Hello Platte Citaaayyy!

Oh my gosh, I LOVE MY NEW AREA!!!! It is just the greatest thing in this whole world.

Platte City is in Missouri and it's 20 min from the Kansas City Temple- which is going to be dedicated on May 6th. And the temple open house is the first of April, so I will totally get to be there and answer people's questions that come through the open house. How stinkin' awesome is that?! I seriously cannot wait. It was Sister Jone's first area, so we just swapped places. She's now in Indy training a sister from Samoa, and I'm here in Platte City doing the full pros business. When President told Sister Jones and I that I was opening Platte City back up for sisters we were both stoked out of our minds. She talked about Platte City all the time, so I knew it had to be great.  

So my new companion is Sister Stoker from Henderson, NV and she's been out about year. We both got double transferred into our area and we have part time car with the Elders here. We double cover a ward and a branch, so similar to my last area. It's craziness. We are living with members and they are seriously so much fun. It's the first time they've ever had missionaries living in their house so they've been really good and gracious to us. I guess Bishop called them last Sunday and said, "Hey, Sisters are coming this Thursday, would you be willing to house them?" Ha ha, poor things. Didn't get much of a notice. So they are totally awesome, and Bro. Edwards sacrificed his office room so we could have a bedroom. Platte City is the bomb though, for reals. It's country side but not. All of the people here are so friendly and nice, I feel like I am back in Bigfork. My ward is amazing. So missionary minded. I honestly don't think I've ever seen a ward that is so focused on helping the missionaries. However, I do miss the Polynesians. It's super weird not to see any Polynesian brothers or sisters. I'm back in polyangi land.  

Saturday Bishop gave us a warm welcome and asked to speak in church the next day. Ha ha, gotta love the mission. So get this- after Sister Stoker and I spoke in church, we got like 3 referrals from the members. Ha ha, it blew me out of the water. And then, everyone kept coming up to me and telling me how much I looked like Sister Jones. It was pretty funny, we got that all the time in Independence. I miss her, but being here I feel like I still have a part of her with me. PLUS- Sister Stoker is whipping me into shape and teaching me how to do the whole full pros thing. She's awesome, such a hard worker and a great example of what a missionary should be like. 

Funny story- Friday morning (our first day in PC- great initials BTW ;) S. Stoker gets out of the shower, comes back to the bedroom and says "Oh, by the way, there's no hot water." Ha ha, so I get in there thinking, "Oh, there will be some more hot water I'm sure." Ha ya right!!! That was the coldest shower I've ever taken. Ha ha, it woke me right up! I don't think I've ever prayed in the shower before until now. Ha ha. Oh the joys of living with members. The next day Sister Edwards says to us, "I'm sorry if the water was cold yesterday, was it?" And I said, "Let's just say, I definitely wasn't tired anymore after my shower." Ha ha. Saturday morning we were careless and completely unfamiliar with the area of course. So we decided we'd do the whole missionary thing and go walking. We bundled up and braved the 15 degree cold- sorta. Ha ha, we walked a good 6 hours up and down hills with our clunky boots on and runny noses. We were able to get to know a few members, but no new investigators....yet. I'm finally gonna have some muscle in my legs. Ha ha. After sitting so much for 8 months, my poor legs are sorer than sore. Ha ha, all is well in Zion though, I love it! 

Oh my goodness- I totally forgot the best news of all this past week- Before I left Independence, I met with one of my recent converts, Tina. She's just the greatest. She is married and her and her husband have the cutest little poly baby Marie, I love her. Anyway, they came to the Visitors Center and so Sister Jones and I took her through God's Plan, and at the end we were just both in tears because Tina had been going through a lot the last couple of days and was struggling. Well after we talked about what was going on, we brought up the temple and how this summer she can be sealed to her family. Sami (her husband) says to me, "Sister Conrow, we're really going to miss you but we have one more favor to ask of you before you leave.... August 24th Tina is going to go through the Kansas City Temple and we are going to be sealed as a family. We want you to be there. Will you be there?" Man, tears just stared running down my face. I honestly don't think I've ever been happier in my life. I couldn't believe what I had just heard. At that very moment, in between the sobs, I knew that I was supposed to teach her and to be here. I knew that this is what makes all the hard times worth it- seeing families become eternal. It was the greatest going away present I ever could have received. I love them so much, and I feel soooo blessed to be apart of their lives. If that was all I was able to do in Independence, it was totally worth it. Anyway- later that night, the Olamaleva's came in (my old ward mission leader from Indy) and Tina and Sami came back. We all got around the Christus and they sang me songs and we all prayed together. We took tons of pics and Tina & Sami made a recording for me and thanked me. It was just soooo great. I honestly couldn't stop smiling and crying. I love them, and I will miss them, but I know I'll see them soon- in the KANSAS CITY TEMPLE!!! 

I love being a missionary, I love serving here. Life couldn't get any better. I don't care if I have to walk all day in the freezing cold and get blisters on my feet- it's worth it. The experiences and love are all worth it, I promise. I love this Gospel, I love my Heavenly Father, He is the man! I love you all! This is His work, truly it is! 

Love, Hermana Conrow :)