Week 11

Well another week has flown by and transfers are coming up which means I will be halfway done with my training, which is insane. Today's P-Day we had to switch around a bit because of people’s availability with teaching so I am writing later than I normally do. And because of the insanely slow computers and no wifi I will have less time to write than I normally would, so sorry I won't be sending out personal emails this week but I love you all and your emails mean so much to me. I am so excited for everyone and what life is bringing each of you. I miss everyone so much and would love to see everyone, but I wouldn't want to be anywhere else at this time in my life. I learn so much every week about how to deal with people, how to love people, how to love myself, and who I really want to be in life.

Transfer news has slowly been spreading around as President lets people know where they will be assigned to next. Sadly a few of my really good friends in the area will be leaving and moving on to their next adventure. I will be staying here in Phoenix with Sister Martinez, and unless something changes we will probably be together for a transfer after my training is complete which is so awesome because she is so amazing. For anyone who doesn't know, transfers are every six weeks. It is when new missionaries enter the mission, missionaries who have finished their missions leave, and when people get moved to different areas within the mission as the President of the mission sees fit. You are trained your first two transfers, or first twelve weeks. Because transfers are next week, I WILL NOT HAVE MY P-DAY ON MONDAY NEXT WEEK. It will be on Wednesday, so this week has the potential to feel very long. But I am looking forward to meeting the new missionaries who enter my area!

So the biggest news of this week is that we got settled into our new apartment with our amazing new sister missionary roommates. They are so nice and sweet and we have SO much fun together. Sadly I forgot to write down my new address, so I will have to send that out on next Wednesday when I write. But people are going to the mission home a lot this week so anything can be sent there and I would get it fairly soon.

This week we got to go to the Mesa temple and it was such a spiritual experience. I have only ever gone in the Portland and Provo temples so it was cool to see a new one. I love the temple so much and I learn so much every time I go. I also love the temple visitor’s center. If there is one near you, you should definitely take advantage of that - as a member of the church or not.

All the missionaries who serve in the branch or the ward that I am in (Sister Martinez and I and two other sets of elders from the branch - one set switches between the ward and the branch like we do - and a set of elders from the ward) put on a "Mini MTC" for the youth in the ward and branch (the youth in the branch and ward do all of their activities and church lessons together in English). It was fun to work with the youth but it was a bit of a scramble to plan it at the last minute. It pulled together in the end. Sister Martinez and I taught about companionship unity, which was fun.

I eat so much food here. Especially when I am eating with the branch. I need to start just eating smaller meals for breakfast and lunch because I am going to start packing on the pounds. Today we hiked Camelback for the second time - we took a picture both times at the top with the groups that hiked so I will send a picture of last time’s. I don't have today's picture yet. That hike is so hard but I feel so accomplished when I get to the bottom at 8AM and have already done something so hard. We are probably going to hike it every other P-Day, which I am excited about.

We have this one family that we teach who live out of our area by quite a bit but they have a single mom so the elders who would teach her normally can't. She has five kids who are all so silly. They act like little gangsters but we tell them all the time how good they are. Because of the miles that we are allowed each month on the car we might have to start biking to them because it is just taking too many miles up and we are going to try to see them more. Two days ago we went over to teach them about the Plan of Salvation, but their mom wasn't home so we couldn't go in the house. So we stood outside and taught with our little white board to them. There were a bunch of kids out and some of them were…rude. They started spiting spitballs at me. It was the grossest thing ever - so many spitballs hit me. I love these kids so much that I would bike 20 minutes both ways in the Arizona heat, when I am assigned a car, just to stand on their front porch for fifteen minutes while being hit by spitballs if just MAYBE they could feel the love that God has for them, and that life gets easier if you look to the end goals. My companion and I were talking about it and we just feel such a responsibility to teach the people in our area. We want everyone to know that God has a plan for them that is full of peace and purpose. The church is true!

I hope you all have a wonderful week. I know I will.

Stay safe - I love you all!

Hermana Doxey