3-25-2013

Oh this is in front of downtown Indy. This bridge is right next to the church building we go to. So downtown Indy itself is really small. The city is spread out over a huge area, so even though the pop is way higher than Seattle, it looks tiny. Downtown is really neat though. There are a ton of churches here and there architecture is really neat. The center of town actually is made of cobblestone roads.

 Oh I like this picture better haha. This is with Sis. Carroll while we were on exchanges last week.

Yeah we got like 7 inches last night/this morning. That's why I'm e-mailing so late. Our cars were grounded so we couldn't leave. They actually cancelled the YSA branch because of the storm, even though it didn't snow until last night. So we went to the spanish branch yesterday. Luckily the one of the elders was kind enough to translate. It's really not that bad though. The roads are compeletely clear and it's not really that cold.

 

 We taught 11 member present lessons last week! I also went tracting for the first time yesterday for like an hour. I hate to admit it, but I didn't really enjoy it at all. I'm feeling more comfortable in lessons, but I still don't like talking to random people. It's a lot of effort! I didn't realize how hard talking could be. I had a interview with President and then Sister Collins last Friday. He made me feel a lot better. He said he could tell I was a perfectionist and was probably overwhelmed because I couldn't do everything yet. He said to just take it one day at a time and that eventually I would be able to feel more comfortable. I do feel a lot more confident in lessons though. I figured out the key to being able to teach well is to love the person you are teaching. I've really only felt that love for one of our investigators, D. So I actually love going and teaching her. The other ones, especially the single guys, not so much. I think it's because I have a hard time relating to them.

Studies are going well. I really enjoy having personal and companionship study. Favorite time of the day. Both of my companions are so smart. We get a long really well, I'm so grateful for companionship inventory. One reason why I have felt a lot of pressure to learn all I can is because of Sister Donaldson. She is the coordinating sister for the mission which means she is in charge of conducting all the sister exchanges. She knows that there are areas suffering and that the sister need help. She wants Sis. Clark and I to be the best we can be, so then we are capable of helping some of these struggling areas. However, I still have 10 weeks left of training. It's weird to think that I haven't even been here for two weeks. The days pretty much blur together and I have a hard time remembering which day it is.

Hopefully we'll have some baptisms in the coming weeks. Right now we have four dates, and this week we are going to try and commit maybe four or five more. We have a lot of new people we are going to try and meet with this week. All I know is that this area is very unique. We don't tract and all we do is teach. I think I'm getting a twisted view of what missionary work is like.

Oh and I miss good food. Usually what the members feed us is decent, but I think I've eaten more turkey sandwhiches these last two weeks then I ever have in my life haha. My companions has become pro at chocolate chip pancakes. I eat them with peanut butter :) Oh yeah we went to wal-mart and they didn't have adam's peanut butter, but don't worry about sending me some.

 

 

 

Just thought I would tell you how fabulous my companions are. I seriously got the
best ones in the mission. Sister Clark and I are pretty similiar, she's a little weirder than me haha. Don't worry she knows it though. Her b-day is August 18th and goes to Provo. She likes talking to everyone though. We were out the other day walking along the river. There was this guy clearly getting stuff out of his car and there were two fences between us, so we couldn't even get close. She started yelling at him, but she got his information. Sis. Donaldson is the best trainer I could ask for. I seriously think she is the best missionary in the mission. Everyone respects her. This Friday we are going to a zone leadership meeting at the mission home, first time sisters have ever gone. Why are we going? Because of Sis. D. She really wants to improve how sisters work. She's very patient with me, and wants to help me out as much as she can.

3-17-13

It's been crazy since I got here Tuesday. The plane ride was a lot of fun. I've really made friends with some of the missionaries from the MTC and I miss them a lot. We spent Tuesday night in the mission home. They fed us and we had a testimony meeting. I love President and Sister Collins. They are both so nice and welcoming. President Collins is serious about obedience, but also very warm. I was suprised at how casual my first interview was with him. Wednesday morning we had training and then we went to our transfer meeting. I have two companions, Sister Donaldson has been out a year and is from Provo. Sister Clark has been here only one more transfer (so Januray) and is from Orem. Both are incredibly nice. Sister Clark is a pro at being a missionary. She will talk to ANYONE and is so good at introducing the gospel to them. She is so excited for when we will actually be able to do some personal contacting. We are over the YSA branch. It covers three stakes (huge area) and all of Indianapolis. We live right by the Speedway. Indianapolis has a lot of people, but it covers a huge area so it's not concentrated like Seattle. There is barely a downtown area.

