my weekly of emails

So it seems like this week is the week that everyone has finally realized how long I've been in Saratoga.

While volunteering at the soup kitchen, one of the other volunteers said, "So....you've been here a while. Do you know when you're leaving?"

"Nope...."

We visited a less active woman who we hadn't seen in about a month. Her reaction when she saw me was, "You're still here? You've been here forever!"

"I have not! I've only been here since January!"

"You've been here forever!"

A family who was in the Hill Cumorah Pagent this week came back. The dad saw me and said, "Hey! You're still here! Do you know when you're leaving?"

A family came back from their vacation in Georgia. The two daughers ran up to me and said, "YOU'RE STILL HERE!" and the mom came up and asked, "So when are you leaving?"

The Bishop in the ward asked, "Sister Stimpson how long have you been here?"

"About 7 months."
"HERE for seven months?"

"Yes."

"Wow."

The ward mission leader said, "Yeah Sister Stimpson I think you're the next one to go."

"WHY DOES EVERYONE KEEP SAYING THAT?"

"Because you're been here since January!"

Guess we'll find out on Saturday. Transfer calls are this week.

Everyone seems convinced that it's time to leave....except me!

This week was really good. We had a lesson with one of our young adult investigators this week at the church. She held the door open for me and I caught a glimps of her hand.

"Wait -- is that a CTR ring?!" I asked, seeing the tiny, green shield on her finger.

"Yeah! I found it on the Deseret website."

I smiled :) Like this: :D

We sat down for our lesson and began talking about the importance of reading the scriptures when she said, "Yeah I've been so much happier since I've really started getting into this. Sometimes I look at other people and think, "But you're just not happy! You think you are, but you're only happy in the moment!"

Why is she the best?

Our other investigator had his baptismal interview this week! He passed, but his date has been pushed to the 23rd to give him more time to look for an apartment to move into. Ever since then, he's called and texted us a good few times to tell us how excited he is to get baptized.

Why is he the best?

Elder G, who did the interview, called us afterwards (we were in Utica that day, so we weren't able to go) and said, "Man....he talks really fast."

"You should've seen him before he was off of coffee!"

We had Sisters Conference this week! Sister L and I got to do a training on modesty and helping the sisters better follow the standards of missionary dressing.

The whole theme was "Rise to the Hastening." At the end, President and Sister Wirthlin gave us each a balloon and we released them to symbolize "rising" to the hastening.

It was very poetic.

Anyway. Transfer calls Saturday.

No comment.

I love you all!

Hurrah for Israel!

Sister Stimpson

tourists

I dislike tourist season in Saratoga.

Pedestrians everywhere.

Cars everywhere.

Zero parking spots.

I have a feeling I'm not in Owego anymore...

We saw a serious miracle this week. Our thirteen-year old investigator who we lost contact with soon after she got baptized texted us out of NOWHERE on Wednesday morning.

Text: "Hey. I want to meet with you guys. I'm available at 11. Here's the address I'll be at."

I literally screamed and threw the phone up in the air.

But there was one problem:

We had district meeting (a meeting with other missionaries in our area) at 11.

I grabbed the phone off the ground and called Elder G, our district leader.

"Hey, Elder G. It's Sister Stimpson."

"Hey, Sister Stimpson! How are---."

"Heysoonceuponatimeoneofourrecentconvertswhowehaven'thadanycontactwithtextedusandsaidshecouldmeetwithustodayat11."

"What....?"

I explained the situation, only slower this time.

"District meeting is at 11, though," he said.

"I know. So, we'll probably 15-20 minutes late....maybe 30 minutes...."

"Hmmm. Well I don't know the whole situation, but we'll just start District Meeting 30 minutes later instead. How's that?"

"REALLY?!"

"Sure."

"ARE YOU SERIOUS?!"

"Yeah."

"YOU ARE MY BEST FRIEND! OH MY GOSH. ELDER G, MY DAY HAS BEEN MADE. I AM SO GIVING YOU A CYBER HUG RIGHT NOW!"

"Oh, thanks, Sister Stimpsn!"

"No, wait. That's inappropriate. I'm giving you a cyber handshake."

"Oh, well thanks!"

"okaywegottagoseeyousoonbye."

I hung up, and we ran to the address she had given us.

And as soon as I saw her, I tackled her in a huge hug.

"I was so worried I wouldn't know either of you guys!" she said, as we hugged her, "I knew you guys switched out, so I was worried it would just be two random sisters!"

We talked some more, then I asked what she would like help with.

"I left my scriptures at home, and I really, really want to study them. Is there a way I can get them? I'm worried they might be lost..."

