6-10-13

It's weird, during the week I think of all these things I want to write about, then when I actually get the chance to write them on Monday's, I can never remember them!

Tuesday: I was pretty anxious all day. We had lunch at Cracker Barrel again to celebrate Sister Fullmer's birthday. I didn't get any sleep that night. Basically just laid in my bed thinking all night long. I was so nervous to meet my trainee. Literally terrified that I was going to ruin her.

Wednesday: We had to wake up at 5 to make it to the transfer meeting on time. We were supposed to ride with a member with the North Vernon sisters, but there wasn't enough room so we ended up driving our own car. All of the missionaries who train meet with President Collins before. During that I felt more confidence. We talked about D&C 121 which is quickly becoming more and more meaningful to me. Sister Donaldson wasn't in the meeting and I was very confused. As soon as I walked out of the chapel to take a quick break before the transfer meeting started I saw her. I pretty much started crying haha. We went over and talked for a minute. She told me I was totally capable of training and that she loved me very much. I really needed to hear that at that moment.

There was a different feeling during transfer meeting. Probably because the mission is getting split in two weeks. It stinks because some of my friends are in the new mission and there is no guarantee of when I am going to see them again. During transfer meeting I started crying again. Sis Farr and Sis Cordner were sitting in front of me and noticed. Then I looked across the chapel and saw Sis Clark. I was very surprised to see her, because I figured she would have stayed with her trainee for the second half. She was talking to me (well I was reading her lips of coarse). She reassured me I could do it. I was literally fighting back tears the entire time. On the stage there were 15 sisters and one of them I would be responsible for. I just felt very overwhelmed. Finally we got our companions assigned.

My companion's name is Sister Jones. She's from Orem Utah, 19 and graduated last  year. She is very eager to learn and we've had a lot of fun so far.

Anyways after transfer meeting I went and talked to Sis D and Sis Clark. Sis Fullmer is now in a trio with Sis Clark in Indy YSA. Sis Clark asked me how the last transfer had gone and I told her it had been very difficult. Then Sis D talked to Sis Jones and I. She told me that I was going to make mistakes and not to be too hard on myself. She told Sis Jones that she had a fabulous trainer. I wish I could have spent an hour talking to both of them. When I left Indy I had no idea how much these two sisters would mean to me. It's lame that I can't see more of them. Luckily I will get to see Sister Clark on Thursday at a specialized training.

Then we had another training after transfer meeting. Once again I started crying (you've probably noticed a pattern haha-I blame it all on Sister Clark). I just felt this huge wait on my shoulders. I have been entrusted with a missionary who doesn't know anything, and I'm supposed to teach her. Yeah that's a huge responsibility. It's been very humbling. There is still so much about missionary work that I don't know. Teaching another missionary is hard. I sort of know how to do things, but she doesn't know. Trying to get what I know into her is difficult. It's incredibly humbling and I just have to take it one day at a time. Anyways that night we had a lesson with the Gasaway's. When I told Sis Jones we were teaching an investigator she got a little nervous, but I told her there was nothing to worry about. They are probably the coolest people she will ever teach on her mission.

Oh one of my favorite moments happened during transfer meeting. After the opening prayer we all stand up and recite our purpose and the Standard of Truth. The chapel was packed with missionaries. The Spirit was so strong as 100+ missionaries stood and recited those words. Nothing gets me more excited about the work than being surrounded by other missionaries.

Thursday: Personal study was a little rough. I wanted to study for our investigators, but also for Sister Jones. I had no idea how to teach her during companion study. We taught two lessons that day, one was with a member family, and then we did weekly planning. I felt bad during planning because I was throwing so much information at her. But she took it pretty well. Thursday seemed to last for an eternity.

Friday: We had zone training which I was very grateful for. We did a role play on working with the ward council. Working with the ward is probably one of the most frustrating parts of missionary work. I have no idea how to do it.

Saturday: We didn't have any appointments except at night. So we walked around and tracted a lot. I was exhausted by the end of the day. Our lesson was with the Gasaway's again. They told us for sure that they were going to come to church. So I was really excited! However, they ended up not coming. I was so disappointed yesterday!

Sunday: I made the stupidest mistake of my life! I told Sis Jones we should take a picture before we went to church, it being her first Sunday in the field and all. So we stepped out on the patio to take a picture. When we were done and went to open the door.....it was locked! We locked our keys, cell phone, everything inside. So after trying to pick the lock with a bobby pin (no luck) I decided we better walk to the Jones'. They are the family who we do laundry at and they live like two blocks away. So it's like 7:30 and we go knock on their door and tell them we locked ourselves at of our apartment. I was humiliated! I'm pretty sure Sis Jones thinks she got stuck with the dumbest trainer in the mission. Anyways she called our Bishop who had the number for our landlord. Luckily she was able to come and unlock the door for us. I have never felt more stupid. So that's how we began our Sunday! And then of coarse the Gasaway's didn't come.

Oh we had a dinner appointment with a member on Thursday. Her husband is from here but she's from Arizona. All of her kids were born her and last time we were there she told us her husband makes fun of her because her kids are all Hoosiers. She hates Hoosiers. So during dinner I said something along the lines of her kids being Hoosiers and she called me a "Hoosier lover"! And then said we might not get invited back to dinner (joking of course) haha it was way funny.

So basically I'm just taking it one day at a time. All the thinking that I have to do is exhausting. I'm constantly having to make plans for upcoming days, thinking of phone calls we need to make, and then of course remembering that Sister Jones is not following my train of thought. Pretty much I feel very overwhelmed all of the time. Even on P-day. You never stop thinking about missionary work. That's why it's so hard I think; because you never get a real break. But oh well! My time to serve the Lord is very short. It's weird to think that when I'm done training Sis Jones I will have completed 1/3 of my mission.