1st Transfer! Oak Ridge, Tennessee, Here She Comes!

 I forgot to post last week :(  So here are 2 weeks worth of letters:

I don't quite know about how to write about this past week. The first part of the week flew by and the second half is going slower... but all is well! :)

The first half of the week consisted of many goodbyes, which are hopefully just see-you-laters. I'm not one to cry, but I lost a few tears as I parted with the people I have come to love. One of the hardest goodbyes was to my trainer, companion and best friend. We really worked at our companionship and we became close the past 4 months.

Although it was hard, I have no doubt that I am supposed to be in my new area and with my new companion. My new companion's name is Sister Price. and guess what?? She is from Syracuse! We plotted our houses and we are only 15 minutes away. She went to Clearfield High and I am excited to work with her.

The ward here in Oak Ridge is made up of a lot of people from Utah who are here working. The streets are alphabetical which is convenient for missionaries who don't have a GPS! :) We for sure know Sister Price is leaving next transfer (which is a bummer. It'll be hard to bond in only 3 weeks.) so I'll have to learn my way around pretty quickly. Also, I live in a mansion! If you want to see, google earth 120 Wolf Creek Way. Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37830. (which, if you want, you can send mail here for the next little bit instead of the mission home. Either way.) We live with a non-member: sweet, old Maxine who has diabetes and still eats pie every night. But we love her. It's good for us to be with her to help her with some of the things she can't do for herself and it's a blessing for us to be here as well. (She is the mother of a former bishop of that ward and she called us as soon as Rachel got there to let us know she was safe, so nice:)

A lovely Christmas sweater from Maxine!  I've always thought she looked good in red!

It's been a little hard the past couple of days with it being the first time I have ever transferred. I have not been in an area where my companion knows more about the streets, people and ward than I do. I am now starting all over with the hints I give people to help remember my last name:) (I think Trumpets works...:) Side Note: I love having a unique last name. Seriously, it's awesome. 

The people here are wonderful. I can't wait to get to know them better!

Love you all!! Happy December!!

And I noticed this morning that as of today, I am 19 and 1/2 years old! today's my half birthday!! ha! woot woot!

From Yesterday (Dec. 15th):

One of the highlights of this week was the half-mission conference with Elder Redlund of the Seventy. It was incredible!! A whole day of spiritual feasting! He had us read 3 talks by Elder Bednar before we came, in preparation for his words. It seemed like a main focus was prayer which was so perfect because my goal for this transfer was to improve my personal prayers. It was also a tender mercy that the Dalton district and everyone I have served with came to the same session I did! It was exactly what I needed to see them again and be able to talk, laugh and speak Spanish! ha! Seeing them did the opposite of what I thought it would. It gave me a jump start out of being sad about leaving my last area. :)

I have gotten to know Brother and Sister Huddleston here, who have been investigating the church for 2 years now. Because I was new, I began really digging for the deep concern of why they are not committing to be baptized. A few things surfaced that were not known before this which provided a great place to start. They could both be incredible members and I know that as soon as they commit, they will just accelerate in their testimonies and really in all aspects of their lives. They seem similar to a few other people I have worked with in the past, and I feel like I may be able to do some good for them.

We were able to be in a parade with the ward this weekend. Yes, it was cold, but it was a great opportunity to hand out pass-along cards! I have never seen people s ho happy to get a card! "a free movie about Christ? awesome!" or "what a beautiful picture of Christ. Thank you so much!" We'll see what good it did in the next little bit. It was also great to develop a relationship with the youth in the ward. I saw such success from in it my last ward and know that the youth of the church are incredible and have great potential.

On Sunday we went to the addiction recovery class with a less-active member and it was really neat. It is a program that will even help me to overcome my weaknesses.

We went to our first ward council yesterday and so far it doesn't feel like we are trusted or used very much. I have recently had this kick on working with the leadership of the ward and getting a vision for missionary work from our key-holders, so I have been studying that. It seems like it was divine guidance because I am probably going to have to use my excitement, experience, and new knowledge in that area here in the ward.

I love you all! Have a Merry Christmas! Don't get too wrapped up in the holidays that you forget to read your scriptures and pray. I have been studying the conference talks too which are such powerful words from our leaders.

Con Amor, Hermana Trommlitz

Maybe that could be a new pronunciation!