The One with Whitewash Training

Week 69 (Dec 12th- 18th 2017)

Six months has been and will be the longest I’ve served in one area during my mission. Winter Garden has been an absolute delight and is a place with a people that I will cherish eternally. It’s been so so good to me and the companions I’ve been blessed to serve with while here. Although I am heartbroken to leave my love, especially 1 week before Christmas, I’m just so grateful I’ve been able to be here for so long. I will miss this ward, and this Zone (9 months in Orlando South!).

So I’m leaving, where am I going? Are you sitting down? I am going to Deltona, and I will be training! Yes, this means I will be whitewashing the area. Yes, this is the first time I have trained. Yes, I will (very likely) spend the rest of my mission in Deltona in the DeLand Zone! This will fulfill two mission dreams of mine, to train and to go to the beach. Get ready for a cliche name tag in the sand photo! 📸

Tomorrow is a very big day wherein I will meet my trainee and depart to my new home. I will be following some rockstar sisters, including one of my favs; my almost trio companion Sister Smith. She is ending her mission and leaving her legacy to me; so very blessed. There are some really awesome people they are teaching and even one who is preparing for baptism! I’m so excited to meet everyone!

Although I am daunted by the task of raising up a new missionary, I feel humbled that Heavenly Father has trusted me with such a sacred duty. I hope and pray that my experiences will help me to give this Sister the start she needs. I’m blessed with the example of my angel trainer, Sister Phelps. With her example and the Spirit, I know that we will do the work the way we were called to. We are so blessed to be representatives of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and to have a portion of His perfect love for those we meet. She will love it.

There is a lot to do today, mostly packing, so there is not a lot of time to write. I’ll update on all when we meet again. Tune in next week for a special Christmas edition Sister Petty update!

-Sister Olivia Petty🎁