Let Us All Press On!

Things are going right along here. We start week 6 this week of the transfer and then I only have two more transfers, which is insane. It will be exciting to see what happens we learned at MLC there are going to be a lot of big changes this upcoming transfer, but we'll get more into that later on.

This week we had to say goodbye to our friend Silka. She moved to Florida to live with one of her daughters while she has surgery and recovers. It is what will be best for her but it was still super sad saying goodbye to our Panama friend. Any trip we ever make to DisneyWorld will include a stop at her house! We were able to go to Hobbs this week on exchanges and I was able to have Sister Starr as my diabetic companion again for 24 hours! I love her! I love the work they are doing there! I love Hobbs! It was incredible how that day because of district meeting I wasn't able to have language study but how at 7 Heavenly Father prepared a way as we were asked to go to their investigator's mom's house who only speaks Spanish to explain a few doctrinal points. That lesson was also where I met a RM from Kayla's husbands mission.When we got back to town on Wednesday we were fed dinner by a member and in the background we could hear her husband who was 2 feet away throwing up, a memory I will never forget! hahahaThursday marked the 1st time I have ridden public transportation. Thursday is bike day as you all know and we had an appointment SUPER south. We called about every member on the roster and nobody was able to come. We couldn't have ridden our bikes because Sister Rocha's tire is popped and so we called and learned the public transportation schedule. The bus was going to be at our house in 15 minutes and I hadn't eaten lunch or done my hair, talk about a rush!! It was exciting though (even though I might have cried for a second--only because I have been at a orange level of stress this week) and we were able to share a quick message with several people.Later Thursday we left for Lubbock for MLC on Friday. We got to stay the night with Sister McCarthy (from Preston) and Sister Oviatt. We had a few minutes at the end of the night and so we put together and decorated gingerbread houses! It was so fun! The messages at MLC were exactly what I needed and exactly what the mission needs. I am so excited for Zone Training tomorrow and the opportunity to share what we learned with the other missionaries in our Zone! President and Sister Heap focused on "Adjusting to Missionary Life" or how to deal with stress on the mission and it was amazing!! They talked about how there are a lot of stress problems going on right now and they need us to help the missionaries. They talked about how the plan is to release a bunch of us from leadership to go and be companions with new or struggling missionaries to help them! Let's just say I am ready to go and work, so we will see what happens with transfer calls this Saturday! Honestly though I definitely fit into the stressed/struggling missionaries category right now. And so an emphasis on stress management was perfect! I love my mission but right now, this transfer, has been the hardest of my whole mission for sure. Our temple trip that we have planned on Thursday could not come at a better time. Also I am grateful for the giant red Swainston family history books that we have, reading in those has been my stress reliever and they are holding me together.

Church on Sunday was perfect. We got to partake of the Sacrament which after 14 days was soooooooo needed. Also for Sacrament Meeting what they did was so cool, the Spirit was so strong. The speakers didn't show up and so they opened it up to let members of congregation bear a short testimony and then chose a hymn to sing! Music is powerful! Hymns are inspired and are prayers!

This upcoming Sunday we have the member fireside we have been preparing for. I can't wait! We even have special permission for the nmmi cadets to come too! Let us all press on! :) xoxo Hermana Slade