Hey mom!!
Wow I don't even know where to start for the week. I guess we'll start with transfers.
So transfer boards came out yesterday! And I'm going to be training!! But not in Gridley, in Chico! So I'm gonna be shotgun training, which means I'm new to the area, and she is new to the mission, so neither of us really know what is happening in that area... so that will be an adventure. Kinda scary, but mostly exciting! I'm gonna get a greenie!! I'm super excited for that! It's a big honor. Cause I have the chance to show this new missionary what missionary work is, and that it is fun and how to work hard. I don't get to meet her till Thursday, but it will be exciting!! But along with training, I have to figure out the area, which will be hard but good. The best news though is THAT I GET TO DRIVE!!! It's been so long and I'm super excited to drive again. Hopefully I'm not too out of practice.
But since I'm heading up to Chico, I had to say goodbye to some people here... there are some people that I'm really going to miss. Gabe and Karina and their family for one. They're like my family on the mission I feel like... I'll get to see them again tonight, but it'll be sad to leave them... there are also some other people like Juana, Miriam, Wendy that I got to say goodbye to. And also some of the white families in the branch. I'm sad to leave, but also there are great things up in Chico! I think as I am leaving, I can't help but wonder if people like really care that I'm leaving. Cause the reason I came on a mission was to help people change their lives and I wanted to have an impact on them for the better. I've felt that some people really do care I'm leaving, and it just makes me feel good. Like I'm accomplishing what I wanted to do with my mission. So it'll be weird to start over, but there are plenty of great people up in Chico.
The thing I was most sad about is leaving all the hermanas... they have all literally become my family. And Hermana Eppich is leaving in 3 weeks. I was pretty sure that I was going to serve around her till she died (goes back home), but I guess not... that makes me so sad. Like I have to say goodbye to her for at least a year. I feel like she is one of my best friends, and it'll be so sad to leave her... it will be sad to leave Hermana Feveryear and Hermana Peroni as well, but I at least know I'll see them again. It's still crazy to me the relationships formed while I'm out here. Like I've known these people for maximum of 4 months, but like I love them all and it's not fun to say goodbye...
But yeah transfers were a big thing this weekend. But also this past week, on Tuesday, we had a zone conference. A general authority, Elder Clayton, from the seventy came and spoke with us. That was a way cool experience! He has so much knowledge and such a strong testimony and is fun to listen to so that was awesome! We got some ways to improve the work on our areas! But the crazy thing that happened at the conference is that we no longer are allowed to have member dinners during the week. So it's a change in schedule. We eat in our apartments from 4-5, and then go out proselytizing from 5-7. It will be a weird adjustment, but I think it will help with the work. It's also weird though to eat that early... what am I like 80? Also we're gonna be missing out on that time with the members. I feel like dinner is where we really bond and get to know the people. So it'll be an adjustment, but it'll be good. And on weekends we can still have dinner with the members. It's just for the missionaries in the west coast missions right now, but we'll see what happens. But yeah so I'm gonna need some cheap easy recipes... or at least ideas.
The next big thing was Thanksgiving! Wow that was an interesting day... a weird morning, but it ended up pretty great! We had 3 dinners... it was so much... I made sure to wear a dress that didn't have a waistband so my belly could grow. It was all super yummy though! And we got to hang out with some great families! It was a fun, chill day. Kinda different to not be doing a ton all day... but now that Thanksgiving is over, it means it's time to get ready for Christmas!! I love Christmas!! It's so awesome cause everyone is so kind and happy and giving! And also the Christmas music and the lights and just everything! It's a cheery time!
Well those were the big highlights of the week! We had a few other lessons, but our time was filled up pretty quickly with all the meetings and things going on. But it was a good week! It'll be exciting to go to Chico. But while I'm packing, I just bought ice cream last week, but I can't really take it with me cause it'll melt. So I gotta eat it all real fast. It's a challenge, but I'm willing to take that on.
I love you so much!! Miss you tons! Have a great week!
Kiley
Hermana Atkinson
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