Changes are hard in the mission. Unfortunately they happen all too often, but I know they are a good thing. This week I had to say goodbye to Sister Paris and Sister Kohler. They were both awesome companions who I learned so much from. I will miss them both a lot.
Tuesday afternoon I got a call from the AP's asking if I would train another brand new missionary! So I went to the trainer's meeting on Thursday morning and picked up my new companion, Sister Vander Werrf. She is an English sister who just came out of the MTC! She is from Salt Lake City and is a very sweet sister. I was a little bummed to not train a Spanish sister, but since I am in Rochester I kinda can't train Spanish because we don't speak much Spanish. Sweet Sister Vander Werrf has been very tired the past few days; haha reminds me of when I first came out, but we have been working very hard! It's really fun and hard to train because I feel that I am responsible for how she needs to be so I have to set the best example I can. I am helping her memorize all of the things that need to be memorized as a missionary (our purpose, D&C 4, The First Vision, How to Begin Teaching points) and I am trying to make it fun. It has been a hard week with all of the adjustments though. I am also the only Sister Training Leader in the zone now as well, so it's more responsibility. I'm trying to figure out how to balance everything.
There is a spanish family, the Mata's, who I have been trying to get in contact with for the past 4 and a half months. They have been impossible and I have never been able to get inside their house, but every single time I go over there I invite them to come to church. Their answer is the same every time. "Yeah, we might be able to come this week." Well, 10 minutes after sacrament started yesterday, THEY WALKED IN! Oh man, I was so happy. It made my day. Perseverance is so key! I thought I was being very annoying by inviting them for months and months, but they finally caved in and came to church. It was a real tender mercy.
This week for #lightyourcommunity, we got to help an old lady in our ward decorate her house for Christmas. She is really sick and mostly just lays in bed all day, so we brought up the decorations from her basement, turned up the Christmas music, and just decorated! It was so fun and such a treat for us to be able to do that. Don't forget to do something to #lightyourfamily this week!
As part of our zone focus this month, we are all studying John together. I have been loving reading in the New Testament. Also, I finally finished reading the Book of Mormon in spanish this week! It's taken me a few months to get through. If you have any tips of how I can study spanish by myself, please let me know. I study for an hour everyday but I am getting bored haha.
B, happy birthday! Skip class and go to Targee and ski all day :) There is a big wedding reception for a girl in our ward on Friday night, so I get to go celebrate my birthday with them! Should be fun!
I love you all a lot. WE GET TO TALK IN 8 DAYS WOOHOO! I CAN'T WAIT! I will keep you updated on what time I can do it, but it's our P-day and so we will probably be at the church most of the day so I can do it there.
Love Hermana Nissinen