Love at first site!

November 18, 2015 - LETTER FROM SISTER HERRIN: WOW! I can't believe it, but I'm actually in KANSAS!! it's really the best place ever. Everyone should live in Kansas ;) haha! Really though, I love it so much! The Skies go on forever, making the sunsets even more beautiful. And here in good ol' Wichita (which is my first area) all of the houses are old German design, because, correct me if I'm wrong, but the area I'm in was settled by Germans so most the houses are really old and really cool. It's beautiful! I'll have to send you some pictures later because I haven't had time to take any yet! But we landed Tuesday and had a quick orientation. Oh, Back up. Ok last few days of MTC were sad, because I'd grown to love my sweet Sister Barlocker, and district Elders, that it was really sad to leave them :( but I pulled an allnighter packing for the plane right out of provo. We had to be at the travel office at 3:00 AM and I so I just didn't even try to sleep :) but we were all so tried arriving in Kansas. President Bell and his lovely wife met us at the airport in Wichita, and flip elder I love them! They are so sweet, and hard working. They genuinely love us and you can so feel it! :) So, we had an orientation that I mostly slept through :/ and then we had dinner with the Bells at the mission home. Delish! :) But the next morning I Said goodbye to Sister Barlocker :( but got to go home with my new companion SISTER PHADNIS!!! :) She's wonderful! and has only just barely finished training herself before becoming a Trainer. But it's pronounced fud-ness not fad nis just so you know :) she's half indian. Cool right? I super love her and we get along pretty well. Wednesday was basically just getting to know each other and her explaining investigators and other necessary missionary things. But Thursday was really the first day in the field! WOO! I was feeling a little overwhelmed with everything. We went to get me some groceries and I forgot my pin to my new missionary debit card. So I had to use my personal funds. Sorry mom. But I can live within my missionary funds I promise! :) haha! but yeah, that really made me feel dumb because it's one of those little things, that of course I would forget. Whatever :) But we met with one of our investigators on date, Karen. Karen is an amazing lady. She has severe depression. So much so that she can't work and has the government pay for her because of her illness. She used to just sleep all day, smoke, sit at the computer and so on. Her house was undescribable and you could barely walk in the front door. But she has made such a change in her life! The sisters helped clean her house, and it has been two weeks and two days since she last smoked. She reads from the Book of Mormon, and in giving up coffee and tea! Because of her progress last night Sister Phadnis and I were able to move her baptism date form december 14 to November 30th! But you can feel heavenly father's love for her so strongly! So my 1st lesson with her Sister Phadnis cut her hair while a member from the ward and I taught her about the 10 commandments. After Karen we taught a less active named Deb on her front porch which I thought was pretty awesome :) Oh, quick side story, In our area (College Hill) we share the ward with some Elders, and share a car. So They'll have it one week and we'll have it the next week. Well the Elders had the car this week and I had to bike. WHAT??? Oh my gosh. That has been my prime struggle this week. For real. haha! I swear whoever designed the bike seats did not know how a bottom was shaped. because mine KILLS!! haha! really like when I first get on it I try to stand and peddle as long as I can before sucking it up and sitting on the darn thing. haha! I swear if I had a giant pillow it would be fine, but it's cool. Saturday we had to ride six miles out and I prayed soo hard. But I did pretty well! It's embarrassing though because I end up at the investigators house all red and sweaty :) My legs are gonna be in the best shape of my life!!! haha! I love biking! and I think I like it when it's farther because then my bum has more time getting used to the seat ;) haha! I'm so glad that this week's car week!!! :D I just hope it doesn't snow anytime soon... ANYWAYS. Lots has happened, and I'm running out of email time! So I'm just gonna tell you about our other two investigators on date that are AWESOME!!! So Stephanie. She is soo funny! she's in her 40's and is currently going through a really rough divorce. She's got a 10 year old daughter named Hannah that wants to get baptized too. Stephanie is very sweet. She gets off topic a lot but I love it so much! She's got this beautiful house that has just gone to clutter. Mom you would have a hay day! ;) But the sisters and elders in the area are gonna do a service project to help her get it together so that she can have full custody of her daughter. I love her! And then Griz. Griz's real name is Ray but he's just like a big old grizzly bear! I love him! his wife is a member and is very ill. She wants so badly to be married in the temple before she passes, and griz is really trying. He's just stubborn and doesn't like the book of mormon. He says it's too confusing. But he knows that he has to have a testimony of it before anything else can make sense really. (he made that connection himself) But we committed him to baptism friday night!! WOO! granted the date's set for August 19th 2014. It's the 231st day of the year and it's his favorite number. But he is so sweet and loves us sisters very much :) He'll get there soon! AHHH I'm running out of time! Family I love you soo much! I'm responding to your emails individulally through letter so except somthing soon!!! I LOVE YOU and I love my savior! I am growing each day! I love my mission and I can't wait to continue serving him!!! :) :) I LOVE YOU!!!!!!! Love, Sister Herrin