NEW AREA

So I've been transferred, but it's been AMAZING! As soon as I heard, I said goodbye to most of my people. I love my first area and it was hard to leave, but I'm excited for a new challenge!

On Wednesday we went to the transfer building and our photos were paired up with our new companion on the door of the church building. It was a lot less exciting than the transfer meetings that I'm used to, but it was still pretty cool. My new companion is SISTER LEDUA! You might recognize her because when my first companion went home, I was in a trio with her and Sister Reed for a couple days. She is from Fiji and Tonga. She has been out 9 months and likes spam... Gross, haha, but I love her anyway! Turns out Sister Reed (one of my besties,) didn't go home until today, so I got to spend the last 5 days of her mission with her. We were definitely the power trio! This is also a biking area, and none of us are small, so we kind of looked like a gang when we would bike up to peoples houses.

This area is AMAZING! The members here have a solid understanding of what missionary work is and what their role is. The first night here we had a lesson in a members home and he invited 3 of his employees to learn about our church. He set it up, he invited us over and he extended invitations. It was amazing. We also had a lesson at the Stake Presidents home, (he's my doctor, so that's cool :)) and his friend is on date for baptism, AND he got up and bore his testimony in church yesterday about how he felt the spirit for the first time. This guy isn't even a member of the church, but he bought a white shirt and tie and new shoes, went to church and then spoke to the congregation. I am just blown away.

Needless to say, I am loving my new area. I'm still in the city of Queen Creek, so that's exciting, just a little farther north, and the closer to Gilbert you get, the smaller the area because the members are so condensed. Oh, oh, oh! We live with members. They are the Tate's and they are so awesome. i'm excited to get to know them better as well! They have a basement apartment and it's so nice. I've seriously lived in the best missionary housing since I've been out. My new address is:

19111 E. Canary Way

Queen Creek, AZ 85142

You can send me stuff at that address, or the mission office address, I just won't get it for a while if it's to the mission office because my zone leaders don't go there that often. It's to far apparently. #lazy and stuff.

EXCITING STORY OF THE WEEK: Sister Reed sold her bike, and this is biking area, so on Saturday night she borrowed a skateboard from a member to get to the next lesson in a timely manner. She has horrid balance, so I took over and didn't get very far before giving up and walking to the lesson. After that lesson, we borrowed a long board from a member because I can kill it on a long board. We tied a belt to the basket on my bike and Sister Reed pulled me on my bike while I long boarded beside her. I'm not exactly sure what happened, but I ended up on the cement. I only got a little bit of road rash, but we had another appointment, so I hopped back on and we kept going! THEN, Sister Reed, the one with the terrible balance, decided that she wanted to try, but that she wanted to do it sitting down on the long board. Let me tell you, pulling someone on a bike is not easy at first, especially if they are bad at steering or stopping or anything balance related. We made it home safe and sound! THEN, we had to ride like that to church yesterday, so a ton of people saw me being pulled by Sister Reed while long boarding. I think I'm making the most awesome impression in the members minds. Seriously, I shall hereby be known as the awesome long boarding sister. Anyway, that's that story. You're welcome. Pictures attached for complete understanding.

One more quick story before I go. Last night was Sister Reeds last night on her mission, and I know you're supposed to go to bed at 10:30 as a missionary, but it was her LAST night, and I'm going to miss her a lot, so we maybe stayed up late. We did a bunch of productive stuff though. We cleaned the basement, packed up all of her stuff, planned pranks to pull on the elders, made planner covers and just talked. It was so great. It made me realize that I want to take full advantage of every moment and opportunity that I have as a missionary. I only have a year left, will I be proud of that year when it's my turn to go home?

I am so grateful to be a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I know that Christ lives, and that as we allow him to change us, we will be happier, better people and that we will be able to face the challenges that we come across, because He is the way.

Best of luck this next week everyone! I hope you all experience miracles in your lives. You are all wonderful and I hope to hear from you next week!

Love Sister Holbrook