Gahanna means Hell in Yittish

Don't let my subject line scare you. I certainly have not had a "fiery brimstone" sort of experience here in the beautiful Gahanna.

It's been a great week of Summer. Can you believe that it's almost September? Time is precious. 

Let me just tell you, nothing is worse for missionaries than Holidays or other events. Back to school was this week, and it felt like everyone was too busy to meet because of it. I remember when we tracted on the 4th of July.... people here do not like their cookouts interrupted. I pray that the spirit of Christmas will help the situation come time to knock on Christmas Eve.

The family we are working with has been progressing wonderfully. They are all on date! Can I get a Woohoo? I just love this family so much. Every time I am with them I feel even more strongly that we were meant to meet each other on this Earth, and that we were friends long before my first day of my mission. The best part by far, is that I see them going to the temple together. I see the boy going on a mission. I know they'll all raise there own families and teach them the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I know I'll never have to miss these people for good, because they'll be with me for eternity.  

We are working hard with some of our other progressing investigators and always trying to find more people to teach. It's tiring, but I like being busy. it makes the work move fast. Plus, hard work is fun work. don't let anyone ever tell you otherwise. 

For a moment or three of ridiculousness: 

Bugs. Are. Evil. One of the things I was grateful for when I got my call to Columbus is that I wouldn't have to deal with South American Jungle "bug" monsters attacking me. I was so naive.... 

I live in a den of spiders. Literally. Our apartment door is infested with the eight legged beasts. I have probably seen more spiders living in Ohio for three months, than I did in the other 19-ish years of my life. There is one spider in particular that haunts my dreams. His name is Aragog. He lives, like millions of his friends in the kitty corner crack of the plastic that is between our doorway and the side of our apartment. He's the size of a quarter and comes out at night to hunt.

My legs are battered. I've never had so many bites at once. Also, fleas: those are legit. They bite humans. I have scars for proof.

On a happier note, I had Skyline Chili for the first time the other day. It's actually pretty great, and the first time you come in it's free. Free = happy sister missionary. Then we were recognized by a guy who knows a few Mormon's and has a BOM. Something I've learned to be true: When you follow the spirit, there is ALWAYS a reason to where you are, when you are. Find the why. ask for God's guidance and you'll receive it. I am so blessed to find the "why" to Gahanna, Ohio, my mission, even my life. The over arching reason is Love. 

How is life in the other 4 letter state? 

LOVE YOU ALL!!!

Mary Mitchell 

It's been FAR too long

My friends. Life is wacky, no? 

I couldn't tell you what happened before last Wednesday if I tired, It's all a transfer madness blur. 

Wednesday: Transfer week P-day. I didn't sleep remarkably well the night before, way too anxious. All the missionaries went to the church to play Minute to Win It as a Zone and wait for transfer calls. Me and Sister Garner were destroyed. I won one game, and it was pretty embarrassing. Apparently I have a talent for emptying a tissue box full of ping pong balls by shaking my hips. But, all is well. As a missionary you learn to #owntheawkwrd. 

Finally the transfer calls came. President Daines started his first transfers with a BOMB. 13 of the 23 missionaries in my zone were transferred. 70% of the mission's companionships were affected. It was a madhouse. No one was safe, whether you'd been in your area for 6 weeks or 7 months. 

We got the call that it was Sister Garner's time to move onward and upward. I am very happy for her. She has a chance to expand her horizons and grow some more. I'll miss her too.

In our ward we had us sisters, a trio made up of two Zone Leaders and Elder Mallory, and the Whitehall Elders. We expected some change since Elder Doermann was finishing his last transfer, and sister Garner had been here for 7 1/2 months. What we didn't expect was the trio/zone leaders to be TRIPLED OUT. They're all gone. That's pretty rare. Out of the 7 missionaries in our ward only I and Whitehall stayed. Then... Elder Pyt in Whitehall got a text at 2:30 in the morning that he would actually be transferred anyways. Anarchy. Now It's just I and Elder Carroll. 

The rest of the day was chaos as we tried to say goodbye to every heart that Sister Garner had won over her 7 1/2 months here. It was an emotional night. 

Thursday I received my new companion Sister Loder. She is 19 years old and from South Jordan Utah. Sis Lola has been out for 9 months, and was in one area that whole time. That's as rare as a two-horned unicorn. I'm only her third companion as well. I think she's digging the change. 

I love having Sister Loder here. She is super chill and has the same priorities and goals as I do. We're both passionate about not only classic missionary work but reactivation as well. Have you heard about the new refocus the first presidency put out for missionaries and less active work? If not, look it up. It's time to go to the rescue of our lost brothers and sisters. 

Moral of the story: Change is hard. That is the best part of it. sometimes God asks us to step out of our habits and comfort zones. I know that in the past I would get so obsessed with understanding why things needed to change and what it meant for me, that I missed the sweet tender mercies that come when you trust God and follow him willingly down any path he leads you. Sometimes those paths don't make sense. Sometimes nothing seems to come from our sacrifices. But I assure you, if God has asked you to do it, It is only for your benefit. he loves us so much more than we can understand. 

Everyday I fall short. Everyday I mess up and do something ridiculous. 

Everyday I improve. I am stronger every time I fall, and rise from knees in prayer. I am so grateful.

The work is hastening here in Gahanna. The hastening is working on me. How about you? 

 Much Love from Ohio!!!!

Mary mary

Mary's new companion...Sister Loder :) 

Sister G and Mary's friend from home, Amy.