"We have an extra quad in our trunk. We can give it to you, and see if we can find the ones the ward gave you in the mean time."

We could only visit for a short bit, but it was so, so great to see her! She says she's in between houses for now, so she isn't sure when or how often she can meet, but it's so good to at least be in touch with her.

Our other investigator also called us this week! One of this coworkers quit, and he's applying to take her shift. If he gets it, then he'd have Sunday's off permanently!!! He came to church yesterday in a classy white shirt and tie, and got a lot of compliments on it.

....we may have to push back his baptismal date depending on if he can find a place to move before his baptism.....

which means I'll miss his, and both of our young adults' baptisms.

I'm only a little (lot) unhappy about this.

I told the zone leaders I should stay for 6 transfers. You know what they did?

They laughed.

"Guys! Stop laughing!"

"Sister Stimpson, I think the likelihood of staying 6 transfers is about as likely as you getting push scooters," they told us.

"WE'RE FINALLY GETTING PUSH SCOOTERS?"

"No."

Good thing transfer calls aren't for another two weeks. I'll live it up in the mean time.

We also went on exchanges, and I was in another area for three days.

You know what the main outcome of this was?

A hivey, sunburnt, mosquito-bitten sister Stimpson.

Now, let's flash back to a transfer ago to Mission Leadership Council.

President Wirthlin: "Hats are NOT allowed unless for a medical purpose. And I don't think there's anymore of those left in our mission, I think they've all gone home..."

Sister Wirthlin: "President, we have one sitting with us with a sun allergy right now! Sister Stimpson!"

"Hey....." was the only response I could think of.

"What kind of hat do you wear?" asked President.

"I....um.....haven't been."

"I'm going to tell your mother!" said Sister Wirthlin.

"Eh, go for it."

Now let's forward to today:

I'm buying a hat.

Well, I must write the President. Sorry this letter is so lame.

I love you all!

Hurrah for Israel.

Sista' Stimpson

another week

I literally have nothing exciting.

I mean, exciting things have happened! I just can't think of anything!

We'll start with Sunday.

We were sitting by the Elders, waiting to greet people. It was about 45 minutes before church started, but we were there early for a meeting. Nobody else was around.....

and then....

we see one of our investigator's car roll up.

"Ah man," I said, "Why is he so early?!"

"I don't know!" said Sister L, "There's not even anyone here to sit by him!"

He walked in and we greeted him. He began talkingreallyfastlikethisagain, when members started to show up!

He began to move towards the chapel, and I said, "Okay, we're going to greet a few more people before we head in."

"okaysoundsgoodi'llsitwhereisatlastweekandyoucansitbyme."

"....huh? Oh. Okay. Great."

We continued to greet a few members, when one shook our hands and said, "You have an elderly gentleman investigator, right?"

"Yes."

"Okay, he's on his way in."

"Oh! Good!"

He walked in, and shook our hands.

"I'm going to sit in the chapel," he said.

"Okay, we're going to greet a few people, then we'll be right in."

"What?"

"WE'LL BE RIGHT IN," we said.

"Okay. I'll save you a seat."

Uh oh.

"Hey guys!" said someone.

We turned around to see our Young Adult investigator's friend.

"Hey!"

"My friend should be here in a few minutes, she's just running a little late. I'll run in and save all of us a seat!"

Uh oh.

Sister L and I looked at each other.

Now, normally when we know an investigator is coming to church and we'd like someone to sit by them, we call a member during the week and ask if they'd be willing to invite them to sit by them.

Yeah....we totally forgot to do that this week.

Sister L and I stood by the doors, staring at all four of our investigators.

"They're all sitting by themselves," said Sister L.
"Ah crud." I mumbled.

The Elders stood next to us.

"Want us to sit next to one of them?"

"Yes! Please! Sit by the one in the purple shirt. He's the one who talks really fast." 

"Got it."
And they went and sat down by him.

"Okay. I'll take the Young Adults, you take the older man." said Sister L.

I sat down next to him as the meeting began.

We began to sustain people. he turns to me and asked what they were doing. I began to explain it to him, then he said, "WHAT?"

So I had to explain to him louder. 

Then in the middle of sacrament, he turned to me asked another question.

Meanwhile, I'm thinking, 'Sorry, parents, who are trying to teach their little children to be reverent during the sacrament, but I fear I'm going to have to be a bit loud at this time.'

I answered him as quietly as I could.

Then he kept falling asleep during the speakers. Sister L kept turning around and looking at us, and mouthing, "Is he asleep?"

I'd usually shrug.

And then he's sneeze, or scratch his nose or something, and I'd be reassured that he WAS indeed alive and asleep.

