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| Sister Hagemeyer and Sister Bateman (Her new companion this coming transfer) |
Transfers again and Sister Hagemeyer is staying, her MTC companion, Sister Bateman, will be joining her. They are both waiting for Visas for the same mission in Brazil.
Many changes have taken place in all missions with the increase in Sister missionaries. For example there will be 'Training Sisters' starting this next transfer who will go on exchanges with the sisters under their jurisdiction much as Zone Leaders and District Leaders go on exchanges with the Elders under their care. Previously there were not enough Sisters for Sisters Exchanges to be efficient, we were spread out across the whole mission and only 23 to the 180+ Elders. This is a welcome and exciting change for much can be gained through exchanges which was a privilege only really available to the Elders.
Another change in our mission is that now there are Family History Sisters, which is what I have been called to do. I do not have much details yet as to what I will be doing, if I will have a proselyting area, if I have anywhere to even live yet, but my companion will be Sister DeGreef.
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| Youth conference! |
The Lord answered my prayer that Sisters would stay in this ward and I am willing to accept what He has asked of me. I barely like Sister DeGreef. I do not know if I will ever like her much. But I can love her. I am determined to do all I can to help build her up and do all I can to magnify this calling from the Lord. I am not excited but I am not distressed, my heart is full of peace that came after I accepted this call. I have found that has often happened in my mission, I believe that the peace is a blessing the Lord gives me because He is pleased I am willing to humbly accept even when I do not know how it can be done. I guess I kinda feel like Nephi when he was told to get the plates from Laban. He had no idea how he would do it but he trusted that the call was from the Lord and a way would be provided. There have been so many times in my mission where I have not been able to visualize where we were headed, or imagine how I could get through the next hour. But I have discovered, especially now as I have been fighting physical weakness again, that if I just focus on taking the next step I can handle it. Sometimes taking it one step at a time I can only get a few things done, but always the most important things are accomplished. Other times as I exercise my faith by evaluating that I have the strength to go one more step and taking it, I find that when I get to the point I thought I would have collapsed at I feel better, and eventually strong again. This has happened many times on my mission, miracles abound. I know what Alma and his people felt when the Lord strengthened them to bear their burdens that they might be light for He has done that for me too.
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| Sisters Luncheon |
Getting more on the current fight against physical weakness, when I first got to this area in November I was sick on and off for the first 8 weeks, now I am suffering from sleep deprivation no doubt caused by sleep apnea. During the last three weeks my health took a sudden dive and each day I got increasingly more exhausted. It eventually got to the point where I was falling asleep during meetings and lessons. It has been very hard on me and my companion. We are doing what we can to get me the medical help I need but it is being ridiculously slow. I was able to get a wonderful blessing the other day and my strength has somewhat returned but I still am struggling. With all this going on I knew as soon as Sister Neider told me President Neider was considering making a Family History position that I would be called here (she called Wednesday and we were given our transfer information Saturday). So when I was told I was not surprised, only at my companion.
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| Sisters Luncheon |
Our area is doing well. We just finished dropping all of our halfhearted investigators and the Lord blessed us with a golden one named Lenora who will be Sister Hagemeyer's next baptism. Many less actives in the area are heading back into activity and several are preparing to go to the temple. We have been working so much better with the members with their missionary work. Sister Hagemeyer is a natural. I know she will do well as Senior companion. We have found so many people so prepared in the last week. I feel like the whole time I have been in this area, six months of it, we had just been spreading out roots, and now that I am leaving it is just starting to sprout. I pray that Sister Hagemeyer and Sister Bateman will see the harvest and keep the area growing.
I know its time to leave. It broke everyone's hearts. It is so humbling how the people here love me so much. I will miss them. Many are part of my family now. But I know its time and I can let go and move on. I am so grateful that through the Gospel of Jesus Christ we can be with our loved ones forever, its just our job to make sure we get there and help those we love get there too.
Love you all, Take care
Sister Alyssa Monson
