24 February 2014

Alrighty, I don't think I have much to say about this week. I'll start with exchanges.

 

I got to be companions with Sister Loveland for a day on Tuesday and IT WAS THE BEST! For those that don't remember, we were next door neighbors in uni, and she is basically the best person I've ever met. We had such a fun day together. We found a whole bunch of really good people, had really quality lessons, lots of miracles that day. We made some definitive plans about being roommates next winter in Rexburg. Should be awesome.

 

Then on Wednesday I was in Bedford, which was another excellent day! I just love being back home. It is so good, but I see it with new eyes. We went and visited a less active family that I had helped move into their new house pretty soon before I left Bedford, and they are doing really well. We visited with Lesley, whom I love, and she gave me salt and pepper shakers as a present. It was so nice! In the evening we went out to St Neots for a very small Relief Society activity. Lots of my favourite members that I haven't been able to see in forever were there. I think some people were confused why I was there but didn't want to ask hahaha. Well anyway, sadly I did not get pictures and I very much regret it. But Sister Nendick taught us to knit. I was unsuccessful. I wasn't a very good student.

 

Thursday and Friday we spent at the family history convention that I mentioned last week. It was so fun! Well, the first day I was like crawling out of my skin because we weren't allowed to actively proselyte, we just had to sit there and wait for people to talk to us and couldn't mention the gospel unless we were asked. That was out of my comfort zone. But it ended up being super good, and I was able to help some people a lot with their family history! Its funny cuz I just clicked some buttons and looked like a genius at family history haha. So this one Scottish couple (whose accents I ADORE) came up to me at the welcome desk and said another booth had pointed them to us because they had one great great great aunt or something that was part of the "Mormon migration" and had left Scotland for Utah. They were just looking for the name of the woman who immigrated's grandfather, but with a very quick search we not only found her, but like 6 generations back from her, plus pictures of her and travel logs and trail journals mentioning her. She was apparently in the Martin handcart company. It was amazing. They were so happy, said they had found out more in like 5 minutes than in months and months of researching. Hopefully as they learn about this ancestor they are intrigued as to why she would pack up and travel thousands of miles for this religion. They were so cool. We had a few actual gospel conversations, but for the most part we were just helping people like that and it was really fun!

 

Saturday was interviews, which is always so fun. I love President and Sister Jordan, and I always learn SO MUCH from them when they give trainings and things. Sister Jordan trained on becoming a consecrated missionary, which was excellent and exactly what I needed. I definitely have a long way to go to be a consecrated missionary, but at least now I know what I can actually do to get closer to that goal. President talked about using the scriptures, which was actually one of my personal goals for the week so really inspired. Big missionary meetings like this are a lot like general conference wherein if you really listen, you feel like all comments are directed exactly at you and what you are struggling with or working on right now in your life, even though the person sitting right next to you with completely different circumstances may feel the same way. Crazy how the Holy Ghost works like that to prick us in our hearts on specific things we can improve on. It is always inspiring. I'm a bit going through a refiners fire internally in the past few weeks, really trying to work out some kinks in my character. It takes a lot of prayer and a lot of work, but I know I can become who the Lord needs me to be if I'm willing to put for the effort.

 

This week will be a lot more chill, we only have one exchange. I'm going to Enfield, and I get to be reunited with my sweet little Russian Sister Ovcharenko for the day! I'm excited! I hope you all have a lovely week, love you all!