I'm Out of Samoa

 

 Saying goodbye to Fuifui and Naomi this morning. It was kind of breaking my heart. I will really miss them.

 I will really, really miss Fuifui. She has become one of my very best friends. She's amazing.

 So we come home last night to find this... From Elder Flake and Elder Andersen. So kind of them. There was a sticky note that said "Got ya some firewood."

This is Elder Strawmen. Sister Whetten and I made him. Isn't he just the cutest? I love him!

Hello family!

 

Well I was transferred. After serving a solid seven months in Samoa, I'm gone. I'm really sad to leave my greenie area. I was there so long. And things were really starting to pick up in the work. I worked my brains out. But all is well. Heavenly Father has something else in store for me.

 

I'm in the Carkeek Park ward. In the Shoreline Zone. I am sad to leave the Seattle Zone. But there are definitely miracles to be had here in this zone. I'm excited to work with my companion. Her name is Sister Salabao. She is from the Philippines. Her English is pretty good, but it's a little hard for her. It'll take a little getting used to, but I'm really excited to work with her. She is so sweet! She is the only active member of her family and her dad and younger siblings aren't members. I can already tell that I am going to learn so much from her. This is the beginning of her fourth transfer. She's served in this ward her whole mission so far. The sister that I'm replacing was here for just as long as well so I'm sure the ward will really miss her.

 

It'll be very different to be in a palagi ward again. No more fafagas every night! No more Samoan food. And hopefully no more fried chicken! We had fried chicken two or three times last week. I will really miss some of my friends that I made in that ward and Jubi and AJ, two of our investigators. But I am ready for this new start. A completely new area with new missionaries, new challenges, new miracles to find, new everything. It'll be good. I'm ready for growth. That's one of my favorite things about being a missionary... the growth that we get to experience. You grow so much spiritually, temporally, and even physically (at least when you're in a Samoan ward for seven months :) haha.)

A funny story really fast. About how much I hate dogs. Last week we were visiting a less active, Lepe, who has a big, mean husky named Demon. Yep, his name is Demon. And I'm terrified of him. Anyway, she told us that she was busy and to come back another time, but as we were getting ready to leave Demon tries to bolt out the door. Luckily  Lepe caught him but I was still terrified so I hurried and turned around and told Sister Whetten to help me. It was really slippery because of it was raining and there's a little hill to get to her door with overgrown stepping stones so I was trying to walk away fast and I totally slipped and twisted my left knee and landed on my right let and arm. They were twisted in weird ways and it was so funny. I was dying laughing. And also kind of crying because it hurt. But mostly just laughing. The whole right side of my body was covered in mud. My gray tights looked gross and my glove was so dirty and my coat and my skirt. It was so funny. Did I mention that I really don't like dogs.

Sister Nudd, one of the sisters from our zone, had a concussion this last week so we went on exchanges with her and Sister McBride (her comp) a few times this last week which was really fun. Scary thing. Sister McBride and I were driving to a teaching appointment in Kent and we were on the freeway and got rear ended. Luckily nothing happened. All is well and we are all safe, so don't worry. No injuries, no damage to the car. Very grateful to Heavenly Father for protecting us. Sister Nudd is amazing though. I hope to be companions with her someday. She is a convert of almost two years and has no support from her family back home. She's just so strong. I'm really amazed by some of the people I meet. Everyone is just incredible and there are so many lessons we can learn from them. I love people!

Really sad news.. Sister Toala passed away and her funeral was last week. So we went to her viewing and funeral. It was interesting to see how a Samoan funeral was done. The Toala family is amazing though. Paul came back home from the MTC for the weekend of it to be there. And then he flew out to Mexico yesterday. I feel so bad. I can't imagine losing my Mom while on a mission. She had cancer for about two years. In his farewell talk he talked about how it was difficult leaving her in the condition that she was in but that he was excited to get home and give her a big hug. It was breaking my heart seeing him. I really respect him. He has a lot of strength. He knows that there are things he needs to do in Mexico. But it would be so hard to leave your family. They are one of my favorite families from the ward. Brother Toala is just the sweetest. I'm so grateful for the knowledge that we have of the Plan of Salvation. That is what we preach! This gospel is true and I'm so grateful for it in my life. I don't know what I'd do without it.

 I love it so much and that is why I'm out here. I want to share the blessings of the gospel with others. I'm so excited to be in this new ward and to meet these people. I'm excited to preach the gospel. I know, without a doubt, that it was restored by Joseph Smith. It is the gospel of Jesus Christ. He is real and He lives and He loves us so much. The way has been provided for us to be truly happy in this life and that is through the gospel. Read your scriptures everyday. The Lord has asked us to. It brings peace in our lives. Pray everyday. Make good decisions and kick Satan in the teeth! Love you all so much. You're in my prayers.

 Love,
Sister Veronica White