Hi from Schmuckville

Sunday, January 26, 2014 0 Comments



If only you knew my mission president, President Kendrick.

He's the greatest of the great. Born in Louisiana. Approves of English majors. Wants the "straight dope" and missionaries that have "got it all going on." Always has time to help a sister out, even when he has 1 million other things on his agenda (like he always does).

And he's not afraid to tell you every once in a while that you're being a schmuck.

This week I have been the schmuckiest of schmucks. 

I won't lie to you. This has been the hardest, most exhausting and dreadful week and a half of my mission. It's my own fault. I had the major-est of breakdowns/breakthroughs last week. 

I guess I could use some euphemisms when talking about my struggles, like I sometimes do, but I think it's important to share the nitty-gritty, because that's what makes a mission what it is. My companion talk all the time about how fun missions look from pictures; and they are fun! You'll have more adventures than you've probably ever had. But they can also be the hardest ever; it's usually your own fault if it is.

Being a schmuck means not overcoming your difficulties, which is what I've been doing for about two weeks. After my breakdown/breakthrough, I met with President and told him about it. We talked about some things I could do. I left. And then I entered Schmuckville.

At first I was just tired from all of the overwhelming emotions I had been feeling. But after a while I started getting stubborn about not wanting to work at my full capacity. I felt like my problems hadn't been solved and a mission wasn't worth it any more. Classic schmuck behavior.

I met with President two or three more times. At our last meeting, he called my companion and I in and talked to us about Schmuckville and Victorville. Because life is hard, everyone. Sorry if you didn't know. You can either accept or deny that fact. If you deny it, you're on the fast track to depression (taking all the blame) or narcissism (blaming everyone else). If you accept it, life will still be hard. You have a choice when every difficulty approaches to accept and deny that fact. When you accept and you overcome, you're a victor. You win!

If you deny and don't get over that difficulty, you're a schmuck. You're too lazy/stubborn/weak-hearted/faithless to move past what was only meant to be another wall to climb to strengthen you, not a wall to bang your head against endlessly.

So take it from me, a reforming schmuck: it's not worth it. Overcome. Accept that life is hard. Take your challenges head-on.

But, schmuckiness aside, I've been improving this week. We're working and remembering to take pictures and having fun!

Thanks for your prayers. Whether I realized it or not, it's because of your prayers that I am where I am. Still here, still a missionary, still finding happiness. It might have been hard, but hey. Life is hard. That fact remains even when you're a missionary.

I love you! Stay safe, all of you that are actually getting something that resemble winter weather. California has leveled out at 75, it seems. :) I can't complain.

Love,
Sister B

Pictures:
1. Apparently New Jersey has gained some weight since I saw it last


2. A Boston shake from Peppertree Frosty: a milkshake with a sundae on top. Mine was chocolate cake with a marshmallow sundae. SO GOOD.
3. Yay!


4. Sister Lemon forgot to pick up the poo...


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You Win, Ricky Martin

Monday, January 13, 2014 0 Comments

I swear, every day this week I've had "Livin' La Vida Loca" playing in my brain. It's the earworm of the century. Proof that, even as a missionary, you still remember all of the words to that one Ricky Martin song.

This week has been pretty slow. Okay, very slow. Mentally I've been struggling to catch up, which is maybe why the week seemed to pass by so slowly. We went on exchanges this week, and I got to hang out for a day with Sister Danielson from Missouri. She's the greatest. She's a Samoan Luna Lovegood, and I love her for it.

I've started writing down funny quotes that people say, because I am surrounded by great people that say the funniest things. With the added awkwardness of being a missionary, you learn to delight in crazy statements and awkward situations.

From Sunday School class alone:

"It's addicting! It's spiritual crack-cocaine, I swear!" -talking about indexing

"I probably have ADHA. Or whatever it's called. The one with the letters." 

"So, I was talking to Scott-"
"Keith."
"Oh, Keith. Sorry, man. So, anyway, I was talking to Scott and then-"
"It's Keith."
"Did I do it again? Man, I am so sorry!"
two minutes later...
"Yeah, and I went over to Scott's house-"
"Keith. It's Keith."

If you pay attention, even the most normal of situations can provide hilarious quotes. You just have to flex your missionary ears and listen.

Okay, so I'm the worst. I haven't taken ANY pictures this week! Isn't that terrible? But don't worry, I look exactly the same (maybe a few more freckles) and I'm doing the same thing.

My missionary tip for the week: Carry your PMG with you everywhere. If you haven't, get a mini version and stick it in your bag. You will need it when you least expect it!

Love,
Sister B

Note from the poster: I apologize for the delay in posting; things should be back on schedule now. Make sure to read the three previous posts as well.

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Monday, January 13, 2014 0 Comments

I love looking at the little weekly forecast section of my Missionary Portal site. 

72. Sunny. 69. Sunny. 76. Sunny. 75. Sunny.

That's been my life for about two weeks and counting. We've barely had even California's version of winter (mid-50s, rainy). I'm going to be so spoiled when I go home.

The work is finally picking up here in Vista. We're teaching more people and still working on finding more. I know they're out there! Sister Lemon and I are determined to find everyone that needs to be found.

I'm still not out of my listening-to-The-Killers-while-emailing phase (it's totally kosher) nor my eat-things-right-before-bed phase. In a lot of ways, I'm still just a kid. I get cranky when I can't eat on Fast Sunday (just ask our YSA ward about yesterday). I say stupid things all the time. I still have a crush on Tintin. I will always eat brownies if they're in front of me. I can't keep myself awake past 9:45 at night.

