Crazy crazy stuff

Everyone,

So, I have something that I need to tell you all.

I'M SORRY I DIDN'T WRITE ON MONDAY :(

This week was transfer week (which I neglected to say last week and have called myself to repentance and will give advance warning in the future). So, on transfer week, if your companion is transferred, you have p-day on Wednesday; today. Sister Andrus was transferred back to the valley after spending 6 months (1/3 of her mission) up here in Eager. I got a new companion, Sister Goodwin, who was actually my day trainer the first day that I spent in the Scottsdale mission! Cool stuff, huh?

Anyway, we found out the transfer news on Saturday and our carpool to the valley was leaving Sunday at noon because Hermana Sanchez was finishing her mission and going home to Spain, so they had to be in Scottsdale by 5pm on Sunday to do their interview and farewell dinner. Sister Andrus and I just tagged along and we got to spend the night in the mission home. Initially, we were going to fend for ourselves for dinner, but Sister Sweeney had prepared for two extra spots for dinner, so we ate with the missionaries that were leaving. The Lord definitely blesses his missionaries because we had STEAK for dinner! And, dad would be so proud, I ate my steak medium rare! I smothered it in a brown mushroom sauce so I wouldn't see the pink meat, but I ate it! Afterwards, Sister Andrus and I cleaned up the kitchen and did the dishes so that Sister Sweeney wouldn't have to. She walked in while we were cleaning and said that we were such sweet kitchen aids.

The next day, she asked for some help with a power-point presentation for the missionaries so we spent a few hours putting one together for her while she and President went and picked up the new missionaries. I absolutely LOVED helping out in the mission home and having that extra time to read my scriptures and "contemplate the eternities". That, and it was nice and warm in Scottsdale. On Tuesday, Sister Sweeney asked if we would help her out with the power-point presentation and so I got to do that as well! I got my new companion and they had us switch cars. Buma, our jeep, apparently needed a bit more culture so they sent him to the Apache Reservation and we got a brand new car with only 200 miles on it. I like the car, but it'll be interesting to use it on some of the roads up here. It's like off-roading sometimes.

Last week we were able to teach the 1st lesson to our investigator Tammi and she just drank it all in. It's crazy to see how the Lord prepares people. The Lord prepares people and the Lord does HIS work. We are just the tools that he uses to plant the seeds and to bring in the harvest. Once in a while, he'll draft us in to help pull weeds, but the work can't be stopped because it's HIS work. I can feel so inadequate, but we are promised that when we study his word, we will open our mouths and they will be filled because he will work through us! I love the work up here so much! Sure, sometimes it's terrifying, but it's so rewarding at the same time.

I love you all so much and I pray for you every day! And I know that you'll be blessed in so many ways when you follow Christ and his teachings. Sometimes we'll be blessed through our trials, and sometimes we'll be healed through tears, but it's all for a purpose and it's all for our progression. Keep our head up and don't let anyone bring you down! You're children of God and he loves you more than I do and I love you all SO STINKIN' MUCH!!! haha Have a great week and go be awesome member missionaries!

Love,

Steph