Me? A Trainer? Nawwwww…

Hola Mi Familia,

The New Lincoln Zone! (Sis. Garfield is right by me!)

         Well I got my new companion! Her name is Sister Lisa Garfield and she is from...............I'll give you one guess.... UTAH! Haha. It seems like all those Mormons are from there! This week was.... humbling? The work was really slow because most of the people we meet with were out of town with the holidays. Sister Adamson left on Tuesday afternoon and then I went straight over to pick up Sister Garfield. Man I have never been more nervous in my life. When new missionaries come out they put the trainers and the greenies all in one room and make a big deal about calling out who goes with whom. Come to find out... I was the only Sister training so it was pretty easy for Sister Garfield to guess who would be her trainer.

Sister Kingsley and
our Thanksgiving Dinner.    

          We had Thanksgiving with a woman from our ward. Sister Kingsley. She is awesome and hilarious and cooked for about 500 days to prepare for us. She had Christmas music playing and we just had a blast!

Sister Adamson :)

         Nothing all that exciting happened this week. Times have been... more difficult that usual.  I feel this overwhelming weight has been placed on my shoulders. Not only am I responsible for taking care of a new missionary and for working hard, but it means... these people we meet with... are reliant on ME. Sister Garfield doesn't know them and what they need.  I do.  And so I'm realizing the difference. With Sister Adamson it felt like US. It felt like we were doing it together. I miss her lots! She was so good at loving me every step of the way too. So to go from feeling so loved and accepted to feeling alone and weighed down is difficult. But, I am realizing that this position is from my Heavenly Father. That there is a reason he wants me here at this time with THIS missionary. I would be prideful to think I have to do it on my own. Because we have the privilege of knowing that we DON'T have to do it alone! We have our Heavenly Father to lean on and to rely on. We have to humble ourselves and to remember that it is only through him that we will make it. I can PROMISE you that it is ONLY through him that I have made it this week. I spend a good chunk of my time on my knees. I am sure that is the way it’s supposed to be. But Mom, you know how long it takes me to learn my lessons! I'm stubborn! Why did you make me so stubborn? Haha. I'm learning. Or at least trying to.

          I got your package today!?!?!?!?!? AHHHHHHH!!! Thanks so much! We have a lesson with Zane on Tuesday and I am excited to give that book to him.  I can't even describe how busy things are and how my brain is bogged down with a million things to remember. I'm sure you know the feeling. Haha. Glad Thanksgiving was good! Thanks for the email Dad! It is always good to hear from you!

Have a great week! I love you!

Love,

Sista Mitchell

Ashley's Greenie

I am assuming this is Ashley's new companion.
I'll let you know for sure when she writes on P-Day.

The Inevitable.

Dear Family,

         Well. I was right!  Adamson is getting transferred to Feather River. NOOOOOOOO!!!!! We were lucky and found out about it early. (Saturday Night) That gave us time to say goodbye to everyone and cry our eyeballs out. The past two days have not been the happiest. At every house I think..."Okay, I'm done crying now." But at every house there are so many sweet people--like this less active Sister that started coming back to church since we've been here.  She has a  sweet-awesome daughter and a brand new baby boy.   She told us that they will never forget us and then continued on to explain the way we have blessed their lives more than any other missionaries. It’s always good to hear nice things. But it’s different when it has that kind of sincerity behind it. There are SO many people here that LOVE Sister Adamson with all their hearts. In my letter to President Weston this week I informed him that there might have been a slight mistake with transfers. He didn't quite go for it, but I tried. 

As we were driving around saying goodbye to everyone...

We saw a rainbow. 

Rainbows mean everything is going to be okay right?

 I'm sure going to miss this girl!!!!!

          Speaking of mistakes. Saturday night we got a call from one of Assistants to the President.  A call from the AP's can mean only one thing. Someone’s training. When Sister Adamson handed the phone over to me I just about had a heart attack. (It didn't help that she was jumping up and down and pointing and laughing at me) I thought it had to be a joke for sure! I mean, as of today, I AM STILL A GREENIE. (You’re a greenie for 2 transfers)  It probably wasn't very professional of me to say, "Seriously!?!? Are you sure?!?!?! Is this a JOKE!?!?!" But family. It’s no joke. I'm training this next transfer. Gahhhhhh! I'm leaving my trainer and now becoming one. I pick her up tomorrow from the office. I am SO incredibly nervous!

Kathy (Alicia's twin) and Sister Adamson!    

