Dear Family and Friends:
It's finally happened. I am being transferred.
I have somewhat mixed feelings about this. I am excited to finally be getting out of my first area and to see more of the Philippines and meet new people. But at the same time I'm so sad to be leaving my companion and housemates behind.
I am mostly sad about leaving my companion Sister Kelleher. She has been an amazing influence to me. She has taught me so much about love and service and how to serve a mission without going crazy (yes, it happens to many missionaries). She has taught me balance between working hard and playing hard (within the bounds of missionary work).
Something else she has done for me is made sure I am looked after, even past our companionship. I have been very lucky to come into association with her because frankly she has a lot of peeps in high places. She has already talked to missionaries she knows where I am going and has people set up to look after me and to help me out. It has made me so grateful and I am not even a little nervous to go to a new area. It's like I have "tropas" already built in for me ("tropa" is the Tagalog word for someone who is in your gang of friends). It has inspired me and I am so excited to be able to do it for other missionaries and companions I will have in the future. I just love her.
Something she has also passed on to me is her New Zealand slang...so mom, don't be surprised when we skype next week and I sound a little funny. I never thought that's what I would pick up in the Philippines of all places.
Besides that, I am just chugging along at a pretty steady rate. This work is hard but always rewarding. There is always a new lesson to be learned, a little farther to stretch, and another layer of spiritual dead skin to scrub off (that's the only other metaphor I could think of right now...).
Anyways. Love you all and thank you for your prayers and support:)
~Sister Allyson Lefebvre
P.S. From the title, "Ngapuhi" is my companion's Maori Tribe name...not Tagalog, sorry:)
It's finally happened. I am being transferred.
I have somewhat mixed feelings about this. I am excited to finally be getting out of my first area and to see more of the Philippines and meet new people. But at the same time I'm so sad to be leaving my companion and housemates behind.
I am mostly sad about leaving my companion Sister Kelleher. She has been an amazing influence to me. She has taught me so much about love and service and how to serve a mission without going crazy (yes, it happens to many missionaries). She has taught me balance between working hard and playing hard (within the bounds of missionary work).
Something else she has done for me is made sure I am looked after, even past our companionship. I have been very lucky to come into association with her because frankly she has a lot of peeps in high places. She has already talked to missionaries she knows where I am going and has people set up to look after me and to help me out. It has made me so grateful and I am not even a little nervous to go to a new area. It's like I have "tropas" already built in for me ("tropa" is the Tagalog word for someone who is in your gang of friends). It has inspired me and I am so excited to be able to do it for other missionaries and companions I will have in the future. I just love her.
Something she has also passed on to me is her New Zealand slang...so mom, don't be surprised when we skype next week and I sound a little funny. I never thought that's what I would pick up in the Philippines of all places.
Besides that, I am just chugging along at a pretty steady rate. This work is hard but always rewarding. There is always a new lesson to be learned, a little farther to stretch, and another layer of spiritual dead skin to scrub off (that's the only other metaphor I could think of right now...).
Anyways. Love you all and thank you for your prayers and support:)
~Sister Allyson Lefebvre
P.S. From the title, "Ngapuhi" is my companion's Maori Tribe name...not Tagalog, sorry:)