Uh...I am not really sure how to start this email...hhmmmm...maybe the beginning is the very best place to start? I got a call a few weeks ago from my dear mission president, President Keyes, and he asked me how I would feel about going back to the Kaw River ward. Yes, that is right Kansas City, Kansas. The cool and rather crazy thing was that I had had this little thought a few days before that maybe it might be necessary for me to go back to Kaw River, although I have never heard of a missionary returning back to an old area in their mission except for my trainer Hermana Dent but that was also done between two different mission presidents. Thankfully I had had a little bit of time to contemplate how I would feel if that were necessary before President called so I was able to answer him openly and honestly. I told him that I would love to do that but I would be lying to him if I did not say that it was for sure one of the hardest times of my life while I was serving there the first time. He just laughed at this because he is pretty aware of what the Kaw River area is like. He also said that he has only sent a missionary back to an area once before and that it went really well because the elder had been very well received upon his return and he had been able to harvest some of the seeds that he and his previous companion had sown. I then told him that I had a feeling that I might be going back and he said that he knew that the Spirit was really working with both of us. President also asked me not to tell anyone before the transfer calls came in so that was really hard because I still was not 100% sure what would be happening. Sometimes the transfers change last minute so I did not really know if I would be going to Kaw River or not. Drum roll please........I am BACK! I am currently serving in Kansas City, Kansas AGAIN! My companion and I, Sister Altier(she is really a great companion and we are becoming good friends) have added another companionship of sisters to the Kaw River ward. There are now two sets of sisters and one set of elders here. When we got here on Thursday we moved into an apartment that the elders had been living in before President moved them out of the area. This apartment had been empty for three months and when we got there it was ABSOLUTELY gross! Those elders were really nice elders but man I don't know how they lived like that! It took us all of one day and half of the next to make it livable for us and we still have some more work to do. I guess elders and sisters have different living standards?...I don't know but I really like our apartment now and we are starting to make some progress. Sister Altier is being changed to Hermana Altier so we get to speak Spanish all of the time and I am so happy because I have REALLY missed having a Spanish-speaking companion.
Going back to the ward for church yesterday was one of the best days of my mission. I did not realize that so many people knew me and loved me and neither did I realize how many people I love and have missed in this ward. The bishop's daughter, Chelsea came up to me and hugged me and welcomed me home. I do feel at home here. I was able to share my testimony in sacrament meeting in Spanish and I just felt so at peace. It was really funny to watch the faces of the members when they saw me. It was like they were wondering if it was me or if it was someone who looks exactly like me and then I would say "Estoy aqui otra vez!" (I am here again!) and they would smile and welcome me. I honestly did not realize that I had made an impact. Sometimes as a missionary, or just as a person in general we tend to think that we are not making a difference but then when we have the opportunity to go back and look at the situation from a different angle we can see that we really have made a difference and touched the lives of those around us. I cannot really express to all of you how happy I am here. It is even better the second time and I cannot think of a better way for me to finish my mission. I love it here and although it is tough the people are the best. I also feel so glad that we have another set of sisters in our ward that live in the apartment building right next to us. Sister Allen is one of them and she is one of my dearest friends. She is training a new missionary named Hna Perez. Sister Allen has only been in the area for one transfer and so President asked me to take the lead and to teach them all how the area works and make sure everything is going okay. I am really glad that President trusts me enough to send me back here to the best area in the mission and also to be able to work with such awesome sister missionaries. I feel so thankful.
Hermana Altier and I have a lot of work to do. We were able to receive some investigators from the other sisters because they are not teaching in Spanish right now, only English but we need to get to work finding more people to teach. We both have a lot of desire to work hard so I pray that the Lord will continue to bless us with miracles and with the ability to recognize the promptings of His Spirit. I was a bit sad to leave the Raytown ward but I think the thing that I was most sad about was leaving Sandy. She means so much to me and I will really miss her but I know as I continue to pray for her and have faith that she will keep progressing and moving closer to our Savior Jesus Christ.
So. That was crazy news right? I have to go but I love you all. Remember your prayers and have faith that all will be well if you allow the Savior to walk beside you.
I love you all!
con amor,
Hermana Thorne
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