          Well I don't have much time today but I wanted to tell you all how thankful I am for you. I am grateful to have been born into this family.  I was touched to hear about Wil's funeral. I am glad Dad had an opportunity to speak. I know how much you love Judy and Wil and the influence they have been in your life. They have been a great influence in my life as well. I just LOVE our family. They have had such a tremendous effect on my outlook on life. They remind me of the things that are most important. They teach me the importance of laughter. (And lots of it)  I wish more than anything that I could have been there. The Mitchell’s know how to love each other, that’s for sure! Dad, thank you for being such a great example of that. Thank you for calling your Sisters when you’re driving in the car or hiking the Grand Canyon with your brother. It is such a good example to me of the way that we should look out for and love one another. Mom, thank you for teaching me that our family is not just those that we are related to by blood. I have learned that lesson ten fold since being on my mission. You have such an ability to reach outside yourself and include people in our lives. Anyone and everyone that crosses your path are welcomed into your home and I love it! Alicia, you’re just the coolest sister in the world and you know it. Keep it real and don't kiss any boys while I'm gone. Not allowed! Haha. Know that I love you sis. I hope you all have a FABULOUS thanksgiving and remember how thankful I am to have you in my life. I LOVE YOU! Wo ai ni!

Love,

Sista Mitchell

Hot Chocolate Season!

Making pens with Bro. Clement!

Hello My Loves

 Dear Family,

This week was amazing! If you didn't know it yet.... Life is good! The weather is still quite delicious and I'm having the time of my life. This week we picked up a new investigator! She is a former investigator and she has a 6 year old boy who is crazy hilarious. He likes to challenge me with math problems every time we come over. He’s keeping my skills sharp. We helped her with her garage sale and got to talking with her. She is having a really rough time. As we talked with her, it became apparent that she was not happy. She is struggling in her marriage and having some financial problems. Seeing as her marriage is struggling, you wouldn't logically think that it would be an appropriate time to talk about eternal families. But as we met with her, I felt strongly that this was what she needed to hear. As we talked about families and how we have the ability to be together for time (this life) and all eternity, (life after this), she began to cry. She told us that she always thought that marriage was "forever." Just earlier that day she had been wondering about that same question. We had an amazing talk with her and were able to promise her the blessings and comfort that can come as you study the gospel. So that is exactly what we are going to do! I'm excited to start meeting and learning with her!!!!

          I got all the letters from the ward and I can't even tell you how amazing it was to hear from everyone. It’s amazing to see how many people in our ward are converts to the church. I have thought about this a lot being a daughter of two converts. There is an excellent CD out called "The Work: A National Tribute to Missionaries." There is a song on there that I think is called, "I was born." I can't remember the lyrics exactly but somewhere at the end it says... "I was born of humble converts, now I'm here to pay it forward." I was moved by that part. I feel that is exactly what I am here to do. I am grateful for those missionaries who knocked on your door Dad. I am grateful for your sweet friends in High School who were such loving and kind examples to you Mom. I am grateful for a Heavenly Father who threw me so directly into the path of his gospel. He knows I'm stubborn. He knows that there would have been no other way. I am forever grateful to those brave missionaries for opening their mouth. Their simple actions, have blessed my life in ways they could never imagine.

         This is our last and final week of the transfer. Next week I'll know who’s staying and who’s going! Today has been an AMAZING preparation day. This morning we woke up early and went over to Bro. Clements house. He has an awesome workshop and let us make our own wooden pens! Dude. This family is soooooooo awesome! I love the Clements! He is building his wife a spinning wheel because she wants to take up pottery. They always go abalone diving, spearfish hunting, hiking, paintballing, they make jewelry out of tusks.... You name it... they do it! (And I'm moving in with them after the mission...Haha) So that was a blast to hang with them and then we went over to the Cook's house. (Love them too!) The Cooks are the ones that go biking all the time. They know all the good trails and I drool looking at the places they've been. Sister Cook taught us how to make French Bread. Mmmmm. I'm telling you right now it’s the best thing you've ever had so be prepared. When I come home I am going to be a PRO-baker! The ward members keep inviting us over left and right. I think they all want to be sure to see Sister Adamson before she leaves. (IF she leaves...Cross your fingers.....Haha) Seriously guys. I'm going to need lots of letters if she leaves. I LOVE THIS GIRL! She is the all-time best trainer, best missionary, best friend. How can a person get so lucky?!?!?

