hi -- it's another week

Hi, my name is Sister Stimpson, and my nail is about to fall off. 

Yes, it's that time. 

It's all attached on one little side, and when my nail moves at all, it sends a shooting pain that makes me yelp. 

So I've attached a ginormous bandaid over my finger. 

Stupid Saratoga Door.

My name is Sister Stimpson and I also have a pineapple allergy. 

I know. 

About a month or so ago in Elmira, I was eating fresh pineapple at a dinner appointment when my mouth began to itch terribly. I thought, "Oh, no. I think I have a pineapple allergy. WHERE DID THIS COME FROM?"

So I stopped eating the slice of pineapple. 

Fast forward to our Tuesday dinner appointment. 

The lady brings out a nice, pineapple cake. She gives me a slice, and the aforementioned dinner appointment flashes into my head. 

Elder Bednar once said that the Holy Ghost works by bringing things to your remembrance......

and I foolishly thought, "Maybe it's a one-time thing....? One bite won’t hurt....."

So I eat a bite. 

"Okay that wasn't a one-time thing. MAN my mouth itches........how on earth does one spontaneously develop a pineapple allergy?........Oh, no, now my mouth, throat AND nose itch...........why am I acting as if this is a bad thing? I don't even like pineapple!...........oh no. I hope I can still have dole pineapple whip from Disneyland. That IS one kind of pineapple I like..........yeah I shouldn't eat this...........okay one more bite just to make sure I'm not making this up...........nope. This is real. Man my TONGUE is STINGING!"

I looked at my companion and opened my mouth. 

"....are your cheeks USUALLY that swollen?" she asked. 

"Ah crap." 

Don't worry guys. No deaths happened. I just went home and took some allergy meds and it all turned out okay. 

Stupid pineapple.

Anyway, this week we also visited the sweet, sweet lady with the donkeys. 

Yes, she still has her donkeys. 

I pet them again, but they were behind the fence this time. Just where I like them to be. Not pressing me up against a trailer. 

We also had back-to-back lessons that day from 10:15-2:30. Which means.....no lunch. As we drove to this lady’s house, I said a little prayer that she would feed us something to carry us over, because a lot of times in the past she's made random goodies and fed them to us. (Although they always seemed to have gluten in them, which Sister S conveniently couldn't eat.)

When we got there, she said, "Oh, you're just in time. I just made us some nice, chicken vegetable soup."

"AH! YOU SAVED US!" I said. 

That was like a serious little tender mercy of the Lord.

The family we’re teaching is also doing AMAZING! I have wanted to teach a family my whole mission, and now I finally get the chance to! They are on date for baptism in November, and yes we have had a few panicky moments because that's so close, but they are so prepared and are doing SO well!!!  We just hope we can fit everything in before then!

Stake conference was this weekend! It was a sweet little reunion for me, seeing as I didn't really get to say goodbye to anyone before I left Elmira :) The speakers were a future missionary who goes out with us all the time, a recent convert in Elmira who I didn't really work with, but who I talked to quite a few times, and a recently reactivated member in Owego who just got called to the high council. All were so powerful, and so personal to me especially since I knew each of them!

Transfer calls were this Saturday.

My last transfer calls. 

We were all surprised with the outcome: Sister R is going home (which we knew), Sister C and I are staying the same....and being joined by a third sister, Sister H. She is currently in Ithaca and has been out about 4 months. 

Sister C is still pretty sick, and it's been good for her working in a trio. 

But I can't help but say I was a little........okay, a lot, sad. Elmira is reopening for sisters, but I'm not the one reopening it. I was secretly hoping I'd be able to train again, but I guess the Lord has other plans for me. 

I feel like I should feel a lot more weirded out that I'm finishing my mission where I started (I mean.....HOW OFTEN DOES THIS HAPPEN?!) but I'm not surprised at all by it. I do love it here in little Owego :)

Well familia. I must be off. I love you all so much!

