Hey Hey! :)
Oh man! What an awesome week! :) So, I'm sorry it's been a while since you've heard from me. Last week I spent all of my P-day cleaning the apartment and packing up and running all the last minute errands that needed to be run because I got transferred!! :) :) Oh man, you have no idea how much I'm going to miss my last area. Elizabethtown is the best place in the whole world! They have such an awesome ward. But now I have the privilege to be serving in the Monongahela Ward. Everyone here says it's the closest I'll ever get to the Celestial Kingdom on earth..So that's really exciting! :) I love it so far! I can't wait to get to know the people better to get the area rolling a little bit better. :)
Oh man....I have to tell you guys about how I found out I was transferring....and training. It was kind of horrible...but now looking back kind of humorous! So...it was last Saturday, the 11th I think? anyways, So...I felt like I was going to be transferred....and so we went and visited some of the people we had been teaching in the ward...and someone had fed me something that did not sit well with me and made me soooo sick to my stomach...so in the middle of one of the lessons..I felt like my stomach was going to blow out of my abdomen...and so I had to stop the lesson early and we went to the nearest gas station and I was just throwing up...it was miserable! and so while I'm in the bathroom, Sister Topham calls Sister Winkler and asks to talk to me....and so Sister Winkler lets Sister Topham know that I was feeling sick and that I would call her back soon....and so I went to call Sister Topham, and I got a text from President Topham asking me to call him when I had a chance.....now I was worried. So I'm still in the gas station and I call President, and he tells me that my Grandma Thomas died...and I was sooo sad. I just burst into tears...in the middle of the gas station. oh man...it was horrible. So then I talked to Sister Topham and she told me that my mom had talked to her and wanted to let me know that she let my grandma know that I loved her. and I had been stressing out sooooo much about transfers...so I asked sister Topham i said, "I know that this is a totally inappropriate time to ask...but when will we know about Transfers.." so she handed the phone to President Topham and he told me that he was planning on calling me later because he didn't feel that it was very sensitive to tell me all in the same phone call...but he told me that I was getting transferred and he called me to be a trainer.!! I was shocked! I couldn't believe it. I was really excited but also really nervous!
So, anyways...after we got everything packed up last monday we started our long drive to Pittsburgh. It was soo fun! It was such a fun drive just Sister Winkler and I. :) We finally got into pittsburgh and found out that the Zone Leaders gave us the right address but the wrong sisters....and it was crazy. We had so much fun! I actually got to see Sister Kinney for the first time since I've been out. :) We had so much fun! then we went to the transfer meeting and I got to see some of my old buddies from the MTC! We had so much fun! :) and I got trained on how to be a trainer. and then I got my new companion! :) Her name is Sister Rock. She's from Morgan, Utah and she's a boss! haha we have so much fun! :) We were doubled in, white washed, flushed...whatever you want to call it...there are so many different terms that they call it where two missionaries get taken out of an area and two new missionaries come in. so...my first time transferring, and training...and I'm going to a new area that I know nothing about the area....at all. But it's so fun! We got called to Monongahela! haha! That's quite a mouth full right? :) It's so pretty! Its about a half hour from Pittsburgh and it's actually really hilly around here. Not like my last area. :) So, this week has pretty much consisted of meeting the ward and trying to meet with the two investigators that the Elders had before they got moved out.
I feel like it's such a huge responsibility and it's kinda intimidating training and re-opening the area to sisters. The ward has told us that this is the first time they've had in 16 years. The ward has been so warm and welcoming it's been great! and thank heavens, Elder Zumwalt served in our area before transfers and he just got transferred to the other area of the ward so he's been showing us some of the ropes around here! I am so thankful! :) The ward is great, the bishop rocks! I love it!
We actually got a new investigator this week...but I'll let you know about it next week! I just want to let you all know that I love you! I love my new area, and I love my companion! Its awesome! :)
I love you all tons! I'm so thankful for the opportunity that I have to be here. I know that Heavenly Father loves and knows us...and he is so involved in our lives!
Love, Sister Thomas
