Here's my week in a
nutshell: Saying goodbyes, Gaining a new companion, TRAINING, DRIVING (ALL the
driving), Hangin in the CITY (freaking out at the amount of PEOPLE), hangin'
with D-Archie (not physically really hangin with him), and lots of getting used
to new things and change.
*BIG BREATH/SIGH.*
Phew.
It's been a week! I'm officially in my third companionship! (or second if
you're one of those that doesn't count the MTC...) The beginning of this last
week was spent a lot in Sister O'Reilly saying her farewells to a few of our
investigators and members of branches. It was nice, but also sad. Also sad
because our dear Rozanne that we have been teaching liked Sister O'Reilly VERY
much -- and all I could think was "I'm still here! I'm good too!" But
all is well - because she CAME TO CHURCH YESTERDAY. "Squeals of excitement
and joy!* But... I'm jumping ahead of myself.
Sister O'Reilly and I were able to see Daniel again before she left, read more with him in the Book of Mormon, and pinpoint more ways we can help him to progress. I'm still not positive on if those ways are working completely but -- we'll see when we go to visit him tomorrow!
Wednesday night was insane, helping Sister O'Reilly with her packing and all the things... And then Thursday came, waking up at 5:45 in the morning to leave by 6:30 to Auckland for TRANSFER MEETING...
So, as a trainer, you're put in a room - you have NO idea who your trainee is going to be. You're just standing there, waiting for your trainee to come in who has seen a picture of your face that morning and learned your name.
Sister Boiteux. (Like saying "Bought - two" but without the double "t" sound.) A french name, yes - but guess what? She's definitely from UTAH. Haha. Herriman to be exact! Good times :) And she's wonderful. She came up to me and immediately asked about our area and how the work was going. She's ready and excited, and exactly who I knew was supposed to come into my life right now. And I feel the spirit confirm that to me each and every time I say it! She's wonderful, and I'm so grateful for her. We have SO many of the same likes and qualities like each other - and we continue finding out more things each day. She's 19, finished her first year at UVU back home and seems to love all things. Ha. We've had many great laughs together and are excited for more. She was also in the same district I was back in the MTC (Nephi district UNITE!) Aaand - so she had some of the same teachers. This means Sister Niutua [teacher]. And so we have some of the same ideas of things we want to get done while on the mission.
LESS ACTIVES are a BIG one in both of our areas - so we've already made a goal to start finding ways of helping them come back. But - we're also excited to find new people and work in planting more seeds :)
Transfer meeting was BRILLIANT, and because there was such a change-over of missionaries, they made this transfer also into a mission meeting - so even the missionaries not being transferred in anyway came. AND because there were certain speakers here for Time Out For Women down in Auckland Saturday, they CAME TO SPEAK TO US TOO. Sister and Brother Dalton, Sister and Brother Swinton (wrote Pres. Monson's biography), Sister Sandra and Brother Turley (she's a broadway singer, who I've actually worked with at BYU before... ALL the love).
THEY are all SO wonderful. And I got to shake the Dalton's hands. And things Sister Dalton said to Sister Boiteux and I: That she could tell we were great companions -- she didn't know we had just met a couple hours before the meeting with them. And she told us that we had a beautiful light about us. While she was on the stand she also looked directly at me and smiled, and it was possibly one of the most beautiful moments of my existence. She's wonderful, and brings so much peace and joy and happiness.
Anyhoo. So - After transfers, I was certified. TO DRIVE (on the "right" - meaning "left" side of the road). ALL THE WEIRDNESS. Really truly. Driving in New Zealand is insane! Lanes are smaller... But... I passed. And then I drove home (meaning, back to Kerikeri) without killing any of us! Yay! It's TRUE that the Lord is always with us. Haha... I really wasn't that bad. But I'm lucky to have a wonderful district leader who GETS ME and when he sees the stress in my eyes - he made sure he never ever was too far ahead of me following him home that night. Elder Summers is wonderful, and I'm SO super grateful he's still in our district (this will be his 3rd? transfer here, thus - my worry he would be leaving...)
We spent Friday doing weekly planning and in Paihia for a few hours, and then.... BACK TO AUCKLAND. Yes, yes it was a little crazy to have to drive ALL THE WAY BACK - but, because our mission LOVES us, we, as sisters, were able to attend "Time Out for Women" Saturday. So we drove back down to stay with our sister training leaders for the night.
Time Out For Women.
A conference of joy and greatness. The above people spoke, as well as BRAD WILCOX, Sister Sheri Dew! (via Skype, because of some things she wasn't able to get away from in Salt Lake...), and DAVID ARCHULETA. Yes, my friends - He is everywhere. Haha.
There were so many wonderful messages shared of the Spirit. Of having Faith to continue on, and in gaining peace and faith through trial and hard times. ...I'm hoping to write out a better letter talking more about my experience at this conference, as it really truly was something that I know I needed at this time... It was a comfort, a faith builder, and a strength in helping me realize that I CAN be a good trainer, and that I CAN let my voice be heard.
