This week has been kind of a crazy week. On Monday a couple sets of missionaries went to this shop in
Littlerock called Charlie Browns Farms. Its a shop that has a ton of random
stuff in it that is totally organized. For instance there is a whole section of
armor and Egyptian replicas. Another part is called the House of Dolls. Just
super random and crazy looking things. We took lots of pictures. At one point we
tried to fit six sisters into a telephone booth in the store. We ALMOST made it!
The store itself goes on forever! It was so fun!
We taught a lot of lessons this week. There is a 66 year old Lady we are
teaching. She is wonderful and has been on quite the journey to talk to the
missionaries. The Elders used to live in the same apartment complex with her and
she talked to them quite often. One of the Elders who is my district leader
asked us to follow up with her since they don't live there anymore. When we
showed up she was so happy and surprised. We have been teaching her for the last
several weeks. About a year ago she was "born again" or baptized in a Jacuzzi at
a senior community home. Since then she has been studying the Bible. When we
asked her if she would be baptized by someone holding the priesthood she laughed
and said that she knew her baptism wasn't the final baptism! She is great! She
is struggling with giving up coffee but we are working with her to find
substitutes. She should be baptized on July 6th.
Another young lady we are working with is so Golden! She has 3 kids and is
a single mom. She literally doesn't have any concerns and that concerns us. When
we asked her to get baptized she said "Sure, no problem!" My first thought was
"are you sure you don't want to think about that?" People are so prepared up
here and its miraculous! I love extending the baptismal commitment to
individuals. The trick is to helping them understand what they are committing to
or what they are saying no too. We have so many people we are teaching that we
had to start double booking appointments and going on splits so that we can
teach everyone as much as possible and continue helping them to prepare to be
baptized. Our Stake is the highest baptizing stake. Our wards baptismal goal is
25 for the year! We have our hands full and its so great!
Okay so the title says surprises and boy do I have a story:
So I have been in Palmdale for 6 weeks. Crazy right? How does time fly so
fast? Anyway back to the point. Transfer calls come every 6 weeks... me being
curious contacted our district leader and told him " I am sure you are
overwhelmed with questions of transfers but we would like to know what is
happening in our district. We really appreciate all that you do for us!" I
simply just wanted to know what was going on since I figured we wouldn't be
getting a call that night. Well was I wrong!!!!! He called about 20 minutes
later and asked if I was hanging onto the Chair. I replied that I was since I
happened to be saying my prayers right as he called. He then said "Well Sister
Cottrell you are getting transferred....." I wasn't sure if he was teasing me so
I said, "What?". Yup, I heard right! I am being transferred out of Palmdale and
Sister Peatross is staying! I was so shocked! I also found out that except for 8
companionships our whole mission will be at the transfer meeting! Trainers are
being pulled out from new missionaries all over our mission! Then the sad part
of that call was that I was told I am going to a car area. :( I just got the
hang of biking all day long in the heat! I love my bike!!!!!!! Don't make me go
to a car area! I dont want to go!!!!!!.....yes who knew that I would get
attached to biking in the wind and heat. I think I am saddest about that. Darn
it! Anyway I have had several mixed emotions and several questions about why I
am getting transferred. Then I realized that this is the Mission split transfer.
So if the Lord only needed me in Palmdale for 6 weeks then I will only be here
for 6 weeks. Its time to move on. So once I finally got over the shock of
getting transferred President Hall called me this morning. He asked me to be a Sister Training Leader!!!!
When he asked me my first thought was "how does the Lord expect me to train
several sisters in an area when I can't even handle training one?" "How is it
possible when I have struggled so much in the last 6 weeks?" When I said yes to
the assignment I was in shock again. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. I
didn't know if I was excited or nervous. As I have thought about it through out
today I have come to a conclusion.
1. The Lord isn't asking me to trust myself to train these girls. He is asking
me to trust Him to help train these sisters. 2. Not everything that went wrong
with Sister Peatross is a direct result of me. 3. I am totally excited to be a
Sister Training Leader.
As I have come to these conclusions I have found peace with the Lords will
for me. I am so excited to get to know more Sisters in my mission. I am excited
to stay busy doing exchanges every week with these wonderful sisters. And I know
that the Lord has seen my efforts and that the last 6 weeks have not been a
waste of mine or the Lords time. So what does a STL do? I work and train the
sisters to be exceptional missionaries. To be the Lords servants. To serve them
and help them be happy and find success on their missions. I have no idea what
mission I will be in but where ever I go is where I have been "called to serve."
I am so excited for tomorrow and
yes I am naturally nervous. There are so many changes happening!!!! I cant wait
to tell you all where I will be! I need to go because my time is short.
I love you all very much!
The time is now for the hastening of the work HURRAH FOR ISRAEL!
Love,
Sister Cottrell
