ten months????? how did this happen??

But like....seriously. I can NOT believe I have been out ten months! Time is WARPED on a mission! Didn't I just get here?

I can honestly say I have learned a LOT on my mission! I have learned the importance of charity and love, and how we are all of God's children and how important it is to love one another. I have learned the importance of humility in one's life and seen the difference it can make and the joy it can bring. I have seen how the Savior, Jesus Christ, and his teachings can completely change people's lives for the better, and how much joy this gospel can bring! And I know, without a doubt, that this is Christ's true gospel here on earth.

I've also learned that I really, REALLY like avocados.

We had the awesome experience to go to Skidmore College - the local college here in Saratoga! There is a class on Mormonism and the professor asked us to come in and speak about missionary work.

First of all it was blasted weird being back on a college campus. I was standing there thinking, "Ah man.....where's my backpack? What time is it? Am I late for class?"

Don't worry. We were on time to the class.

Second of all, IT WAS SO MUCH FUN! There were only about 10 kids in the class, and they all just took turns asking questions about missionary life. We explained a little bit about how we are called by the Prophet to go to a specific area, how it's organized, and how we don't get to choose who our companion is. We also talked about how we can't go on the computer, watch TV, etc. One girl asked, "So, I know you can't get on the internet or anything, but like....do you have any guilty pleasures? Like, do you just sneak onto a website or something?"

Sister H and I kind of looked at each other. My first thought was,  "Guilty pleasures? Well I secretly really, really like this really, really cheesy church film from the 80's. That is most definitely a guilty pleasure." But I wasn't about to go into that, so I said, "Well...sometimes when I pass newspaper stands I walk extra slow to see if I can read the headline and get a clue as to what's going on in the world. And one time a less active member left their TV on in the other room so I walked by slowly to see what was on the news. And my lowest of low moments are when I catch myself reading the headlines on the paparazzi magazines to see what's going on in the world."

"Oh, well we can update you on that!" responded the girl, "They still haven't found the airplane in Malaysia."

"HOW DOES ONE LOSE AN AIRPLANE?!" I replied.

Don't worry. My friend updated me on that tidbit of news in a letter. Didn't go crazy and buy a newspaper.

I guess that's good that that's really my only guilty pleasure? I was NOT about to confess that I like the cheesy church film from the 80's.

One asked if our perspectives of life have changed since we've come on a mission.

UM. YES. I explained how I used to be a people hater. And how I'm still trying to overcome being a people hater. But I hate people a LOT less and love them a LOT more!

Another student asked what our biggest culture shock was. My response?

"Oh my goodness. My first area was so tiny. SO tiny! EVERYONE knew who we were and would talk to us, and I had never even SEEN half the people who knew us!"

"Where was your first area?"

"Owego....if you know where that is...."

"My parents used to live there!"

"I LOVE OWEGO!"

Later, on our way out, I asked the two girls from Washington which area they were from.

"I'm from downtown Seattle," said one, "and she's from a suburb just outside of it."

"Yeah, it's called Kent."

"AAAAAAAH THAT'S WHERE MY SISTER LIVES!"

"Wow. I've never seen anyone get so excited about Kent before."

So, we're just going to fast forward to Saturday, because I really can't remember the rest of the week. The days blur together, that's for sure.

Saturday morning comes, and we're doing companionship study. . . .when our phone rings. Sister H and I froze. We don't get transfer calls until later in the day, so when you get a call in the morning....that means it's President Wirthlin.

And that means he's calling you to a leadership position, or to train.

We grabbed the phone. Sure enough - It's President Wirthlin.

"Hello, this is Sister Stimpson!"

"Goodmorning, Sister Stimpson! How are you?"

"I'm a little curious! How are you?"

"I'm good! Well.....all I can tell you is that you're getting a new companion - Sister L."
"I LOVE SISTER L!"

Sister L came out with me and was in my MTC district! She was my friend's RA her freshman year of college, and we actually ran into each other on campus a few times and had some conversations! WHO KNEW WE WOULD BE COMPANIONS?????

Well okay, the Lord did. But other than that....

