Missionaries may deny it, but there definitely are butterflies in
everyone's stomach on the morning of transfer calls. No one ever truly knows if
they are going or not, if their companion is going or not. We may even be told
by the Mission President in advance what he is planning on, but in the end, he
is the one who has the power to change every thing at the last moment.
And so it was with Saturday morning. I got up in the morning, got ready for
the day, and (with special permission from our zone leaders) packed up and went
to the church party. We spent the morning and early afternoon in the mountains
of Komatsu just standing around, talking, laughing, playing soccer and making
food. Interestingly enough, they called it a "hike" - this is my kind of "hike".
We received a text message to indicate that transfer calls had begun - we
were now not allowed to use the phone to call or text other missionaries until
we had received a text message that the calls had ended. This is when the
butterflies suddenly multiply. We stood nervously close to each other and
listened carefully, checking constantly to make sure we still had service. After
15 minutes or so the Elders got a phone call. When they hung up the phone, we
waited, assuming that if the Assistants to the President had just called the
Komatsu Elders, if the Komatsu Sisters were transferring, they would call us
soon after. 15 minutes passed and our phone went off. We picked up to hear
another sister missionary excitedly ask us where we were going. We reminded her
that the calls were still not over, hung up, and continued our anxious wait.
Finally we received a phone call...this time from a lost member who needed
directions to get up the mountain and decided to call the missionaries. After we
hung up with her, we checked our phone but found no missed calls. 30 minutes
later transfer calls ended, but no one had called us. We sat around in shock -
this would be our third transfer together, and my 5th in Komatsu (a rare
occurance). After a minute or so the shock wore off me, and I was just happy to
stay. My companion was either still in shock...or just not too happy to be stuck
with me for another transfer, hahaha.
A couple of missionaries called us, as everyone is eager to learn what is
changing. While on one phone call, one missionary told us that a sister in her
old area was very excited to come to Komatsu. We were so confused! We did not
get a phone call, but there was someone who thought they were coming to Komatsu.
Finally after three of these kind of phone calls, we decided to call the
Assistants.
...They apologized over and over again for forgetting to call. And the news
is that I AM LEAVING KOMATSU!!
I cannot believe it, I'm still in shock. I've had to pack up my suitcases
in the past 48 hours with everything that I have, and get ready to move. I'll be
leaving the rice fields of Komatsu for the city of Fukutoku. My new
companion is Sister Aoki. I don't know much about her, or the area, but I cannot
wait to find out!!
As for my Disney referrence for this week, I think a lot about the movie
the Princess and the Frog. I remember the main character, the movie's heroine,
Tiana, has big dreams of owning her own restaurant. During her story, she
strives her best to reach these dreams. She works numerous jobs and does not
have any fun. Her dreams are put on hold as she turns into a frog and must try
to reverse the process. At one point, she is offered by the antagonist her very
own restaurant in return for something that he wanted. He makes the mistake of
telling her that she can have what her father had and wanted her to have.
Although her father also planned on owning his own restaurant, it is at this
point in the movie when Tiana makes the realization that he didn't need the
restaurant, he had something much greater, he had love. She realizes that she
doesn't need to work so hard to gain her restaurant, because there is something
of greater value right in front of her.
I was reminded of this idea, of working so hard but realizing that you
already have something of even greater value, as I was packing my suitcase
yesterday. I came to Komatsu hoping to work really hard on my Japanese and
hoping to be able to progress as a missionary. I had certain goals in mind, but
at the end of my stay in Komatsu, I realize that despite my hard work, some
goals were left untouched. But, I do leave Komatsu with the love of one of the
most amazing wards I have ever had the priviledge of knowing. I love this ward
so very much, and as I told them, I will be visiting them very soon.
Thank you Komatsu! Hello, Fukutoku!!
