Hi hi! This was the last week of this transfer. I have loved this transfer! I feel like I have grown in so many ways in the past 9 weeks. I had a great companion and we were serving in the most perfect place with some amazing people. Words cannot express my love for this transfer. On Thursday, transfer announcements were made. Since then, my Slovene vocabulary has changed. I have been using the phrase "I am moving," and "I will miss you so much!" And the most common, "I am nervous, but I trust God." Ever since I decided to serve a mission, the phrase "I'll go where you want me to go" Has been one I sing with a little timidness behind my voice. As I sang it yesterday in my last Sunday in Celje with tears streaming down my cheeks, I felt the power behind the words. His plan has always been better than my plan and will continue to be so for the rest of my life. With faith, trust, and love for the Lord, Tomorrow morning, I will be moving to the beautiful city of Maribor! My emotions can not be expressed fully. I already love Maribor. I know I will be happy there. I can hardly wait to meet and love the members. I felt immediate peace after the first shock of it all haha. I have never met a Slovene I didn't love. I know the members and people in Maribor are the same people I have already come to love. I am excited to learn and grow! I will have the privilege of serving along side of Sister C., a missionary I have wanted to serve with since the day I got to Slovenia. I will be her final companion in the mission, as she will return home in 9 weeks. The emotion behind this alone is crazy haha.
To be completely honest, I was pretty shocked that I was leaving. On the way to the library to read the announcement, my companion and I made our final guesses on the upcoming 9 weeks. We both agreed that we would be staying together in Celje. Sister R. opened her email just a little faster than I did, so I heard a small gasp right as mine was pulling up. I looked at the Celje sisters and my photo was not there. NOR was my companion's! We are both leaving Celje! That was not at all what we thought would happen! Our sweet President called us to see how we were taking it all! Honestly, even though I am packed and have said my "see you laters..." it has still not hit me.
Because we are BOTH being transferred, this week has been a little crazy. I have a lot of, lets say, tribal knowledge about Celje. We are teaching many investigators. Our week was filled with getting my knowledge on paper and informing the investigators that there would be two other sisters coming to teach them soon. We also had committed to a few projects like helping with the Primary program and translating the General Women's Conference for an event next Friday, so a lot of evenings after finding were spent finishing projects and obligations.
Yesterday was a day I will never be able to forget. The Celje chapel welcomed some people we were not used to as many old investigators and friends came to say goodbye and give me gifts. I felt so much love. I was overwhelmed with the support I felt and the love. I was able to see the difference I made in a few people's lives. I bore my testimony of God's love for us all and that Jesus lives. As I looked at the members and friends I truly love, God sent the lyrics "Have I Done Any Good in the World Today?" to my mind. A sweet reminder that I had done some good in the world.
To top this week off, GENERAL CONFERENCE! If it didn't COMPLETELY change your life, WATCH IT AGAIN! I was literally sweating at one point feeling the spirit so strongly and it really is cold here haha. I don't have a ton of time to share my thoughts on it all... and I have not yet watched all the sessions (time change and missionary life) But I loved it. It truly did change my life. I have already acted on some promptings I received. My prayers are with the new apostles and their families. Especially a fellow missionary whose dad was called. I love and sustain our Prophet and his apostles and I have the amazing opportunity to testify of them countless times on the street every day. Can you imagine the testimony of God's living Prophet that that missionary holds? Elder, you are in my prayers!
I am excited for what tomorrow brings. I know it is time for me to grow! Growing pains are a real thing! But I already love Maribor! My time in Celje has meant the world to me. I have so far served my whole mission under the shadow of the old castle on the hill. I have gone through physical trials, learned a lot of Slovene, taught a lot of people, and eaten a lot of food (haha oops). I love Celje. And I always will. It was a honor to serve here.
I love you all! Thank you for your support and love and prayers! Especally mom and dad. I love you two. Trust me, "I know to whom I owe it all!"
Have a great week!
Sestra Higgins
To be completely honest, I was pretty shocked that I was leaving. On the way to the library to read the announcement, my companion and I made our final guesses on the upcoming 9 weeks. We both agreed that we would be staying together in Celje. Sister R. opened her email just a little faster than I did, so I heard a small gasp right as mine was pulling up. I looked at the Celje sisters and my photo was not there. NOR was my companion's! We are both leaving Celje! That was not at all what we thought would happen! Our sweet President called us to see how we were taking it all! Honestly, even though I am packed and have said my "see you laters..." it has still not hit me.
Because we are BOTH being transferred, this week has been a little crazy. I have a lot of, lets say, tribal knowledge about Celje. We are teaching many investigators. Our week was filled with getting my knowledge on paper and informing the investigators that there would be two other sisters coming to teach them soon. We also had committed to a few projects like helping with the Primary program and translating the General Women's Conference for an event next Friday, so a lot of evenings after finding were spent finishing projects and obligations.
Yesterday was a day I will never be able to forget. The Celje chapel welcomed some people we were not used to as many old investigators and friends came to say goodbye and give me gifts. I felt so much love. I was overwhelmed with the support I felt and the love. I was able to see the difference I made in a few people's lives. I bore my testimony of God's love for us all and that Jesus lives. As I looked at the members and friends I truly love, God sent the lyrics "Have I Done Any Good in the World Today?" to my mind. A sweet reminder that I had done some good in the world.
To top this week off, GENERAL CONFERENCE! If it didn't COMPLETELY change your life, WATCH IT AGAIN! I was literally sweating at one point feeling the spirit so strongly and it really is cold here haha. I don't have a ton of time to share my thoughts on it all... and I have not yet watched all the sessions (time change and missionary life) But I loved it. It truly did change my life. I have already acted on some promptings I received. My prayers are with the new apostles and their families. Especially a fellow missionary whose dad was called. I love and sustain our Prophet and his apostles and I have the amazing opportunity to testify of them countless times on the street every day. Can you imagine the testimony of God's living Prophet that that missionary holds? Elder, you are in my prayers!
I am excited for what tomorrow brings. I know it is time for me to grow! Growing pains are a real thing! But I already love Maribor! My time in Celje has meant the world to me. I have so far served my whole mission under the shadow of the old castle on the hill. I have gone through physical trials, learned a lot of Slovene, taught a lot of people, and eaten a lot of food (haha oops). I love Celje. And I always will. It was a honor to serve here.
I love you all! Thank you for your support and love and prayers! Especally mom and dad. I love you two. Trust me, "I know to whom I owe it all!"
Have a great week!
Sestra Higgins