The news of the week is that I'm staying in Utica! However, Sister Horne is being forcibly removed
to open up an awesome new area (Albany) with Sister Hale (yes, how timely, eh?)
and a sister who's been serving at Temple Square (she's from the Phillipines)
is coming to Utica with me. I don't
think I know how to handle the change now, quite honestly, except to just keep
going like normal. haha. Really, though, Sister Horne has been packing
like a madwoman and I moved my stuff into her closet so the incoming sister
could have the other one (it's in the bedroom, and that is probably the most
comfortable, right?). P-Days are so
different in Utica. I feel like I can
accomplish things rather than just been pressured to write unnumbered amounts
of letters. It's a good feeling. The change isn't the best feeling, but alas,
it's the way of things, eh? It should be
a very interesting endeavor. Oh. Hahaha!
I got on the email service site between the missionaries and our mission
president and noticed a LOT more features than have ever been there. Most poignantly language study
"portals..." Yeah. I'm not sure what that's an indication of
other than trepidation on my part. This
sister should be able to speak English if she's been in SLC for a year,
shouldn't she? Yeah. The new features are probably on everyone's.
So, the quote from this week...We went on exchange with the
Syracuse (pronounced Saracuse by natives) and Sister Lambert came up here to
serve in Utica for a day. Sis Lambert
and I went to a member of the ward's home who had just had the sonic blast on
her kidneys and was recovering. We got
there and she was up and moving about with a lot of energy, which was a good
sign. But anyway, she told us a lot of
stories (as she is wont to do) and one of them was about her childhood, growing
up next to a "crick" (she was hick-ifying "creek") and in
their cellar they always had scores of snakes slithering about--even in their
laundry baskets. So, she's nervous to go
do laundry in her cellar now because she's living right next to the same crick. She has PTSD from Snake-nam. Sis Lambert and I had a pretty great
time--she's been in the NYUM for 3 months now and is being transferred up to
Lake Placid this Wednesday. Lots of
changes this transfer, too, see?
I had a really unique/terrifying/incredible opportunity last
week to help someone repent. Of course,
all we do all day every day is invite people to change and come closer to
Christ with those good changes, which is repentance, but this was different and
striking. She did something wrong and
she knew it was wrong, felt terrible about it, and first thing the next morning
she asked us to come over to help her know how to repent of it. We didn't need to know details, didn't ask
for them, but we counseled with her and helped her understand that Jesus Christ
suffered the Atonement that she can become clean. She's working toward baptism and we reminded
her that everything will be washed clean as she's baptized and confirmed by
those who hold the authority of God.
Anyway, it was really awesome to gain a firmer testimony that change is
absolutely possible because of our Savior.
We were inspired to ask certain questions, share certain scriptures, say
the right things at the right points of the conversation. Heavenly Father loves His children.
We don't have a lot of time today (the preparations for
transfers are quite weighty), so I must be off!
I can't believe Rob started high school!! What?!
Go get 'em. Learn lots,
okay? Every opportunity we have to learn
is such a blessing--we have so much to learn and become! We need to take advantage of every single
one! Thanks so much for the emails! Oh, I love you. :)
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