Week 60 (5/26/14)

This week has probably been one of the craziest weeks of my entire

mission! I still feel like I'm in limbo or something!

Monday Sister Bennett decided that she needed to tell president about

her pain. She has carpal tunnels that they found while she was out

here. It got really bad to where she couldn't use her hands at all,

and her companions had to do everything for her. But through physical

therapy she got a lot better. She still couldn't even lift a gallon of

milk though. So the doctor said if the physical therapy didn't work

then she'd have to have surgery. So we call President Monday night and

Wednesday morning she's on a plane home :( :( I miss her so much

already!

They were contemplating doing the surgery out here, but they want to

do both wrists at the same time, so if she goes home for a transfer or

2 it will be faster recovery most likely.

So yeah... Then I didn't have a companion. In 1 week I lost both of them!

So for a day I stayed with our roommates Sister Goodman and Sister

Whittle and did stuff with them while president decided where I was

going to go. We had transfer calls on Saturday, but we were pretty

sure he was going to move me before that, or give me a new companion

for our area.

And he did! So I found out that I was going to Sefner! With Sister

Beck (not the a Sister Beck that I've been with already) and Sister

Westburg! I was SO happy when I found out! I'd been struggling in

Tampa A LOT. I never really felt comfortable or like I was supposed to

be there. It was really really hard. So I was ecstatic that I was

going to move! This is my 5th area and my 10th and 11th companions!

Ah! That's crazy... He moved me on Friday because Sister Westburg is

going home in 2 weeks in the middle of the transfer so he wanted me to

get the area quicker (I should have took this as a hint as to what

happened later...)

The ride down here was hilarious. I drove with the Keyes who are an

awesome senior couple here over the cars and things. They put all my

stuff in the van and then said- "okay, you're driving!" I laughed cuz

I thought they were joking... Nope!

Talk about intimidating...

Driving an hour and a half with the senior missionary over the cars...

He told me a couple times that I could relax and that this wasn't a

test haha it was just really crazy. I've really learned to love them

so much. I loved being in Tampa for that reason, we saw the senior

missionaries every day because our mission home is now in our church

building there.

Anyways. Already I LOVE it here! It's in the middle of no where

though! The very edge of the mission just like Lakeland. President

said he'd never come out here. So there ya go! Complete opposite of

seeing him every singe day in Tampa. It does remind me a little bit of

Mulberry and Lakeland which you know I LoVED. The people I've met

already blow my mind because they are so amazing :) ah! I feel really

happy!

And just when we thought we were safe...

Transfer calls on Saturday we almost didn't listen to because we knew

we were staying.

JOKES.

Sister Beck is being transferred... And Sister Westburg and I are

getting a new companion. Yay... Almost white washing again. Ugh. This

is so weird. All of us were 100% shocked! at least we know it's from

The Lord right? Just like when I left Sarasota... It didn't make sense

so we're reminded that we're never in charge! Sister Westburg and Beck

opened this area and have been in it together for over 7 months and 5

transfers! It's so much pressure to be in this area! I just hope I

don't mess it up. But I'm so excited! It's going to be great :) I only

got my ginger comp for a few days... So sad.

Here's the best new of this week! We can wear open toed shoes!

Best.

Day.

Ever.

Anyways...

I met this amazing family that they are teaching! He stopped the

sisters and asked if they were Mormons. His sister had told him about

the Mormons 2 years ago and he asked how to find them. She said stop

the boys in white shirts and ties on the bikes with the name tags. So

randomly he saw the sisters and asked them if they were Mormons! That

was about 2 weeks ago and he's getting baptized next week! Ah! It's

exciting. He is so prepared. He knows the bible front and back and

says our church is exactly in line with it! It's so great :) he was

worried about tithing and said that he'd rather just give the money

directly to the people. What!? He has the coolest concerns. Their

concerns are def not the same as most people that's for sure... But

then in the middle of the lesson when we thought for sure he wasn't

going to commit the just said wait! Then he looked at his wife and

said- "I would pay any amount of money to marry you in the temple"

talk about thee cutest thing ever! I wanted to cry. I've just love

this mushy eternity stuff even more on my mission. :)

I'm really excited to be here :) I know that it's right and I'm super

ready to work! I have 3 transfers left so hopefully I'll be here till

the end! But with my luck... Who knows!

I know this church us true :) as always. How could it not be? It's the

greatest thing in the whole entire world!

I love you all! Thanks for your continued support and prayers! I

continue to pray for you all always!

Love, Sister Calder :)

Down the hatch!