Hello family!
It feels like I haven't talked to you since last year! (haha! so punny!) But seriously, talking to you all on Skype was fantastic. I felt like I was drinking in the sight of you all. Thank you ALL for the presents and cards! It was a very happy Christmas. :)
Not a ton has happened since I talked to you last, but some hightlights:
- we now have the car permanently! HALLELUJAH! No more feeling creeped out on the streets of ghetto Providence! (Although I will say the stress of mapping out our day has been replaced with the stress of making sure we've got a full schedule.)
- Transfers came and went and Sister Bud and I are here for another 6 weeks! I will be the first companion she has had for more than a transfer. (We also get to keep our awesome roommates, the Spanish sisters Hermana Jacobsen and Skabelund- we adore them!).
- I mentioned this on Skype, but Christmas Eve we taught our investigator Sherri Newton and the lesson went so well. We could really tell she was feeling the Spirit- before we even started the lesson, you could see that her countenance had changed. She looked wiser and lighter and more at peace. It was amazing! That is my favorite thing about teaching people the gospel- watching the light and understanding come into their countenance. Nothing seems like a sacrifice when you get to be a part of people's lives changing like that- I wouldn't have traded my Christmas Eve for anything else.
- We had dinner last night with the Brickell family (Subway sandwiches in their humble little trailer- loved it!) and they were so welcoming. Brother Brickell has been a member for most of their married life and Sister Brickell never joined, but he is so kind to her and so patient with her. His testimony and knowledge of the gospel is so strong! And they loved having us, so we're going to keep being present in their home so that Carol can feel the Spirit more and her heart will soften. :)
- We had dinner with Sister Mijangos in the ward and her "adopted" dad, Bob, was there. He isn't a member, but they've been introducing him to the church and he's been very open to it. He is a widower and I want so badly for him to know he can be with his sweet wife forever!
- Met with our returning member Julie Dexter yesterday and she talked to us very tearfully about some of her struggles and I felt like I understood to a small degree how merciful and forgiving our Heavenly Father is. As she "confessed" some things to us, I didn't feel the slightest bit upset with her. All I felt was love for her. And complete confidence that she can overcome it. I think that's exactly how our Heavenly Father and Savior feel when we repent. Not upset or disgusted with us, but completely loving and understanding and encouraging. It was amazing to feel that. She told us she feels like we were handpicked for her- that she wouldn't be able to open up to anyone else. That made me feel so special- it's nice as a missionary to feel like you are in a specific place for a specific person.
Okay, not sure why I feel like there's not a ton to tell you. But the work in Providence is great! Totally different than Cambridge. There, it was all member work. Here, there's a lot of less-actives/inactives to help with, a lot of low-lying fruit (I think that's a term our mission uses, but basically, it's people who've had significant exposure to the church- ie Carol Brickell), a lot of recent converts who are more comfortable sharing the gospel, and a lot of supporting/building the branch. We're going to be working on teaching an English class for the large Liberian community in our branch and neighborhood. That will be a great finding opportunity as well!
I love you all so very much! I know this is Christ's restored church and gospel and that our Heavenly Father has an absolutely perfect plan of happiness individually tailored for each of us to become the people He wants us to become. It is such a blessing to have that knowledge and a privilege to help others receive it! Being a missionary is the best!
Love,
Sister Wheeler Jr.
P.S. Shout out to my co-workers at the FIND Lab. It was so fun to get a package from you and to hear your voices on the voice recorder- CONGRATS NOELLE! :)
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