on the west coast

Week one, DONE. It really flew by!The days seem to last longer, (a blessing though), and the weeks go by way too fast (not a blessing). Overall it was a great week, but it is SUPER weird getting to a new area and not knowing anything, like nothing... not even where you live. It was a crazy experience. We drove back from transfers on Wednesday across Alligator Alley, the Everglades, but unfortunately did not see any alligators. There are more out here in Naples, so hopefully before I leave I will get to see one.

Our area out here in Naples reminds me SO much of where we lived out in South Carolina. Sometimes I forget I am in Florida. There are trees along every long road and it is just awesome. It is so much different than my last area so being out here was a huge change. There are these long streets that we knock, and in an hour you probably only knock like 10 doors because they are so far apart! The area is huge too. There's one area called "the box" because on a map its just like a box, and that is where most of the finding is done. There are about 6 missionaries that cover that area so the doors are knocked quite often but that's because there are more humble people there. "The box" is like how my whole last area was, but its very confusing to navigate and my mind goes crazy when we work in there. It's great to bike and I love to bike.

The ward here is great as well. It's a super young family ward and most of the families are here for the CRNA program or law school. So they are all super smart and are here for 3-4 years at a time and the ward rolls over often. It's so much different in a family ward, and in English. I miss hearing church in Spanish so much, but it is nice to be able to understand every single word said to me. Not gonna lie about that. There are a ton of children so it is loud in sacrament meeting. The area and ward is great here so it really is a blessing to be out here.

Some more about Sister Rosario. She is from the Dominican Republic and just finished being trained. She served a transfer in the DR though, so we actually go home at the same time. It's really cool and she's super funny. We switch off Spanish and English days and we help each other learn the language. Her call is in Spanish too, but President sent here out here to learn English faster and then she's hoping to go back Spanish. We have a lot of fun, we live with the Sisters in the Spanish ward out here, Sister Montoya and her baby Sister Adams. They are both so much fun and it's a party in the house.

Ok so that is an update on the area and what not. We are working with J right now and her son E. They are both loving church and are super interested and willing and ready to learn more. J was a former investigator who was dropped but who the Sisters picked back up and it seems like now she is ready to learn more and is more willing this time. They both came to church yesterday and loved Primary and Sunday School. There are a couple other people who we are working with and getting them set with baptism dates here this week. It's so awesome to come to an area and see and feel the success that it has here!

My new address is 5100 17th Ave SW, Naples, FL 34116.


1: Sister Rosario!

2: House picture!