I know I didn't send an email last week, but because it was Christmas and I got to skype home we weren't really supposed to email. I know that people did, but because I went a little over on time in my call home I thought I'd just send a longer email this week. So bare with me... So much happened!!
First off, I love my new companion! Her name is sister Church, she came out the transfer after I did but we actually go home on the same day which is pretty cool. I am only her second companion, so we get along really well because we really are just figuring this all out together. And boy have we had a lot to figure out. Everything just feels so off because of the holidays and all. People don't
really want to meet with us because they are out of town, have family in town, or sick.
I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!! I am so spoiled here in Thatcher! I was so excited to go see the Murphy family last week. Fun story.
My first transfer when I was with sister Gadd in Tucson, she got a call from one of her investigators from thatcher. It was Felissa, her son Kellan was in the hospital with an infection in his stomach. She wanted to see sister Gadd and for us to bring someone with us to give them both blessings. So we arranged it all to go with the elders to go and see her and Kellan in the hospital. It turns out that the day we went and saw them was the day that their whole family was supposed to be baptized. But Kellan got sick and ended up in the hospital. It was also the ONLY day that we would've been able to leave our area to go to the hospital. We hit it off really fast! Felissa was so awesome and we kept joking that I should request to go to thatcher. Then after talking to Kellan, we come to find out, WE HAVE THE SAME BIRTHDAY! And he'll be turning 8 and really wants to be baptized. So I told Kellan in the hospital that day that I would pray really hard so that I would be transferred to Thatcher so I could be with him on our birthday. GOD WAS LISTENING TO ALL OF THOSE PRAYERS. It is an absolute miracle and in no way a coincidence that I have indeed been transferred to Thatcher and will be here on our birthday!!! I even have pictures with Kellan in the hospital, they are the ones with the miniature ponies.
It was the best moment going over to see Kellan and Felissa! Of course I love the whole family. When she opened the door, we both just screamed and hugged and cried! Kellan also came running in and couldn't believe that I was there. He is actually the one who reminded me that I had told him I would pray to be here in Thatcher! I remember all of it, but honestly I had totally forgotten! Anyways, they are doing so well. Felissa and the rest of the kids were baptized the next weekend after they got back from the hospital, and are now active members and have been going strong for about 4 month! Madison, the oldest daughter even gave an amazing talk in church yesterday!
I loved spending time with them. we went over to their house like 3 days in a row. We even got to meet Felissa's grandparents and sister. They made us so much food. And when they heard the story of how we met, grandpa just took me in and started to cry. He gave me a kiss on the forehead and said, I am so glad you are now apart of this family. I don't think I will ever forget that. He is not a member of the church, but he loves the Savior, and he really exemplified Christlike love to me by taking me in so quickly and treating me like family.
Christmas eve was fun because we got to go caroling with the missionaries. The whole zone met up and we went to a few people from each area. It was so funny because one of the elders brought his trumpet and played every single song. It was funny because let me tell you... we are not a musically gifted group. The whole thing was so off. But it was the thought that counts and we had a good time doing it. And to end, we finished in my area because some members invited all of us to a live nativity. We didn't get there till the end, but it was so sweet!
Christmas day was awesome. The members here took such good care of me. I ate all day! Big shout out to the Alder family for taking us in. We had breakfast and lunch with them and they let us go to their house to skype our families, they also drove us everywhere which was such a blessing. They really are wonderful. We were so lucky too because Christmas was on a pday!! So I wore my jeans and hoodie all day, it was the best! I even go to take a nap!! It was so good to talk to family. Kinda weird because it felt like I haven't even been gone that long. It was not as bad as I thought it would be to talk to family. No joke, I was so worried that it was going to make me homesick. But I felt totally fine. It helped that I was at a members house, so as soon as I ended the call I just went back in the family room and they kept me busy and occupied. I was also really happy because as a Christmas gift to the missionaries, my mission president said that we could watch a movie, as long as it was lds related. So we spent our evening with some other members kickin it on the couch watching the Best 2 Years! Honestly, that movie is sooooo much funnier as a missionary. Not only because you forget how nice it is to just relax and enjoy a movie, but also because that movie is so painfully accurate. So now our whole zone has been quoting it because I'm pretty sure everyone chose to watch that one.
Christmas came to a quick end unfortunately seeing as the very next day I was hit with a cold. It is a good thing that I am good about writing in my journal, because I straight up don't remember the last few days. It was sort of off and on. But by Friday I was so sick that we couldn't even leave the apartment. I tried to get up and work but I was so exhausted and dizzy that I could hardly walk. So I went back to bed and slept until 2 in the afternoon. I don't think I've been this sick in a long time. And being sick as a missionary is the literal worst! I feel so guilty for staying in. But basically the whole Gila Valley has been sick. And actually it's been so bad, one sister just finished her mission and it's a good thing she was going home because she had pneumonia. My district leader has strep throat, and ear infection, and whatever this nasty cold is. I talked to the sister training leaders, which is actually sister Gadd. We were all convinced that it was mono or something because it was so bad and it was just knocking people out. So they took me to the doctor. I'm fine. It's just a really bad cold. And the doctor said to come back in if it gets worse because i don't know how it is everywhere else but whatever is going around is so bad that a few people have ended up in the hospital. Don't worry, I'm not there yet... I have a pretty bad cough, so my voice is shot. I lose my balance pretty easily which is pretty interesting. It was actually kind of funny because we were at the church with the Hermana's and we were walking down the hall and I just fell over. It was the weirdest thing! It felt like I was on the tower of terror in disneyland and I came crashing down so fast. So hopefully I start to get better soon because I can't say this is the best way to start off the new transfer and the new year. However, taking a few sick days have been pretty funny bonding experiences for sister Church and I. When I am actually awake that is. There is not a lot to do in our little apartment, so we have to get creative. So that kind of explains the pictures and videos of Sister Church... But really I don't have an explanation for it, it just happened.
Last night for new years eve, President Browning told us all to be back to our apartments an hour early. So after dinner and playing some pretty wild new years games with a family in the ward, we went home like president told us. Come to find out, neither of us grabbed the keys on our way out, and we lock the door from the inside... So that was how I celebrated new years eve. Luckily we were able to get the window in the kitchen to open and I just lifted sister church inside. But it was pretty funny trying to break into our own apartment. It's a good thing that Thatcher is MUCH safer than Tucson, because it was almost too easy to break in lol!
Also, I have to say that being on a bike is really nice! It is not as much so while being sick. But really it is pretty flat here and the area is so small that we really could just walk everywhere, but we talk to so many more people it's great! So other than feeling like death, I really am loving the new area. I just want to get better quick so that I can get to work because there is so much going on and the members here are amazing and help us so much. It is awesome how much people love the missionaries here, even the non members! But people especially love the sisters, so I am very lucky to be here.
Happy New Year!! Wish you all the best!
Sister Grant