"Sister H will have to wait until the zone leaders call to find out where she's going, but I am calling you and Sister L to be Sister Training Leaders."

"OKAY!"

"We'll contact you in a few days for some more training, okay?"

"Sounds good!"

So.....yup! We're going to be sister training leaders for the Albany Zone! This means we'll be going on exchanges with sisters, and doing training at zone conferences! Woot! Guess I'll find out more of what my job is on Friday. Fun fact: Wednesday we will be spending all day in Utica, Thursday we go back to Utica with the Zone leaders, we'll be there all day Friday....and then it's conference!

It's going to be a busy week.

I'm so excited for this next transfer! There will definitely be a lot of changes, but it will be interesting to see the adventures these next six weeks brings!

I love you all so much!

Hurrah for Israel!

Sista' Stimpson.

 

letter of weekliness

I've resorted back to the whole 'where's your coat' stage. It is almost April. I refuse to accept this weather. So I've been wearing my light, peach colored pea coat that a member gave me in Owego. It is virtually nothing, but it's cute. It's a coat, and I refuse for it to still be 24 degrees outside. Sister H bundled up in her marshmallow coat, ear muffs, and gloves then looked at me and said, "Really? That's the coat you're wearing?"
"Hey, I'm wearing long sleeves underneath this!"
And during the walk from the car to the library I kept muttering to myself, "It'snotcoldit'snotcoldit'snotcold" as if to convince myself it really was warm.
I'll miss this weather when the humidity comes.

So this week was a roller coaster of emotions. Sister H was pretty sick, so we had to stay inside for a couple days. I was going a wee bit stir crazy. Sick days on missions are not as fun as they are at home!

We ventured out to go visit our elderly investigator this week. As soon as we arrived, he said, "I was praying you would come!" My heart swelled - that's always a good response to us!
We sat down and he said, "I've been doing a lot of soul searching."
Good. Soul searching is good.
"And.....I want to be baptized fully in the water - like Jesus was. I know that's how your church baptizes people...."
Yes! Yes, this is good!
"But....don't get me wrong....I just can't commit to a church. And it's not just your church -it's any church. And I know that's what you're trying to have me work towards, is baptism....and I just can't commit to that. So......I think it's best that we stop meeting."
Just rip my heart in two pieces, why don't you?

He said he would still come to church occasionally, and he actually came this Sunday to hear our musical number! But man, I was feeling REALLY down for a couple days. I kept beating myself up, because it seems like this area had always done well until I got here. Thankfully I was able to rationalize myself out of it, and am trying to just stay positive through all this.

After Sister H was feeling better, we decided to crack down and do some serious finding, seeing as we have virtually zero investigators now. Now, the weather is....kind of.....warming up, and a lot more people have been out now. Our ward mission leader suggested we try some street contacting, and gave us a few tips as to how to approach people. One of the tips is to ask if we could share a story with someone, and share the story of the Book of Mormon. Essentially - the people coming from Jerusalem over to the American continent and their dealings with Christ there. So, we decide to do it.

