Anti-shmanti

This week has been great! I think I have started every blog post with that sentence... exclamation mark and all. Sorry I'm not sorry life is going well and I can't think of any creative introductions. The intro sentence has always been the hardest for me. 

We actually had appointments this week, which is a welcome change. I LOVE teaching. I love it. I didn't even realize how much I loved it until we just taught at doors for a whole transfer, not that doors are bad, that kind of teaching is fun too.

Anyway.  Miracles are happening here and we are so excited. There have been so many moments where we were in the right place at the right time. I love those miracles because they help me to know that we are fulfilling our purpose and really doing what Jesus Christ would do. 

Example: We met this former investigator who has been investigating the church for over 5 years. All we knew about her was that her husband was against the church. She is an angel. She is one of those people that you meet and just love instantly. I think we felt that way because she needs it. Her husband on the other hand was out of control. He was swearing up a storm and reading us anti-mormon literature from google. Sister Morris and I always joke because we are like "there's our testimony" whenever we meet people who attack what is sacred to us.  Sister Morris and I are very stubborn and don't like to be told what to do/believe. We hold our ground pretty well without being rude or antagonistic. It is so sad to see people that are so filled with hatred towards us. Hopefully we will be able to help this investigator in some way. And hopefully I won't be verbally assaulted by her husband again because it's a challenge for me to be nice (haha... but seriously).

On a funny note... Sister Morris and I pulled up to our driveway the other day and interuppted a major cat conference. There were two cats having a major stand off. So I try pulling up and they don't move. So we feel awkward... and I'm awkwardly pulling up the car while these cats are low-grade growling at each other. THEN they start moving backwards in SLOW MOTION. Literally. Slow motion cats on rewind. Sister Morris and I were both sitting in the car stunned and at the same time we were like "is this real life?!" It was. Finally we opened our doors and they bolted. We then witnessed a separate crazy cat fight. Most random 7 minutes of my life. 

The weeks are flying by. I can't believe it is already June. Crazy.

Ebony's baptism.  She is hilarious and so fun!

Transfer Week!

Dream Team: Blue Springs 2nd Ward Missionaries

Transfer calls come tonight! Eek! This transfer is a big one with the mission split and everything happening in July. I feel at peace with everything so we will see what happens! I am pretty darn sure I'm not going to Witchita, but not sure if I am staying in Blue Springs.

Honestly, there's not much to report. We are working hard, probably the hardest I have worked on my mission. We have seen lots of little miracles, but nothing yet that has panned out with progressing investigators. I'm okay with that though. I have learned so much in this transfer, for my personal spiritual growth and trust in the Lord. My faith and hope in his promises have increased dramatically, as well as my reliance on him. I have had more spiritual studies in the morning and have been better able to meet the needs and answer the questions of those we meet and teach. I am really grateful for these hard times because they really do refine us.

Last week we went to the zoo on p-day! Whoohoo! P-days have been the best with Sister Ogletree and Sister Zito. Transfers are also hard because the people I love get moved away. Sad. Sister Ogletree is probably leaving... We have been together my whole mission!

Here is my life in pictures right now:

This is our District!  They are the best!

I may or may not be obsessed with Chik-fil-A... Yes. Those are Chick-fil-A sunglasses. We go weekly and they know us by name now... maybe because we wear nametags, but whatevs. I'm counting it. 

 

Sister Zito and I were twins...we thought we were funny until we realized how ridiculous we looked at the Visitor Center.  A nice older gentleman told us that we had really nice uniforms.

Transfer Talking...

Time is flying WAY too fast. Seriously. It's giving me a mild panic attack most days. I'm half way done. I wouldn't be thinking about it but for whatever reason every presentation I have taken at the VC this week has asked me how long I have left. Ugh. I don't want to think about it.

