4-22-13

Dear Family, Friends, and Fans :)

 

Haha so I'm learning just how many people actually read these e-mail, so I'm going to try doing things just a bit different. I feel like in the past they have just been these random things happening. So we'll see how this goes.

 

Tuesday: We had specialized training up in Fishers. All the trainers and trainees got together and were there for about six hours. The first part we were with everyone and President Collins spoke. He emphasized the importance of having fun while we work. He doesn't want us to be miserable for 18 months/ two years. After lunch the trainees went separately and were trained by the assistants. First we talked about goal setting and daily planning. This has been something kind of difficult for me because I don't understand what reasonable goals are expect for member present lessons. Sis Donaldson has DRILLED in me the importance of member present lessons, we have only had two lessons so far without them because the member fell through last minute in both cases. Then we talked about personal study which was very beneficial. I've been struggling with how to use this precious hour of my day. Personal study is not for me; it's for my investigators. While I'm studying I should always be keeping them in mind. It was great to see all the missionaries that I spent time with in the MTC. A couple of times since being here I have had these surreal moments "like I'm really a missionary" but it doesn't feel real. It happened that day again as I was sitting with all these missionaries. It was such a great day and gave me a lot more confidence. Also we went to a member's house for dinner that night and we made cotton candy out of lifesavers? Pretty neat.Then we had a lesson with Dustin. Probably one of the most frustrating lessons yet. People talk here in Indiana and he is no expectation. He's a former investigator and was dropped because he wasn't progressing. He wants archeological proof or something that the Book of Mormon events actually occurred. He's willing to accept the Bible by faith, but can't seem to apply it to the Book of Mormon. Weird how people pick and choose like that. We have another lesson with him tomorrow, we'll see how it goes.

 

Wednesday: Side note, since Monday of last week they were predicting t-storms. Tuesday night I woke up to a storm! I laid in bed and watched the lightening flash; I've NEVER seen so much lightening. It was way cool and just what I had been waiting for. Wednesday we were actually on a tornado watch, nothing though. One of the things I have been struggling with is doing role plays. They are just awkward and I never no what to do but they are completely unavoidable. At the specialized training we talked about them. Wednesday during companionship study I decided I just needed to change my attitude. Sis D role played an investigators whose mom died and she was made at God for it. Sis Clark and I then had to discern a need. Then we had a lesson that day with a girl named Alex. She told us that she had stopped going to church because when she was in high school her friend and her family were killed and her pastor told them they were going to Hell because they were Muslim. It was so neat because we had role played a very similar situation that morning!

 

Thursday: A ton of our lessons fell through, again. It has happened so much in the last week or so. It was raining like crazy and we had tried to tract an apartment complex but it was locked. So IUPUI has a free shuttle service. We just got on the bus and rode around. We actually weren't on there for very long, but it was a unique way to contact when it was raining outside.

 

Friday: District meeting was fabulous, as usual. We got trained on the importance of having a study journal. Yeah it sounds like a weird thing to train on but it was super helpful. My notes have been so disorganized and there is no way I could go back and find what I want. I still don't know what I'm going to do to fix that yet, but I've been thinking about it. After eating lunch we went to Long's Bakery. We've passed by it a lot and have never been. Such good doughnuts! I had this applesauce one which was probably the best doughnut I have ever eaten. We had a lesson that day with a guy named Stefan. He isn't in our stewardship because he is over 30. His aunt joined the church around 10 years ago and actually moved to Utah. He said he's always been impressed that she would be willing to change her entire life for a religion. Sis D tracked into him about two weeks ago. He'll get baptized. He wants to know for himself if this is something he should do. He's way committed to reading and praying. It was a great lesson to teach! We've had some difficult lessons this last week so it was a nice breather. During companionship study we talked about the doctrine of Christ. I have to say that I never understood what the gospel of Jesus Christ is until now. Obviously I don't fully understand it, but I can at least define it. I don't want this so sound harsh at all, but why don't we teach it more clearly in the church????? I'm hoping the new youth program will fix it. And I'm not the only one, by companions also felt the same way.

 

Saturday: Regina got baptized!I!!!! I don't know if I've told you about her before, so here it goes again! Saturday was actually her 12th birthday and we've been teaching her because she is scared of elders. She has been talking the lessons for a loooooooong time and was having a difficult time being able to formulate her own answers so she would be able to pass the baptismal interview. It was such a sweet day. I enjoyed this baptism way more than Robert's last week ( I know that's a terrible thing to say). One difference was I could tell the Regina was very excited. Not very many people came unfortunately, but the Spirit was so strong. It made me more excited to see baptisms in the future.

 

We got a phone call from President Collins Saturday night. Sis Donaldson is being transferred, training, and opening a new area. Sis Clark is staying in YSA and training. I'M GETTING TRANSFERRED!!!!! Yeah so you can send the package to the mission home mom. Anyways so I knew I would be getting a new trainer. So we were all talking about it and then our district leader called to talk to Sis D. She had to hang out because then teh assistants called. Elder Adams called back and told me he needed to ask me something. I got on the phone and the conversation went something like this:

E Adams: I heard you're getting transferred.

Me: Yes

E Adams: Did you hear you're opening a new area?

Me: No, what?

E Adams: whoops maybe I wasn't supposed to tell you that.....

Me: We'll it's too late now!

E Adams: proceeded to ask me some question about a B flat major (he plays the piano) that I had no idea how to answer...

 

As we were falling asleep I asked Sis D how Elder Adams could have known I would be opening a new area. She said that he didn't know and that I shouldn't believe it. I think I got about four hours of sleep that night.

 

Sunday: We sang in the White River choir for their ward conference. Elder Adams came over and Sis D asked how he knew I would be going to a new area. He said that he called one of the assistants and he spilled it. Elder Woods is known for saying too much. So it's official.There are four new sister areas being opening up. It's not that there aren't missionaries already there, we are just putting in another set. All four of the places I could be going are north of here. I'm pretty excited. Transfers are on Wednesday so I won't known until then where I'm actually going. 

 

Then at 11 we were going to have missionary correlation meeting. We were about to walk into a classroom when four guys walk through the doors. I recognized the last one! His name is Mike and he was in my ward last fall. It was so weird! I knew we had our meeting so I could only talk to him for a minute. He is selling here in Indianapolis for the summer. When we got out of our meeting they were sitting there because they had gotten there two hours before church. He told me that he had texted Annaka (Josie and Gillian's cousin) and told her that he had seen me. She said hi. He then took a picture of me and sent it to my other roommate, Kaylene. She flipped out. I couldn't believe it. FYI I just pushed something on the key board so now it's typing in italics and I don't know how to fix it.  When I was waiting to talk to President Riggins for my interview to submit my papers he sat next to me and we talked then. So we talked about missions and BYU-I. I also met the three others guys. They all love knocking on doors which is way weird....especially the one. I never thought I would actually see someone I know out here.

 

Once again I've learned a lot this week. We were at a dinner appointment last night and we each listed three things we are grateful for. One of mine was the ability to learn. I know that this next transfer is going to be pretty difficult. Because we are opening a new area I'll probably spend the next two weeks tracting ALL DAY!!! Definitely different from what I have been doing now. However, I'm also very excited for the change. All of the areas are little hoosier towns which will be very different from downtown Indy. I'm excited to be able to learn different things from a different trainer. It's going to be hard. But I also know I have the ability to choose to still be happy. It's those moments where I'm not thinking about myself that I truly am the happiest. I cannot imagine being any place else right now. I'm sure I've said these things a million times, but they are still true.   

 

Love, Sister Mayberry