This week has really flown by! It's creepy how slow the days go by... but how fast the week flies by! It really doesn't make sense. And on top of that I've had probably more sleep than ever before, but it feels like you NEVER sleep. Kinda horrible, but it's okay. :)
Well last Monday we went to an Empty Nesters gathering thing with mostly people from our ward. There are.... a lot of older people here. Like that little house gathering had more people in it than our ward gathering at home! (Not really, but it was crazy) And everyone is hilarious.
We got to wash our car last Monday and I've never felt so normal in my life. It was fantastic. We did it at one of our "Ward Mom's" home and decided to wash her van as well... she was pretty excited about that. I also found out they have a guitar that no one uses there. Muahaha! I need to make a scheme to get my hands on it... it's not very nice, like it's one of those kinda baby practice ones, but I DO NOT CARE! My callouses are gone and it makes me sad. Although I haven't been able to play guitar i have a feeling I will be doing a lot of singing on my mission. Especially considering the mission president and everyone has been saying to use our talents out here. It's beena big emphasis. I will be singing at an upcoming baptism on the 31st, Don't know what yet, but we'll see.
We had only one exchange last week which was nice. I got to be with one of my former MTC buddies, so that was cool. It's interesting to hear how SUPER different each area is with missionary work and what works in the areas. In her area everyone is super into it and they have interested people everywhere like calling THEM! Bahaha! That does NOT happen here. People don't even answer their doors. Yesterday a lady spoke to us through the window. Like we're diseased or something. I was cracking up. :)
I went to my very first Zone conference and it was amazing. There are so many amazing missionaries here in the Federal Way Mission. And I am so blessed to have President Eaton and his wife as the head of it! They are the most loving, knowledgeable, yet down to earth people ever! They honestly just love you and you can feel it. Sister Eaton actually ended up doing a push up contest with one of the Elders there. In a dress. It was awesome.
What I learned most during the conference...
I need to stop letting what other people think of me define what I need to do or not do. Stop letting what other people think of me define how I think of myself. I need to make sure I ask myself what God thinks of me. Because, in the end... that's what matters. Even at the end of every day, that's what matters. At the end of every decision, that's what matters. It's funny how we get so caught up sometimes in other people's views of us, when they literally don't matter at all. So I am going to try to do what I can to make sure God can be proud of me.
Also, I know I've heard this one before, but I really loved it. Pray as if everything depends on God, but work as if everything depends on you.We are so quick to ask for things, for ways out, and for blessings... but we need to work for them. God has made us extremely capable individuals. He has blessed us with talents and with the chance to learn and grow. He expects us to use that. To do everything we can and only then Christ can make up the difference. I can't expect answers if I'm not willing to work in order to find them. God won't hand us anything without some effort on our part. And so everything depends on Him, but everything depends on us as well.
Interesting story of the week:
We get a voicemail from the old man telling us he had presents for us. Both Sister Cox and I were a little afraid as to what they would be. We get to him and he carefully hands us what he thinks is something, but what was really... nothing. And tells us to open it. We look at each other and then look at our empty hands and slowly "unwrap" the "gift." He said "Well do you like it?" Us, "Uhhh, well... what is it?" He proceeded to inform us that he had given us Red Text Bibles which apparently put all of Christ's words in red.... which is awesome... but we didn't have those. We had air. And confusion. And a little fright. ANYWHO, we were about to leave and so Sister Cox offered a prayer... which in the middle of he got up and announced "Yes, I need some more pills." Uhhh, hahahaha! We were both a little shocked a left. We don't know if we can see him too much longer.
We also got some horrific prepackaged sandwiches from a lady who let us into her home. They were like stuffed roll sandwhiches with the creepiest ingredients ever. They were supposed to be refrigerated, but hadn't been. We opened them when we got home and almost puked. To the garbage they went.
Sooo... I know God sent me to this area for a reason... well more than one probably, but I'm finding them out. One, He knew that by sending me here I would cherish every investigator that I have for the rest of my mission. No one wants to listen to us. Haha. No one answers their doors. And we spent hours tracting (going door to door) last week with 0 success basically. But we sat down for a few minutes afterwards on Saturday to wait for some other Sisters who were coming to pick something up... and we decided to call a few random people. And low and behold, they are people who actually set up appointments with us! Haha:) God does suffer us to be brought down low before He raises us up that's for sure. :) Ah, tender mercies of the Lord. Gotta love 'em.
Oh and one thing I wanted to comment on and I have been realizing since I've been here. Everyone who has come to accept Christ's Gospel and knows it as truth, who has become a member of this Church, is SO DIFFERENT. Their stories are incredibly diverse! We went to a New Member devotional and people went up and bore their testimonies or told how they were introduced and became part of the church and they are all so unique. Whether they were former Catholics from Germany, baptized at 8 into the church and fell away and came back, were Atheist, were looking for truth, were fine where they were, were Methodist ministers, were Jewish Bible scholars.... everyone is so different, YET they each came to find that this gospel is true for EACH of them. It is universal. It is the same in India and Ireland and Africa and California and Canada and England and Washington. It is not changed from one area to the next or interpreted differently by man in each congregation, it is from God. Only the true gospel of Christ could work so perfectly to help all of these completely unique individuals in all of their completely unique circumstances and trials. It's truly incredible. And I am so blessed to be a part of something so united in purpose, yet diverse in people.
Welp, I am learning and growing more than ever and I am honored to be a missionary. :)
Now for a couple more random things about the area:
I might have said this last time, but because the way the curbs are set up you can park your car halfway on the curb and halfway on the street. If I already said that one... it's still sweet.
Also, it doesn't matter which way your car is facing on either side of the street when it's parked. That's why it looks like a lot of the cars are kissing on the side of the road. ( I probably already said that one too)
I have come to find that no one pronounces all the syllables of the word "federal." They all say it FED-RULL. Fedral way. So I guess that's the way it goes.
Okie dokie folks. I love you all! Hope all is going well where ever you are.
Signing out the Fed'ral Way,
Sister Pearson ;)
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