Hurrah for Israel

Sister Stimpson

Guys, I don't even know what to write about this week

Like seriously. I'm back in Owego! My sweet, sweet, blessed town of Owego. But I don't know even where to start!

Okay, yes I do. Here's where I start: 

Now, in the 5th Harry Potter movie, Voldemort comes back. And only a handful of people believe it. Cornelius Fudge, the minister of magic, doesn't believe that Voldemort is back, until he sees Voldemort. It's this super dramatic scene where Fudge sees him then says, "He's back!"

That's totally what I've felt like this past week. 

People’s number one reaction when they see me? 

"You're back!" 

"I'm back!" 

Also, typing out that premise of Harry Potter? Totally relatable to the Savior's resurrection. And Thomas. Didn't believe the Savior was back until he saw him himself. 

Guys I love this gospel!

I'm in a trio (at least for the next week....transfer calls are this Saturday!! We'll see what happens!!) with two sisters: Sister R, who is going home at the end of this transfer, and Sister C, who has been sick these past 8 weeks! She is able to go to set appointments, but she feels miserable all the time, and she isn't able to do much finding, BUT! The three of us are having a lot of fun. 

Sometimes too much fun. 

Like, on Friday, we helped clean someone's house. They asked us to take some things to a shelter to donate. So we fill our car to the brim with random stuff, and start driving. Our car smells pretty bad in minutes, and then BOOM, we realize that the shelter is closed until Monday. 

The result? 

We rolled down the windows while driving at 55mph, it being FREEZING cold, and raining, and not caring at all because our car smells really bad. 

I ended up putting a coat over my head to help keep myself warm. 

But my hair was still a MESS. 

Thankfully, on Saturday we found a different shelter that was open, and we were able to donate the stuff there and Febreeze our car. 

Sister C was having a really hard day on Saturday, and Sister R and I really didn't know how to help. She felt sick, she felt drained, she felt sad. So what did we do? 

We bought her the most adorable, fluffy, grey hippo stuffed animal. Sister C. refuses to named stuffed animals, so we named him for her.  Used a combination of Sister R’s name and mine.   

Hehe. 

I think it helped. 

We have had quite a bit of success this week. We are teaching a few great families, and they're set for baptism soon! The granddaughter of someoneI taught previously is also set for baptism this next month! 

We're also meeting with a woman my first companion and I picked up a year ago! She has grown a lot. And we had an AMAZING lesson with her this week! When we were reading the Book of Mormon with her, Sister C  said something that really, really touched her and she said, "It's really the first time I've felt like I've known it's true in my heart, rather in just my head." 

I absolutely love her. 

And the Book of Mormon, man. It is POWERFUL! 

Yeah this letter is definitely totally lame. 

But! I love you all! And I will let you know what happens with transfer calls!!

Hurrah for Israel!

Sister Stimpson

A series of unexpected events

A lot of unexpected, some sad and some exciting, changes occurred this week. 

Last Monday was day 4 of Sister N's migraine, and a ward member ordered an MRI for her.

Tuesday was zone training meetings. Was that seriously Tuesday? It feels so long ago. We were able to watch the movie Meet the Mormons, and although it was an amazing meeting, Sister N's migraine grew to be even worse. 

Wednesday she was in even worse condition. I woke up and it became clear she wouldn't be able to work that day. After exercising, I began setting it up where I could go with a member and Sister N could stay at another member’s home. I called about three members, and woke each one up. 

"What on earth? Why am I waking everyone up?" 

I look at the clock. 

7:15 a.m. 

"Oops." 

The results from the MRI came back on Wednesday. They were clear. 

"I may have to go home,

" said Sister N, and immediately this peaceful sadness filled me. 

I knew right then that that's what was going to happen. 

Wednesday evening we went to the instant care to try the last thing she hadn't yet tried, and that was a shot. It was supposed to help it within 20 minutes, but no luck. 

Thursday morning, we knew Sister N was going home. She called Sister Wirthlin, and the arrangements began to be made. We would get a call from President Wirthlin later that day telling us what would happen to me, and when Sister N would be leaving. 