Wednesday night we went to Insitute, I have no idea who that lady was :). I've met way to many people that it's difficult for me to remember names if I have just met them once. I don't know if you figured this out over facebook, but our ward mission leader is Todd Boucher, he was in Brendon's MTC district. I introduced myself in institute and said I was from B'ham WA, he turned around and asked if I knew Brendon. He was so excited!

I was exhausted the first couple days, always falling asleep during study in the morning. I think I've caught up pretty well now. I'm definitely not a natural missionary. My companions are able to stick up a conversation with just about anyone. It's difficult. I get frustrated with myself because I want to be the best missionary I can be, but it's just not coming. Sister Donaldson and I talked about it on Saturday and she said I'm not the only one. For some people it's hard to share the gospel even when they have a testimony. So I'm struggling in that regard. Teaching lessons is alright. I taught my first real investigator lesson yesterday. The rest of them have been recent converts or less actives. It's hard working in a trio, because I'm the newest companion and talk the least amount. I need to learn how to just slow down and realize when they are understanding what we are teaching. I still don't feel like a missionary at all, like it hasn't hit me yet that I'm actually doing this.

I didn't introduce myself to the ward, it was branch conference. But everyone introduced themselves to me! Seriously the people in the branch are super friendly.

I'm impressed at how much the recent converts know, but Sister Donaldson said they know more than the other converts she has had. The investigator we taught last night, Natalia, is a little person. She is so cute and I loved teaching her. We have another appointment with a young man tonight. The elders have taught him two lessons already, but since he is YSA age they referred him to us. We had three investigators come to church yesterday and I think we have four with a baptisimal date.

 

I am having a lot of fun though. District meeting last week was a lot of fun with the elders, and I think we're doing something with them at the church today. I don't know I guess serving a mission is different than I expected. I mean I knew it was going to be hard, but maybe I'm just beating myself over it. I just hate going out in public because I feel like I have to talk to everyone I see. That's the part I don't really like. I'm fine with talking to people that I've already met though. And I've gotten over my fear of making phone calls for the most part. I've never had to text more in my life! I also don't really like that part. I feel like we're texting all the time, and sometimes that's kind of frustrating for me. I also thought we would be running from place to place, but we're not. I actually hate being late to other things that were supposed to be at. We drive everywhere because our area is so huge. My piano skills are certainly coming it to play, don't worry. I'm not hiding it at all.

 

 Oh and they are actually splitting the mission. Two of the stakes will be going into the Cincinnati Ohio mission in July. So maybe I'll serve in two missions!!!!!!!!!! The chances are pretty unlikely though. I'll be in this area for at least 3 months, then if I get transfered in June to one of those two stakes then I will be in the new mission, I think.

3-7-13

Guess what?????? I'm alive.

The MTC has been better than I could have ever imagined. I haven't gotten sick from the food, yet. Except I wish I could actually eat something decent for once. They do have all you can eat ice cream on Wednesday and Friday's from the creamery. Oh and I got to try cookies and cream chocolate milk from the creamery this morning too!