It started out pretty dreadful! I haven't done this since my first two transfers in Owego! We're walking, pass a person, "HELLO! Um......................" then they'd be clear down the street.
Oh boy.
So then, I see two guys sitting - one at a table, and one on the ground right next to the table.
BINGO! People sitting! These are people I can approach!
So I go up to them and say, "Hello! Can we share a story for you for a minute?"
The guy at the table looks at us hesitantly, and the guy on the ground says, "SURE! JUST WAIT FOR MY BUDDY TO CROSS THE STREET!"
And that's when I realized.
These two guys sitting next to each other aren't together. In fact, the one guy sitting is a homeless man.
And he's totally drunk.
Awesome.
So his buddy is trying really hard to cross the four-lane, busy street. I finally shout, "JUST WAIT UNTIL YOUR LIGHT TURNS SO THAT YOU DON'T GET RUN OVER!"
He listened to my advice. Look at me - saving lives.
So his buddy joins us and says, "HEEEEY! You're church ladies."
Now I'm trying to think of how I can get out of this really fast.
I say, "Yeah, and we're sharing a story about Christ visited the people on the American continent after he was resurrected---."
"I PRAY EVERY MORNING! RIGHT ON THAT HILL UP THERE! AND I KNEEL! I KNEEL LIKE THIS!"
So he kneels down in front of me. I just kind of stare at him, as he looks at the sky, his arms outstretched like an eagle. I blink and go,
"That's......yeah, prayer's a good thing to do."
"Sister, I need help getting up. Can you help me get up?"
By now, Sister H is shuffling closer to the normal guy, sitting at the table. I say, "Um.......how on earth can I help you up?"
"Ah, never mind I got it."
So slowly, very slowly he starts standing up and I say, "That's great. You're doing a good job. Look! You did it all by yourself. Here's the Book of Mormon! It talks about Christ visiting the Americas. It's free. Here you go."
I give it to him, and then we start to talk to the normal guy, when the buddy interrupts me again.
Sister H continued to talk to the normal guy about our religion, and I decided to talk to the buddy.
"Now, what religion you from?"
"The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Or Mormons. People call us Mormon."
"I PRAY EVERY DAY ON THAT HILL UP THERE!"
"That's great!"
"Yeah. What's your first name, doll?"
"Sister."
"No really. What's your first name?"
"As missionaries, we go by Sister just to show respect."
"And I respect that, doll. But c'mon. What's your first name."
".....................Emily."
"Beautiful. I'm going to call you Scarlet."
"That's.....fitting."
Now I'm eavesdropping onto Sister H's conversation as this guy keeps rambling to me. She's giving him a restoration pamphlet! And giving a brief run down on how Christ's gospel is restored to its fullness! I like where this is going! Then I notice that this guy is staring at me, waiting for my response. So I go, "Oh wow that's cool!"
To which he says, "IT IS NOT COOL! HE GOT SHOT IN THE HEAD! I LOST MY SON!"
Crap.
But he forgives me pretty quickly and says, "You have beautiful eyes."
"Thank you."
"No, I mean it. You have BEAUTIFUL eyes!"
"Thank you."
"I mean it! Your eyes are beautiful!"
"And I mean it when I say thank you!"

Hey guys, the guy next to me totally complimented my typing! Now I'm strangely aware of how I'm typing. He says I'm probably about 100 words a minute.  Ahem.....anyway........let me go back to the story.

So then Sister H decided to rescue me. She says to me, "Okay, well we really got to get going!"
"WELL HONEY LET ME SAY A PRAYER BEFORE YOU LEAVE!" says the buddy.
"Um.......okay....." we say, as he kneels back down on the ground.
"Okay, you kneel, we'll stay standing. Um, I'll say the prayer." I say.
He stretches his hand towards us and says, "LET'S JOIN IN HANDS!"
".....My hands are full." I said.
"Yeah, sorry my hands are in my pocket." said Sister H.
I said the quickest prayer of my life, then we left. And as we walked away, they continued to compliment us.

So then we turned the corner, to allow myself to let out all the laughter I had been holding in. It was absolutely golden.
Singing went really well! Our elderly investigator came, and said we sounded good! I was really surprised - a lot of women told me I should take more singing lessons when I go home, and that I have a lovely voice. They were surprised when they found out this is only like the third time I've ever sung in public. I really am shocked by the kind words I got, and was SO grateful for this opportunity! And the woman who asked me to sing in public hugged me and said, "If you stay another transfer I'll have to snag you for another musical number!"
Oh....good?
I'm still no Celine Dion, but I at least know I can sing in public, and I actually enjoy it!

Well, transfer calls this Saturday! It will be interesting to see what this next transfer brings! I love you all!

Hurrah for Israel!

Sista' Stimpson.

weekly of letters

Someday my spring will come.

In the meantime I'll just keep wearing my stupid, puffy, marshmallow for a coat. And grumpily walking across the ice in hopes of not falling.

I've been wearing leggings for like...5 months straight now. It's like wearing pajama's under your skirt. I don't know what I'm going to do when summer comes. My legs haven't seen the light of day in FOREVER. I don't even want to know what they'll look like. 

I think a fight's about to go down in the library. I'll just keep casually typing my letter. 

Okay. So. Last week was an AWESOME week!

