Change of Plans

Buenas tardes mi linda familia,

It was great hearing your voices a few days ago! I felt like we were all together in the family room imitating Wyzowski and laughing about our dear brother Manitas. I hope all your mothers had a very special Mother's Day and that your husbands spoiled you for everything you do. You're raising little future missionaries! There are about three little boys in our ward (from 4 to 7 years old) here who wear tags every Sunday that say "Future Missionary." They are adorable, and it makes me think of my six nephews (six, right?) who are going to serve and change so many lives! And it all starts now. So thank you for the special work you're doing now.

We got transfer calls last night. Sister Fernandez was right--I was called to train!! President called at about 6:30 last night and extended the call and I was very happy and excited to accept. My baby is going to have a sister! I've been thinking of all the cute things I can do for her to make her feel welcome and at home. Sister Schow is excited to have a baby in the home, too. I feel much more prepared this time around--poor Sister Beale went on a roller coaster ride when she first got her because I felt like ahhhhhhh!

This morning we had a zone activity in a members' home where we played ping pong and pool and air hockey. President Lewis called me and told me that a few things came up and that he needed to change my call... So Sister Fernandez thought I was going to train (and I was) and I thought I was going to be with Sister Novakovich (and now I am!). Oh wow--Hermanas Brinkerhoff y Novakovich. That's going to be REAL fun. We were at a recent convert's house last night and one of the girls who lives there told me that my last name is too hard and that she was going to give me a nickname. My new nickname is Lily. I'm excited to finally be senior companion! Sister Novakovich is two transfers younger than me--she came to Stockton when I left and has been there ever since. I'm sad that I won't be training, but I have more opportunities to do that with the five transfers I have left. I still feel like I'm going to train again, but if I don't I'll be okay!

Oh boy, the mission just keeps giving and giving. Like I told you, we have an investigator who's preparing for baptism this Saturday but we were supposed to meet with her today and she wasn't there. We do have a lot of promising people and the family of 6 who came to church on Sunday and who are planning to keep coming to church. We had to endure a lot this transfer--a lot of rejection at the beginning, not seeing a lot of success. President sent the mission a letter last week and he sounded disappointed in the numbers we had--this week he was a lot more enthusiastic because all our numbers are up. There have been a lot of changes in the mission recently with how we're to contact people, the meetings we have and such so we can focus more time on seeing nonmembers. With any change, we need a little time to adjust and then recover from the changes--I think we've leveled out and are now climbing.

I know that this is the perfect gospel of Jesus Christ. I know our Savior lives and loves us and has provided a way for us to be clean and happy and to learn, change and grow. I am grateful for His mercy and grace and am forever indebted to Him for His loving sacrifice. I am grateful for all of you and your examples. I read a quote on Sister Schow's fridge that talks about 1 Cor. 13--though I have all faith and all knowledge and sacrifice, if I do not have charity, I am nothing. I'm trying to focus on the two great commandments--love God and love my fellow man as myself. I think that's the only way to find true peace and happiness in this life.

Love you all,

kates