Week 17

Happy November, everyone! 

The time has flown by and it is almost time for the next transfer where I will officially not be in training! I am very excited to have an extra hour a day to be meeting with people instead of in the apartment studying, but at the same time I did learn a lot from that extra hour. As far as transfer news goes, I was told that I will be staying in the area and that I will most likely be getting a new companion. Because of that, I am now the designated driver so that I can learn the area better. Which is a problem because, I’ll be honest, I am not the best driver and I am terrible with directions. This week has been a little bit scary for Sister Martinez :) There is still a chance of her staying as well, we will find out final transfer news on Saturday. Transfers will be the following Tuesday and P-day will be on Wednesday (so I will not be emailing next Monday).

My interview with the Mission President was a really cool experience. I love President Sweeney so much, he just loves you so quickly and so much. I sat down and he immediately started talking about exactly what I needed to hear. This week seemed a little bit long but I think it was because the end of the week had so many things I was looking forward to. The day before Halloween our ward and branch had a combined Trunk-or-Treat. It was so fun to see all the little kids in their adorable costumes. The missionaries decorated the trunk of the mission van that a set of missionaries in the ward has been driving for the last few weeks. It’s one of those huge white 12 passenger [slightly creepy] vans. We used the decorations that we had so it looked a little sad, but we had candy so the kids didn't care. It was super fun.

My first day driving

Our last apartment hurrah with our green drinks

Speaking of the huge van, for Halloween we got to go to the temple from 2:30pm - 9:30pm. It was SO cool. My whole district took the van, which was the interesting part of the night. We had four sisters on the back row and then eight Elders. Slightly scary, but overall a fun car ride. The temple was super peaceful and a really cool way to spend Halloween. 

This week we got to have our second lesson with an investigator. She lives in a women’s shelter. I really like teaching there because it brings so much hope to these women who have lost a lot of hope in their lives. We teach an investigator and a member who lives there always joins us. When we taught yesterday, we had another women join us. She turned out to be the Elders’ investigator that they had not been able to contact since she moved, and we were able to help her get in contact with them. We taught the plan of Salvation which I love teaching. 

We had another great lesson this week when we taught our new investigating couple the law of chastity. We went in a little unsure of how the lesson would go. It started out a little rough, but by the end they were talking about getting married. They said they have been dating for six years and had never talked about it. So hey, I might be helping plan a wedding this month, which would be insane and amazing because then they can get baptized which they really want. At the end of the lesson the woman prayed and said, "Thank you for the Sisters and their humor, they are awesome." It was so sweet. I LOVE when investigators pray; it makes me so happy I could just pass out. 

Continuing to get larger, but this time by choice...
I haven't changed :)

A lady we work with who just moved out of the ward

Crazy story from this week: We were turning around (yes, because of my poor direction skills) and we stopped for sister Martinez to put on her glasses so she could help me try to figure out which street to turn on. She puts on her glasses and looks to the right and sees a member who we had been teaching but told us he had moved. We may have creepily stalked them to make sure it was them. IT WAS. Turns out they are just visiting for the week to get a few more things they had left in Arizona but it was a huge shock and definitely the most exciting thing that happened that day. 

We also got to set a date for a returning, less active family to go to the temple to be sealed - it was so cool because you could just see their faces change when we set the date. It made it much more real, even though it is still a long ways away. I am so excited for them because I know that the peace and blessings that come from the temple are real.  

I think that is basically it for this week. Our area is moving along and we are so excited for all of the people we teach. I love this area and am so happy that I get to stay (I guess that could change, but I’m not planning on it). Thank you all for all of the support you give to me. I love you!

Christmas came early

Oh and an explanation of the Christmas pictures: Sister Martinez and I jumped the gun a little hoping that we would be together for Christmas. We wanted to have Christmas cards made but it looks like we will no longer be together for Christmas so we just have a bunch of really strange pictures of us in Christmas sweaters. It was SO HOT when we were taking those pictures anyone who passed us thought we were insane. Oh and the picture with the Indian Chief - not pictured: homeless man standing literally three feet away from me. Got to love Phoenix. 

Have a wonderful week!

Hermana Doxey