Oh the Joy of Biking

Last week was interesting.  I had gotten four flat tires in just three days, so today we are shopping for food and inner tubes for my bike.  I have a huge bruise, the size of a baseball, on the side of my left leg where the bike attacked me, again!  We only have half a p-day today since Thursday is Thanksgiving, so I will not be writing letters this week.  We have two dinner appointments for Thanksgiving.

Missionary work is going well; it's really starting to pick up.  We have three investigators, Anna Evans who is a character, Claudia who I told you about last week and we are still trying to see, and Ozzie, a referral the Elders originally gave us, and he is on date to be baptized.

My favorite part about last week was, lol, well it really wasn't such a good week thanks to my tire going flat all the time.  One good thing for last week is I made my birthday cake and my companion sprayed me with silly string.  The zone leaders, along with the elders that live with them, helped eat my birthday cake.  Thank you to everyone who sent me a birthday card, I really enjoyed receiving them!

My least favorite part about last week, besides by tire going flat, was riding in the rain.  It was cold, but I'm starting to get used to it.  I'm not using the coat, just using my sweaters instead.

Guess what?  They had me and my companion and our district leader do a survey on mini missions.  Apparently I have been talked about a lot and it's peaked some peoples interest.  I should be getting a call today from President Toone to find out what's going to happen.  He kind of thinks that Thursday night after Thanksgiving is when I will leave.  Anyways, I hope to see everyone soon.

Love,
Sister Donner

Birthday

I got the package!  I started laughing when I pulled out the birthday crown.  Lol  The whole zone sang "Happy Birthday" to me Sunday night.  From the pictures you sent it looks like Bri enjoyed our birthday.

My favorite part of last week was helping one of the relief society sister, Sister Holmes, make Christmas cards.   Glitter was everywhere!  Lol

Yes, I had more bike adventures this week.  I almost flew off my bike yesterday.  It's a long story and needless to say, I caught myself and didn't fall.  I swear someone is watching over me.

The picture is from the day we had interviews with the Mission President.  My trainer is the one on the right of me, Sister Flint.  A funny thing she did to me this week is I had gone to the bathroom.  When I came out, I had to turn the corner and there she was with a rolled up sheet of graph paper and scared me half to death.  She thought it was hilarious.

Well, today is prep day, so we will do the usual shopping, laundry and writing letters.  We may make my cake today, not sure yet.  We may or may not teach one of our investigators, Claudia.

You ask what my favorite part of my mission has been and the answer is All Of It!

Hope everyone has a great week!

Love you,

Sister Donner

P.S.  Thanks for the chocolate; I have eaten all of it!

Sister Nicki Donner in Yuma

Ok, explaining the picture, it goes me, Sister Flint, Hermana Manwell, Hermana Drake, Hermana Rich, Hermana Ashby, Hermana Blanca (White), Hermana Hansen and Herman Day.  All the sisters in Yuma.

Love Mail!

I received everyone's letters this week and the new "Preach My Gospel" book.  I have nine letters to write today. LOL

We had interviews with Pres. Toone, first as a companionship and then separately for a minute.  He said he should be talking with the missionary department soon and they will notify him to let him know if and when papers will be arriving.

We are going further south in Yuma today for a zone activity which usually means volleyball or basketball.

We are still riding bikes and we usually sing now, but to answer your question, no, no car.  (Wishful thinking. LOL)

This past week has been great!  First, receiving all the letters from everyone, they make my day!  Then, we got two referrals yesterday and we taught a family on Friday.  The ward is super nice and always willing to come with us for lessons.  I have learned so much out here, more that I did in my last area.  I actually don't want to go home yet, even though I miss you guys like crazy.

It's weird to think I will be turning "20" this Sunday.

Hope everyone has a great week and Brianna I hope you have an awesome day on your birthday!

Love Sister Donner

Life Goes On :)

My companion study is awesome!  My favorite thing about my companion is she doesn't judge and likes to tease.  In personal study I am studying the Ten Commandments.

