Transfer 1; Week 6, North Zone

Mungu anakupenda! (Swahili)

From my friend, Sister Amuli from Kenya. There are a lot of people from everywhere on the Square. We've talked to people from Australia, and a sweet couple from British Columbia who wanted to know how one joined our church and why someone would change their lifestyle to join our church. We've met a bunch of really awesome members from Utah... too bad they don't have many chances to meet people outside the church. We need to befriend everyone, even if it is hard to see them on a regular basis. Sometimes it is just one nice thing built upon another that brings people closer to Christ. There was one lady who brought her exchange students here and she mentioned that people in Utah were so nice that if they found out that she missed having time to make chocolate cake she'd find one on her doorstep the next week.

Sometimes things are hard to do, like giving a tour to 30 people from the Netherlands. They are sweet people, but I do not speak Dutch, and they didn't speak much English... but they seemed to like the buildings. And one lady had a son who does the same thing that Dad does, but since we didn't speak much of each other's language we didn't get much more than that understood. But it was scary and fun at the same time. Temple Square is slowing down a bit so we get to go on the Square at 10 instead of 9, which means we get full uninterrupted study time! I am so excited to actually delve into more things that will help me teach more effectively because the shortened study time meant that I go to study the assignments for zone conference, mission conference, and district meeting and had no time for my own personal questions I needed to find answers for.

Yesterday was transfer conference, when we find out our new assignments. Transfer conference is the most unusual experience I have had on the mission. Imagine 200 girls sitting together and the mission president announcing the new companionships and the outbound sisters. There are 26 people going out! That is pretty insane, they're going all over the place: Georgia (Birmingham), Washington (Spokane), Virginia (Washington DC), Minnesota, Florida (Ft Lauderdale), and obviously many other places. No one to Alaska this time of year, thank heavens... it would be dark and freezing the entire time they were out serving. Then they announced the new leaders... which was sad for me because Sister Inoue is now a Zone leader, which means that I can't be her companion anymore. My new Zone is called Cover, which means that I can go anywhere on Temple Square... even maybe welfare square or the Humanitarian Center. My new companion is Sister Newman, who I don't know very well... but she is from the US and she tackle-hugged me yesterday, so she must be pretty nice. *this means P-day is now Friday--TWO P-days this week!!! SWEET!*

I also took my first tour of the Beehive house with one of the departing sisters, Sister Santana from Brazil. Sister Santana taught me so much about how to work with incorporating meaning to the tours, because it is impossible to properly teach about the history of the pioneers without explaining a little about the beliefs that they held close to their heart. I've been a bit of a fact machine, which is good, but doesn't make people remember their time here. Dates will fade, feelings will not. Everyone works here so different, each according to her own personality. Having different people makes life interesting here. And apparently Chocolate and gummy candies are the cure for when people are sad that they didn't get to go outbound, or that they've lost their friends as they go home to far away countries like Pakistan. I am sad that some of my friends are leaving...because I wanted so much to be companions with them. I guess I'll just settle for visiting them when I am done with the mission.

Love ya!
Sister Pielstick