And as soon as she made that decision, all the stress, all the fear, all the anxiety I had been experiencing melted away. Both of us knew this is what needed to happen. 

Sister N began packing right away. I began pit puttering around, in denial about the fact that I could possibly be leaving Elmira. 

Finally, the cell phone rang. 

"We've arranged the tickets and Sister N, you will be leaving tomorrow morning. Be to the Elmira airport at 10:00 a.m." said President Wirthlin. "Sister Stimpson, you will be going to Owego with Sister R and Sister C. They will meet you at the airport to pick you up." 

........"Wait, hold up. So you're saying I'll be spending the rest of the transfer there?" 

"Yup."
"YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!" 

"I knew you'd scream." said President. 

Other people’s reactions? 

"Oh I bet you freaked out when he told you." – Elder S

"You should be excited. You were squealing the whole way to zone training meeting." – Other Elder S

Sister N and I went to go say goodbye to the ward mission leader and another family in the ward. 

And that's when the tears came....from both of us. 

The next morning I just felt sad. I felt at peace that this is what was supposed to happen, but I felt so sad. 

"You'll have fun," the zone leaders reassured me as they drove us to the airport. 

"I know. But it doesn't make it any easier." 

We got to the airport, and said goodbye to Sister N. Then I went to Owego. 

And the rest. Was. Hilarious. 

First of all, it feels like I've never left.  Saratoga almost seems like a dream that I KNOW happened but I can't believe it did. 

People’s reactions were also priceless. 

The first person I saw who knew me was our landlord. 

We stared at each other. 

"I'm Sister Stimpson." I said. 

We shook hands. 

Then he introduced himself. 

"I know. I was here a year ago." 

"I know. You cut your hair short." 

"I did." 

"Looks nice." 

"Thanks." 

"Did you write me that sweet thank you note?" he asked. 

I thought back, remember that I had thought about writing a thank you note, but I didn't think I actually did it. 

"I think you did," he said. "Thank you for that. It was very sweet. I am glad I got to see you again so I could thank you. We really appreciated that." 

"Yeah.....you're welcome." 

He left, and I turned to Sister C. 

"That was Sister A. who wrote the note," said Sister C. 

"Yeah I was gonna say..."

The next morning, we saw the landlord’s husband. His reaction? He began to jump up and down, clap and chant, "You're back! You're back! You're back!" 

Our neighbors’ reaction?

"I THOUGHT I recognized your laugh! I woke up to it this morning!"

"Oh, shoot. I am SO sorry!" I apologized. 

We went and had a lesson with one of my first converts. Her first reaction? She hugged me and told me she loved me :) 

Also had a dinner appointment with Sister Cox. Basically I tackled her in a hug and almost knocked her over. 

The bishop’s family also came to say hi to us. The Bishop gave me a hand hug. 

And Sunday was just downright hilarious. 

The morning consisted of us going to ward council, then to choir practice. 

We walk into Ward Council. 

"Sister Stimpson?" 

"What on earth?" 

"You're back? That never happens." 

Then I walked into the chapel, and to sum up: 

4 people thought I had come home from my mission and was just visiting, even AFTER they announced at church that I was joining the sisters until the end of the month.

2 people didn't even register that I had even left. They were just so used to seeing me. 

And the pattern for everyone else’s facial expression goes from confused, to shocked realization, back to confused. 

And although I had a series of various conversations, I mostly just gave the same reply to everyone: 

"Sister Stimpson? What are you doing here?" 

"My companion went home sick. I'm here at least until the end of the month."
"Well, it's good to have you back!" 

"It's good to be back." 

"Hi, [insert name here.]." 

"Hello........SISTER STIMPSON?" 

"Well you still look like a missionary!" 

"It's ‘cause I still am a missionary." 

"So are you going to school now or what?" 

"No, I don't go home until December. I'm still on my mission." 

"WHAT? WHY ARE YOU HERE?" 

"My companion got sick and I'm here until the end of the month." 

"That never happens!" 