My district is great and really fun.  My favorite part of last week was Friday and Sunday.  Friday was a planning day, so we met together to plan and then we had language class.  We had lunch in-between and we just pushed all the tables together, it was nice.  Sunday we had dinner at a member's house and after dinner they played a game of trying to guess our first names.  It was really funny and they actually guessed my name.  That evening we taught a less active member about the restoration.  (We usually eat dinner at a members house most nights, but some nights we don't.)

I actually don't get an iPad because I am a mini missionary. (Sad Face) At first I was bummed, but then I decided I'll just buy one when I complete my whole mission.

I haven't gotten any letters, and I'm pretty sure the address is correct.  (Side note:  Called mission home and the zip code was incorrect, so the mailing address should be correct now)

We are teaching a person today, but not sure on the baptism, it depends on what happens tonight.

I actually have 3 new scars.  One word, bike.  It absolutely hates me, especially when we do down the huge hill by our apartment each day.

Gotta go now...

YUMA

Yuma!  A member drove us to Yuma and yes, it was long.  OK, so the minute we get to Yuma I was told we had a baptism on Saturday and another one is set for November 9th.  Richard Nunes was baptized and he has two little kids who are adorable.  We are also teaching a mom and daughter and another lady who is writing a member's son in jail.  So Yeah, it's crazy.

Packing everything was easy, though I think I may leave some stuff at home, I mean when I get home.

The apartment complex where I live is pretty nice. We have bunk beds and I am on top.  I think it will be OK to send packages here.

Sister Flint is my new companion and she is awesome and really observant.  She is from Syracuse, Utah.  We live with two other sisters and we all get along really well.  Sister Rich is hysterical and they are all really sweet and very friendly.  Each companionship serves in a different ward.  The bishop of our ward is on board with missionary work and the members are pretty involved.

My district is really funny, you should have seen our planning meeting on Friday, LOL.  We had the meeting at the church, so we brought our lunches with us and the other sister companionship had M&M's.  The elders were sitting at a different table, so she went over and said, "M&M's" and they started jumping out of their chairs, knocking each other down trying to get them.  It was funny.

Without a doubt, my bike hates me!  It keeps crashing on me and it got a flat tire on Saturday.  When my bike is on corners, it doesn't like stopping or it stops too quickly so I almost fly off.  I now have to bike up a huge hill to get back to my apartment and yeah, my legs kill after that.  To top it all of, we are navigating with a map...not good.

We don't get to do anything for Halloween except training on iPad's; we get them tomorrow and yet, we are excited!

Gotta go, my time on the computer is about to expire.

Have a great week!

1st Transfer

I am going to be transferred this Wednesday.  I don't know where I am going, only that I will be on a bike again, so yep, more scars for me. (LOL)  I'm not worried for the transfer, just sad I am leaving this zone.  We've become pretty close these past few weeks, so this transfer is a bit hard on me, but I'm doing OK.  When you are getting transferred you don't usually stay in the same zone, but we'll see.

I should be fine packing, just have to figure our how to pack my bedding.  (LOL)

We had kind of a rough week.  One of the elders in my district went home early due to some medical problems and it was heart breaking.

I did get a package from Aunt Kim, but not from Aunt Lorene, bummer.  Please tell them thank you!  I did receive letters, I just haven't had a change to write back yet.

The 8 and 11 year old children we teach came to church this past Sunday.

I'm finally going to get my hair cut today, yay! A sister from the ward is going to do it; she is amazing!

Oh, yeah, OK, concerning going to the MTC, uh, can you just drop me off?  I've heard too many stories of people getting lost at the airport and missing the bus, or not finding their bags, no buena.

My favorite moment this week would have to be seeing our zone leaders twice in the same area we were in and also teaching someone with them on the street.  The zone leaders have the YSA ward, so they proselyte in the same area we do.  My companion and I had just been out trying to contact a former investigator and while rounding a corner we see our zone leaders talking to a lady, so we walk towards them.  As we were approaching  them, we hear Elder Oblad say, "Oh, here come some amazing sisters that you can talk to. (LOL) So with the zone leader's right beside us, we talk to her about prayer and actually said a prayer with her and the zone leaders.  It was funny, but awesome.

I gotta go now.  I'll send you a letter this week and hopefully I'll know where I'm going.

Love ya!