amazing sister! She just came from the Fontana Stake, and was serving in the ward with Danja. Danja served her mission with Shanae (Chaylee's oldest sister). Isn't it amazing the connections that I have with my companions? They both know people that know my sisters :) I love it :) Sister Litster is currently living in Draper Utah, but she grew up in Orem. It is way neat that we were close to each other in Utah. Kinda fun :) She is awesome! Sister Litster is quiet, but then again she isn't. When she says some things, Sister Stewart and I are  shocked. It took us a few days to get used to it :)

Both of the sisters have a great sense of humor! It is exactly like mine! Very dry, and extremely funny!! It is awesome! We are laughing all the time, which is amazing! I love them so much!

For example, Yesterday Sister Stewart was picking off hair of Sister Litsters back, and she said, "don't worry, I got your back". Another time we saw this couple making out, and Sister Litster said "at least we know they are straight". Also, Sister Litster is crocheting an Afghan, and I was like "that is a blanket right?" She was like "yes, and it is also a person." It was way funny!

Everything is going great! We also really understand each other. We have gone through different trials, but we understand each other. :) I love it!

The three of us get along so good! It is amazing the difference a companionship makes when you get along with each other. I don't have as much stress of worries this transfer as much as I did last transfer.

I love being a missionary! Especially now. After a hard transfer, I am very grateful that the Lord put me here with sisters that I get a long great with. Heavenly Father has a plan for each of us. This is where I am supposed to be. I know that. I have definitely been blessed this transfer! I love everything here!!

I love you all so much! You are in my prayers!! Stay safe!