          This week was a busy one. We had Zone Conference this week so all of the missionaries that were going home bore their testimonies. It was a really cool experience but also scary. It’s amazing how fast the time flies. I can't believe I have been out for 3 whole months! CRAZINESS! It was just a reminder to me to work as hard as I possibly can and to never stop progressing. I want to get to the end of this 18 months and be the tiredest, happiest person you've ever seen! Haha. Easier said than done. There are times when I feel SO TIRED! During those times... it’s hard to remember how important every minute is. But when I think of the people we meet with, and the way that they have suffered in their life. I don't think I could ever slow down. There are too many out there that are looking. Right? 

      Random Side Note: In the library right now... Someone’s phone keeps going off and it’s the "Kim possible" alert! Haha. Brings back memories.

         To everyone: Sorry I've been so bad at writing everyone back. I am about 25 letters behind still.  I will try to do better.

          I also always forget to bring my camera so forgive me! Haha. Haha. And hey! I heard something about an NBA blockout? What’s the sitch? It’s weird (and sometimes good) but still weird to not know what’s going on in the world! I love you all and hope that your healthy and happy. As Christmas time approaches I am starting to miss you guys a bit. You’re in my prayers and I love you lots!

Love,

Sista Mitchell! 

Fall

Dear Family,

         California has seasons!!!! I'm not sure if you've ever heard about them before...(being from AZ) but there is this one called "fall" when all the leaves change color and everything is GORGEOUS!!!! Seriously. I die. I loooooovvve the weather, the multi-colored leaves, and the fresh crisp air. It’s practically heaven. I never did like the heat all that much so I'm soaking it up while I can.

          Things with Sister Adamson and I are going well. We keep busy and always have a lot of fun. We continue to do exchanges. This week I served with Sister Threlkeld in Roseville and Sister Carter in Auburn. While I was in Auburn we got the chance to drive out into the sticks to go visit a man. He was baptized when he was 8 and has never been back to any kind of church since then. When we pulled up there were all these caution signs and road signs on his driveway. Sister Carter was a little wary if we should enter....but we had driven 10 miles to go out there so we got out of the car and walked up to the door. An old man answered the door; we asked for this man, and he responded, "Just a minute, I'll get him." We waited for quite some time and to make a long story short... about 5 more guys came to the door and said hi to us. (One at a time) Then we would hear whispers of "Girls! There are girls out there!" Haha. I was cracking up by the end of it. We met a quirky little guy who changed his shirt 5 times. We finally met the man we came to visit and he is the SWEETEST guy on the planet. He has hit some troubled patches in his life, and his seem to have lasted most of his life. I can't imagine having to deal with addictions and conflicts that some these people have had to manage. He moved out here away from the city to get away from some bad situations. We talked with him for a while and he even took us down to a pond where we fed GEESE! I know right? My life is so cool. He even invited us over for snacks or something whenever we want. He (and his 8 roommates) are going to try to cook us dinner next Wednesday! Haha. (Should be interesting...) I loved serving in Auburn and meeting some new people. Things in our area here in Loomis are slow. We have a lot of people we KNOW. But very few people we teach.

          This past Sunday was fast and testimony week. Sister Adamson and I both got up to bear our testimonies together. (This will probably be her last fast Sunday because transfers are in 2 weeks) Afterwards it was as if everyone knew. Sister Jibson from our ward approached us afterwards in tears and talked about how grateful she was to know us. She spoke about how blessed she's been to have the both of us here and how unfair it is how quickly we move on. She said something actually kind of odd. She talked about how happy she is that we (Sista Adamson & I) were able to meet each other. She told us she has never seen such unity in a companionship before. We were approached several times yesterday with sweet words and half-goodbyes.

          It’s hard with transfers because you don't find out until Monday and you have to leave Tuesday. That leaves absolutely NO time to see everyone and say goodbye. I hope I'm staying. You never know. I could pull an Adamson and be here for the first 9 months of my mission. There is so much left for me to do here. The work is slow, but the harder we work and the more faith we have, I know that we will see miracles happen! This gospel is such a blessing in my life. Sometimes I struggle. I mean...we look crazy walking around, talking about Jesus Christ when other people are worried about car payments, soccer practice, and college classes. But I wouldn't be out here if I didn't know this message can help you through all of that. It can help you through and ease your burden in ANYTHING you face. I'm grateful for you guys and for all you do for me. Congrats on the job Alicia! Your such a grown up. I hope that this email finds you all healthy and happy and all that good stuff.

Love,

Sista Mitchell