We also had zone conference this week! So three transfers ago, the missionary department introduced a new teaching method, and ever since then, the leaders have been pushing hard to apply it into all elements of missionary work.

We had a Sister Training Leader council with the assistants and President Wirthlin after zone conference.

President Wirthlin explained that he feels like they've done enough telling about this new teaching method, and it's time that we actually do some showing.

And so, this transfer we will be going on exchanges for three days.

As in, this next week, I will be in a nearby town with that set of sisters for three days, while Sister L will be in another town for three days with those two sisters.

It is going to be an insane week.

But exciting!

Anyway. I love you all SO much!

Hurrah for Israel!

Sista' Stimpson

Happy 4th

So we carpooled to Utica for mission leadership council on the 3rd, and all the Sister Training Leaders went out for dinner while the zone leaders had a meeting. As I sat in Panera eating a delicious flat bread sandwich, the Harry Potter theme song popped into my head. I sighed and said, "Ah man, I hate when distracting songs get stuck in my head."

"Which song?" asked Sister B.

"The Harry Potter Theme."

"Oh. Sing 'I'm trying to be like Jesus' to the tune of the Harry Potter theme. It fits perfectly."

I stared at her, stared at my flat bread sandwich, then looked back up at her, and began to sing it silently to myself.

Yup. It fits quite well if I do say so myself.  

Then I continued to eat my flat bread sandwich.

Man I'm hungry right now.

It was a good week. I'm having one of those moments when I can't even like....think of anything to write about. What happened this week? A lot. But do I remember? Nope. Not exactly.

Oh I know!

So, once upon a time, we were driving back from a lesson in a member's car, when she says, "Um...is it okay if we stop and get gas?"

"Yeah, that's fine."

"Oh, good. Because I don't know how much longer we'll last."

"....huh?"

As soon as she entered the gas station, boom. Out of gas. Stuck. Right in the entrance.

"Don't worry!" said Sister L as she nearly lept out of the mini van, "We'll push it!"

It's a mini van.

This woman delivers magazines for her job, so it's PACKED with boxes and boxes of magazines.

And.....I'm me.

In summary, I'm sitting there thinking, 'Sister L, does it LOOK like I can push this car?'

But I got out, and Sister L and I pushed!

"Are you pushing?" she asked.

"Yes! Aren't you?"

"Yes!"

"Then why isn't it moving?" I asked, even though I basically already knew the answer.

Thirty more seconds of pushing, and finally the member in the driver's seat got out, laughed, and said, "Just stop."

Thankfully, three random strangers had already pulled over and pushed the car to the tank for us.

I stood behind and said, "Yeah....you're um.....you're doing great...."

I blame the magazines.

Anyway. So now to our young adult investigator and her friend.

We were sitting in our lesson with these two, when the following conversation came up:

First one: "We've just become so passionate about this religion! We went on a hike with all the seniors, and we were telling our Priest all about it."

Second one: "Yeah! We were all like, 'Father!' and we'd tell him all these cool stories about this religion!"

First one: "Then he got super confused and was all like, 'Are you trying to convert a Priest?'"
Second one: "So we said, 'Noooo.....we're just telling you what makes us happy!' We totally want you guys to teach him."

First one: "And our teachers, but they're nuns."

Second one: "Think a priest has ever joined the church?"

Me: "Well I know my dad was studying to be one when he joined...."
Second one: "So it DOES happen! And good thing, too. Else you wouldn't be here."

Me: "....Yeah!"

Our other investigator's lessons are getting better and better! He has begun to look at apartments to move into and hasn't drunk coffee since we introduced the Word of Wisdom to him! AND his speech has slowed down, miraculously!

....butifiwerestilltotypeouthowhetalkeditwouldtotallystillsound/looklikethisonlyalittleslower.

But I can at least understand him on the phone now.

He came to church, too! He walked in in a nice, blue button-up shirt and blue tie with black slacks and said, "How do I look? Is this okay? Is this appropriate to wear? Is this okay to wear?"

"You look perfect!" we reassured him.

"It's nice to meet you," said a ward member, "Here, let me introduce you to my husband! You can sit by us today!"

Then, after sacrament, the Bishop came up to us and said, "Brother P. just took your investigator to the next class."

"Oh! Awesome, thanks!"

And after church, he walked out with like....three other guys. We just kind of stared at him.

"Wow he's doing a good job and making friends, isn't he?" I said.

"That's good, at least!" said Sister L.

Seriously. Miracle.

Also, I got a haircut.

 

 

Well, I love you all! Thank you for all the love and support all of you show. I'm so grateful to be here in New York! Wish us luck :)

Hurrah for Israel!

Sista' Stimpson