"I know." 

"I remember you!" 

"I remember you, too!" 

"You're Sister Stimpson!" 

"You're [insert name here.]"

"You're back!" 

"I am." 

Basically, it's been a blast. Yes, it has been hard to leave Elmira, but I feel so at peace knowing that this is the Lord's plan and this is what I need to do at this time. 

I'm really curious what's going to happen my last few weeks of the mission. 

I love you all! 

Hurrah for Israel!

Sista Stimpson

A tough week

I was gonna try to sugar coat the week, then I was like, "Meh, forget it.” Looking back now it's kind of hilarious how bad everything went. 

And it wasn't just a big ball of stress for us, but it was for every missionary in our ward. 

It all started with District Meeting. We were in a trio with our sister training leader this week. Sister N was feeling a bit overwhelmed with missionary life and feeling less than successful, despite mine and the sister training leader's reassurance that she was, indeed, a good missionary. 

We go to District Meeting. 

The south side elders, the trio, stand up in the front. Elder F clears his throat and says, "Well. I'm being emergency transferred.....tomorrow." 

"WHAT?" 

"Yeah." 

"When did you find that out?" 

He looked at his watch. 

"Oh...about two hours ago." 

We looked at the other two elders in the companionship. 

The other two elders are both here while waiting for their visa to Brazil, where they're originally called. 

As a visa-waiter, you're not able to have a debit card from the mission. All your money gets put on your companion's debit card, along with their own money. 

They're both visa waiters. 

Neither one has a debit card. 

"How are you getting your money?" we asked. 

"We have NO idea. We don't even have a GPS!"

They sat down, and the district leader asked if we had any concerns about our area we would like to bring up as a district to help solve. 

"How do you plan for zone training meeting in between exchanges, meetings in Utica, general conference, and teaching people?" asked the zone leaders. 

"Um....do it in the car?" we suggested. 

"We'll probably have to do that. Cause we'll be gone all week, zone training meeting is on Tuesday, and I am NOT planning that on my preparation day! Those are precious hours!" said Elder B.

"How do you have FUN as a missionary?" asked Sister N, close to tears. 

They gave a few suggestions, to no avail. 

The next twenty-four hours consisted of Sister N struggling a bit and us trying to comfort her. 

I began feeling really stressed out. I had NO idea what to do. How could I help her? I was having fun – but how could I help HER have fun as a missionary? 

She was feeling worse and worse through the next day. Finally, I set it up where I went to a teaching appointment with a member, while Sister N could stay at home and talk things out with our sister training leader. 

I went to the appointment, and my stress just increased as I proceeded to have one of the worst teaching appointments on my mission. 

Why was it so bad, you may be asking yourself?
Well, the member said a few things that weren’t really relevant. 

By now, my head is resting in the palms of my hand, as I try to cut in 6 or 7 times, trying to take control of the situation. 

You're probably wondering what the lesson was on. 

We were trying to read Helaman 5 from the Book of Mormon with her. 

It ended up being an hour and fifteen minute long lesson. 

Lessons are only supposed to be 15-30 minutes long. 

So by the time I get to the apartment, I'm an anxious mess, because we're already 30 minutes late to another appointment because this one went over. 

Sister N and Sister S are sitting outside, enjoying life. The member drops me off and drives away, and I proceed to march up to Sisters N and S, throw down my purse and shout, "THAT. IS. IT. I AM DONE BEING A MISSIONARY! I AM FINISHED! I JUST WANT TO GO HOME, I WANT TO SIT AND STARE AT THE WALL FOR 2 HOURS, WITH ABSOLUTELY NO RESPONSIBILITIES! COME ON! We're thirty minutes late to our lesson!" 

The other sisters get in the car, a little wide-eyed because they've never seen me act this way. 

Heck, I've never seen myself act this way. 

