It was so good to talk with you at the airport last
Monday! I can hardly believe that it has only been a week since then, it
feels like I have been here much longer! Luckily we were able to make
our connecting flight and arrived in Pittsburgh around 5ish. I loved the
plane ride! I was able to sit next to a guy named Casey who was
probably in his mid 20s. He said that he went on a service trip to Ghana
a few years ago and I told him that I had a friend serving a mission in
Ghana and from there we started talking about missionary work and the
church the entire 2 hour flight which was so great! It was so good to be
at the mission home. This area is beautiful, despite the bare trees and
piles of snow.
Tuesday, was the transfer meeting where I found out that I would be
serving in the Berwick area which is just about the farthest East the
mission goes. I met my trainer, her name is Sister Cottam, and people
say that we look like sisters. She is from Utah and she has only been
out 3 months! I am leaning so much from her and we have been doing
really well together, despite the fact that we are practically greenies
together. After the transfer meeting we hoped in the car and had a 5
hour road trip to Bloomsburg Pennsylvania which is where our apartment
is. I was a little sad that I did not get to see Libby and that I am no
where near Pittsburgh but Berwick Area is where the Lord has called me
to labor. Bloomsburg claims to be the only Town in PA. It is a cute
little town that is very historic. Our apartment must be at least 100
years old!
It has definitely been a HUGE culture shock. I have been very
humbled this week and I have seen things and been in homes that I never
would have imagined. I makes me realize how blessed I have been. The
people here are looong winded and love to talk....and talk. They are
very friendly though. Everyone here has trouble saying my last name!
When I introduce myself I expect to say Rosengren about 3 times before
they try to say it. We are teaching a guy named Matt who has some sort
of mental disability and he asked if he could call me Sister Rosie haha.
Someone else asked if they could call me Sister Smiley.
Our area is very rural there is one ward that meets in the church
building and the ward has over an hour radius. We split the ward
boundaries with a set of Elders and so we cover half of the ward
boundaries which is still huge. The second day I was in town Sister
Cottam and I went over to meet our golden investigator named Don. He
lives in a health care center and is working on being able to walk. He
would already be baptized by now if it weren't for the fact that he is
in a wheel chair and that there is no place to accommodate him, we are
trying to figure something out though. Sister Cottam told me something
this week that has really helped me she said, "You are not learning
unless you are out of your comfort zone." I am definitely out of my
comfort zone but I am trying my best to rely on the Savior, Jesus Christ
to help me. Thank you so much for all of your letters and for your
prayers, they are much appreciated. I hope that you all have a wonderful
week!
What e'er thou art, act well thy part
Love Sister Sara Anne Rosengren
PS
Here is my address:
515 Market Street #2 Bloomsburg PA 17815
No one received any mail when we arrived at the
mission home and I will not get any mail from the Mission office except
on transfer days about every six weeks since I am so far away. I am
sorry if I have not responded to anyone's mail please tell everyone that
I am not ignoring them I just have not got any letters yet. The address
above will be my address for at least the next 12 weeks.