.....this week our investigators decided to hate on us.

Now the mission prepares you for the rest of your life. Based on this week, I don't really like what the mission is hinting to me about my future dating life ;)

Our awesome investigator guy dropped us :( like a hot potato.
Meaning he doesn't want to meet with us anymore.

The following quote is from our district leader, Elder R:

"Dropping an investigator, or an investigator dropping you, is like a break up. It's like, 'it's been great and all, but I don't really need you in my life. I'll say hi to you and talk to you when I pass you or see you, but don't call me. Don't come over. It's just better if we go our separate ways. And no, let's not just be friends.' Unless it's a bad drop, or a bad break up, then you just avoid them at all costs and you wave out of obligation when you pass each other, if you wave at all."

That being said, let's go to another investigator.
About a month ago, she was doing AWESOME. Reading, enthusiastic about learning about the church, recognizing the spirit, preparing for baptism, and she even came to a church activity!

And then she disappeared off the face of the earth and we haven't been able to get a hold of her.
Yesterday, we were in her area, so we decided to stop by. We heard the TV on in her apartment, so we knock.
No answer.

A second knock.
No answer.
Usually we'd leave her be, assuming she's asleep or something, but this time I was feeling rather persistant, wanting to know what her deal was, so I knocked.....rather loudly......a third time.

"WHO IS IT?" we hear.

"It's the missionaries."
She opens the door just a crack, and snaps, "I'M BUSY."

"Well can we come back---"

*Door slam followed by multiple lockings on the door.*

"....another....time?"

Sister H and I looked at each other and said, "I'll take that as a no."

Oh well! Every missionary needs a good story like this. 

So then, on Saturday, we called the elderly man we've been visiting to see if he was coming to church on Sunday. First, he said, "I've been throwing away my coffee and switching to herbal tea!"

"THAT'S AWESOME!"

"Yes! Do you know any other replacements I can do?"

"Hmmm.....apple cider?"

"........spiders?"

I had to choke back a laugh as I said, "NO. CIDER. APPLE CIDER!"

"Oooooooh!"

He told us he would be at church on Sunday, so we were slightly disappointed when he didn't come. After church, we called him.

"Isn't it a beautiful day!" he declared when we called.

"YES! BUT WE MISSED YOU AT CHURCH. WHERE WERE YOU?"

"I CAN'T TALK RIGHT NOW."

And he hung up. We both kind of stared at the phone.

"I think he was avoiding the question." I said.

Well.....guess we'll find out tomorrow when we meet with him!

So after all this,  I was feeling kind of bummed and thinking, "Man. I just want to visit someone who likes us!"
So we went to see one of our less actives. The dude's awesome. I just adore him. And his five dogs, two of which like to fight over sitting in our laps. Anyway, we had a REALLY great lesson with him on the restoration of the gospel, using the pamphlets we give to people. At the end, he asked if he could keep the pamplet so that he could review it. Then I said, "Hey.......I'm singing at church next Sunday!"

"You are?!"

"Yeah! Will you come?"

"....well, I WOULD like to hear you sing!"

"You can even be my backup singer if you like!"

"No, no. I'll just listen."

"So will you come to church this Sunday?"

".....Maybe. I would like to hear you sing."

"Good!"
I'll take it.

I also tried bribe a different woman who is dead set on never coming back to church with this same thing.

"I'm singing at church next Sunday."

"No, I'm not going to come."

"Are you sure? I'll even give you permission to make fun of me if I sound bad!"

"HAHAHAHA-no."

"I'll give you a shout out at the beginning."

"HAHAHAHAHA-no."

"You can be my backup singer."

"OH HEAVEN'S NO!"

It was so great :D She said that if I sing loud enough, she might be able to hear me from her house.

Speaking of singing, let's get to zone training meeting. So, first of all, I have this thing called, when I get really nervous, I drop stuff. I just get all butter-fingery. When I first got to zone training meeting, I wasn't nervous at all. I was super pumped!

For the meeting, we broke up into four groups and rotated to different trainings. During the last training, I looked at my watch.

