Hello Everyone!
Wow! What a week! It was truly crazy. Decorating for a wedding, the wedding, transfers and baptism all in the space of three days! Hermana Dollahite and I were both sick with a cold or something Tuesday through Thursday. It was such a bummer because all we wanted to do our last week together was work as hard as possible, and we were stuck at home for pretty much three days straight. Hermana Dollahite was a lot worse than I, at least with outward symptoms, and we really didn't want to infect anyone else.
We weren't much better Friday, but we went to the church from two to seven to decorate for Saturday’s wedding. When we got to the church, our mission president and his wife were there interviewing our then Zone Leader to be an Assistant to the President for this transfer. It was really funny because Hermana Dollahite and I were both looking sad and pathetic and telling him how bummed we were that we had to spend our last week together sick at home. He just laughed at us and said that he would talk to us tomorrow. Immediately my spirits plummeted because the only reason for us to talk to President the next day was if he was calling us to tell us we were being transferred, not that we weren't expecting that anyway, but still, one can hope. My first thought was, well as much as I love you president I really don't want to talk to you tomorrow! I didn't say that though!
We got back on the horse though and started decorating for the wedding of the century...or at least the wedding of the year for the Largo Spanish Branch! Several hundred fake rose petals and thirty or so rolls of pink and white streamers later the church was looking pretty good. I was glad I didn't draw tablecloth ironing! (My Mom would have been all over that job!) I also got to see our Relief Society President make a bouquet out of white roses. She is talented! She organized the whole thing with Judy, the bride, since Judy's mother lives in the Dominican Republic. It was so cool to see her adopt Judy and blossom under the joy of being needed. Everyone needs to feel needed.
Saturday, the English Elders had a baptism in their ward. After the baptism we had lunch and then made a couple visits but returned to the church fairly quickly to prepare for the wedding. The wedding was scheduled to start at seven, but in typical Hispanic fashion the guests, family of the wedding party and the bride and groom all showed up around 7:45! I was freaking out a little bit, but I think I was the only one. The church was beautiful and the ceremony was very sweet. President Lopez called on me to say the opening prayer after Judy walked down the aisle...not something I was expecting! Hermana Dollahite said my prayer was basically the Plan of Salvation, but I just said the words that came! It was funny though. President Lopez gave some beautiful advice and counsel for marriage in general and how important it was to remember that this was a step they were taking together to be a bit closer to the eternal marriage they will have in one year. It was incredibly powerful, and I hope all the people there (not just the non-members) felt the power of the Holy Spirit testifying of the sanctity of marriage and eternal families. After the ceremony, the party started. We ate delicious Dominican food, danced in the traditional Latin fashion (Hermana Dollahite was my partner, which cracked up our members!), and did a lot of cleaning. President Summerhays gave us permission to be out an extra hour, but we only missed curfew by a couple of minutes, which was good since we had been so sick.
Sunday found us at the church again...at about 7:20 AM. We were laughing because when we left the church the night before it was dark, and we were back again before the sun came up! We definitely put in a lot of time at the church this weekend! We had to get there that early to fill the baptismal font, which is ancient with a teeny tiny faucet pipe, and requires an hour and a half to fill. Judy, trooper that she is, came in at 8:30 so we could take pictures before her baptism. She and Aneudy were at the church until around 11 the night before and then were up at five to take pictures at the beach because the baptism was going to mess up her hair and everything! Hermana Dollahite and I were questioning our judgment in having a wedding/baptism only twelve hours apart, but if you could have seen the pure joy on Judy's face, you would know as we do that when it comes to making covenants with God and choosing to put Him above all else, there is no time too soon.
The baptism was beautiful. Elizabeth, our recent convert gave a beautiful talk on the Holy Ghost, and her husband Jose, newly ordained Melchizedek Priesthood holder, was able to be a witness. Judy had tears of joy through the whole service, and I know that everyone present felt a strong confirmation of the Spirit. What joy there is in missionary work! The church services were wonderful, Judy's confirmation was beautiful, and the classes were just what everyone needed. After church we had a nice lunch all together with the leftover food from the night before. It was a great day!
I'm sure by now you are all thinking, 'Wait, what about transfers?' Well I feel a little like a broken record when I say this, but...Hermana Dollahite and I are staying together yet again! Transfer number six, eight and a half months, exactly half of my time in the field and more than half of hers. Every single Spanish Sister companionship changed except ours...for the second time. All records are now obsolete. I don't know if any two companions in the history of the Florida Tampa Mission have ever stayed together for six transfers! I saved this news for last because the story deserves it's own spot!
On Saturday morning we woke up at 6:30 as always and had companionship prayer. President begins his phone calls at 7 AM. I always shower first and take the phone with me so that Hermana Dollahite can do her relaxation ritual for the day. So, while getting ready I picked the loudest most annoying ringer I could and set it on the loudest setting before I got in the shower so I wouldn't miss any calls. About a minute after I got in the phone rang. I jumped out of the shower, grabbed my towel, looked at the phone and was surprised when I saw 'Sister Summerhays' as the caller ID (at this point it is 7:08). I answered and Sister Summerhays started by asking how we were feeling. I told her we were on the mend, still a little sick, but definitely better. She then said, "Well President asked me to call you personally and tell you where you were going so you wouldn't have to wait any longer than necessary." (at this point my stomach is in my toes and my body is frozen) Next she said, "Well you are going to stay...(insert five second pause that feels like eternity here)... and so is Hermana Dollahite!" I started crying right there. I told her how grateful we were for her call and that it was the best news we could have gotten and that we would work harder than ever and still had so much left to do. She said, "Oh I know you will work hard, I don't have any doubts about you two. This is the best response to transfers that I have ever heard, I like it!" I said goodbye, and Hermana Dollahite and I celebrated for a few minutes, and then finally I got my shower!
Not too much longer, about an hour later, we did get a call from President, just like he promised! He called to gloat over making us sweat the day before and to tell us how much he loved the two of us. He said, "It was a real battle for me, but when I asked the Lord if I should split you two up for Hermana Dollahite's last transfer, He said, "Absolutely NOT! Leave them be." So that is what I did, I don't really like to mess with what the Lord wants!" It was incredibly sweet, and certainly a beautiful demonstration of his love for us. He talked to Hermana Dollahite too and we both felt his and the Lord's love not only for us, but for this area as well.
So here I am, in St. Pete, with Hermana Dollahite one last time. I will be able to spend Halloween and Thanksgiving with her as well as be the one who gets to send her back to her family after an incredible mission of service and love. I am so grateful for the opportunity I have to be here and to be with her.
Our members are overjoyed, and a couple nearly shed tears of joy! Elizabeth is beside herself since she now thinks that she gets to have Hermana Dollahite for the most amount of time possible and me for not only this one but maybe one or two more! (Which is a definite reality since I think President really wants me here for the first of the year move to the chapel and doesn't want to white-wash the area).
One small miracle I saw this week was at the wedding when everyone was dancing. Everyone is so HAPPY! It is amazing to see the difference from six months ago. Our members are thrilled to be alive. They are purely happy not only individually but as families and as a branch. It really hit me as I watched them celebrating the joy of others and joining in themselves. This is one happy place to be right now! My life is truly perfection. I couldn't ask for more, I am receiving the greatest blessings that a person could possibly receive. I LOVE being a missionary. I love it. I wish I could do it forever. There is nothing that I have experienced in my life that has brought me more joy. I wish for each of you to know of my love for you, and to know that I know this gospel is true, and the purest joy you can find is in it.
I Love you All!,
Hermana Levanger
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