I literally feel like I'm sending you this letter from 4 months later even though... not that much has happened. And yet everything has happened! :) Oh man... I have so many thoughts that I just don't even know where to begin.
On Monday we found out that Sister Hughes was leaving.
That's sad because... I sure loved Sister Hughes! She taught me a lot
and helped me in so many specific ways that I needed.
On Tuesday after we taught a recent convert we received a call from a
random number. We answered it. Annnnnd no!!! It was one of the
Assistants. I was terrified when Sister Hughes handed me the phone
because I knew what everyone had told me would probably be true. He
said, "Sister Croft, you're training. You need to be in Bangkok
tomorrow at 9:00 for a meeting." I think my heart kept pounding for
about 20 minutes after that call! Then as Sister Hughes and I hurried
to gather all of her stuff it was just weighing on my mind. I was so
stressed. But Tuesday night after teaching English we got on a bus to
go to Bangkok.
In the morning we went a meeting and were trained by
President Senior. It was all really wonderful training. That and
several other things have helped me to feel God's love for me, as well
as His constant assistance. My mission feels so absolutely sacred to me
right now. I don't know how to describe it to you.
Thursday. Was the actual transfer meeting. I was a
little bit nervous as we sat in the cultural hall waiting for it to
begin. I was very nervous as we began the actual process of finding out
who our companions were. But now I am so thrilled! :) My new
companion's name is Sister Herrmann. She is so awesome! As you'll see
in the pictures she is so beautiful and already so good at Thai and at
talking to people! Right now our district has 6 people. 3 of them are
still in training, and they are all so awesome! :) I'm so proud of
them!
I'll tell you a little bit about the logisitics of
what happened this week... just because it was so ridiculous. After
transfers we went to eat dinner and while we were there it started
POURING rain. It hadn't stopped by the time we were ready to go... and
so we just went out in it. We were soaking wet by the time we found a
taxi. We hopped in and went to the church and got our stuff and then
attempted to make our way to the train station. Because it was raining
so hard the streets were flooded. More flooded than I have ever seen
them and traffic was bad. We sat in the car... for possibly like 2
hours trying to get the train station. We were still soaking wet. And
creeping along. When we finally got to the train station we found out
some unfortunate news... the only tickets left were 3rd class. Which
is... like... sitting on this really close benches all night long. Oh
my goodness. The Elder who is training a new missionary and I just
looked at each other like "this is the saddest thing I've ever seen" as
these two brand new missionaries struggled to get a few hours of sleep
on an extremely ghetto and uncomfortable train. The seats are so close
that your knees are like practically touching just normally. But we
also had to shove a suitcase in the middle of us. Everyone basically
just periodically would switch off napping on a jacket or little pillow
set on top of that suitcase. So sad. The train ride was also houuuuurs
longer than it was scheduled to be. It was so sad. When we got there
the new elders feet were hurting because his socks were still wet for
the rain! Nooo!
But. It's okay. Because we're here safe and sound.
That's just kind of a funny story that these new missionaries can now
tell to their posterity. :) Something that they can laugh about for
the rest of their lives. :) Hopefully :)
I wish I could adequately express how much my
mission means to me. I'm excited to be a trainer. Sister Herrmann is
so awesome. She really really is. It's kind of a bizarre thing for her
to think I'm "old in the mission" or... for her to think that "You
speak like a Thai person!" I'm pretty sure I just got here :D But I'm
so excited for all that we're going to learn together here. She's
really awesome!
I feel... so much love from and for the Lord
this morning. I feel like I can see so much more clearly what He has
done for me. I feel His help and guidance, and I no longer feel the
stress and terror that I felt upon receiving the call to be a trainer.
I feel His love... and I feel like He has helped prepare me for
everything that I have encountered in my mission. His plan is perfect.
I love you so much, have a really incredible week!
Love,
Sister Croft
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