God Be With You Til We Meet Again

Well this week was a big ball of stress. Between the cold, waiting for transfer calls, struggling with the Elders, and the usual stressors of missionary life, I was at wit's end. 

It all started Tuesday. 

We were with the Elders from 10:30 in the morning.....until CURFEW. It was a very long day. 

I was doing all right for the first little bit. We drove to WalMart together, and didn't talk to each other much. Then we had lunch as a district, then district meeting. After district meeting, Sister S and I had a family we wanted to try to visit (which we had told them), but we had to wait for Elder C to interview someone, and then inspect their car.

So Sister S and I killed time by climbing the bookcases of the library in the church. 

It was a good activity. 

I also talked to my zone leader, who went to Alta High. 

Me: Do you remember me from high school?
Him: Yeah! Spanish class. Good times. 

Me: .....I took French!

Him: Wait, you did? Well we had some class together. 

Me: I'm pretty sure it was wildlife biology.

Him: With Coach Stephens! That class ROCKED! But no, I took it as a junior when you were a sophomore. 

Me: ....We graduated the same year!

Him: What? When did you graduate?

Me: 2011. I think it's safe to say you don't remember me. 

Him: Yeah....sorry....

Me: It's okay. The most vivid memory I have of you is you making fun of me in 8th grade. 

Him: Wait what middle school did you go to?

Me: CRESCENT VIEW!

SO funny!

But anyway. 

On the drive home, I was at wit's end with the Elders. I was sad that we didn't have time to go visit the family we wanted to, and that I didn't get to do missionary work all day.
We spent New Year's Eve evening with them. We had dinner with some of their investigators, which was a lot of fun!

Then we spent the rest of the night at the Cox's! I love the Cox's.

Wednesday was a really good day. We had a good lesson with our YM investigator, although he STILL didn't come to church! We're hoping we won't have to push back his baptism date, but we're not sure :/ 

We had an AMAZING lesson with another lady. At the end of our lesson she said, "Now remember this: if you don't teach any other lessons to anyone else the rest of your mission, just remember that this lesson was meant for me to hear TODAY. And that God definitely had a hand in you teaching it." 

I was stunned. It was another reminder to me how the Spirit works through his missionaries. I felt like I was just doing my normal thing. I was just teaching. But something Sister S and I did really touched her, and I was SO grateful. 

We also had a really good lesson with the lady with lots of dogs, and her dogs even BEHAVED! Mostly because she put all but one in the back room, so it was quiet and we could discuss 3 Nephi 11, about Christ visiting the American continent. She also told us about how she was baptized on Christmas day and how it was POURING rain the day she got baptized, and how she got pneumonia afterwards.....but it was still cool! 

I was just so grateful for all the miracles I saw while teaching this week. So often we were in the right place at the right time, and without even being aware of it, Sister S and I said something that touched the person and helped them open up to us. It was awesome! 

Thursday evening I was able to go pick up Grandma's watch. Sister Cox called and offered to drive me to Vestal to pick it up, but I had to call Elder C to get permission. 

"I don't think he's very happy with me right now." I told her. 

"Don't worry," said Sister Cox, "I told him that I was taking you, and that this was your grandma's watch and that it was really, really special to you, and that if he didn't give you permission I would call President W myself and get permission for you." 

Needless to say when I called Elder C, he gave me permission. 

I love the Cox's :)

And now the news you're all waiting for: Transfer calls. 

Saturday was transfer calls day. We had been doing work all day, eagerly awaiting the calls. And I was DYING of anticipation. At one point I sat down and said, "I refuse to leave this apartment until transfer calls come."

Well needless to say it's a good thing we left cause they didn't call for like, another three hours. 

So the zone leader calls us and says, "Sister Stimpson! You've been in Owego a long time." 

"I know!" 

"You're being transfered to Saratoga Springs. Sister H is coming to Owego." 

Dang it. I'm super excited, but super, super sad at the same time. Owego has basically become a second home to me now. I am excited to see a new area but will really miss everyone here. 

On the bright side, Sister H is Sister R's current companion! So she's probably heard all about Owego!

"Where are the Elders going?" we asked. 

"Elder Z is staying here, and Elder C is going to be district leader in Greenwich." 

"................is that by Saratoga Springs?" 

"Yes." 

".............Is he going to be my district leader." 

"Let me check....yeah I think so." 

"............OH COME ON!" 

Looks like the Lord is giving me yet another chance to learn to love Elder C. 

Dear. Dear. Goodness. DEAR GOODNESS.  It'll be okay.......it'll be okay. 

Sunday was sad :( Said goodbye to all my peeps. It was hard. Really hard. I know Owego hasn't viewed me as family, but that's what I've viewed them as. One lady told me I've been here so long I've just kind of become a token of the ward. Another nineteen-year-old guy hugged me. I felt super awkward cause I forgot how to hug. And I'm not allowed to hug guys. Elder C was watching and was like, "I..........didn't see anything." 

Then the kid got embarassed and ran away. 

It was also testimony meeting. I was sitting there, thinking that I should PROBABLY bear my testimony, then I saw an older sister giving me the eye and I was like, "Ah geez." Then I saw the whole bishopric giving me the eye and I was like, "Ah GEEZ." 

Then I went up, and as I did so I heard someone say, "Ah, there's Sister Stimpson!" 

Then when I sat down, a lady who was sitting by us said, "I KNEW you were going to go up!" 

Then the Bishop came up to me afterwards and said, "You know we were all waiting for you to get up there." 

"Yeah I know. I saw Sister A giving me the eye." 

It was a good day. I really am going to miss Owego, but I am excited to see a new area. And I am grateful that I was able to be here for so long!!! I was definitely blessed.

Now for the real stressor: packing. I have hoarded WAY too much stuff these past seven months. 

Well. Looks like I'm out of time. Salutations until next week! Love you all!

Sista' Stimpson.