Transfers are this next week and it's mildly stressful. This is the doomsday transfer where those that go out to the other mission aren't coming back. I think I'm probably going to stay here but I know some of the sisters at the VC will probably go out and that makes me so sad because we have become such great friends. I also don't want to leave Blue Springs yet. We've been setting things up and I know we are on the brink of major miracles. I want to be there for them! I have been at the visitor center for a LONG time. Sister Sant is the only one that has me beat and she was my trainer. I am hoping to stay one more, but I could very well go full proselyting... just in time to sweat it out for summer. I do NOT do well in the heat... The hiking backpack with reservoir that my dad sent me has already come in handy. I'll probably average 2 liters of water a day.

We are still finding, finding, finding. It would be frustrating, but I'm not frustrated. I know that we have been led to many people so far and have been able to help a lot of people both in the church and out of the church, even if we don't have anyone that we are progressively teaching yet. I am very grateful for this experience though because it has helped me to develop so much faith and trust in the Lord.  This week has been a week of refining for me and I feel like I have finally been losing myself in the work more fully, which is great. I wish I had gotten here sooner, but luckily I've still got plenty of time left.

Awhile ago my sister sent me a letter that had a quote that has been my theme for this week:

I will live up to the spirit that is within me.

I love it! We can be so much greater than we are right now. I am pretty spirited at times... well most of the time. I also love it because we have unlimited divine potential within us to create and to become more like our Heavenly Father. This has been my goal this week, to become more like my Savior Jesus Christ... and to truly live up to the spirit that is within me.

Mother's Day

I feel like there is not a lot to say this week. I got to talk to my family on Sunday. I miss them. So that was the highlight of my week.

I am still loving the Blue Springs 2nd Ward. I never want to leave! Transfers are coming up and I have no idea whether or not I'm leaving or staying. My time is ticking at the Visitor's Center because I have been there almost 9 months! Crazy! So I don't know what will end up happening. It could go either way because Sister Morris and I opened up that area.  That was the 2nd time we opened an area.

Yesterday we had a miracle! We have been doing lots of finding recently so it has been hard to plan and study for specific people. At Zone Training on Friday they talked a lot about faith and increasing our faith. It brought me back to the MTC where we learned to plan with vision in our VC training-- meaning we plan for people we haven't met yet. So we decided to try it. On Sunday night we plan for Monday, so we felt like we would meet a single lady who was struggling with something and feeling kind of separated from God. So we studied for her. We went to do some service for an older lady we had met and it was her! Everything we had studied and planned for was meant for her, even though we didn't know her life or her situation. It was such a testimony to me that this is the work of the Lord. He loves his children and he will help me be an instrument in his hands to bless the lives of others.

#BS2S is the BEST

Look who came to visit!  Brother Carroll!
I had a great time showing him the visitors center!

3 of my 4 amazing companions so far...

I love my new ward! Seriously. They are the best. We are the first sisters they have had in 20 years, since 1993... weird to think that that was 20 years ago, because that was in my lifetime. Anyway. It is really fun and we have already been seeing lots of miracles. The work in this area is quite different than 1st Ward. It is a lot more affluent, so tracting isn't always the best route. We have been trying to do a lot of work with the members and so most of our time has been spent meeting members and less active members right now.
 

Sunday was great. I kind of felt like a celebrity because everyone was so excited to have us there. It makes me want to live up to the hype and set a high standard for the future sisters that come to the ward.

Well, I don't have much news other than that. I'll let you know when the miracles pan out next week. Right now we just have a lot of people we could potentially work with but no one solid.
 

I am so grateful for this opportunity to serve a mission. I love it. So much. This week I had a rough day and it was one of those days where you just want to be mad... and I couldn't. I literally couldn't, because I am so happy! It was frustrating (haha). The restored gospel of Jesus Christ has made me so happy, and the more I learn the more I love it. I know that even the hardest moments in life allow us to become who God wants us to be. I know that he never leaves us alone and never leaves us comfortless, because he loves us. What a huge blessing that is!
 