As we're driving I'm shouting, "I AM SO TIRED OF BEING LATE, TO EVERY SINGLE BLASTED APPOINTMENT WE EVER HAVE! AND YOU KNOW WHAT? I'M SO SICK OF EATING FOOD I DON'T EVEN WANT WHEN I'M NOT EVEN HUNGRY, AND JUST PUTTING ON WEIGHT! AND I'M SO TIRED OF BEING SO TIRED ALL THE TIME! I JUST WANT TO TAKE A 16-HOUR NAP! AND NOW, MY GLASSES ARE SO FULL OF TEARS I CAN'T EVEN SEE OUT OF THEM! AND ON TOP OF ALL THIS, I HAVE A SUN ALLERGY! UGH! I JUST WANT TO GO HOME AND DO ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!"

And then, to top things off.....

I run over a squirrel. 

"ARE YOU KIDDING ME?" 

After that little meltdown, and an actually spiritual, decent lesson that was only 15 minutes long, I felt much, much better. 

The three of us then went to the church to have a lesson online, when we see the visa waiter/Brazil elders at the computer, messing with a GPS that we had found in our glove compartment of our car and gave it to them. 

We go to the other computers, and sign onto Facebook and begin our lesson with our investigator when we hear them say, "Ah man, are you kidding me?" 

"What?" 

"The GPS died AGAIN! Did you guys find a charger with it?" 

"No, sorry." 

"It's okay. I think this charger works. Oh thank goodness, it does." 

We turn back to the computer, to see that our investigator had just messaged me. 

"Um...Sister N....is she saying what I think she's saying?" 

Sister N reads over my shoulder. 

"....Is she seriously telling us she doesn't want to meet with us anymore?" asked sister N.

"I think so." I replied. 

"COME ON."

"Hey! We wanted a facebook lesson! NOT for you to drop us! Dang IT!" 

"Dang it!" said the Elders. 

"What?" we asked. 

"The GPS thinks we're in KANSAS!" says Elder K. 

"Shoot. It just died again." said Elder S. 

After a few more minutes of Facebook, the three of us began to drive home, when the Elders call us again. 

"Hey.... do you know our address?" they asked. 

"No, why?" 

".....cause we don't know how to get home...." 

........"Are you kidding?" 

"No.....and our GPS still thinks we're in Kansas. We were hoping you'd be able to pull it up on your GPS and give us directions but....we don't know our address....." 

"Oh my gosh....I think the Corning Elders might have it?" 

"Okay....we'll give them a call, cause the zone leaders aren't answering...."

Ward coordination proceeded to be, instead of all of the missionaries discussing their investigators, a therapy session as we all talked about how horrible or week had been. 

"All our investigators keep dropping us," Sister N said, "and we can't stop having emotional melt downs!" 

"Did you guys get the money situation worked out?" I asked the elders. 

"Not yet. And we still don't have a GPS.'
"AT LEAST YOU GUYS HAVE TIME TO TEACH!" yelled Elder F. 

The next morning, we get a call from the zone leaders, asking various questions about the furniture in our apartment and if we needed any replaced. Finally, we said, "Elder F. We don't want to stress you out. Our apartment is fine." 

"I'M NOT STRESSED OUT!" 

".....whatever you say, Elder F." 

Thursday came. Along with a serious migraine for my companion. 

Friday night came. Day two of Sister N's migraine, and we called and asked the zone leaders when a meeting was. 

"......I.....I really don't know. This week we just keep telling ourselves, 'Just make it to conference.'" 

"Ugh. Us too."

General Conference came, it was like sweet, sweet peace. 

The visa waiters finally had the money situation figured out. They also had received a GPS from home. 

The zone leaders meetings were all done, and now they could finally plan zone training meeting. 

Unfortunately, my companion is still on day four of her migraine. BUT. We have been taking it easy, and she has begun to notice how she really IS a good missionary. 

And then General Conference was the spiritual candy we all needed!

All I can say, is this week more than ever, I am so grateful for prophets and apostles, and Jesus Christ. 

Cause seriously, how can anyone get through a stressful week without praying, and without Christ? 

I love you all so much :) 

Hurrah for Israel 

Sista' Stimpson