"15 minutes until I face my doom......."
Then a few minutes later my scriptures, Preach My Gospel, and journal all slid off my lap and scattered everywhere on the floor.
I scooped them up and held them close as we finished our training.

I looked at my watch.

"5 minutes until I face my doom......."

Then we went back to our tables. I placed my books under my arm, picked up my chair and started walking back to my table.
And totally dropped the chair.
Great.

Let me tell you. Metal chair on a gymnasium floor? Makes for an incredibly loud noise.

So then I get up there to sing. Thankfully I made eye contact with my MTC companion and we winked back and forth to each other a good number of times before I started. So that calmed me down.
I felt better once I actually started to sing. And I got more excited! I made eye contact with the back wall, and even focused on smiling.
Then President and Sister Wirthlin walked in.....along with Elder C. (He was getting interviewed when my singing started.)

Awesome.

President Wirthlin quickly shuffled in and sat down behind me. Elder C did a weird penguin shuffle in and sat in the back.
Right where I was making eye contact.
Awesome.
Then Sister Wirthlin started to take a picture of me, and I saw Elder C giggling to himself. Which in turn made ME try not to laugh!

Anyway, I did my song, and felt pretty good about it! The meeting ended, and afterwards we lingered around for a while talking to various missionaries, and I took this opportunity to approach my BFF Elder C.

"Of COURSE you had to laugh and in turn make me laugh!" I told him.

"What? I wasn't laughing! All I did was a weird penguin shuffle to distract you."

"And then you started laughing when sister Wirthlin was taking a picture of me. And so I TOTALLY had to focus on not busting up myself!"

"Oh, that. I was laughing cause she couldn't get the lenses to work right."

Amazingly enough, after that we actually had a nice conversation. It was a miracle. I think we're starting to be friends.
From a very far distance.

Then one of the assistants to the president came up and told me I did a good job.

"Thanks! That was like.....the second time I ever sang in public!"

"Really? You sounded great!"

"Thanks!"

Then Elder L, my zone leader came up and told me I did a good job.

"You have to say that. You're my zone leader." I told him.

"No, trust me. I'm the kind of person where if you hadn't done a good job, I would have given you a compliment without actually giving you a compliment. Like 'nice song choice' or '....eh.....thanks for singing!' So, no. You did a good job!"

"Well thanks! And you did a good training!"

I felt good about it. Seriously, though. I'm no Celine Dion. But I'll take it!

I'll be singing this next Sunday in sacrament meeting! I'm still wondering how I ever agreed to this. But I'm excited!

ALSO! Two fast stories before I have to sign off:

1. Interviews wiith President Writhlin! He said, "Nice singing. I enjoyed it."

"Thanks. I can cross that off my bucket list."
He thought that was the funniest statement. And I sat there and thought, 'dude you don't even laugh at my funny jokes, but you laugh at my stupid jokes? I like you!'

2. He told me I could tell the Owego sisters about the letter I got last week. So when called them, Sister S picked up.

"Hi this is Sister S."

"Yez, hallo my name eez Rachelle and I am from Ruzzia, and I want to get baptized."

"OH! That's AMAZING! We can definitly make that happen! Let me just get your information! Um...........okay I have a pen. What was your name?"

"Sister Stimpson."

"........OH MY."
Then she got mad and handed it to her companion, Sister A.

"Sister A, is Sister S mad at me because I pretended to be a Russian who wanted to get baptized?"
I could hear Sister S say in the background, "YES."

"How was my Russian Accent?"

"AWFUL."

So great. She forgave me later and I updated them both on the letter :)


Well. Another week ahead of us! Happy Saint Patrick's Day! LOVE YOU ALL!

Hurrah for Israel!
Sista' Stimpson

Weekly letter

Brother Fredette (aka: Jimmer's dad) came to church this past Sunday. And this is basically how our encounter with each other went down.
Sister H: "Hello, Brother Fredette!"
Brother Fredette and I word-for-word at the EXACT same time: "Hello! How are you---er, I'm good. You? Oh---I'm good."
Then we literally stared at each other for a good six seconds, waiting to see if the other person was going to say something and not wanting to say something in case the other was going to say something.....and then he walked away.
So awkward.

