I really can't believe this first week is already over. It has been a
WHIRLWIND for sure. But, it's been absolutely great!
Here's what's going on!
I was transferred to the Plainview YSA branch with Hermana Montgomery.
She was Sister Hales' trainee (my companion in Little Neck, not my
trainer). She is from Rupert, Idaho (shout out to Jenni!) and is
ab-so-lute-ly fantastic! She goes home at the end of this transfer :(
(that means I will have TWELVE companions in total). We get along
SOOOOO well, are always making each other laugh, and enjoy a lot of
the same things. We are serving as Sister Training Leaders together
and we were blinded in to Plainview (meaning both of the sisters were
transferred out of the area). We showed up to our apartment and our
district had come before and left balloons, streamers, and a "Welcome
Sister Montgomery & Sister Peacock" sign. It's been a little crazy
getting things ready to go and trying to learn the area and the
branch. Luckily, I have served an island mission so the area part
isn't too bad! Our branch was gone this weekend on a trip to Palmyra
so we haven't had a chance to meet most of the members. But, we will
tonight! We have a lot of fun activities each week that we attend --
FHE on Monday, volleyball on Wednesday, and institute on
Thursday/Friday. The branch only has about 45 people, 20 of which are
bug boys and will be leaving at the end of the summer. But, there have
been a lot of miracles here in the last few transfers and I am excited
to see what happens.
I am trying to learn how to fearless YSA-age men and invite them to
activities without feeling like I am looking for their number. That's
the new challenge! But, it's funny how everywhere we go now we are
scouting for the YSA specifically. It's a lot of fun! Most of the YSA
here go to Stonybrook University or other colleges on Long Island. Our
area covers about 2/3 of Long Island (we even cover clear to Riverhead
and Hampton Bays!). It's rather big!
We also have the ONLY convertible in the mission. I mean, at least it
feels like it ;) Our car has a faulty A/C so ... we drive with the
windows down all the time. It makes some good memories ... and a mess
of hair. But we laugh through everything.
It's going to be a crazy transfer ... it is already going by too fast.
And with 11 exchanges, a sisters' conference next week, a temple trip,
and all the other aspects of missionary work ... it's going to be
fast. We already had president interview's last week & it was so
strange that it was my LAST one before my departing interview. Where
has the time gone?
It was also a great privilege to be back at the Mission Leadership
Council. I felt so humbled and grateful to be part of it again. We had
an amazing, Spirit-driven meeting. Elder Baker, who I served with for
6 transfers straight, just became an AP and gave a wonderful workshop
on Preach My Gospel. THe Spirit was super strong in the room. It was
incredible. We want to focus ourselves and the missionaries on really
becoming "preach my gospel" missionaries and making sure it is the
FOCUS of what we teach and what we do.
We had our first exchange over the weekend, and I could already feel a
difference since being an STL two transfers ago. I just want to really
focus on the sisters and make sure each exchange matters and helps
them. I was really seeking for revelation for her during the exchange,
and it came.
Anyway, I will leave you with some photos so you can understand the
fun we have together :)
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