Bye bye, Bahia!

There is a word that I always knew, and more or less understood, before I came on a mission. But you simply can't fully comprehend how big this word is until you're on the mission yourself.

TRANSFERS.

Imagine being in a place for months (generally around three or four), you know the people, you know the streets, you love the ward, you understand how the bishop likes to work, you know which members have cars, you know where to find the best geladinhos and cheapest paçoquinhas, you understand the transport, you know the bus workers by name....and then, all at once, your world is turned upside-down.

This has only happened to me once on my mission. Until now.

"Reunião de Fax," they call it here. Everyone's tense. The zone leaders (a zone is generally around 15 - 25 missionaries grouped together under two leaders) finally arrive from Salvador, they hold the paper that will tell us what our lives will be like in these next months, and they call out our destinations and companions.

"Sister Petty," they call. I stand. Everyone drums on the table, knowing I will probably leave Dias D'Avila. It's been four months.

"Sister Petty, Dias D'Ávila 1, vai para....PETROLINA, para ser companheira de Sister Taylor!"

Everyone cheers wildly. I clap my hand to my mouth, speechless.

Now, here in Petrolina, I still don't believe it.

All the areas for sisters in my mission are rather close to the hub of Salvador. One, two, three hours away max. However, two or three months ago, Petrolina reopened for sisters! EIGHT hours by bus from Salvador, this city is the only one in the mission that's NOT in Bahia. It's on the other side of the big river São Francisco, on the north part of the mission.

Everyone has always talked very well of Petrolina. "It's very very very very hot," they all say. "And it's very very very good to work!" Apparently the members are fantastic, and really help in the work. The air is dry, the sun is scorching. All the bronzed Brazilians said to me, "Sister Petty, next time I see you you'll be my color!"

The bus ride last night was basically awful, leaving the bus station at 10:20pm, to arrive here about 6am. I didn't sleep. But I survived. :-)

My new companion is a wonderful, sweet sister from Utah, whom I've seriously always wanted as a companion and now I'll have!! She'll be my first American comp...I'm a little nervous about this, but I think we'll do okay with the language.

I will miss Dias D'Ávila MUITO. I love the members so much, and my recently-baptized families will leave a big space in my life. However, I am very excited to start a new phase of the mission. I will work closely with the members, drink lots and lots of water, and grow ever close to Christ as I learn to feel and show more unconditional love.

Thank you all so much for your support, letters, and love. Your letters and e-mails truly lift me.

PETROLINA!

Até proxima vez.

Sister Petty