Monday, August 19, 2013

"Howdy, folks!" - Letter, August 19, 2013

So this week has been a roller coaster. It's been really good, but we've had a lot of ups and downs. We have had a lot of things to do, and we have really been working well with each other. But we have had to work through some problems. Thankfully, I have learned how to deal with stress. My companion has been having a lot of problems with it. it makes me sad, and I don't really know how to help. We have such different attitudes that it's been a challenge. But I don't want to complain about her. That's not it. I am just telling you about what we have been doing this week. So anyway, I told her that we need to find her something that relieves stress, even if it's five minutes of Sudoku before bed. Speaking of stress relief before bed, I did some yoga last night and it felt soooo good. I am going to keep doing that.

Anyway, we found another investigator. Her name is Judy and she is a mother of two. We asked her if she would want an eternal family, and she was really excited about that. We also told her how church is for the whole family. She told us she has been looking for a church to take her kids to. She told us that at one church the pastor asked her to take her son out of the meeting because he was too rowdy. He is nine months old. How ridiculous is that? Anyway, we are going to teach her tonight, and we are taking a member with us.

Oh, speaking of that, you should all, non-missionaries, volunteer your services to the missionaries. Feed them every week. Go with them to appointments. Allow them to use your homes as places to meet investigators. And if they offer to help you with anything, take them up on it. I have found that as a missionary, I want to do service, but no one will allow me to do so. Part of our job here is to serve the people around us. That entails more than just teaching. If you need help cleaning your yard, call them. Don't turn them down. You may be trying to be nice, but we want to help! Anyway, that's my soap box for the week.

Anyway, I met this guy this week. His wife and one or two daughters are all members. But he was really awesome. We were out in front of his house (we can't go into the home of a man without another adult woman present) and he smoked half a pack and we talked about church things. Things like the spirituality of music and church activities. We also talked about guns and roller coasters, but still. Anyway, Sister Savage feels like after our transfer on the 5th, she will be leaving and I will be staying. She keeps telling me that I am meant for this area. I can really connect with the people here. And I doubt this man, his name is Russell, really connects with a whole lot of missionaries. So maybe S. Savage is right. I try not to think about whether I am staying or going. That's not the point. I love the people here. It's great.

Last night, we went to a less-active's house. We met his dad and grandma and mom, all of whom are different religions, not LDS. Anyway, they didn't know he'd been baptized, and we didn't tell them. But anyway, they let me use their bathroom. Random strange girl pulls up to your driveway, talks a little about their mission, and uses their toilet? But the people here are so gracious about that kind of thing. It's awesome. Weird. But awesome.

Anyway, I also got to go to a baptism this week. The girl who got baptized is amazing. She was going to a Christian college to be a minister. She had an internship with a ministering after school program that kicked her out of the housing she was getting from them, and fired her. All her friends left her. And the only thing she had left was her car that she totaled on the way home from the last lesson she had before her baptism. Can you believe the faith of this girl? It's inspiring! She really has been converted to the Lord.

So anyway, despite all the downers, I have had a really good week. Things are really starting to pick up here. The college kids are coming back, and by the end of next week, this place is going to be crazy insane.

I love you all. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is so true. I have my doubts about everything, but the Light that the Gospel sheds on those shadows of my mind overpowers them for sure. I know that Jesus is the Christ and that He wants us to be happy. Those doubts are nothing compared to the Glory of God and the Plan of Happiness.

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