2 May 2011

It's MAY! FINALLY!
I don't know why, but April was really dragging along for me. Maybe because we were waiting for transfers and mother's day.

So TRANSFERS- I'M TRAINING!!!!!!! AHHHHHHHH!!!
I have to tell you all, that I was not expecting to train this transfer. Next transfer, yes, because I'll be the oldest missionary and there's one sister coming, but this transfer? Was not expecting it.
There will be two new sisters, Sister Dillender is training the other one here in Zadar, and I'll be training in Zagreb.
Yikes! I am going to be in a new city, in the biggest city in Croatia, with trams and buses and confusion, with a greenie! It's going to be really fun.
That leaves Sister Nelson with Sister Hači (the sister on a mini mission, she's native) and they'll be in Zagreb, too, and because we temporarily have 6 sisters we will all four of us be living in one apartment this transfer. FUN!
It's going to be crazy crazy crazy!!!
I am nervous. I had no idea that I'd be this stressed out about it. But, a good stressed I think. The kind that makes you work harder.
And packing?? I have so much stuff. I know I have four months left, but I'm not entirely sure how I'll get everything home that I'll want to bring home. Well, it will all work out in its own due time.
Because I'm leaving Zadar I am being showered by affection from people. For example, yesterday a member gave me a Croatian license plate! For some reason all the missionaries here want license plates. I never really understood it, and I promised Sister Dillender that if I found one I'd give it to her, because she really wants one. Anyway, so this member knew that and she gave me one and then she said she had one for Sister Dillender, too! So she gave her the second one from the same car and we have matching license plates and I'm so excited! I didn't want one, but now that I have one I'm excited about it.
And tonight is family home evening, we have that every week for everyone in the branch, and the members are planning a party for me. It's going to be fun, they're all so nice and sweet.
I maybe feel a little bad, because I'm not sure how sad I am to leave, just because I knew the day would come and I'm excited for a new phase of the mission, but I'm getting pictures with all of them and made cute cards out of pictures from ensigns, so they'll feel loved, too, and I'll miss them later. It's nice to know such great people.
Last Tuesday I found out that the Pope is coming to Zagreb the 4th and 5th of June! I'm excited to be in the city for that, it's a big deal for this Catholic country. The lady who told us knows and remembers every time and place that the last Pope came to Croatia. And this is Pope Benedict's first visit. So it's a big deal. I'm hoping to get a picture of him or something. It will be cool.
We got transfer calls on Wednesday, Elder Fowler (from Idaho, he's the assistant to the president and President Hill lets them call sometimes) and he said "Sister Laws, you'll be going to Zagreb" and I was like, OK so I'll serve with Sister Hači, because that's totally what I was expecting. "and you'll be serving with a great sister," I'm still thinking Sister Hači. "Sister Creager-" and I thought, wait a second, that isn't Sister Hači! What??? and I asked "wait, did you just say Sister Creager??" And he said, yeah, you'll be training and then he told Sister Dillender that she's training. Anyway, that was really fun.
On Friday we were at a restaurant and saw Prince William's wedding on tv. That was quite something. We obviously didn't watch the whole thing (we weren't there that long, oh and we're missionaries so that would be inappropriate :)) but we saw enough. So I will always remember that I was in Croatia when he got married.
Saturday we had zone conference, so we went up to Zagreb. And we saw everybody, and most of the missionaries just switched then, so everyone's in their new cities with their new companions except for those of us training. So I'm still in Zadar right now with Sister Dillender. The newbies come in on Wednesday, so I'll have a lot to tell you next week!
And I met Sis Hači, she told me I look like I'm from England or Australia. I thought that was cool.
And President told us that because the new mission president is coming in (he couldn't tell us his name, so I still don't know that) this next transfer is only 8 weeks long and Sister Dillender's entire group is going home a week early! Crazy!
So they'll be home for the fourth of July. So they're all really excited about that. It's really crazy how many crazy things like that can happen. All of a sudden their mission is a week shorter. Weird.
Also at zone conference my district performed a musical number. The two elders here, I may have mentioned before, are both very musical, so they had the bright idea that we'd sing accapella. Nerve-racking! I would tell you I'll send the video, but I doubt the computer will be able to. Lame. Anyway, so me and Sister Dillender survived that. We sang Redeemer of Isreal, and I got the easy part, soprano, so it wasn't too hard for me. A new experience.
AND lastly, mother's day. I have a new phone number, it's 091-444-8086. And you'll have to call again, so do everything the same as last time, same country code etc. I'm not 100% sure when to have you call, but I'll stop and drop everything that I'm doing whenever it is. So maybe, if you want to call in the morning then call at 8, otherwise call at... noon. Or earlier than 8 is good, too. I dunno. In the morning is probably best. I don't know when Sister Creager's family will call, so if they call at the same time I will probably give her the first shot, since it's her first call in the country. She's from Arizona, but that's the only thing I know about her. OK. I'm sure we'll get that all worked out no problem. So call until you get me, I guess :)
AND I'm thinking that's everything.
So yeah, good week and a good week ahead of me!
It was so good to hear from you all, love you tons and to pieces!
Looking forward to hearing from mom and whoever else!

LOVE YOU
Sister Laws