Lora's Mission: February 2016

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Arriving in Nashville!

Mission President said they were all tired but safely there! So glad to get this picture!

Sunday, February 21, 2016

I don't think I can emphasize enough, how true it is that as a missionary, a day feels like a week and a week feels like a day. I'm not even sure how much to include in this letter because so much has happened.

Before Sunday, all missionaries in our zone were told to write a 2-5 minute talk about the Book of Mormon and then for Sacrament meeting, a couple of missionaries would give their talks but we wouldn't know who they'd have talk until that meeting. So I, being my very diligent self, tried for days to come up with a talk but I couldn't really come up with anything other than a few vague topic ideas I could focus on. Then, I was asked to accompany a musical number on the piano so I figured I was safe from being called to give the talk but lo and behold, Brother May stands up to conduct the meeting and as he announces the program, he reveals that President Jamison wanted me to be the first speaker. So, heart pounding, mind racing, praying frantically for divine intervention and literally 15 seconds to register that I actually needed to be up in front of all these people, I nervously stood up and made my way to the front. I had no scriptures and I had absolutely no idea what I'd say. I'm not entirely sure how I got through that experience alive but I managed to (seemingly??? I don't know, that's just what they said) confidently speak "insightful" thoughts about the Book of Mormon and bare my testimony of it. And I think I ended up speaking for nearly 5 minutes. Afterward, everyone said I did a good job and I completely give all credit to the Spirit because I know I could not have done that on my own. That was a huge blessing I experienced this week.

Later that day, I was able to watch a video of a talk by Elder Bednar, called The Character of Christ. It is honestly, one of the best talks I've ever heard and it's really sad that they exclusively show it at the MTC because I just want to watch it over and over again. Elder Bednar spoke about how the character of Christ is what made the Atonement possible. When the natural man, your or I, would turn inward and be selfish, He will always selflessly turn outward in love and compassion toward others. He also spoke about how just having a testimony isn't enough. We have to be converted to the gospel. And it really motivated me to want to take the testimony I have now and convert myself to the gospel and to the Lord.

Class time is a blast. We learn so much and I'm still always nervous before practicing teaching someone, even in role play. My teachers, Sister Scott and Brother Pliler are hilarious too. Honestly, Brother Pliler would make a fantastic impromptu, stand-up comedian. He loves to make us laugh and that really helps us release our stress.

I leave for the field on Monday! AAAAHHH! Part of me is super nervous, another part is really excited and the rest of me is just a mesh of I don't even know what!!! Most of my district is heading off to the airport at 3:30 am, including me. :) The rest have to stay at the MTC until Wednesday. Then we'll have a long plane ride to Atlanta, Georgia and then take another plane to Nashville, Tennessee. (I'll look for Brother Jenner, Mom, but I don't know if I'll catch him when he's there too)

On Tuesday, we had an evening devotional and Elder Rasband came. Like, oh my goodness, I'm in the same room as an apostle of the Lord! I sang in the MTC choir. We sang a special arrangement of , "Nearer My God, To Thee" and it was like angels were singing with us. By the way, the MTC choir director is super awesome and I wish I could be in his choir all the time. Elder Rasband did a Q&A-like devo and went around with a microphone and he came to us choir members first! I didn't raise my hand to answer any of the questions because I didn't really have anything to say. Afterward, our district had a discussion review of the devotional and the Spirit was very strong in that meeting.

I've had only 9 official lessons that I've taught with investigators so far and I kind of still don't feel ready for the field. But as far as the investigators go, it's going well! My companion and I invited two of them to be baptized these past couple of days and they said they'd continue to read the Book of Mormon and pray about it to get an answer of whether they should or shouldn't. And our third investigator, well, she's still struggling to know whether her Father in Heaven really is there and if He loves her but she took a huge step of faith the most recent time we were with her and said a finally prayer with us!! It was quiet and simple and earnest and it was quite frankly, one of the most beautiful things I've ever heard.

On Wednesday, the new missionaries arrived and I felt like, 5 years older than them. It was so weird to know that it'd only been one week ago that I was in their shoes and I yet I felt like I've been here so long!

Yesterday, we had In-Field Orientation all day and I think that I'm kind of okay with just going up to people and talking about coming closer to Christ. I also realized just how much of an impact members have with missionary work and how much more effective our message is received if a member is involved somehow. This motivates me to be better and more supportive of missionaries when I get back.

My testimony of the Atonement as grown and my understanding of the fundamentals of the gospel of Jesus Christ has increased so much as well. I miss you all and love you so much. It's been a fantastic week at the MTC and the time has flown by so quickly.

Y'all have a blessed day!