These are the things I've struggled with this week. Because: Honesty moment -- When President Balli called that Sunday night to tell Sister O'Reilly and me our new assignments, after hanging up the phone, and bursting into tears... I was terrifed and overwhelmed and just didn't know how to take it. My DEAR mum helped me through that moment, just hugging me and telling me she knew where I was coming from. But the thing was - I wasn't necesssarily scared of the people I would be teaching, but of not knowing where to go [driving] - because, let's be real, it doesn't matter where I am - I'm directionally challenged. (Haha.) But I got over it. I took a breath, and when I said my prayers before bed that night, I knew it would all be okay. I honestly felt like I was being given a hug and told that I would be able to overcome my fears, and that I would know where to go.
Training is difficult. Not in the ways I thought it would be -- in helping her open her mouth and whatnot, because that's not the struggle for her --- but in trying to let my voice be heard still. Ha. I'm just... so quiet. But it's okay. I'm learning, and Sister Boiteux is too. That's one thing that she seems to be worried about - the fact that I've only been out 6 weeks. But I keep assuring her that it doesn't matter - because we're here to teach each other and learn from each other and to bring people to Christ.
So - life is crazy. Time Out for Women is inspired (OH and crazy lucky and a blessing that we were able to go - because it only comes to Auckland every other year - and missionaries usually aren't able to go...) And then we drove back home again.
And Sunday came and I was crazy - I left my BADGE AT THE FLAT. *Grumbles of anger at self.* And then realized when we were... almost half way to Paihia. *Grumbles.* So we turned around. And then were almost late to church *more grumbles* ... and found out that if it were not for Camilla going... *ANGEL CHOIRS* - our dear Rozanne would have left without attending church because we weren't there. But she welcomed her in, and therefore gained a friend! ALL THE GLORIES.
Lessons: Sometimes even when you're under stress and frustrated with yourself, the Lord blesses you and sends someone else to help even a little more, to be friends with your investigator, to help her feel more included in things!
Anyhoo. This is my life. :) And I'm excited for the new things coming up. And also: no worries - we haven't gotten lost yet with me driving. Haha... I panicked once - but we weren't actually lost :) WIN.
And FYI - my weird bug bites are mostly in exposed areas of skin -- Fun fact, I only have ONE single bite where my garments touch my skin. I have bites along the edge of where my sleeves hit my arms, but not under! (They really truly are "magic underwear"!!!) But I've also gotten new bug bites - ones that I know are fleas from the description of what they look like... Elder Clements just keeps telling me that I'm "too sweet!" And that's why I keep getting all the bites. All the mysteries.
I hope all is well back home with all the things.
MUCH LOVE!
Sister Mckenzie Ann Ottley
*BIG BREATH/SIGH.*
Sister O'Reilly and I were able to see Daniel again before she left, read more with him in the Book of Mormon, and pinpoint more ways we can help him to progress. I'm still not positive on if those ways are working completely but -- we'll see when we go to visit him tomorrow!
Wednesday night was insane, helping Sister O'Reilly with her packing and all the things... And then Thursday came, waking up at 5:45 in the morning to leave by 6:30 to Auckland for TRANSFER MEETING...
So, as a trainer, you're put in a room - you have NO idea who your trainee is going to be. You're just standing there, waiting for your trainee to come in who has seen a picture of your face that morning and learned your name.
Sister Boiteux. (Like saying "Bought - two" but without the double "t" sound.) A french name, yes - but guess what? She's definitely from UTAH. Haha. Herriman to be exact! Good times :) And she's wonderful. She came up to me and immediately asked about our area and how the work was going. She's ready and excited, and exactly who I knew was supposed to come into my life right now. And I feel the spirit confirm that to me each and every time I say it! She's wonderful, and I'm so grateful for her. We have SO many of the same likes and qualities like each other - and we continue finding out more things each day. She's 19, finished her first year at UVU back home and seems to love all things. Ha. We've had many great laughs together and are excited for more. She was also in the same district I was back in the MTC (Nephi district UNITE!) Aaand - so she had some of the same teachers. This means Sister Niutua [teacher]. And so we have some of the same ideas of things we want to get done while on the mission.
LESS ACTIVES are a BIG one in both of our areas - so we've already made a goal to start finding ways of helping them come back. But - we're also excited to find new people and work in planting more seeds :)
Transfer meeting was BRILLIANT, and because there was such a change-over of missionaries, they made this transfer also into a mission meeting - so even the missionaries not being transferred in anyway came. AND because there were certain speakers here for Time Out For Women down in Auckland Saturday, they CAME TO SPEAK TO US TOO. Sister and Brother Dalton, Sister and Brother Swinton (wrote Pres. Monson's biography), Sister Sandra and Brother Turley (she's a broadway singer, who I've actually worked with at BYU before... ALL the love).
