I'm Out in the Field!

Sister Brothers and Sister Grant (they are in a driving area)

Hi everyone! 

How are you? I'm sorry I forgot to tell you when I was leaving the MTC. I left on Wednesday morning after everyone else had left so my heart was pretty numb at that point from saying goodbyes! I cried so much when I had to say goodbye to my district. It was really hard, and sometimes still is. All the Wellington missionaries (Elder Smedly, Elder Harrigfeld, Elder Bishoff, Elder Tonumipea, and Sister Ontiveros) left Tuesday morning at 6:30. So I had to say goodbye to them that night and it was so hard. Then Sister Olive and Elder Biranipwepwe left for Sydney Wednesday morning at like 4 so that was so hard. And then Elder Holt was supposed to leave at 7 but didnt end up leaving until like 7:30 so I got to say goodbye to him and that was so hard! On Wednesday morning I left the MTC and headed to Hamilton. I had to drive on a bus for 7 hours from Hamilton to get here. I am serving in the Mangapapa Ward in the Gisborne area. I love it here! My companion was already in Gisborne so I rode with the new DL, Elder Elsworth. My companion is Sister Brothers from Tahiti. She's been out 7 months and has taught me so much. She's great! A couple days ago I was sooo homesick! I just wanted to go home and hug you all, but I know I'm out here for a reason and I'm excited to help people. I know I'm here to serve the Lord and 18 months isn't really that long!

Winter here is so cold! When I got here on Thursday I was told that we were moving to a different flat on Saturday because our old one was a fridge and it sure was! So on Saturday we moved to the Elders flat and they moved to the Tongan elder's flat. When we moved, the house was sooo gross! So Saturday was just spent cleaning the house. It sure needed it! Yesterday we told the Elders that the house was gross and that we had to clean it and they said they thought it was clean... Elder's are so weird! But now we have a nice warm house! It's huge and doesn't make your toes go numb! Winter here is much colder than I thought it would be! 

This week I met one of the recent converts here. Her name is Lisa and she is blind. She is amazing! She has had so many trials and is just amazing! Also, we have dinner appointments for almost every night. I'm going to get so fat! Every Friday we eat at the Mangu families house. They are so great! Rex (the dad) isn't a member, but we are working on that ;). I've met so many wonderful people here! 

I love you all and hope all is well! 

Love, Sister Grant

So hard to say goodbye to this District. 

We were all matching - with Sister Ontiveros and Sister Cope.

This is the view outside my room at the MTC. My districts rooms were all above mine so we would play catch with fruit and talk to each other outside the window!