 GIANT Reese's cups. 
 But I'm also up to my eyeballs in missionary work, and it's fantastic. I feel weird when I go to the YSA ward and people are sending Snapchats or checking Instagram/Facebook. I don't mind wearing skirts and dresses every single day. I'm never without my little black badge. General Conference weekend is better than Superbowl Sunday (or 24 hours straight of The Fresh Prince of Bel Air re-runs. Side note: rest in peace, Uncle Phil).
 Sister Lemon, Alondra and I. We love you, Alondra!
I may not have my brain all together, but what I do have together is focused on teaching people about the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. I still struggle, sure. I don't always want to be obedient. I don't always know what to do next. I don't always have the answers. But I'm just doing what I do because I'm a missionary. My whole soul, body and spirit, is dedicated to that. I may not do it right all of the time, but I sure am trying.

And that's all that God really asks of us. He doesn't ask us to perform perfectly the part we've been asked to play. He knows we're going to mess up sometimes. Failing is a part of eventually becoming. We are all here on the earth to mess up and fail. Funny, isn't it? That failing is actually a part of the plan?

But it is, and God wants us to know that. We are never too far gone for His son, Jesus Christ, to bring us back. If anything, I've gained such a testimony of that during my six and a half months as a missionary. I'm not perfect, and that's okay.

I love you all! I know I say it every time, but thank you so much for your support. Being a missionary is so hard, but so worth it. I couldn't do it without you!

Thank you!

Love,
Sister B

P. S. Oh. And this just made us laugh. Found this on the board outside of the mission office. Looks like Sugar Chubs won't be getting their postcard from China this week.


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Merry Christmas, Happy New Years, Et Cetera (12/30)

Monday, January 13, 2014 0 Comments

Wow.

It's been a while, hasn't it?

Well, maybe not for you. But in missionary time, it feels like it's been at least a month.

Can I just begin by saying that southern California is oh-so-lovely in December? It's been 75 all week, and it's going to be 75 this next week, too. I couldn't ask for a happier winter. I don't even have to wear a jacket most nights!

The biggest news, other than being able to Skype with my family and my brother on a mission at the same time (a joyous internet reunion, for sure) is that we've been joined by a temporary third companion for the past few days! Her name is Alondra, and she's our very own mini-missionary.

Basically, Alondra is a high school student that decided to spend her Christmas break slumming it with us missionaries. She lives in a city in our mission boundaries, and she's adorable. We picked her up Thursday morning and she's been with us ever since.

It's been sort of weird for me to be the senior-most companion, and to be showing someone the ropes from square 1, but it's also been a blast. We've had a hard time getting appointments set this week (family vacations and stuff like that) so we had to resort to some pretty drastic measures.

Yeah, we went tracting.

:)

I'm just kidding, it actually wasn't all that bad. It's definitely not my favorite finding activity, but once you've been a missionary for 6 months, there aren't very many situations that are too uncomfortable as far as talking to people about the Gospel goes.

One of our investigators, the sweetest guy in the world, recently had one of his housemates put a motor on a bike for him. He's so excited about it! Apparently he can get up to 40mph, going down hill. But we had to go hunt down a helmet for him to wear, which was an adventure.

We've had many more adventures since I last wrote, but I simply can't remember any of them right now. We've seen a lot of miracles, too, and it reinforces to me my need to remain humble and faithful. On my own, my time here would be pointless. With God, my efforts are magnified and miracles happen every day.

Our wondrous Christmas Eve with the Mayers and the elders.

Our equally wondrous Christmas dinner at the Uhri's!
 Did I ever show you the sleigh we made for the mission Christmas devotional? It was fantastic, in my humble opinion
MTC district reunion at the Christmas devotional!

The generations: Grandma Halling and her babies, Momma Saxton and her babies. Did you know that Sister Lemon is actually my aunt?
Christmas Eve with Pokey the Tortoise.
Christmas at Sister Birt's! She has a little Christmas bear village and that magical Christmas tree that she keeps up year round. She loves Christmas that much.
Christmas Eve. So many stockings!

I hope that as the new year approaches, you can step back and recognize the many miracles that have happened in your life this year! I promise that God has been working in your life, even if you don't so.

Keep the faith! 

Love from sunny California,
Sister B

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Happy December! (12/16)

Monday, January 13, 2014 0 Comments

I'm writing you today from balmy, mid-70s California. Happy December! ;)

I'm also writing you in between sneezes, because some sickness came in yesterday and attacked me. It's probably just a cold, but "just a cold" to a missionary, especially on preparation day (aka the one day a week we have to go shopping, take naps, etc) is the ABSOLUTE WORST.

Don't fret! I'm still going to make it as wonderful a day as possible.

This week has actually not been the best week in the entire world, but I think I've figured out why. 


(Okay, I'm the one on the end, shrouded in shadow. Maybe that's symbolic. Who knows.) The reason: the Palos were sealed on Saturday! Never have I been happier to attend the temple. I think that Satan tried to make the days before Saturday as miserable as possible, in hopes that I wouldn't want to go to the temple. And man, he almost won, too. But there's no feeling like being inside of the temple, watching a family you love be sealed together as a forever family. 

It was a beautiful day to be alive. I got to see Sister Grover and her companion and of course, my favorite baby Rees. :) And we had In N' Out after, which wasn't a bad deal at all.

I've also found creative ways to celebrate Christmas, including decorating ice cream cones with green frosting. 

My teeny tree almost won the contest, too!This week, I'm looking forward to the mission Christmas devotional/transfer meeting. Our beloved Sister Halling is leaving us for the great mission in the sky (aka freezing cold Michigan) and Sister Lemon and I are holding down the forts for another transfer here in Vista. We're not sure if we'll be getting another companion or if we will both still be in our family and YSA wards, but we'll see!

Just a heads up: no email next week! We get a mini p-day on Monday for shopping and laundry, and then have Christmas day to Skype family and hang out. 

Until next time,
Sister B

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