Week 51: Good-bye South Auckland, and Companions Around the World
So it's official, I got transferred from Manuerwa, South Auckland to New Plymouth, Taranaki!!
Saying good-bye was one of the hardest things in the whole wide world. I found that I'm really really bad with good-byes. I'm in denial up until the last possible second. It's not until I physically can't see the ones I love, that I begin to cry helplessly, realizing that I may or may not ever see them again until the next life. Keep in mind, I've only ever been transferred once before in my entire mission so I'm kinda new to the whole transfer thing.
Even though my heart may have wanted to stay in South Auckland, I knew that I needed to look forward to the future and start a new chapter in my life.
My bus left at 8AM on Thursday morning. We made a quick stop in Hamilton, and another stop somewhere else, and then we finally arrived in Taranaki. When we stopped in Hamilton, I was reunited with two of my former companions, Sister Reynolds and Sister Garbutt. They were at the bus stop helping other missionaries transfer out of the area. It was so good to see my former companions. I haven't seen Sister Reynolds in 6 months, and it has been 4 months since I've seen Sister Garbutt. They both look so happy!! It was sad that I was only able to spend 5 minutes with them before I had to get back on the bus.
Speaking of former companions, my companion Sister Jabeque is now serving in Taranaki too!! We'll be in the same district, and I'll be able to spend even more time with her.
Around a year ago, my trainer, Sister Johnson, was serving in the same branch that I've been called to serve. Small world right? Within 24 hours, I was able to see all but two of my former companions, and I find that my trainer served in the same area a year before!?!? What are the chances?
Taranaki is beautiful!! I haven't taken heaps of pictures and sadly the computer can't read my SD Card reader. So I can't show you how pretty it is, but I can kinda tell you or you can look it up and see for yourself. Taranaki is unlike any place I've ever been before, but I also haven't done too much traveling. Tarankai looks like San Fransico with the close knit homes and the view of the beach. Then in the distance, there's a giant mountain covered completely in snow and looks like a mountain you'd find in Tokyo, Japan. But it feels like Canada!!! Haha. Ironically, I haven't been to any of those places, but that's kinda what Tarankai looks like. Looks like San Fransico, California; has a mountain that looks like Tokyo, Japan; but feels like Canada (At least when there's a cold wind)!!
The day I arrived, it was pouring rain and was one of the coldest days they've had in a long time!! So within 24 hours of being in my new area, I got the cold.
I serve in a branch, but there's just about the same amount of people that attended church in South Auckland, so it doesn't feel like a branch. Church was good. So far the people are nice, but the work is slow, and there is little to no investigators.
My new companion is Sister Mea. She is from Cambodia. So now I've had a companions from Nevada, Utah, Idaho, the Philippines, Tahiti, Mongolia, and now, Cambodia. How cool to have companions from all over the world!! She's a humble and hardworking missionary. (This is her last transfer before she goes home.) She has 3 sisters and has been a member since she was 16!!
That's about it over here. Just a crazy change and trying my best to not get cold and get to know the area.
Hopefully, I can send pictures next week.
Hope you all have a great week!! Thanks again for all the prayers love and support!!
Sister Mandy Welker
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