El Paso, TX

WHERE DO I BEGIN?
First off, this week has to have been one of the biggest weeks of my mission and life…not only here but at home! I was thrilled to get on the computer today and find out that I am an aunt to an adorable baby girl, Hazel Jane AND that my sister is engaged to one of the most amazing guys out there. Plus, Hollister turned eight and is getting baptized. In addition to all that, I got transferred down south! I LOVE IT HERE! I LOVE IT! I can't say that enough. I honestly don't even know what to say. I miss the north (especially all of the sweet people of Rio Grande up there), but I love it down here as well.

I had no idea that El Paso has EVERYTHING. One night we were driving down the road and I saw four of my five favorite restaurants (Texas Road House, PF Changs, Red Lobster, and Olive Garden)!  I was dying...plus there is a mall with a Forever 21! Ok, those things really aren't that important, but who would have thought that El Paso would be like that? I imagined dirt roads with no one speaking English for some reason. It has been a fun change.

 

 

The night before transfers, we ate three times!  First with the sweet Robleros (I am going to miss them!), second, Ana then took us out to eat (that sweet girl is taking out the missionaries tomorrow night so I can see her when we go to Albuquerque tomorrow night for a meeting), and then Yesena!

 

We got Alfredo confirmed. I am happy we got that done before I left. He was so happy about everything. I miss those people already, every single one of them. It is crazy how attached you get to the people you serve. It was a bitter sweet night. However, I knew it was time for me to leave, and I am so grateful for all of the experiences I had with them.

 

Surprisingly, I was able to fit ALL my stuff into two suitcases and a duffle bag, since there wasn't a weight limit! :) My bags were HEAVY!  So heavy....I think I hurt my back taking them down the steps that morning. It still hurts...oh well.

 

 

We went to the chiropractor yesterday, because my companion has major back problems. It was amazing!  He is a member and was so sweet. We drove RIGHT along the border of Juarez and El Paso. That was awesome! I love that on the mountain it says, "La Biblia es la verdad leela" You can see it from our area.

 

At transfers I had a pretty good idea that I was going down south.  The first thing they announced after the trainers and trainees was, "Sister Nye, you will be driving the ....and going down south with..." I was blown away!  I couldn't believe that I was driving, and to be honest I was a little bit scared to after not having driven for so long. It ended up being ok!  I met a Montgomery who was there helping with transfers. That was fun to talk about Makeesa and Kimi. 

We drove to Las Cruces and met up with Sister Oxley. She took us the rest of the way! Then I found out about my companion....HERMANA FALLENTINE! I was so happy! We served up north together, and we always talked about being companions!  We get along perfectly...we laugh so much together and missionary work is just so much fun with her. We are on the same page about everything and we have similar personalities and humor so it is already so much fun. My new ward has six missionaries like my last one, us, the district leader and his companion, and the zone leaders. It is such a nice ward. It is also called Rio Grande!  Funny, huh?         

 

 

Thanksgiving was nice.  We went to the parade in the morning, because we cleaned up afterwards for service. It was super fun! We went with a recent convert family, The Enriquez’s. They are adorable.  The wife only speaks in English (knows both English and Spanish) and the husband just speaks Spanish. Also, the wife speaks with a southern accent, because she is from Texas. 

 

 

 

We took Christmas pics today too.  I know I didn't say everything that is going on, but this is all the time I have. I love it here and love my new companion so much!  

 

 

 

 

George and Karmelle received this letter from Hermana Nye's mission president last week!