FAMILY!!!
Are you ready to hear my fate?! ........drumroll....................................................
I'M GETTING TRANSFERRED!!! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!
I am so heartbroken and excited all at once. I am shotgunning/whitewashing/opening a new sister area in Providence, Rhode Island! It's actually just a branch and I think there are a couple sets of Elders already there, so that's not as intimidating, but there must be a lot of work there if they need a 3rd set of missionaries. Sister Budvarson will be my new companion. She was MTC comps with Sister Hollan. I might be a little nervous about her (she is not known to be touchy-feely and she may have a different opinion than me about obedience), but we will see. I have also been told it will be colder because it's nearer the water (grammar?) but RISD is there and I secretly just want to go there for grad school, so I'll check it out. Also, I'm probably using public transit again, so weight-gain shouldn't be as much of a worry (I dreamt the other night I gained 40 lbs. but looked no different) but my little feet are so tired! All I want for Christmas is a pedicure! But overall, I am excited!
But SO HEARTBROKEN! Sister Hyoung and I have had a few good cries- Saturday night when we got the t-texts and Sunday when I was saying goodbye to everyone. I really have felt like a behind-the-scenes part of the ward, so I've felt like I love the people more than they love me because I think about them all the time and they only see me on Sundays, etc, but I was so touched by how many people were sad to see me go. The Flandro kids apparently cried in the car after telling me goodbye and said, "But we'll see Sister Wheeler again, right?!" I LOVE THIS WARD! It has seriously been perfect. Incredible leaders, members who get it, fun and humble Elders, and Sister Hyoung is amazing. And I am so glad I've been able to spend so much time here learning and growing.
We had the Primary Program which was a fantastic last Sunday, but also kind of heartbreaking- I realized that if I see these kids again, they'll be all grown up. I got teary about that, but then I looked towards the back of the audience and saw Caty and completely lost my composure. She is amazing! We also had Young Women in Excellence after church and Caty made 4 beautiful pizzas for the dinner and has already done 5 hours of her Knowledge project. Such a rockstar.
We also had Zone Conference this last week with Elder S. Gifford Nielsen- EXCLAMATION POINT! He and Sister Nielsen were so funny and personable and it was such a spiritual experience. It blew my mind. I can't even summarize it well-enough- I wish I could just copy my notes for you all. He definitely talked like an NFL player- I felt like most of the time he was walking around the chapel giving us a locker room pep talk before he sent us back out to battle Satan. He probably said at least 15 times "DON'T LET SATAN WIN!!!!" and "DON'T WASTE A MINUTE!" I had a lot of prayers and questions answered during the conference and am so grateful for that. It was so incredible to hear him describe the process of assigning missionaries- he helped Elder Cook with it a few weeks ago- it helped me feel like I'm definitely here for a reason and have been called by inspiration. And it helped me gain some insights for how to receive revelation/discern needs for the people I teach. Clayton Christensen also made an appearance, so I now believe in his existence. :) He was there for like 20 minutes and made a stronger point when he spoke than any of us could've in 1 hr. He is a rockstar!
Phew! I just wanted to get in one experience from last week- Sister Hyoung and I were on exchanges and I visited Sister Jardine in our ward. She needed some pep talking about her member missionary work and as we talked and listened to her concerns, I realized she is struggling with exactly what I have been struggling with. It was a blessing to be able to relate to her and I was so grateful she trusts us enough to open up. And it was such a blessing to get answers to my concerns from listening to her and helping her. SHE taught me that the sincerity of our relationships with others is a reflection of the depth of our relationship with our Heavenly Father and our Savior. She also taught me that to see more success in my missionary work, I need to recognize the blessings I'm already receiving and I need to earnestly and sincerely ask for the Lord's help. And I shouldn't compare my missionary work to others'- I have different strengths. It was a pretty incredible moment.
AND time's just about out. We also have been teaching a man named Tony who doesn't believe in God, so it's been interesting to figure out how to help him develop faith from before square one. He's totally searching for something though- why else would he take the time to meet us? He's read the Book of Mormon before. #lowlyingfruit And we've also been able to teach Franklin, who has some memory-loss problems, but is very nice. It's been amazing to feel love for EVERYONE I teach.
OH! And I said goodbye to Allison this week- I will miss her! But I have complete faith that she will accept the gospel. I know she will. And I'm so excited to see it light up her life! :) I adore her!
LOVE YOU ALL! THIS GOSPEL IS TRUE! :)
Sister Wheeler Jr.
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