Week 1



 




Hello everyone!

It's taken me a while to get email addresses together to write. This is my disclaimer..... if there are any misspellings, incorrect grammar etc., it is the computers fault not mine! So, with that out of the way I can go on with my email.

We, Mary Ann Jones and I, Left Spanish Fork about 1:30pm on Friday the 19th. We drove and drove and drove until about 2:00AM on Saturday morning. We slept for a few hours and left shortly after 7:00 Saturday morningand headed on to Wichita, Kansas. We found the mission offices but since it was Saturday no one was there! I called president Barr, he gave me the address of his home. He also said that it would be better to take Mary Ann to the airport first because of the timing of her flight back to Utah. I dropped her off at the airport and gave her a hug, not just because she drove all this way with me, but also because of our friendship. My last link to Spanish Fork.
I went to President Barr's home and was greeted very warmly by him and  Sister Barr. We visited for about a half an hour then I was on my way to Burlington, Kansas. It took me about two hours to drive to Burlington. When I arrived at my apartment I was greeted by Sister Peherson, my companion/roommate. She gave me about a 5 minute tour of our apartment and we were off to dinner at the RS president's home. I met the Burlington Elders there.  We had a great dinner and conversation. Of course I had to explain where my "odd" last name was from. Brother Watson, the RS president's husband, was quite familiar with polynesians as he had lived in Guam for 30 years. 

After dinner we came back to our apartment.The Elders followed us and unloaded my car for me! It was really appreciated. It was getting pretty late in the evening and needless to say, I was very tired! My sweet companion had my bed all made and my room all ready for me. I have found out that we have many things in common including the color red! She was born, raised, and converted to the gospel in Italy. She served her first mission in Italy when she was a young adult. She had moved to Utah and was living in St.George before coming on her mission. She has three girls and a few grandchildren.
Church on Sunday was very interesting! There is just a small branch here in Burlington. The chapel is much like the ones in Utah, only a miniature version. The people are very friendly and outgoing.  Brother Watson was our SS teacher. He introduced me and said that I would help with a luau sometime.  By the end of the day I had been asked to teach Seminary one day and to help with the RS lesson next week.  I was happy to be put to work so quickly! 
PDay was Monday. I was very happy because there were a few things I needed, food for one! Anyway the day went pretty fast.  We planned on going to the Rec. Center here every day. So far we have! I may be a little more in shape by the time I come home, at least that is the hope!

During the week we visited quite a few people and got to know the town a little better. Sister Pehrson had only gotten here about 3 weeks before me so we are both learning our way around. There are no mountains to help with directions so it is very easy to get mixed up.
All in all it has been a pretty eventful week. I'm excited to be able to do more service than I have done so far. I've patched 5 pairs of pants and fixed a shirt. My sewing skills have been very useful already! Most of the people I have met so far have some kind of Utah connection. It's very interesting what a small world the church is.The people here are so nice and humble. There are almost no fences between the houses and the houses are on big lots, most likely because they are older homes. 

We had zone conference on Thursday in Topeka where I met Elder Pan. Elder Pan is Tongan and went to school with several of my grandsons in Provo. It was nice to meet him! There were 6 single sisters in our Zone. Believe it or not, three of them were from Spanish Fork! How interesting! 

This last Sunday I got to meet our Branch President. President Dunnaway had been on vacation so I didn't meet him last week.  He is a very good person. He is conducting in March so he said for us to be ready to speak in church then. He also said there is help needed in the RS and Young Women and to be ready to serve there.

Yesterday was the first day I have seen the sun since being here. Today it was 61 degrees which is alot warmer than the barely above zero of the past week.  I'm so happy to be here and to help gather Israel! 

Love to you all,
Sister Tuha






It’s always fun and interesting to go and explore new places. Here are some pictures of Burlington, Kansas where I’m currently living. It’s a small old city with a rich history. I’m so blessed that the Lord sent me here! It’s a wonderful place with wonderful people!
Near the Neosho River.

Beautiful Neosho River.

My companion Sister Pehrson.

Neosho River

Building in Burlington.

Building in Burlington.



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