District Funeral

Transfers are this week. We find out tomorrow where we go. I know I am leaving, and Sister Back is staying. We got hints last week, so we have been trying to guess... Last transfer everyone's guess for me was WAY off... But I think I got it this time! My hints were 'blue hair and baptisms' and 'now and later'. So, I think that I am going to go pinkwash an area, probably near Cedar Rapids.

The traditional 'death picture'... When someone is about to 'die', or go home, we have a district funeral...

Elder Steed, me, Hermana Weaver, Elderes Barrett and Lovin, Sister Back, Elder Housholder, in the front is Elders Clayson and Fuller, and Hermana Tolson :) and Hermana Esplin on the table.

Amish, ZC, Nauvoo, and Baptism :)

Oh man has this week been insane! It feels like it has been happening for eternity.

But it has been a fun week. After emailing on Monday, we went to Lamoni to have District P-Day. We toured the Amish Store down there, and then headed to the infamous site of Mt. Pisgah to go 'witching'.

me at the Amish store

​Then, on Tuesday we went North to the Des Moines Zone Conference! It was fantastic and we got to see so many long lost friends from the mission :)

Hna Esplin, me, Hermanas Weaver, Tolson, Neff, Davis, and Sister Bird

Elders Carver, Steed, Cline, Clayson, Lovin, Housholder, Barney, Fuller, Sisters Harmon, me, Hermana Esplin, Sister Norwood, Back, (Front) Elder Jensen, Barrett, Hermana Weaver and Tolson #zone

​Sister Harmon, Weaver, Esplin, me, and Tolson

me looking very very short....

Me and Hermana Esplin

​

Wednesday through Friday continued on to be just fantastic, normal missionary days, full of lessons with our fantastic investigators, tracting, and visiting many many people :)

Saturday, though, was fantastic! We got to go to Nauvoo!! Sister Back had a recent convert that was going to do baptisms for the first time, so we got the gift of going with him. We met with the beautiful Waukee Sisters and took many many pictures!

Me and Sister Norwood :)

Then, after we had finally made it home, we went to bed! And then, bright and early Sunday morning, Roy got baptized!!!!!!! It is a day that I have been waiting for since I met him in January!! We were super happy and super excited! Then, in church, both he and Hannah (who was baptized last week) got confirmed members of the church. The both of them were so happy and excited, and it has been such a blessing to work with them these last few months.

Me and Roy with 'Sister Short'​​

Me, Roy, Brother Davis, and Sister Back

Transfers are coming up in 10 days, and I have a strong feeling that I will be leaving the amazing town of Osceola... It is my birthplace, and has been my home for the past 4 months. I'm trying not to think too much about it, or else I just might cry...

only Iowa has a parking spot for buggys...

Storms and Another Baptism!!

Oh man has this week been intense and full of scares! 

So, because it is Iowa, tornadoes are a thing. Anyway, Wednesday we were heading back from Leon when we got a text from a lovely member, concerned for our well-being. We were confused, as it was about 70 degrees outside, why was she asking if we needed to take cover? She informed us that a storm was about to hit, and that Southern Iowa had been receiving tornado warnings all afternoon. We told her that we were about 15 minutes away still, but that we would hurry before it hit and hide in our apartment, but didn't take it too seriously, because we hadn't received any warnings...

So we continued, and pretty soon, a wall of rain hit us. Literally the scariest moment of my life, seeing swirling clouds and there is pounding rain and it is suddenly super dark at 6 pm. So, we prayed. Asked that we make it home safely, and that no harm will come to us. And, obviously, God answered our prayer, as He does for all who faithfully ask Him. No sooner had we run into our apartment, the storm picked back up. But, from inside the apartment, it was no longer scary :) And I witnessed the largest and loudest thunderstorm I have ever seen.

​(The twirling clouds... Can't see it that well in the picture)

Then, Thursday. We had our fantastic District Meeting with our fantastic district, and afterwards the Perry Hermanas stayed to help us with some of our appointments. Well, while heading back from Truro with the Amazing Hermana Tolson, we got a text from our zone leaders, forwarded from President Badger - GO INSIDE!!! Apparently, Mother Nature decided that we needed more storms, and a tornado touched down in the Hermana's area. So, we took cover in a member's home and helped them make waffles. Then, in a window of clear, we went home to Osceola, and the Hermanas stayed the night :) So, there is your delayed weather forecast for Osceola, Iowa!! Don't worry, everyone is safe!

Then Saturday finally came!! And along with it, Hannah's baptism! She is just the sweetest girl, who has been waiting for this day! We are so proud of her!!

Tanner Olsen, me, Hannah (holding 'Sister Short'), and Sister Back

Me and 'Sister Short'