Today marks day 100 of Sister Hill and I being together. Not consecutively, as I had that short Spanish stint in Buena Ventura, but total. Sister Alison Hill is the companion that I have had the longest on my mission (by 2.5 weeks) and I am so exquisitely grateful for her. She is truly a gem and a powerful and compelling teacher of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. I cannot count the kindnesses she has performed on my behalf; the meals she has made me, the dishes she has done, the patience she has shown me, the times she let me cry. The sheer amount of times she has literally dressed me is a pretty clear indicator of how close we have grown to each other over the last 4 months. Heavenly Father has truly been so merciful to me through the magnificent companions I've had over the course of my mission.
I am sad to say goodbye to Sister Hill, it feels quite different sending a companion home versus sending them to another area. I'm looking forward to hearing from her often as I do all my previous companions (of which I have had nine, so I don't blame you if you've had a hard time keeping track). What I am looking forward to is serving with my new companion (coming in at number 10), Sister Bullard! You might recognize her from many past photographs because she is currently serving in the YSA Ward in our Zone. I've served around her for a long time and we'd always say, "When are we gonna be companions?!" And apparently, it's now! I'm relieved to be staying here in Winter Garden, it's a wonderful ward of wonderful people and the work of the Lord here is satisfying as I get to meet and teach so many people I come to love.
One of the people I love the most is Gladys! And Gladys has agreed to do something I also love the most! She has agreed to be baptized in late November! WE ARE SO EXCITED FOR HER! She has been so prepared by the hand of the Lord! We had planned a phenomenal lesson all centered around having a member bear their testimony. But right after we closed the opening prayer, Gladys asked a question. She asked us if any of us were converts. All of us (including our member present) had parents or grandparents that were converts. Gladys was so impressed! We explained how about half of our Ward was converts! Gladys was nervous because she didn't want to get baptized and not be prepared, then resulting in inactivity! Only a member referral would think about that.
We boosted her hope and faith in the Savior and his gospel by bearing our testimonies. The Spirit was so strong. Gladys grew in confidence and met our gaze when we invited her to be baptized. She agreed! She's doing a great job reading and praying and coming to church every Sunday! I know that her heart is being changed and I know her baptism will be a special day for her.
Saturday we also had a chance to lots more hurricane Irma clean up all in our area. We got the work orders of people who wanted the Mormon Helping Hands to come do some clean up. We got to climb ladders! There used to be a rule in our mission that we couldn't climb ladders so that was thrilling. We were up and at it for half the day, chopping and sawing trees (well, watching our members saw) and raking debris. More than once the neighbors of those who we were Helping came out and asked for some help as well so it was really cool to be in a position to do that. Our members are rockstars.
Something that this hurricane ordeal has taught us is that apparently avocado trees don't survive storms very well. At all. Left and right people that we have been visiting have been asking us if we want avocados because their tree or a majority of the limbs went down during Irma. So there is a bunch of avocados in our apartment right now and secretly I'm not the biggest fan, so I hope my new companion is because we're about to have a ton of guacamole.
The women's session of conference was this weekend and it was positively splendid! We got to go to one of our favorite members houses and watch with her because she wanted time to say goodbye to Sister Hill. The first talk given by Sister Eubank was so on point. She's a powerful public speaker and she gives her message so clearly. I loved her challenge of handing us the torch of the commission to fulfill the prophecy of women strong in the Gospel.
I also received quite the special surprise this week from home! An unexpected care package to celebrate my one year mark in the field appeared at just the right time! It was so adorable and had so many amazing goodies in it including beautiful jewelry, lotion and room spray (the vanilla scent is strong enough to overpower the smell of weed from the other apartment over- thanks fam), a lovely and tender painting of the Savior holding a child for my companion and I, and a long awaited USB containing music carefully hand picked and selected and groomed over by my super heroine mother for my sisters and I! She's worked so hard on these playlists for us for months and the music is so good! It's so refreshing to have appropriate missionary music that is a good mix of reverent and peaceful and stuff that sounds like my music that sounds like I used to listen to back home. My moms playlist is called "Mormon Missionary Music" on Spotify by Laurie Ellis Petty and I highly advise you check it out and follow it. 10/10 recommend. THANK YOU MOM!
Fear not and be just,
-Sister Olivia Petty🥑
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