August 20th 2013 - End of transfer #3!

Dear Family,

I feel like this week has been a whirlwind of emotions and I have no clue what to do with any of them, so I guess I'll just start from the beginning of the week with a brief outline of every day.

Monday- We had a surprise FHE with the Diaz family who got Steve(LA teenager) to come and we watched the John Rowe Moyell video and we all went around saying what we learned and when it was Steve's turn he talked about how he didn't have any excuses for not doing anything in the church! It sounds like not a big deal, but it was so cool! He came to the activities the next day, he didn't come to church but we had fhe with him again last night so it's just in the beginning steps. Hopefully, we can help him get back in step and go on a mission!

Tuesday-(just a funny story) We were saying goodbye to steve after the activity so we stuck out our hands to shake hands and he went in for a hug, so sis. Howell said really quick that we couldn't hug him, but he just kept going for it, so when he got to me he still hugged me and said "it's ok, I can still hug you" oh so awkward. I hate having to tell people that that's not allowed.

Wednesday-(the beginning of the emotional roller coaster) We were sitting at dinner with Hna. Soltero who I absolutely love, and we get a phone call. Sister howell takes it into the room which we usually don't do, but from the kitchen I could hear it was Pres. Weidman but I just had to keep giving the spiritual thought. I just got the sickest feeling(we had just eaten a lot so that didn't help)and she came back in and her hands were shaking so bad. The Wednesday before transfers anyone who is training gets a call but we weren't really expecting it so early in the night. We left her house pretty quick and the minute we left and sis. Howell just hugged me and we both started crying. Sis. Howell was told that she would be training, becoming sister training leader, and going english. Alot of change for one transfer.      

Thursday-Sis. Howell had training, I just sat in the hallway for a few hours with a bunch of other missionaries whose companions were being trained. This next transfer were going to have one new zone and 18 new areas. 42 new missionaries which is including 6 visa waiters. 1/2 the mission will be training or being trained. 1/2 the missionaries will have 6 months or less in the mission. I feel like the LA mission is changing so much it's a little crazy but it's good.

Friday-The ward missionaries threw a party for all the missionaries in the ward. The APs called us inviting us to a special service opportunity for 5 hours on monday where we have to dress our best. That's pretty much all they told us and then one other companionship of elders in our zone was invited to go as well. We had no idea what it could possibly be. Well actually this was our thought process: the prophet!....ensign cover!....the district 3!.....something to do with facebook/ipads.(we were a little off on our guesses:))

Saturday-So at this point of the week we were just really on edge of emotions because sis. Howell would be leaving and it would be a big change, and we still very sure what was going to happen. It seemed like every day member's were trusting us with incredible experiences they've had and told us how much they trusted us and relied on us has some spiritual strength. The worst part was that weren't telling the members that Sis. Howell was going to leave so as they would tell us these stories they would say that they didn't want us to leave.(it felt like all the members have a internal clock for when transfers are) It was breaking our hearts knowing that sis. Howell was leaving and they love her so much and she is really struggling to leave everyone. 

Sunday-Went to the departing missionary fireside and 2 more members told us stories, so we cried with them and just breaking our hearts even more. Sis. Howell and I have really built great relationships this past 3 months...well sis. howell is really good at telling people she loves them, so that's been a big help:)

Monday- Went to the mission office to find out what the big service opportunity is. So....once a week me and my companion will be going to the Spanish Consulate to work for 4 hours with passports/visas or whatever they need us to do. It sounds like a super cool opportunity, but keep in mind that I know I will be getting a new companion, it will all be in spanish(whole different set of vocabulary, and this is like a super big deal to have missionaries be working in the consolate. The lds public affairs representative in the mission said, "no pressure, but this is a lot of pressure and a big deal" L. Tom Perry is coming on friday to talk to him and told us that church headquarters is really excited about this. So basically, I am going to be part of a test run for the church! It's only for my area, so when I get transferred or they decide it's not worth our time I'll stop. It is a little exciting and scary and the same time, but I know it will be a great learning/growing experience.

Finally got transfer calls at 10:15pm. Sister Howell is going to work in the Hollywood ward which is in the same zone and is the english ward that shares the building with 4th ward and she's going to be with her companion that trained her right before she became my companion. I'm staying in Silverlake and my companion will be Sis. Robinson. I don't know her, but I think she is relatively new in the mission. It kinda feels like the mission is going crazy and changing, but i'm still here in my area just chilling. I love it here, so it will be exciting to see what happens next, but it is still a little scary knowing that things are going to change. Sis. Howell and I have loved being together, and I've really learned alot about how to love other people, but I know that we need to move on and learn and grow more from another area or another companion.  I could keep telling you all things for days, but I should probably save something for next week:)

I love you all!

Love, Hermana Ford