The Sisterhood of the Traveling Jacket: They call it being ETed

Before I explain the title I just want to share the experience on Monday right after I emailed you guys. We went to go pump air into our tires. While Sister Espinosa was struggling with it for a bit a man who was sitting on the ground with his back against the gas station asked her if she needed any help. We politely said no. After we were finished we decided to give him a Book of Mormon. Turns out he was a homeless man. He told us that his wife kicked him out but he knew he wasn't a good husband. He also had a huge gash on his arm. I wanted to take him to the hospital and get him stitches but alas we can't. We sacrificed some of our P-Day and sat down to listen to him. He shared this insight that we have to experience the lows in order to experience the highs. That is so true! Before we left I gave him a few bucks and the Book of Mormon in hopes that maybe his life will be changed because of that money and mostly because of that wonderful book the Book of Mormon.

Now! Later that night (this is still last Monday by the way), we got a voice-mail from President Toombs (my mission president) saying that he wanted to talk to us and to call him ASAP. We did and that's when I found out that both my companion and I were being ETed, or in other words Emergency Transferred. He said that we still would be covering the Fort Lupton ward but also the Monte Vista ward. We would also be getting an additional companion. One of the Monte Vista sisters was heading home on Wednesday because of medical reasons. The other sister would make our companionship a trio. Sister Espinosa was super excited but me not so much. I was really overwhelmed. Here I am, only 4 weeks into my mission and I am already being ETed. I told President Toombs that I would do what he asked because I know he follows the Spirit and that his direction comes from my Heavenly Father. I really have learned to put my trust in him. He told us he would call tomorrow to give us the details and let us know if we were moving out of our house into the other missionaries or if she was moving into ours. We said goodbye and I prayed to my Heavenly Father for comfort and the ability to sleep and not stressed. He blessed me and I slept soundly.

The next day it almost seemed like that call never happened. We were waiting patiently for President Toombs to call us back but nothing. I almost thought that he had made another decision but then he finally called us around 3 pm to let us know that we would be moving into another house and we needed to be there at 8:30 in the morning. We packed and cleaned that night and then moved the following morning.

Wednesday... well... it was rough. The new sister is named Hermana Moreno and she is Latino as well. All three of our personality don't really mesh. We fought a lot the first day and the next... and I would say the next to but by that time it has gotten better. Hermana Moreno isn't very obedient and Sister Espinosa becomes a little more bossy and pushy when she's around. Then there is poor me. I get caught in the middle. There have also been times where Sister Espinosa and Moreno talk Spanish for the purpose of me not listening. Don't worry I brought this all up during companionship inventory and we are trying to work it out. I was reading another missionary's e-mail and he was not really liking his companion. But he mentioned that we were put with those certain companions to learn something even if that means patience and loving someone you don't really want to. I have learned this week to really put my trust in my Heavenly Father. That probably should have been my title and will most likely be my spiritual thought. Haha

Saturday was a decent day. We were doing weekly planning and I looked outside and said out loud, "Kind of looks like tornado weather." Sister Moreno mentioned that she thought outside look funny. But I didn't think twice about it. We were talking to the elders (who have dinner with us when we are covering the Monte Vista area every other day.) and they had said there was a tornado near Greeley (North of us). Later we headed up north towards Brighton for a baptism that the other set of sisters in the Fort Lupton ward were having. While we were driving (I was the driver) We ran into a huge rain storm. Like the ones we have in Missouri where you can really see anything even with your wippers going as fast as they can. It was awesome and reminded me of home. Pretty sure it was a small bit of the tornado weather. Sister Moreno was really scared but I went slow and we made it to the baptism all in one piece!

The baptism was really great! His name was Dean Cole. He really has changed his life to become a member of this church. He stop drinking and smoking and is really excited to turn his life around. It was a great experience and there is pictures! Sister Espinosa and Sister Earl were the ones who found him before I came in. Sister Earl and Hanshaw were his missionaries but I still was able to get to know him pretty well. He bore his testimony on Sunday and that too was really powerful. The hardest part in the conversion process is enduring to the end and staying on that straight and narrow path. I pray that he has a solid foundation and that he will continue to progress!(:

We all need a solid foundation. I put my trust in the Lord and lean on him all the time! Especially during this hard time during my mission! Just remember me in your prayers. Maybe write me a letter or two and I'll be good to go(:

I also want to thank Brother Kesler for the print that he gave me! I got it on Friday and really needed it. It was one of those days(:

Thanks everyone for your prayers and support! I love you all! Stay Sweet and Don't Do Drugs!(:

Hermana Durfee

PS. PICTURES!