Ok on a more serious note, I've learned more here than I could ever imagine. Teaching is hard! Being with my companions all the time hasn't been a struggle yet. It's difficult to teach lessons with three of us through. Sometimes I feel like I'm talking too much (yeah I know hard to believe). Everyday we teach one of our teachers who is acting as an investigator. This is the hardest. I can't get past that he's my teacher, Brother Staley. Oh my teachers are great. Sister Metzger has a ton of energy and also makes us feel loved. She's able to recognize when we need help and doesn't just teach what she is supposed to teach us, which is a great example for us missionaries because that is exactly what we are supposed to do with our investigators. Wednesday when I got here I didn't feel nervous at all. There is so much energy that it was hard to be nervous. Thursday was also great to. I quickly learned that the Spirit is able to speak to me. While we were dicussing topics in class, impressions would suddenly come to me and I would just say them. It was a great experience. Friday was more difficult. This is the first time we taught our progressing investigator, or our teacher. It was way hard. We tried to teach exactly what we had planned instead of paying attention to his needs. Saturday was the worst. The day started out fine. I enjoyed my personal study and my first class. Sister Metzger taught the class after dinner. I don't really remember how it started. On Friday Brother Staley told us that at some point we would hit a wall and we wouldn't be able to progress. I started praying for that experience and that I would be aware of when it came. So back to Saturday night, Sister Metzger started asking us questions that we didn't know how to answer. She then asked us what were some of the blessings that come from living the gospel. We started listing a ton on the board. She told us that our goal as missionaries was to help our investigators understand these blessings. They won't want to accept the gospel until they realize the benefits that come from it. I broke down. I realized I couldn't do this. I couldn't be a missionary. How as a supposed to help people understand what the gospel could me to them when I didn't understand myself? I was frustrated and I was hurt. I didn't want to keep doing this. I was beginning to realize that I couldn't just teach lessons, I had to understand people's needs and then match the doctrine of the gospel that they needed to hear. After crying for probably half an hour, I looked around and realized every other missionary in the room was also crying. Luckily we had all hit this wall at the same time. I'm very grateful for Sister Metzger's ability to recognize our needs through the Spirit. Instead of just moving on with the lesson, she took the time to help us through this. She read us part of D&C section 6. She explained that what we were all feeling right now was necessary. We needed to realize that we could do this on our own. The Savior will be with me every step of the way. That wasn't the only lesson I learned that night. I was emotionally drained. I felt completely inadequate. Then I experienced something I never thought possible. My heart began to physically hurt. I know that sounds weird, but it's true. I felt that way for the rest of the night. Unfortunately my companions took it as something they did, because I kind of pushed them away. Sunday morning I woke up with that same pain and I still felt like I couldn't move forward. How grateful I was that it was fast Sunday. That morning I explained to my companions again that it was nothing they did. This was something that I needed to go through in order to become more converted. We then went to mission conference. My faith was restored. The pain went away. Heavenly Father answered my prayers, and my understanding of the Atonement increased just a little bit. It was difficult, but it was necessary. I wouldn't say I doubted my testimony Saturday night, but I think my faith definitely wavered. I think the other reason why I was struggling so much Saturday night was because I began to realize that my entire mission was going to be like this. This wasn't the only time I was going to feel pain or sorrow.

After that experience I have been able to learn even more. I've prayed sooooooooo much this last week. I always have to remind myself that I wear my Savior's name and that He is with me all the time. I've come to realize that I can't progress several more times. Each time I have to take a step back and remember that I'm not alone. But don't worry I've had a great time. Don't think I've been miserable this entire time. The elders are great here, a little immature for sure. But I've had a lot of fun. I've been able to Ashley Miller, Alex Johnson, Jessica Schindler, Lauren Rasumusen (she's going to Mesa, Arizona), Zack Mumford, and Tayor Cambell (Kenz:). I absolutely love it here and I can't believe I'm leaving sooooo soon.

Ok on Tuesday my flight leaves from SLC at 7:20 am. We have a lay over in Denver from 8:44 until 10:25. Do you want me to call? Send me a dear elder letter if that works. They will deliver the same day so I'll get it in time. I wish I had more time to tell you stuff, maybe I'll have more time to write you a letter later today. I can't figure out how to attach pictures, don't worry I look the same. Ok times out, I love you all and I can't imagine doing anything. This gospel is true, missionary work is hard, but Christ is with us through it all.
P.S. Sister Mayberry is starting to sound more normal :) 

 

 

 

Sister Mayberry with her friend Hermana Miller

Sister Kyla Mayberry-Indiana Indianapolis Mission

I'm so grateful that Kyla has made the choice to serve a mission.  In the 2 weeks that she has spent in the MTC she certainly has grown along with her testimony.   I know that she will not only gain much knowledge but with her kind spirit she will help the people of Indiana