I love this quote by Joseph B. Wirthlin: " Sometimes the very moments that seem to overcome us with suffering are those that will ultimately suffer us to overcome."
 

I have seen the greatest growth in my life from the greatest trials in my life. I have also realized that we shouldn't have any excuses. The gospel is there for us as a tool to use to help us through those things, not for another thing to be put on the "to do" list.  As I have made the Gospel of Jesus Christ a daily part of my life, part of who I am, through daily prayer and scripture study,  I have found my solace and my peace and happiness and really every good thing in my life.
 

I'm really excited to see what this next chapter of my mission has in store. I am very grateful for the opportunity to serve the Lord in this great work... and I'm really grateful that I get to talk to my family this week on Mother's Day!

the weather turned from this beautiful sunshiny tulip-picking morning to...

THIS!...snow. In May. Crazy!

crazy week!

Seriously. This week was completely INSANE. Mostly just the past three days. Not bad insane, just insane insane.

a snake in the grass

I will give you the highlights.
 

I shook an Apostle's hand! Elder Cook came to Missouri and spoke to half of the missionaries at a special mission conference.  Luckily I was part of the half that got to go. He spoke to us along with some other general authorities and it was so great! Every so often I would remember that I was sitting two rows away from an Apostle of the Savior Jesus Christ. What?! So cool.
 

Sunday was the craziest. We spoke and sang in sacrament meeting.  Our investigator Julian came to church with his two kids-- they are 4 and 5... and have probably never seen structure in their life. Sister Morris and I decided to go on "mini exchanges" and tag team with the kids so that Julian could go to Sunday school. The 5 year old boy that I took was doing pretty well in singing time.... so far so good. Then Sister Morris came back because the girl was crazy craze and somehow we got roped into teaching Sunbeams. It was a complete disaster. You would think after majoring in Elementary Education I could hold down the fort with 5 three and four year old children. Wrong. So wrong. Mia, 'the girl' would start screaming bloody murder with this sweet little smile on her face, whenever she wanted to. Julian Jr. would be coloring on the chalk board with crayon. Meanwhile, another little girl surrounded herself in the corner with chairs because she is terrified and wanted to go home, while Julian is sticking his head in her face like a monster. To top it all off Julian made a break for it and ran through the Blue Mills sacrament meeting with me chasing after him companionless.
 

But it was a success. Julian (senior) had a wonderful time at church.

Skyye and Antonio got baptized! It was a great baptismal service and everything went far better than even expected. Antonio did not want to be caught dead in that jumpsuit. Skyye was so funny and dog paddled out of the baptismal font. Both of them felt so good afterwards and had a wonderful spiritual experience. I feel so blessed to have been able to work with them and watch them progress in the gospel. I know they were part of the reason why I was called to 1st Ward.
 

So the craziest news is that I have been TRANSFERRED. We got a call yesterday at 6:45 a.m. to let us know that we will be newest sisters in the Blue Springs 2nd Ward! Sister Morris and I are opening up that area as a new 'Sisters' area and will be working with the Elders that are already there. I should be a pro at opening new areas by now. It was actually pretty strange because this past week we had about 5 new investigators and for each of them I thought, man, they would be good with Elders teaching them. We now have Elders taking our place in Inde 1st Ward. Crazy miracle.  I'm just banking on miracles waiting for us in Blue Springs. I'm pretty excited, but sad to leave 1st Ward. We have some really amazing people that we are working with. I'll still be working at the VC and living in the Willis house. Also this means I have a CAR now because our area is about 20 minutes away. So all that bike hype for nothing. We returned them to Walmart, which has a surprisingly good refund policy.
 

So that's that. Sunday morning to Monday morning was the craziest 24 hour stretch of my mission life!
 

Congrats to my bestest KT Pack who is tying the knot. I wish I could be there! James Bobby Dalton is one lucky fella. Save me a spot on the couch #delawarefeb2014

Bike Gang. Party of 2.