This week was a good week! Though I could basically waste my whole letter talking about Tuesday, so I'll try to spread out the whole week.

Tuesday morning we get a call from the member in our ward who our recent convert (who went to go live with relatives) lived with.
The first words out of her mouth were, "Guess who's here."
"Who?"
"Our friend."
"SHE'S BACK?!"
"Yeah. She's staying with me, at least for the next six weeks."
"SHE'S BACK!"
We raced over to her house and had a good visit with her. Again, she's stressed with life, but it was good to see her and I just ADORE her! We are so, so excited to see her again :)

Tuesday afternoon, we also had a visit with our elderly investigator. At the end of the lesson, we asked him if he'd attend church. He said he probably would, then asked, "Will there be cake and coffee?"
"WE GUARANTEE WE WILL NEVER HAVE COFFEE AT OUR CHURCH."
"Tell me! What am I supposed to drink that's hot in the morning besides hot chocolate and hot water?"
"HERBAL TEA."
"YOU TOLD ME TEA WASN'T OKAY!"
"WE WERE TRYING TO TELL YOU HERBAL TEA IS OKAY, BUT YOU WOULDN'T LISTEN!"
So he shuffles into his kitchen, and comes back out with his boxes of tea and literally throws them in Sister H's lap, and stares at us.
We picked up the box of green tea and said, "SEE THIS? GREEN TEA. THAT'S BAD."
We picked up the box of black tea, did a thumbs down and said, "SEE THIS? THIS IS BLACK TEA. THIS IS BAD, TOO."
Then we picked up the box of herbal tea and said, "SEE THIS? THIS IS HERBAL TEA. THIS IS GOOD. YOU CAN DRINK THIS!"
"Why didn't you tell me this before?"
"WE TRIED!"
"Well I guess I'll just have to buy some herbal tea, then."
He was planning on coming to church, but Sunday morning he called us and said he wouldn't be able to make it.


On Wednesday, I got a bittersweet letter from our second convert from Owego. She wrote about how much she missed me, how hard it was for her when I left ...............and how she hasn't come to church since I've left and she doesn't know why.
My heart hurt a little reading that, but I could tell by what she was writing that she was just feeling a little overwhelmed by everything she was being asking to do.  She studied for a year before she even started coming to church, and she likes to take things slow, so I'm not surprised that she's feeling overwhelmed. I wrote her a note telling her that she should focus on church regularly for now, then focus on getting to the temple in a few months, then she can focus on the other things if she wants, but not to take it all at once.  Hopefully that helped :/ I miss that lady.

Thursday morning, I got a horrible night's rest. So I was basically a major grump face. That's when we were supposed to see a less active member. But she was really sick, so we talked with her for a few minutes, said a prayer with her, and left.

Now back to Tuesday.

Tuesday evening comes, and Sister H and I get in the car, when the zone leaders call us. I look at Sister H and said, "Why are the zone leaders calling us? Elder T isn't our zone leader now so it's not like I'll be asked to give a talk or a spiritual thought in zone meetings anymore!"
We laughed and answer the phone.  We say hello and Elder L and his companion ask, "Sister H, would you play the piano for zone training meeting next Thursday?"
"It depends. Which songs?" she asked.
"It depends on Sister Stimpson. We want her to sing a solo for the special musical number."
I laugh and go, "Yeah, that's hilarious, Elder L."
"No. I'm being serious."
".........What?"
"We want you to sing a solo for a special musical number on Thursday."
"............Wait, seriously?"
"Yes."
"YOU'RE BEING FOR REAL HERE? YOU'RE ASKING ME TO SING A SOLO?"
"Yes."
"WHAT BROUGHT THIS ON? I don't have the most angelic of voices!"
"I honestly don't know! We were praying and praying to know who should sing, and NOBODY was coming to mind! Then we were in the car and all of the sudden I felt, 'Sister Stimpson should sing a solo' so I thought, 'Hmmm....Okay!'"
"So this is inspiration?"
"Yes."
"You promise?"
"I promise."
"Okay I'll do it! But if I TOTALLY mess up and sound bad, I'm blaming you."
"That's fine. We have this whole zone training meeting on our heads anyway, so might as well add the musical number to it, too."
So I hang up the phone, and the first words out of my mouth are, "I HAVE TO TELL MY VOICE TEACHER! AND I HAVE TO TELL MY MOM!"

