Expect the unexpected

It was definitely a different week with a big surprise for Sister Jordan Wunderli.  She is doing an emergency transfer - transfer calls aren't for three weeks. She'll be in Tokyo (that should be exciting in and of itself, without the fact that she's got some new responsibilities).  It's a bit of a short email this week because she's short on time.  I hope you enjoy it.  

こんにちは、

"Expect the unexpected," is a quote from one of my favorite reality TV shows and is pretty applicable to missions, but especially this week. 

EMERGENCY TRANSFERS: 

We got a call from president Nagano last night around 10:00pm.  Well president Nagano has never once called me at 10pm so I didn't think it was good...I honestly thought someone had died. We picked up and he asked how we were and then tells us that this was actually a transfer call... transfer calls aren't suppose to be for another 3 weeks... he then told me that I would be leaving kumagaya and I'm going to Nakano, Tokyo (where the mission home is) and that I will be becoming an STL (sister training leader). I was a tad in shock. After the call I started freaking out a wee bit because I wasn't close to being packed and I had to call our members and investigators. So what did I do? I threw everything I own on the floor including myself... basically me and Sister Domino were just freaking out to each other and I still have a lot of packing to do.

Engrid and Erika:

Erika is Engrid's 12 year old daughter and were working really hard with her to take the lessons so she can get baptized. This week, we sat down with Engrid and she just told us that she really wants Erika to get baptized and so we're all working together to make that happen. We taught Engrid about family scripture study and prayer and she said that she already does that with Erika! I'm so excited for Erika and Engrid and the fact that they can become an eternal family.

FAREWELL KUMAGAYA: 

Words can't describe how sad I am to leave kumagaya. I love the members with all my heart and I really felt like I was apart of their ward family. I love the cute city of kumagaya and all of the amazing people I've met here. I'm so sad that I'm leaving so suddenly (I leave on Wednesday), but I know that for some reason I'm suppose to be in Nakano. I'm excited for this next adventure and I definitely left a little of my heart in Kumagaya. 

If I can give you all one piece of advice from what I learned this week is don't take the present for granted!! Be thankful for everything and be thankful for it now. I'm thankful that I was able to serve in Kumagaya for 2 and half transfers.

愛しています、

WunderliShimai 

Pics: 

1. Still went to zone p-day even though I have to pack and have no time...totally worth it 

2 and 3: dinner with the Ruichi's...Lots of meat 

4. Sports taikai. I love the kumagaya ward 

5. So sad I only got her for 3 weeks

6. I love this Eikaiwa group

7. Hanyu (where Kiriko lives) 

8. Rice fields = rice = happy me 

So in the end, it was a surprising week but I think that President Nagano showed a lot of confidence in Jordan with this call.  She'll be an STL over 2 zones and 4 companionships where it's typically one zone and two companionships.  I also think that she was probably "ready" to do something like this prior but that she was making such good headway in her areas as purely a missionary that President Nagano thought that was her highest and best use.  She's been working hard and doing great things with and for the people she is serving and that is the mission of the mission and I'm very proud of her and happy for her.  As always, thanks for your support via your thoughts, emails, snail mail and prayers.  Feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section.