SURPRISE

SURPRISEEEEEE

Well last week I wrote and said that I was going to be in chula for another six weeks but that changed! So last week on Tuesday night sister chamberlain and I went to the church and visited a couple people so that she could say goodbye and I was taking pictures of her with everyone and she was crying and I was telling them all that I would be here for another six weeks and such so it was a good night. The next day we work up and sister chamberlain finished packing everything then we went off to the transfer meeting. So for the people that haven't been missionaries when we have transfers they call us on Tuesday and tell us who's getting transferred and then those people pack their bags and we take them to the transfer meeting. If nobody of the companionship is getting transferred then you usually don't get to go to the meeting. The transfer meetings are fun though cause you can see your friends and such so anyways we showed up at the transfer meeting because sister chamberlain was being transferred and at the meetings president always calls random people to share their testimonies or give talks on the spot. Kind of scary but usually the people that are getting called to leadership positions have to speak so sister chamberlain got called on to share her testimony and sister Briggs gave a talk and they both got called as sister trainer leaders (not together different areas) I was so happy though Heavenly Father really blessed me with the best companions on the mission. Anyways the transfer meeting went through and president announces it all and they hug their new companions and the people that get put with their friends get super excited and what not but I wasn't getting transferred so afterwards we hug everyone and we're going to leave and then we pass president and waved and he's like wait sister benavides sister koelliker come over here for a sec. So we walk over and he's like can both of you drive? And we're like yaaaaa and then he's like alright don't leave we have a companionship of two sisters that can't drive let me think about this for a second don't leave. Then he walks away probably to pray or something but we started freaking out that one of us was going to be transferred and such anyways 15 minutes later president and the aps and another set of sisters and sister benavides and I were all in this conference room and president was like "wellll sister koelliker we are wondering if you will serve in Calexico now?" Of course I said yes and he told me to go home and pack and that I could call my recent converts and say goodbye. I started tearing up a little cause I LOVE LOVE LOVE the people of Chula Vista but we left the meeting and I hugged sister chamberlain goodbye then headed back to my apartment to hurry and pack all my stuff that was everywhere and call everyone to tell them that I was leaving too and I was off to Calexico. 

Sooooooo here's the story of Calexico hahaha I'm still trying to decide if it's outer darkness or the promised land haha just kidding it is just SUPER far off from the rest of the mission. It's a two hour drive from San Diego and is literally the middle of nowhere. The temp doesn't drop below 115 and there's a hot wind that burns your face. It's on the border of Mexicali so we can see the Mexican border and everyone speaks Spanish. We aren't allowed to drive to the temple or San Diego so we don't really get to see any missionaries besides our zone. My new companion is sister Avila. This is her last transfer in the mission so I'll be taking over the area. She was born in Mexico but lived it Utah so she's fluent and can help me lots with my Spanish. She's easy going so we get along good we got lots of work to strengthen the area though so I'm excited about that. 

Yesterday we had exchanges again and we focused on inviting people to be baptized. In the mission and in the church sometimes people feel nervous about inviting people to be baptized or inviting people to church or what not because they think that it will make the person uncomfortable or ruin the relationship however inviting our brothers and sisters to make covenants with God is the greatest act of love we can extend because we are offering peace in this live and eternal life in the world to come. So I went with sister Lopez yesterday she's an awesome missionary (I got a second chance on the bikes) haha but we were able to invite 15 different people on the street to be baptized when they come to know that Christ's church and priesthood power is restored on the earth. Just about everyone accepted and it was so cool for us to see how many people have been prepared to hear the gospel and they are just waiting for someone to reach out and invite them. My favorite scripture says "for God hath not given us a spirit of fear but of power and of love and of a sound mind" I love that scripture because I know God wants us to have faith and act with courage, to obey His commandments and help others do the same. I love being a member of the church and sharing it with everyone!!! 

I LOVE YOU ALL!!! Thanks for the love and support also everyone keep sending pictures because those are my favorite to see what everyone's up to. Love you love you