November 25th- Such a fun week!!!

So many stories to tell!!!!

Saying goodbye in Franklin was really hard. We first went and saw Heidi. We read with her from the Book of Mormon for a little bit and then I told her I was leaving. Now, Heidi doesn't show ANY emotion. I never thought I would see her cry. After saying a closing prayer with her I went to give her a hug. Then I began to see her eyes water. So I started crying! Then she really started crying. It was a tender moment to see tears rolling down her cheeks. Lizzie (her daughter) told me that I had done the impossible. That it really needed to be sisters to baptize her. It was really hard to leave. So then we went to the Gast's. As soon as she opened the door, Leah Ann said "I heard you're leaving". News that I was getting transferred had made it around facebook. It was SO HARD to say goodbye to them. Don asked who they needed to call so I could stay.

Tuesday night we went to YW's for a bit. Saying goodbye there was also really hard. Bishop West was pretty sad I was leaving. I also promised Bro De Caprio (a member of of the ward) that I would make sure to include the Franklin ward in my homecoming talk haha. I wish I could have stayed in that ward for the holidays, BUT! that's ok.

Ok Wedesday. So this was the biggest transfer meeting ever. 180 of the 240 missionaries in the mission were there. The mission now has 12 zones. I'm serving in Plymouth, way up north, just in time for winter. A year ago only 30 people were attending the branch. Then they called in a branch president from another ward. Lately the attendance has been in the 100, but it's starting to decline again. My companion's name is Sister McDowell. She's been out for 7 1/2 (no more training!). We are both PUMPED to be in the area. There's a lot of work to do here. I had a feeling I would probably be going north. President started talking about the Plymouth branch and I just wanted to go there. He said it was going to take two special sisters to serve there. Then he announced my name! Sisters got put in their 6 weeks ago, but then had to be emergency transferred out three weeks ago due to medical issues. Three double transfer in a row. I'm beginning to think I'm only going to get double transferred my entire mission.

So after the crazy transfer meeting, we found out our car was in Mishawaka, also in the South Bend stake and we were in Fishers. So no car or way to get there. Sister Cleveland took us out to lunch so we wouldn't starve. When we got back to the church the assistants were busy training so we couldn't talk to them. So then we had to wait until they got done at 3. We had to get like 9 missionaries up here to South Bend and we only had one mini van that the zone leaders drive. So finally we rolled out of Fishers around 6 pm. The assistants drove the huge van with the trailer with all the elders stuff. We stopped for dinner in Kokomo. We got to see all the damage! We spent like three hours in the car with the assistants. Probably one of the funnest drives I've ever made. Mostly because A. we aren't supposed to ride with elders. B. we ate food in the car even though we aren't supposed to. BUT we had permission to do both. Elder Sorenson told us all about the area and how awesome President Kelly (the branch president) is. We didn't get to Plymouth until after 9:30 that night and we were both exhausted! 

Friday.....Dad I'm not a twerp! We didn't find out about the BYU devotional fireside until Thursday night. We actually drove up to South Bend for our district meeting that morning. South Bend is almost an hour away and we didn't think we would be able to go. For some reason the elders in the ward really wanted us to go so they were able to find us a ride. So yes we did get to go to the BYU football devotional. The QB (I have no idea what his name is haha) and coach Mendenhall spoke. Too bad they lost the game. It was pretty good though. 

Saturday consisted of trying a ton of potentials that the elders left us. The only problem? I was running a fever, it was snowing, and about 20 degrees outside. It was a pretty miserable day. Luckily we've been able to meet with some less actives and recent converts that past couple of days. President Cleveland called us Saturday night and asked us how we like the weather and if we were freezing haha. We kindly thanked him for sending us north for the winter. He freaked out a bit when we told him there weren't any blankets in the apartment. He said "what are you going to do? sleep in all your clothes" we told him yes. I wore a ton of clothes that night and even slept with my coat across me. Already I'm tired of hearing the words "lake effect" haha. My companion is from Arizona....good thing she likes seeing all the snow. 

We spent like 9 hours at the church yesterday in meetings. The branch is pretty small. The building is tiny! It doesn't even have a chapel! Just one big room that has a bunch of dividers to make smaller rooms. I took a picture, maybe I'll attach it. I felt pretty crummy all day yesterday too. Just really achy and my throat hurt REALLY bad, to the point where I didn't want to talk because it hurt so bad. As we were wrapping up everything I asked the elders to give me a blessing. I feel a lot better today! Which is good; our preparation day today ends at 1 so we are trying more potentials and it's still pretty cold outside. 

We have the sweetest apartment! I take some pictures to send to you next week. Sister McDowell and I love it. Plymouth itself is pretty small, but there are a ton of little towns everywhere and our area is huge. The people here are very humble, low income families. Oh! We were just at the grocery store. When we were riding with the assistants they told us there are a lot of Amish people up here. When they told me that I was like "I want to see one". Well when we came out of the store there was a horse and buggy tied up to the lamp post. We both took a picture.....

Hopefully this week we can actually meet investigators and potentials and get the work moving. We are also going to focus on meeting people in the branch, because that is where the real growth will happen. I'm really very excited to be here! Leaving Franklin was hard because the ward is so incredible. However, I feel like in this area we'll be able to focus on missionary work, which is good obviously. 

Thanksgiving will be....interesting. We are going to a less active's house for dinner. I think we'll spend most of the day cleaning our apartment and playing yatzhee! 

Picture one: the only dog I will EVER love. Her name is Annie. Her owner (also in the picture) is the lady we did service with in Franklin. 

Picture two: yesterday before church

Picture three: waiting in the van for the elders, first picture as companions! 

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