The week started off pretty normal, visiting Brian and Jo last MONDAY NIGHT. They fed us. They love us. Haha. Oh, and as you already know, we moved that day. Ha. That took up the biggest part of Monday. Moving alllllll of our things. Talk about an exhausting P-day! But it was good even though most of my stuff still isn't unpacked.
TUESDAY was slowish, due to having to be at our old flat while our landlord did some maintenance things. But we were still able to have a lovely lesson with a less-active sister and her kids :) LOVE TEACHING KIDS. Sarah and her two darlings, Lace and Tyler. They were one of the first to understand a little game we do with prayer — tying a knot in a tie, without letting go of the tie once you pick it up. It's pretty fun ;)
Then, Tuesday night when we got home and were planning, we got a call from President Balli: "Sisters! How would you like to come to the office tomorrow and pick up a new sister to be with you? She's just coming out of the MTC, and will be Visa waiting here for a while." Wooo!! 7TH COMPANION :)
So... WEDNESDAY morning we drove down to Takapuna to the mission office to pick up our third companion, where we dropped off my passport (I had it so I could get my NZ drivers license),and also picked up my NEW driver's license since it had arrived. :) So... you're talking to a sister who officially has her own FULL NEW ZEALAND DRIVER'S LICENSE. :)
My newest companion's name is Sister Lemalu. She's from South Auckland, just barely inside the Hamilton mission boundaries. She's Visa waiting to go to Hawaii, Honolulu, Samoan Speaking. (She is Samoan as well.) And we love her, dearly. And she's MY AGE! A few months older, actually! She's great. No need to be trained, but.... she's still my daughter ;) Haha. So, mum, tell Sister Boiteux for me (my other daughter/trainee) that she has a sister!! (I'm sending you her email since we can't email one another on the mission.) Tell her our posterity will not only continue in Mississippi, but in Hawaii!!
Oh. Also, Fun fact: poor Sister Lemalu is lactose intolerant. Ha.. So fun times for her ahead! 'Cause it's a new thing, like when I had to go all gluten-free and all the fun things. She just barely found out in the MTC that she's lactose intolerant! Fun times! But we had a grand first day, even though she was ridiculously tired. Due to her MTC companions having to leave at ridiculous hours of the morning, she'd been up since 3am! We had a couple of lessons that day, including one with our new investigator, Elizabeth :) Also a mini lesson with one of our recent converts, Lili (she's been really hard to catch) and her family. Then we had volleyball at Hibiscus chapel and our last meeting with Brother Maire before he went off to Tahiti........ So sad. But good for him to go back and visit home :)
Side note: The Elders Chatwin, Murdock, and Terekia, just entered the room singing to Sister Gila "God be with you" ... depressing things. But happy things for her also. Going home on Wednesday.
THURSDAY we were able to meet with Cleo, and there were many grand adventures with Sister Lemalu learning about mission life – and people feeding us things with milk in them and her feeling gross... Ha. :( Joys. But she got back up and she's strong. We went to MCM. And she started telling people she's lactose intolerant. Haha. ('Cause the Wharemate's at Missionary Committee Meeting usually give us ice-cream.)
FRIDAY we had weekly planning, a bit of service for our dear Sister Tina Rapata, and a BRILLIANT lesson with Philip :) He's so READY. We've just gotta find that little bit of confidence in him that's screaming to be baptised! It'll happen soon. Then we had dinner at this beautiful little couple's—Brother and Sister Louw. They're from South Africa and showed us all these brilliant old Dutch hymn books from when they were young and in youth and high school. Dutch hymn books. SO COOL.
SATURDAY I was sick. Yup.
SUNDAY I still felt sick at the beginning. But it slowly went away.
And I could eat again. Yay!
Also: We met Sister Lemalu's family (we'd met them before, but had just never been to their house) — Ha. Oh yeah. They are HER FAMILY, as in aunt and uncle, right here in our Hibiscus Ward! So she LAUGHED when she found out what areas we were serving in. Great times :) We had dinner last night with the Laytons and Waith's, and met the Kaka family in Torbay.
Life is good. And it just keeps going. I honestly have learned a lot about myself. I've learned I'm GREAT at comparing my weaknesses to other people's strengths. Ha. Thus, where the feelings of failure and depression come from. But, I also know that it's helping me to learn how to overcome it and help other people instead. It's good. It's all about learning, right?
So.... new adventures here in North Shore in a trio. Or....at least for one more day. Our dear Sister Gila leaves us early early Wednesday morning :( I'm gonna miss my Gila. But - all is well. She's served her mission and it's time for her to move on to different adventures and exciting things in study and everything else back home :)
Also: THANK YOU, and I am very grateful for the package :) ALL the happy things. And all the happiness with the "stress relief" gifts :) Hahaha. And SUPER excited for the new clothes. Willlllll be wearing them like: tomorrow. Haha.
Love you all HEAPS, and hope you have a most brilliant week!!
OFA LAHI ATU
Sister Mckenzie Ann Ottley
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