We told a few members at dinner appointments about this and with each one, we had the exact same conversation:
Members: "You're singing a solo for a zone meeting? You must be quite the singer!"
Me: "....not particularly."
Members: "Well you sang in the school choir, right?"
Me: "No, no. I was in band."
Members: "So...why did you volunteer?"
Me: "Oh, I didn't. They asked me to. I mean, I took about three months of singing lessons, so that's something!"
Members: "Wow. I don't think I could do that."
Me: "Yeah I really don't know how I am, to be straight up with you."
Finally after the third time we had this conversation, I said to Sister H, "Maybe I'll just start telling people I was an opera major so we'll stop having this conversation."

So seeing as I've never sung a solo before, I called a few ward members to practice in front of them. Sister H and I picked out the song 'The Olive Tree' to sing which is about missionary work/Jacob chapter 5. Well I sing in front of a ward member and she goes, "....You know..... I'm giving the Relief Society lesson this Sunday, and I would love to have you sing for it at the beginning of my lesson."
At first I was going to say no, but then I realized that I'll be singing in front of 40 missionaries come Thursday, so might as well agree.
So I sang on Sunday, and it was fine and dandy. You know, no Celine Dion or anything, and then another ward member comes up to me afterwards and says, "So you want to sing in sacrament in two weeks?"
My first two thoughts were, 'C'MON lady -- my voice is so simple and I'm not even that great!' and 'oh dear I'm already sick of this song and now I'll have to sing it AGAIN?'
But instead I said, "We'll see how Thursday goes. Can't I just play the flute?"
"No, you're used to the flute. I think singing is the start of something new for you."
She walked away and Sister H says, "She doesn't take no for an answer. You're totally gonna have to sing in sacrament meeting."

Basically I have NO idea how this happened, but I'm totally psyched. And totally nervous. This is DEFINITELY a new experience for me! Wish me luck!
....but seriously.

Well. I love you all!!!! Miss you all so much, too!!!
Hurrah for Israel!

Sista' Stimpson

letter of weeklyness

My trainer's trainer warned me that once you reach your nine-month mark, you'll always be tired. I shrugged it off. I had been doing fine. I rarely took naps during my lunch hour, and I'd been sleeping/waking up fine!

And then the closer it got to my nine-month mark, the harder it got.
Then I actually reached my nine-month mark. And I feel like a walking zombie.

I have popped so many vitamin D pills in hopes of being more awake, it's not even funny!
This morning I rolled--literally rolled--out of bed and kind of laid on the floor for a few minutes like a dead fish while making a groaning noise that sounded similar to a cow.

Then I got up and siezed the day.

Ahem. Anyway. I've come up with a new motto on my mission:
There is no time for awkwardness because the whole thing is just awkward.

How true this statement proved to be this past week.

Once upon a time we went to go try a few potentials - meaning a few people who we had knocked on their door and they told us to come back later.
We drive to one of their houses, and park outside. As we turn to leave our car, I see this woman standing in the window of the house we're parked in front of, just staring at us. I kind of stare back at her and said, "Dude.....Sister H. Check out that creepiness."

Sister H looked out my window and said, "Woah."
There she was. Just STARING at us. Then, slowly, the woman (while still staring at us) picks up her house phone, and puts it to her ear.

"........Let's try someone else."

"Agreed."

Later, we parked in front of another guy's house. We tried the person, they were busy, and go back to the car. As we're plugging in points on the GPS, this car pulls up next to us, and the driver rolls down his window.

"You ladies looking for something?"

"We're just leaving."

"Why did you park here?"

"We went and talked to your neighbor very briefly."

"Well you parked in front of my driveway so....."
We turn and look.
We were nowhere near the dude's driveway.

"......sorry........"
And we drove away.

So. Awkward.

Three other awkward moments that just made me smile after it happened:

Me: "Will you come to church this Sunday?"

