I'm getting transferred!

Hey Everyone,

I can't even think about the week we've had because I'm getting transferred. I found out last night that I'm going to the north, and my companion is going to be Sister Xiques. She is the spanish sister that just got here this last transfer and Sister Tucker and I took her out tracting her first night. She is native spanish speaker, so I'm excited to hopefully improve my spanish.

Man, I have such mixed feelings. Honestly, I knew for like the last week that I was going to the north, but transfer calls just confirmed how I felt. I am sad to leave everyone here. There are so many good things just waiting to happen here in the south. But I also realize and know that I feel like the last two weeks I really learned a lot and feel super comfortable here, so it's time for me to move areas so I can grow even more in a new place where I don't know anyone.

I'm the only one leaving our district, well so is Elder Buys, but he's going home. Everyone else is staying. Elder Lewis, who was here my first transfer, is coming back here to the south and will be the new district leader and companions with Elder Riggs. Sister Moss is coming here to be with Sister Tucker. Also, the south is getting a new zone leader. Elder Ellsworth is leaving to be ZL in Wichita Falls, TX and Elder Spjute is the new ZL with Elder Chun. Elder Dominguez is going home, so there will be a new AP, Elder Reed, he was my district leader a transfer ago. Sister Glenn is going to Woodward and Sister Anderson is coming here to the south with Sister Houston. Elder Bass will be my new district leader is the north. Elder Larson was DL in the north, but he's leaving for Norman to be ZL. Elder Goronson is going to Cushing, which is in the Stillwater Zone. He was here in the south in Mustang.

Sorry that was probably a really boring paragraph for most of you, but that was mainly for those who used to be missionaries here.

Last week we taught 51 lessons total. Usually we teach around 30 or so, but because we've changed how we're tracting, we are teaching more lessons and finding more new investigators. Elder Buys and Elder Riggs got 21 new investigators last week. Usually they just get a couple. So, Elder Buys is leaving the mission having worked harder than he's worked his whole mission.

I'm a little worried about the north because Sister Tucker told me that you don't teach as much up there, and there aren't as many hispanics. But I know that having learned what I've learned over the past 7 months, I'm ready to go there and try to make things better.

Maria Pena wasn't at church on Sunday because she had to go to Mexico last minute because her mom is really sick. Luz seems to be doing worse. We taught her yesterday for the first time in a week or so, and we told her she needs to go to church. Even if it's hard. She said that in two weeks she's moving. She doesn't know if she's staying here in OK or going to Mexico, but she wants to move in 2 weeks.

Sunday was AMAZING! We had fast and testimony meeting, and I bore my testimony. I wasn't planning on it, but after Presidente Espinosa finished bearing his I felt like I should get up. I just thought, no, I don't know what to say. But then I realized that my spanish has grown so much since the last time I bore my testimony in fast and testimony meeting. The last time was in February right before Sister Whiting left, and I just bore a simple testimony because I didn't feel like I could say too much. But on Sunday I felt like I basically knew how to say exactly what I felt and wanted to share. I bore my testimony about the importance of changing our lives to be like Christ and getting baptized. I looked and the congregation, and there were 3 families there that one of the spouses isn't a member. I just thought about each of them, and how I long for them to be baptized snd then their families can be sealed. I felt such great joy on Sunday! As I watched less actives and others who I love and have been visiting for a while-Hna. Perez and her family (including her husband who is not a member), Hna. & Hno. Torres, Hno. Zamora, Gloria was in the foyer, but there, Juan (one of our investigators), Hna. Coronado (non-member) and her family (two out of her 3 boys and her husband bore their testimonies), and Hna. Garcia. I looked out at all of them thinking that I was probably leaving, and I'll probably come back to the south, but there's a chance I might not. I seriously have grown to love these people SO much. I just want them to all be happy and be able to return to live with our Heavenly Father. I felt such happiness and joy as I looked at them on Sunday. (I was sitting on the stand because I was conducting the music.) I'm going to miss the Spanish 6th Branch a lot! I didn't say bye to anyone, except like a few people (Chepe, Don Chepe, the Plaudis family, and Reina Ortiz). I just don't want to make it harder to leave. Plus, hopefully I'll be back.

So, this morning we went bowling, and now we're going to play basketball. I'm pretty much packed except for the stuff I need over the next 24 hours. I'm excited for a new adventure in a new area with a new companion! And I know Heavenly Father will continue to guide me and help me.

Sorry this e-mail is pretty scattered... that's how my brain is right now. I love you all! Thank you all for everything! Til next week...

Love,

Hermana Christina Hogewoning