23 weeks in Belconnen! And for sure another 6! I'M STAYING AND TRAINING... AGAIN! This ward is never gonna lose me. After this transfer I will almost be here for half of my mission! Heck, I've already been here almost 6 months! But I am pumped. :)
(Our District before transfers this week - now there is one more set of Sisters in our District and Ward)
Honestly, I did need a change. Serving with the same teaching pool with the same companion, we felt like we were giving everyone all we had and were hitting the same brick walls. But neither of us really wanted to leave. We love the ward, area, and our investigators and are knowledgeable about the area. We couldn't possible stay again (we already broke Sister history serving 3 transfers together and still getting along haha) but one staying without the other would just be weird, and if we both left, the ward would lose the long relationships we have built. So the Lord is awfully creative and is having us both stay, training new companions, and splitting our area. This means Belconnen ward now has 4 SETS OF MISSIONARIES: 2 sets elders and 2 sets sisters.
(My new companion Sister Manoo)
(Pukana faces)
My new companion is Sis. Manoo from Samoa! Hence why she is my "soa", and she calls me "soa" and I love it. Sis Holtz new comp is Sis. Sauaki from Tonga! They are perfect for our ward and we love them already. Both came in mid-transfer so are not super new (3 weeks) but lovely as ever! We are excited to split up our really booming teaching pool right now so we can both get back to what we do best- FINDING AND STALKING THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS OUT OF PEOPLE! :)
But it is really cool seeing my mission posterity grow though. It was a tender moment seeing Sis. Holtz train in action. So proud :') This is what it must feel like being a grandparent #tender
(Kennedy with Sister Holtz getting cupcakes and favorite drink to celebrate staying in the Belconnen Ward - Then one last companionship sleepover before the new set of Sisters join them in their flat)
So whats up with this booming teaching pool you may ask? Well... let me tell you.
Trish. GOLDEN. Only have to teach Word of Wisdom and Chastity. Came to church again and brought son, sister and niece. She was so into our last lesson on Tithing and fasting she wanted to know the best meals to skip and where to find the slips to give tithing and best time to pay. How cute is that? We kept saying, you don't have to yet, just after baptism but she has so much faith and wants all the blessings! Bap. date is the 8th, we probably will move it up though. #thatsafirst Unless we review lessons with her while really teaching her 10 year old son who then could also be baptized with her. Families are forever!
Alek is our 15 year old Sudanese we reconnected with last week. Taught restoration, teared up with first vision, said she felt spirit strong and that it was true. Prayed and it was the best prayer ever- Thanking Him for us, and asking to get to know Him and His Son better. She came to all 3 hours of church and LOVED IT. Can't say I was as eager about 3 hours of church when I was 15! Her baptismal date is the 22nd of Feb but we also might be moving that up. Within 5 days we taught her all of restoration, plan of salvation, a little bit of chastity and she came to church.
I will be teaching Alek with Sis. Manoo (Gotta get my African convert!), I told Sis. Holtz to take Trish but she is thinking she will be better with us as well. But I don't want to have all the progressing investigators in the area ya know? So they will teach a lesson and if it doesn't feel right we will be teaching her as well. But there are heaps of less active Tongan families I have tried to get in touch with for 6 months and not any huge success so they should be busy. Esp. with the family with all unbaptized kids who really want to learn and be baptized. I'm just so happy I am splitting it with Sis. Holtz. We have same outlook, it is always what's best for the people. They are walking again though and busing (no car). So I also said, we will work with you for lifts as much as possible. Because its no fun being the additional set of missionaries, walking, without people to teach. So for driving K's, we might be parking and walking in the heat some more as well. Get some sun again on my pasty "I have a car" skin! And its gonna be hot this week. In the 40's... can I get a Fahrenheit conversion please?
But anyways... that's the big exciting gist of the week and transfers. Stacey and Jordan and baby Keanu are doing good. Our lady that prayers to another Jesus is... getting there. Had some great splits with our new traveling sisters #LOVEthem. I packed everything and was all mopey about leaving for nothing when I got the call from President asking for us both to stay and train. We didn't end up driving up for transfers so then we had a great lesson with Mike Norman (the atheist that just admitted his grandma probably joined our church on discussion about the spirit world aka him implying there would be life after death and asking US for miracles or promptings we have seen/felt and saying he has felt things he can't deny!!!!!!!!)
My setting apart was all about planting seeds so I thought I was for sure gone this transfer because it is looking to be a good one. So blessed to be here to see some more miracles follow through. It's been a beautiful crazy week of adjusting but all is going really great. Excited to get to work! Oh and shout outs to Sister Vail and my cute cousins Mia and Griff for the letters. And Stephanie Fecht... you are in trouble! I am sending you a card today so it should be there soon :)
Love you all. LOVE this work. Love the people here and am excited to find the reasons the Lord needs me here another 6 weeks! :) The church is true. I know it without a doubt in my mind.
Sister Rushing :)
Missions are Hard Work!
Love me some Frozen Chocolate
(Kennedy Street all the things on Kennedy st. named after me. 6 months here and already a legend)
(on the top of the big Telstra tower last pday)
I think you should send these out as an email as well to everyone in the family each week. That’s what my neighbor did and it helped get people to write more often because they read everything they were doing and saw the pictures. I don’t think people check blogs as much and it’s even harder now that they have to be private. Just my 2 cents. :)
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