Greetings from Huntsville Texas where apparently there are more cows than humans, about 8 prisons, and Lori!
How awesome is this! No more Corolla! I am driving a Jeep Compass
Wow do I have a lot to tell you! My mission has taken a complete 180 degree turn, but I love where I am at so much and am so excited for all of the new experiences that are ahead for me! So yes, I am now serving in Huntsville Texas--most missionaries refer to it as exile because it's so far away from everything else but I am so happy and I love it so much! It's a little country/college town and has it's wonderful little quirks and it's just the best ever! I love it! My companion is Hermana Fletcher and she is GREAT! She goes home next transfer, so I get to spend her last with her. We get along super well and she is hilarious. It's a lot of fun! So like I said, it's completely different and I will explain to you why. I am no longer in a Spanish ward, or branch. I am in an English ward and we are trying to begin a Spanish branch! So whenever people that speak Spanish come, we will have to translate for them which scares me a little bit, but it'll be good for me! But, that is not all! We are also the missionaries for the YSA Branch as well! So basically it's like we are working with 3 different groups of people, but I am absolutely loving it so far! Every Sunday we will be at church until 2 going back and forth between the different meetings. It's crazy, but like I said, I LOVE IT! Sam Houston State University is right here as well, so we get to be campus missionaries too when the new semester starts. We work with the institute too and ah it's all just so much fun! And actually, Elder and Sister LeBaron are over the institute up here and I found out that he was Tim and Lisa's Bishop when they first got married! Crazy small world right? They are absolutely incredible! Really it is all so much fun up here and there is so much to do! We work really closely with all of the missionaries up here because we all cover the same area. So it's us, the LeBarons, and Elders Petersen and Alvarenga as well. I never could have guessed that I would experience all of this on my mission and I feel so lucky that I have the opportunity to honestly experience everything! Spanish wards, english wards, YSA wards, college campus, city, country...I'm so lucky! And now to tell you of some of the experiences I have had this past week.
So I mentioned Lori. She is the best ever. She is our main investigator right now and she is absolutely hilarious! She is 41 I think and lives with her fiance Ken, they are in the process of trying to get everything together so that they can get married. She is in the process of quitting smoking and is doing really well! So when she is done smoking, and is married, she will be getting baptized! She already knows the church is true. It was so so sweet, yesterday in Sacrament meeting I was sitting by her and there was about 1 minute left before they would end it and she turned to me and asked if I would walk up to the front with her so she could share her testimony! She shared the sweetest, most pure testimony that I have ever heard. My heart was jumping for joy! Oh man but I am so excited to tell you about Lori and Ken, I love them so much!
First of all, our last name never gets old. It's so funny. I tell almost everyone, "Like the cookie, chips a hoy." So Lori now calls me Sister Chips a Hoj. The first time I met Ken he was outside about to leave to take the dog on a walk. So we went inside to begin teaching Lori and he kept walking the dog. About 15 minutes later he walks in and says "Sister Hoj, now I hope you don't get offended by this, but is your daddy a sumo wrestler? You know, like hooooyyy (the sound effects of a sumo wrestler) hahahaha I was dying. And then the other day they called us and Ken gets on the phone and says "Sister Hoj, did your daddy win the wrestling match today?" hahahaha they're so funny! So dad, I guess it looks like you're going to have to take up sumo wrestling so that I can give him updates every week! haha okay they are just the funniest people. They are so great. We see Lori almost every day and we've already become great friends! I'll attach a picture of her and I.
Umm...okay I don't even know what else to explain because there is just so much that happens. We got to go to something called Passport to Sam which is like a part of freshman orientation! There are a bunch of booths set up (ours for the institute) and people come and walk around and we pass out cards and pamphlets and have people sign up to come to the institute! It's really so fun. I am just getting to experience everything right now! It's different from what I have been used to, but it's so great. I feel like I am just saying the same things...haha so I guess I will end there. I love being a missionary, and I love how the Lord knows us perfectly. I have already recognized how perfect this place will be for me because there are a lot of things that are going to stretch me and help me strengthen my weaknesses. I've seen how the Lord has provided me with opportunities to help me overcome those weaknesses that I have been praying for. He is helping me more than I could have ever imagined! I know He lives and I know that He is my Savior. I love Him and feel so honored to represent Him and I am striving each and every day to do that better. BEING A MISSIONARY IS THE BEST! I love you all and hope you have a fabulous week!
Hermana Fletcher and I at orientation
at Sam Houston State University
Loooove, Hermana Hoj
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