week 2

Why Hello!!!!

First things first: My last week at the MTC.

Probably (fingers crossed) the worst part of my mission.

My sweet, poor, companion struggled all week. To make an incredibly long story short, Sis Humphries struggled with every medical glitch she could find, and was delayed flying into Ohio for a week.

 Her heart started hurting her randomly and her arm went numb off and on. On Saturday she became so nauseated we sat inside the residence ALL DAY. It was so quiet. Man, do I hate silence. 

We walked off campus twice to go get lab work done, and we spent at least 3 more hours in the clinic. In short, I missed nearly half the class periods I was supposed to attend. I wasn't able to teach my investigators the last two lessons we had scheduled, and I missed out on district bonding time. 

BUT, I learned something. Heavenly Father doesn't always call us to do work that is comfortable for us. Instead he calls us to work that we are capable of doing.  

It was so difficult for me. I felt nervous, and sometimes still do, because I missed classes that I knew I needed to be the best missionary I could be. I missed opportunities to practice teaching that I'll never be able to recreate. I just felt disadvantaged. 

What helped me past this was my Savior. Also Joseph Smith. What I realized while watching the long Restoration movie (definitely recommended) is that God let's his people suffer. Sometime more than they can imagine they are able to overcome, or bear. Joseph Smith was the greatest prophet we've ever seen, and he became discouraged. Our Savior was literally the Son of God, and he reached a point in his suffering that he asked that his cup be taken away from him. BUT they did what the lord asked of them. Out of love. For the people around them, and for their God. 

Please don't think I'm comparing myself to these incredible men. I just draw reparation from their faithful obedience. I promise you that as we try to follow their example in this kind of obedience, we will be blessed. More than we can imagine. Heavenly Father strengthens those who are on his errand. 

That was sort of heavy. Haha. On a lighter note, the universe has a pretty wicked sense of humor. 

Guess what I caught at the MTC? Bed bugs. 

The one thing that scared me about Ohio.... In the provo MTC. 

We believe they got tracked in from another sister's room, when that sister had to move in with us because her companion went home. We found out the afternoon before we left at 4:00 am. WE WASHED EVERYTHING. THEN TOOK SHOWERS. AND WASHED EVERYTHING WE WERE WEARING. That was our last day. 

Real quick, Ohio is beautiful. I could live here, and it might just happen. I've never seen more green in my life. I serve in Gahanna, twenty minutes away from Columbus. It's a low-middle-class suburb that shares a ward with the ghetto. We get sent there sometimes for referrals. I've been so shocked and grateful to see people who have so little, give me and my companion so much. The ward is so supportive. 

I teach a TON of families and teenagers. THE BEST! Who knew, right?

Elder Pytlakowsky from my MTC district is in the ghetto (whitehall) in my ward. Holla!

I love you all!!!!!!!