April 16, 2014

I'M IN NAUVOO!!!!!!!!

Saying goodbye to everyone in Texas was a little sad, but for that last week, I had this overwhelming sense of peace about that whole six months. I felt very strongly that I had accomplished what God wanted me to do in that area. I had my exit interview with President Ames, which was a little different since I wasn't actually ending my mission. He said he normally didn't do exit interviews with reassigned missionaries but felt he should do one for me, since he said I had become a part of the mission. :) He asked if I wanted a blessing or for him to say a prayer at the end of the interview, and of course I asked for a blessing because how often can you get one from a mission president? It, right off the bat, reaffirmed my feelings that I did actually accomplished all He wanted me to do (and I hadn't told my president about that at all. The power of the priesthood is real!).

My favorite member, Sister Evans, picked us up Thursday morning and took us to the mission office. We got so lost because the freeways in Texas are crazy plus they had construction. A senior couple picked me up and took me to the airport. While waiting for my flight (side note: I was starving but didn't want to leave my carryon bag with anyone and even more did not want to take it around the airport with me because a) I shoved everything I couldn't make fit in my suitcases in there so it was mega heavy and b) I had a prime seat in the terminal) I noticed a guy watching a video on Paso Fino horses on his phone- of course I had to be nosy and butt in. He was really surprised I knew what Paso Finos were. He was from Colombia and worked at a Paso Fino farm in Florida and was going to St. Louis to see some other Paso Finos. Long story short, I ended up giving him a Restoration pamphlet (which he read!). It worked out well. 

Something was up with the plane so we switched terminals to another plane and ended up leaving an hour late. I was in the last group of people to get on and I was shoving my way over-stuffed bag into the overhead compartment when I hear "Hey, Sister, come sit over here." What?! Whoa, someone is a member on this plane? Lo and behold, an 18 year old girl invited me to sit with her and we talked about BYU and horses the whole hour and a half flight. It was prime.

The airport reunion with the Nauvoo sisters was SPLENDID. I saw them (there were only like 7 there at the time) in the distance but got my luggage first. I was walking up to them and yelling "Sisters!! Sisters!?" And they didn't hear me. One happened to look in my direction and BAM I had seven sisters running and screaming and tackling me all at once. SUCH a happy reunion. My new president, President Gibbons, was very calm about all of it. hahahaha. 

More next week!

Love, Ashley