THEY are all SO wonderful. And I got to shake the Dalton's hands. And things Sister Dalton said to Sister Boiteux and I: That she could tell we were great companions -- she didn't know we had just met a couple hours before the meeting with them. And she told us that we had a beautiful light about us. While she was on the stand she also looked directly at me and smiled, and it was possibly one of the most beautiful moments of my existence. She's wonderful, and brings so much peace and joy and happiness.
Anyhoo. So - After transfers, I was certified. TO DRIVE (on the "right" - meaning "left" side of the road). ALL THE WEIRDNESS. Really truly. Driving in New Zealand is insane! Lanes are smaller... But... I passed. And then I drove home (meaning, back to Kerikeri) without killing any of us! Yay! It's TRUE that the Lord is always with us. Haha... I really wasn't that bad. But I'm lucky to have a wonderful district leader who GETS ME and when he sees the stress in my eyes - he made sure he never ever was too far ahead of me following him home that night. Elder Summers is wonderful, and I'm SO super grateful he's still in our district (this will be his 3rd? transfer here, thus - my worry he would be leaving...)
We spent Friday doing weekly planning and in Paihia for a few hours, and then.... BACK TO AUCKLAND. Yes, yes it was a little crazy to have to drive ALL THE WAY BACK - but, because our mission LOVES us, we, as sisters, were able to attend "Time Out for Women" Saturday. So we drove back down to stay with our sister training leaders for the night.
Time Out For Women.
A conference of joy and greatness. The above people spoke, as well as BRAD WILCOX, Sister Sheri Dew! (via Skype, because of some things she wasn't able to get away from in Salt Lake...), and DAVID ARCHULETA. Yes, my friends - He is everywhere. Haha.
There were so many wonderful messages shared of the Spirit. Of having Faith to continue on, and in gaining peace and faith through trial and hard times. ...I'm hoping to write out a better letter talking more about my experience at this conference, as it really truly was something that I know I needed at this time... It was a comfort, a faith builder, and a strength in helping me realize that I CAN be a good trainer, and that I CAN let my voice be heard.
These are the things I've struggled with this week. Because: Honesty moment -- When President Balli called that Sunday night to tell Sister O'Reilly and me our new assignments, after hanging up the phone, and bursting into tears... I was terrifed and overwhelmed and just didn't know how to take it. My DEAR mum helped me through that moment, just hugging me and telling me she knew where I was coming from. But the thing was - I wasn't necesssarily scared of the people I would be teaching, but of not knowing where to go [driving] - because, let's be real, it doesn't matter where I am - I'm directionally challenged. (Haha.) But I got over it. I took a breath, and when I said my prayers before bed that night, I knew it would all be okay. I honestly felt like I was being given a hug and told that I would be able to overcome my fears, and that I would know where to go.
Training is difficult. Not in the ways I thought it would be -- in helping her open her mouth and whatnot, because that's not the struggle for her --- but in trying to let my voice be heard still. Ha. I'm just... so quiet. But it's okay. I'm learning, and Sister Boiteux is too. That's one thing that she seems to be worried about - the fact that I've only been out 6 weeks. But I keep assuring her that it doesn't matter - because we're here to teach each other and learn from each other and to bring people to Christ.
So - life is crazy. Time Out for Women is inspired (OH and crazy lucky and a blessing that we were able to go - because it only comes to Auckland every other year - and missionaries usually aren't able to go...) And then we drove back home again.
And Sunday came and I was crazy - I left my BADGE AT THE FLAT. *Grumbles of anger at self.* And then realized when we were... almost half way to Paihia. *Grumbles.* So we turned around. And then were almost late to church *more grumbles* ... and found out that if it were not for Camilla going... *ANGEL CHOIRS* - our dear Rozanne would have left without attending church because we weren't there. But she welcomed her in, and therefore gained a friend! ALL THE GLORIES.
Lessons: Sometimes even when you're under stress and frustrated with yourself, the Lord blesses you and sends someone else to help even a little more, to be friends with your investigator, to help her feel more included in things!
Anyhoo. This is my life. :) And I'm excited for the new things coming up. And also: no worries - we haven't gotten lost yet with me driving. Haha... I panicked once - but we weren't actually lost :) WIN.
And FYI - my weird bug bites are mostly in exposed areas of skin -- Fun fact, I only have ONE single bite where my garments touch my skin. I have bites along the edge of where my sleeves hit my arms, but not under! (They really truly are "magic underwear"!!!) But I've also gotten new bug bites - ones that I know are fleas from the description of what they look like... Elder Clements just keeps telling me that I'm "too sweet!" And that's why I keep getting all the bites. All the mysteries.
I hope all is well back home with all the things.
MUCH LOVE!
Sister Mckenzie Ann Ottley
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