Sister Ririe

MOOOOOOM, my MTC P-Day is on FRIDAY and I can't even tell you that until FRIDAY. You don't even know how frustrating it was for me to not be able to reply to tell you that every single day of this week!!! Did you like, even get my first , long email last week? You didn't mention it at all so I wasn't sure if you did and I thought maybe you'd see that it was sent on Friday. btw, thanks for the daily letters and the packages. They made my day. Especially since my companion gets like, 10 letters every day. Lol, we all give her a hard time about it but it's funny and awesome for her. Are you sending my letters on to Annie and Allie or should I do that myself? Also, thanks for forwarding the missionary emails.

Sister May (wife of Brother May, who's on the branch presidency of my branch) has this like, really freaky way of being able to look into our souls. She's served 5 missions! And she looked me in the eye, did that unnerving, soul-reading thing and told me that the Spirit told her I'd have a great mission. And I had the impression that what she said is 110% true. So I really look forward to the next several months now. But like, really. She does read souls. And it's kind of scary. But a good scary. Because she is such a spiritual giant. So, you don't have to worry, Mom. I'm going to have a great mission!

First Letter, Feb 12, 2016!

Hello all!

It's only been two and half days and I feel like I've been here for a long time but simultaneously, time flies by very quickly. I thought I would be really overwhelmed at first but things aren't so bad and I think I might make it through this missionary crash course in one piece and in good shape.

After I was dropped off, I was herded this way and that with hardly any time to process what was going on until I was suddenly landed in a classroom where I was welcomed with the rest of my district. I love my district. Yesterday evening, we played a get to know you, icebreaker game and now we have fun and feel much more comfortable around each other.

My schedule is so busy, I barely have time to write in my journal at the end of the day. My companion and I are actually going to use some P-Day time to catch up on that for a little bit. My companion is Sister Fjierstad (fear-stad; see pictures) and I love her. We're getting ready to teach our first investigator tonight and we're both nervous but I'm praying that the Spirit will be with us and gives her the message she needs to hear.

The Spirit is so strong here. And everyone is happy and welcoming. Even when I don't quite know what to when everyone else seems to, I don't suffer through a stressful social anxiety and I'm comfortable with just asking my questions. And I'm incredibly thankful for that. Especially since the most jarring thing I've experienced so far is just getting used to living in a dorm-esque environment.

The main thing I've been doing is studying, studying, and more studying. It's a good thing I grew up as a bookworm and went to a homework heavy high school because I don't mind it. Actually, I kind of like it.

I was able to attend the temple with my roommates, this morning. It's beautiful in there and so peaceful. I'm so grateful that I was able to go. This morning kind of started off on a bad note. My skin is so dry, I literally coated my face and hands with three layers of lotion last night before bed (can I please just live in humid and warm Tennessee now?) and another coat this morning. I also lost my magnetic name tag (I have second, pin-on one to wear, thankfully) and couldn't find it anywhere. Then, Sister Fjierstad and I only had like, ten minutes to get to the cafeteria to eat breakfast before we needed to leave for the temple. And to top it off, I had a rather annoying stomach ache which wouldn't go away and seemed to get worse as the morning went on. I only had a half glass of chocolate milk because that was the only thing I thought my stomach could handle at the moment. But in the temple, the brother who gave the prayer, blessed the missionaries (whoa, that's me now O.o) and asked that those who were praying for specific things, they would have to blessings granted. I was definitely praying for a lot of these little things to be fixed and I felt kind of guilty about asking for so much. But the Lord showed his tender mercies to me and now my stomach feels completely fine. I remembered that I put my my name tag in the pocket of my pj's within minutes of returning to our room after. And my skin definitely feels better that yesterday. Also, the rash I got on the back of my right heel from the shoe rubbing hasn't turned into a blister yet (which I was also praying for).

I'm also so grateful for this opportunity to be at the MTC. I am learning the fundamentals of the gospel and my testimony in Christ, the Atonement and his grace is strengthening.

Take care, all.

Regards,

Sister Ririe

p.s. the ice cream is really good :)

Mom & Dad:

Getting up early isn't so bad either, though Maybe that's partially because I worked early at the temple and I also had to get up at 6 and eat breakfast with everyone every school day. Though I think that might get harder as time goes on.

Ummm...I forgot to take pictures but I'll try to remember and take more for next week. Sister Fjierstad and I borrowed a card reader from an Elder so I could send you those two pics but I need to get one from the store myself.

And yes Mom, the food here is reeaaally good. I promise I'm still eating healthy too.

There's a sister missionary here, in my zone, who is from Ririe, Idaho. She saw my name is Ririe and told me I'm her favorite, even though we haven't really talked yet haha?

It's a good thing you told me to pack my blanket because the first night was super cold, they only gave us one thin blanket. But I got it out last night and definitely slept much better.

Sister Ririe