Sister Hamblin, Sister Olsen at Zone Conference party

So transfers came in. None of the sisters are moving. I didn't feel like we would be. My companion was a little nervous, but nothing changed. One of our zone leaders though is going home, so our new one will be Elder Rogers, who I came out with! So I'm excited for that. We work pretty closely with the zone leaders here and get to know them pretty well. It's been a really awesome area. I'm grateful to finish out my mission here. It's playing mind games with me! It doesn't seem real. Elder Hoffman, our other zone leader will tell members that he goes home next month and then he's like, "And Sister Olsen is too." And then I'm like, "Oh yeah." It doesn't seem real. Oh yeah, and we got a new district leader too.

It's been a strange weather week! Warm and rainy. It almost felt like spring for a day. It was warmish and the grass was green.......weird. On Friday it rained A TON. Lots of places flooded really bad. It was the heaviest rain ALL DAY. We weren't out in it for all that long. The short times we were drenched us. At least it wasn't cold! Our apartment had some leaking problems around our windows, which was fun. But it's all good now. I have been feeling better this week, but not all the way better yet. I had the flu for sure last week with a cold and now I just have the cold. But it's only really bad in the morning and at night. But it's hard to get rid of when you keep spending time out in the cold haha.

The members have been so fun here! There have been multiple families that have invited us and the Elders over for dinner and then let us decorate their Christmas trees or just join in the festivities. It's been awesome. I didn't get that at all last year in the YSA.

The other night we had a DA (dinner appointment) at the Lopez's. I think I told you about them. They speak very little English, but we always enjoy their company.....and anyway. We are all eating and then they bring out these peppers for the Elders. We don't know what kind they were. Elder Hoffman, from Arizona and proud of it, takes a bite. Then Elder Mertz, Mr. show off bites off half his pepper. And within minutes they were crying and eating salt and in the kitchen hunched over the sink for like a good 20 minutes. It was funny at first. But then we started to get worried. They were crying and in so much pain! Poor Elders. But they chose to eat it. Needless to say, we have fun around here.

Oh yeah, did I mention, we're getting a car this week!!!!!!!!! Hallelujah. It's going to help us out a lot. I'm so grateful. Elder Mertz and Elder Hoffman really pushed for it, and since Elder Mertz is going home, in his honor we're going to name it Mertzman (after both of them actually). Ours will be a black Impreza. And theirs is a pearl one named Sue (short for Subaru). Anyway, that was a whole lot of really irrelevant info.

I hope everyone is enjoying the Christmas season. Sweet is the peace the gospel brings. And I'm so grateful for my Savior, Jesus Christ. I know he loves us all with an infinite love and I'm so grateful for the healing abilities He has. He can make anything and everything right. I love you all and hope you are drawing close to the Savior this Christmas. Merry Christmas!!!! (In a week and a half)
Sister Jen Olsen