I'M GOIN' ZEBRA!! SUPRISE TRANSFER!!

Welp!!

It's a thing! I'm goin' Zebra! Let me tell you the story. So!! Sister Duncan had her departing interview with President Marston. He and Sister Marston invited us both into the room and said they wanted to talk to us about Colusa. We weren't surprised. We thought he might be just telling us some changes being made within the branch or something, which would've been totally normal. But as he started talk about consolidation, it clicked. We were being taken out and Colusa was being closed. Which is actually what is happening. But he continued on talking about consolidation with language missionaries, especially Spanish since there aren't enough Spanish Sisters coming in and we are losing 2 this transfer. He looks over at me and said "Sister Hood, how's your Spanish?" I kinda cracked up and said I only knew a tiny bit. He said, "Well! We would like you in one of our Zebra companionships!" Haha.. I was so stoked!!! He told me that I'm headed to a Spanish speaking Branch and an English YSA ward! He also said that I would be there for more than 2 transfers at least. Spanish missionaries don't move often, that I do know. But I don't know how they do Zebras... so that will be interesting to find out. My companion, Sister Baum, actually served in the Yuba Zone before being transferred the same time as me. I think she came out the transfer after my transfer. So that's pretty cool. I've heard good things about her. 

With Colusa, they won't have any Missionaries here. It's just not one of the priority areas. I understand why. But it's sad for the people that we have been teaching. Like Cynthia, our recent converts Dean, Hannah and Leslie. But President said that there will be missionaries who will cover Colusa one day a week. Which will be good. Colusa is kind of in the middle of nowhere and our area is HUGE. The entire Yuba stake (besides Colusa) can fit into our area. 

We did not see this coming, haha. It's crazy being "6 week shafted". Something President told Sister Duncan was that the Lord made it very clear that He wants me in a Zebra companionship in a specific area. So that will be awesome to find out what the Lord has for me to do, besides learn a little bit of Spanish! I'm excited! It's going to quite the adventure!! 😁 

Well, it's been a very busy week. Sister Duncan had her interview and then she had the departing temple trip. So the other night we drove down to Antelope so we could crash at Sister Seely and Sister Frosts place!! It was quite the riot! Then we packed for 2 days straight. It was the busiest days of my life... so I have completely EXHAUSTED for a couple days now... 

Major tender mercy that you must know about! So! I found out on Thursday that I'm being transferred. Then dad sent me that email saying that my package wouldn't get here until Monday it was freaking me out because we were going to be gone by Monday morning. So I prayed that it would come earlier and that day, Saturday as we were packing like crazy people, we heard a knock at the door and there it was!! Ahh!! I am so excited! I already got into the ginger snaps... I couldn't resist! And we listened to the Christmas jams a lot while we packed! It was awesome! Thank you so much!! 

Oh.. as I was packing, I realized that I have way too much stuff. So I will probably be sending stuff home it gets closer to spring. I seriously have no room.. even using that massive box that you sent my clothes In.. haha. It's kind of ridiculous!! 

It was awesome!! We were able to say goodbye to the Dunlaps and Hannah. We were able to set her on date!! Her and Zach are getting married on the 7th so that's so exciting for them. They are both super solid!! We also said goodbye to a bunch of other branch-ies that you will see in the pictures! There are a couple families that I got pretty close to already. they are so amazing!! 

So one day, driving home from Arbuckle, it was almost snowing. It almost felt like snow but it was still really wet. We were going almost 60 mph and we stuck our arms out the window - It felt like needles pricking our arms. Haha, it was super dumb but we had a contest as to who would last the longest. I won the first time, then I let her win the second time. 😉 haha. 

It was a super busy week!! We had a day were we had 8 lessons, so that was awesome. It's going to be a crazy week this week too!! I'm so excited for this new adventure where my water doesn't smell like rotten eggs, HAHA!!!! Just kiddin... mostly. Oh! I also found out that I have awesome people in my zone who had been in the Anderson zone while I was in Corning. So that will be AWESOME to see them again. 😁 

I'm sure I will have exciting things to tell you about next week! I love you all so much! Thanks for all you do! 

Love, 

Sister Hood