I can't believe how time flies. I think missionaries probably talk about that more than anyone else, because we are constantly reminded by transfers ticking by.
This week was a good one. Here's something cool, and a first for my mission! On Tuesday, we went on exchanges with the Danville sisters, and I got to step foot into the third state of our mission! Woohoo! I went to Indiana! :D Fun fact: there is one little town, Covington, in Indiana that's included in our mission, and I got to go there with the sisters! So now I've been to another state :)
It was a fun exchange, too. It's the first time I've left Springfield in a while, so I enjoyed getting to see a different place and meet some new people. And here's a cool story: our first appointment of the day, we were supposed to meet this woman at a shelter. We met a member there... and we asked for the woman at the desk... and she didn't show. Bummer! But we sat there for a while, because we thought that the woman could be late, and another lady came and sat by us. So we started talking to her... turns out her grandpa was Mormon! And the member who came with us knew him! And he used to read the Book of Mormon to her! She accepted a Plan of Salvation pamphlet and a return appointment. It was really cool. Just evidence that we are put where we need to be when we need to be there!
We had a good rest of our exchange. Then headed back Wednesday! Sister Herdman and I did service at the soup kitchen... I've got a real future as a lunch lady, let me tell you. Although, turns out I'm pretty deaf, because I can never hear the people's reply. Probably too much blasting Mormon Tabernacle Choir!
Thursday, we had our district meeting. I gave a training on how to teach people about the Atonement. It was such a good training for me to prepare. One of my favorite insights I came across while preparing for it was about grace. Grace is the power of God that comes into our lives through the Atonement. The power that can bless us through the Atonement can be broken down into four categories: resurrection, redemption, healing, and strengthening or enabling. Resurrection: pretty straightforward. Redemption: ransoming us from the effects of sin. Healing: spiritual and physical and emotional healing all can come because the Savior suffered for that wound already. The enabling power of the Atonement was what I focused on. This is the power that can give us strength beyond our own, to face our circumstances and to become the ones who act. Each of these powers comes into our lives more and more as we "live the gospel joyfully," as President Uchtdorf counseled us.
Friday, we helped one of our investigators clean the house that she's going to start renting. It was pretty gross... lots of mouse poop and dead cockroaches. No live ones, so that's good! :P One thing about my mission I will not miss: Cockroaches.
Speaking of which...
So, Saturday morning, we went to a memorial service (I know! No funerals for five years, and then suddenly I'm going to one every weekend). I was asked to say the closing prayer. It was for the mom of a recent convert. Well, afterwards, we went to their home to help them prepare a luncheon for their family in town, and Sister Herdman and I got the job of making deviled eggs. So we cut up the eggs and whip up the middle part, and Sister Herdman takes the job of sprinkling the paprika (she loves paprika). She gets it out of the cupboard, takes a nice whiff--yep, it's paprika--and then shakes it...
And out fall two dead cockroaches (plop plop) right on top of one of the eggs. We both freeze, look at each other... And then I say, "Well, no paprika for these eggs!"
Definitely a bit of a stomach turner.
Sorry about the gross email this week! Welcome to the Midwest ;)
Transfer calls came in, and I will be finishing my mission out here in Springfield with Sister Herdman! Very exciting. I am looking forward to the next six weeks. I'm in my prime, everyone! Haha.
I hope you all enjoy your Valentine's Day! I send my love from Illinois! Just remember Sister Herdman's motto: "love is dead!" At least for missionaries!
Lots of love,
Sister Barret
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