Less active member: "No, I'm out of gas."

Me: "We can arrange someone to drive you! If we did that, will you come to church this Sunday?"

The less active member STARED me down. She just STARED at me. As we made eye contact, it was silent for a very good 60-75 seconds. In that time I was just thinking, "Don't......blink.......don't........blink.........don't.........blink........."

"No." said the less active member.

Okay blink.

Later that day, we went and visited another woman. Her house is ALWAYS hilarious mad chaos. So, we walk in and she's lying on the couch and says, "Ah girls. I meant to call you and tell you I was sick, but I took a nap instead. Here, sit down."
So we sit down, then her grandson walks in and says, "Grandma! The internet isn't working."

"Okay, well, I'll call the cable guys later."

"Call them now!"

"Ask nicely."

"Can you please call them now?"

"Fine. Bring me the phone, please!"

Then her downstairs neighbor came up for a smoke break and they talked for about ten minutes while her neighbor smoked and her grandson searched for the phone.

So then she found the phone. The neighbor left, and she called the cable guys.
The next forty-five minutes consisted of this:

Woman: "K.C! (the grandson) WHAT LIGHTS ARE LIT UP ON THE BOX?"

KC: "NOT THE INTERENT ONE!"
Woman: "He says not the internet one."

Cable guy: "Okay, sir, I need you to unplug the cord--"

Woman: "UNPLUG IT, K.C."

KC: "DID HE JUST CALL YOU SIR?"

Woman: "UNPLUG THE CORD PLEASE, KC!"

KC: "MY GRANDMA IS NOT A SIR!"
Us: *in between bits of giggling* "..........can we come back on Thursday instead?"

We'll see what Thursday brings.

And last, but not least, we went to someone's house for dinner. They forgot we were coming. So she lets us in, then the entire family bickered with one another and with their pet. Sister H and I sat in silence on the couch. They didn't really know what to do with us. So we continued to sit in silence on the couch. Then they ordered pizza and bickered some more. Then Sister H and I started flipping through the Book of Mormon for fun. Then the pizza came, we ate a slice, shared a spiritual thought, and ran out and went to go visit some happy less actives.

Now for the not-so-awkward moments, more awesome moments!

We had a lesson with our investigator who just walked into church! We're teaching him the plan of salvation. He listened carefully and asked really sincere, deepish questions that we were able to answer and address! Though the whole time (curse my clumsiness of speech) I just felt like I wasn't making ANY sense. I was explaining the importance of Adam and Eve and the whole time I'm thinking, "Oh man. I'm just rambling. Does this even make any sense at all?"
Then I could literally see it click in his eyes as he said, "WOAH! Wait, so Adam and Eve being cast out of the Garden of Eden was all part of God's plan? He knew it was going to happen?"

"Yes!" I said, and thought at the same time, "Oh dear goodness - he's understanding me. Thank you, Heavenly Father!"

"I always wondered that! I always thought it made more sense if it was, I just never verbalized it!"

It was AWESOME! He said he was going to come to church!!!
And then he texted us an hour after church ended and said, "I'm so sorry I slept in!"
And now the Dude's going to Florida for two weeks and we wont be able to see him! Lame? Yes. But we'll just keep praying that his interest keeps up. It was awesome!

Also, a few weeks ago we had a nice visit with a woman we tracted into. She made it clear to us she wasn't interested, but she felt bad that we were cold, so she let us in to tell her what our gospel was about. We told her, and she still said she wasn't interested, but she accepted a restoration pamphlet. We went back this week, and she let us in again. She was SO happy to see us and said, "I told everyone in my family about you girls! You just made me so happy and I really admire what you do! Have you had any success?"

We visited with her for a bit, then gave her a Book of Mormon at the end, she literally clasped it to her chest and said, "Thank you for my gift! I will HAVE to read this!"

IT MADE ME SO HAPPY! Just being able to brighten someone's day by bringing the Spirit there made me so happy :)

Ahem. Well, it seems I have run out of time again. I love you guys so much! Sorry I kinda rambled about random awkward stories. They were just so funny!

Love you guys!
Hurrah for Israel!
Sista' Stimpson.