 

Last year in Provo I was the head of a bike gang called the Duskateerz. We had a logo and rode around Provo. It was the best. Looks like the Lord has been using all of my talents recently... because the gang has recently moved to Missouri. We had transfers this last week and now have added 60 new missionaries to our mission in the last 2 transfers. We have added 0 cars. So that means that three areas at the VC are now no car areas. So we are biking and busing it all around town. Aside from the fact that Missouri is the hilly hilly hilly it has been great! I'll admit I held out on moving past the "sister missionary" look for a solid seven months. I think that the bike just might do me in. You can't look cool in a helmet.

Here are the highlights of riding a bike:

- We meet tons of people that we would never meet otherwise... we have seen tons of miracles. 

- I can eat as much Blue Bell ice cream as I want with a clear conscience at night.

- I LOVE riding bikes. It is really one of my favorite things to do. 

- Going down all the Missouri hills is the best.

- I'm getting real buff lifting that bike on and off the bus. 

- It has strengthened my faith to know that the Lord will provide people for us even though we have way less time to find because it takes us so long to get everywhere. I know that he is preparing the hearts of people that will be found only because we are on a bicycle. It is the best! 

Downsides of riding a bike:

- I look like a total toolshed in a helmet and somehow creepy men still cat call at us. What?

- I'm only a lot a bit saddle sore. 

- Going up all the Missouri hills is the worst.

- Do you know how hard it is to ride a bike in a skirt! Nearly impossible. Still trying to figure out how to bike without flashing the world in a skirt. It's a work in progress. 

Funny story. On our first bike day we were stopped at the bus stop and were trying to figure out where we were going. These two young guys (semi-hood) were like "You girls are gorgeous" and I was like "Excuse me, I am wearing a helmet, are you for real." Then they were like "Yeah it doesn't even matter what you are wearing." I didn't care how creepy that was, I was flattered and it made my day, then what really made my day was that they came by the VC the next day and one of them became a new investigator. He wants to change is life around and even said he would be baptized if he came to know that it was true when he was here at the VC. What?! I'll take that as a bike day miracle. We will be hanging out at the Inde bus station more often. Thank goodness for helmets... and the light of Christ. 

Another bike day miracle. The other day we changed our travel route last minute and  were riding through one of our areas on our way to another area and we rode by this school. One of the girls from this family we are teaching was on the playground and spotted us! She was like "Hey, Sister Call! Is that you?" We came over and she told us that her mom and sister had just been talking about us this morning and wanted to have us for dinner that night. She's the cutest most polite thing and was like "So we would love to invite you to dinner this evening, will you attend?" So adorable. We then went over to her house and talked with her mom for awhile. We hadn't been able to get in touch with this family for a couple of weeks! Miracle miracle. 

Anyway, enough about bikes. 

Skyye and Antonio are getting baptized this weekend! I'm super excited! I can't wait for them and for the family. Everyone is doing really well. Antonio just keeps surprising me. He is so diligent in his study and really wants to come closer to God. He loves church and can't wait to be baptized. It has been such a blessing to work with them.

I found out that Tim is probably receiving the Priesthood soon. He has been doing really well out in Cuba and his Branch President wants him to get it before he gets home from his duty and he leaves sometime in June! So exciting! 

Also coming up this weekend Elder Cook is coming to our mission! We get to have a special fireside with him and all the missionaries in the area on Saturday. I can't wait! 

Life is good. April showers bring May flowers has taken on a whole new meaning here in Missouri. It is rainy rainy right now. I think my theme this transfer is going to be "I'll go where you want me to go dear Lord, over mountain or plain or sea. I'll say what you want me to say, dear Lord. I'll be what you want me to be." I'm working on becoming who he wants me to be. I have a little less than a year left on my mission and lots to learn. I know that as we lose our life for His sake we find it. I know that as I give everything I have and am, I'll in turn learn all that I need to. I feel like spring is all about rededication and new beginnings. So there you go. That's my sappy sister missionary words of wisdom. Do what you will with it.