Week 50: Only the craziest, hardest week of my mission so far...

May 5, 2014

My family!!!

The subject line says it all. And I totally should've expected it coming. With TWO investigators getting baptized, I should've realized it was going to be an extra tough week. There are some definite highlights along with the difficultly, so hopefully I can convey what a roller-coaster it's been this week.

It sort of started last Saturday when our favorite inactive, Cindy Autry, sent us the most random text saying that after much soul-searching, she had decided not to attend our church. :( It felt like a punch to the gut and I had the hardest time falling asleep.

Sunday and Monday were fine. Monday, Sister Skabelund had to have an emergency surgery that we scheduled last week, so she and Sister Bosch (they are our roommates) went up to the mission home with Sister Packard to recoup Monday night.

Monday night we had a fantastic FHE with the Coopers where they listened and participated well as we talked about the commandments and then we played Fruit Basket which was a total hit. (Thank you, Mom and Dad, for teaching us that one and for making FHE a highlight for our family.) I was a little worried that Joyce was going to wake up with bruises from her sisters sitting on her, but they were all laughing pretty hard, so it turned out well. :)

Tuesday morning, we exchanged with Sister Batschi and Sister Chadwick. It was sort of a last-minute exchange, but it worked out well because both Sister Klecker and Sister Chadwick needed to go to Westin to visit the mission doctor, so Sister Batschi and I stayed in Providence/Scituate. Sisters Klecker and Chadwick were able to visit Cindy and listen to her concerns and she actually agreed to come to church. Sister Klecker is magic. Cindy didn't end up coming, but I'm grateful that we at least understand what her concerns are and that she's still willing to meet with us and THINK about coming to church.

The Sisters were supposed to come back that night, but there was an emergency happening up in the mission home that they had to stay to help with. So, Sister Batschi and I spent the night in Scituate and then went up to Mission Leadership Council on Wednesday morning with everyone else (including Mama Hollan- MAN I love that woman! SO FUNNY!). :) We were supposed to exchange back to our companions then, but President came to MLC and let us know that the emergency had to do with a Sister suffering from sudden onset of mental illness and all hands were needed on deck. He was so shook up about it and it was very sobering for us all to see. We knew it wasn't our companions or roommates, but when they all finally came home on Thursday night, they were exhausted. And I think it was hard on them all, but especially Sister Klecker. The Sister who was sick and had to go home was someone she knew very well and I don't think it was good for Sister Klecker to see her like that. I think Sister Klecker was priceless to have there to help in the situation, but it took a toll on her. And she was still upset with me for some things from last week, so Thursday night was pretty rough. I felt completely at a loss to know how to comfort her when she was experiencing something so difficult and when she was still upset with me for some misunderstandings I thought we'd worked out and I hate confrontation (which I've realized for me means any sort of conversation where you have to work something out. I am such a wuss.)

Also, we finally went to an allergist on Friday and found out that Sister Klecker is allergic to EVERYTHING. Of the 100 shots they gave her, she was allergic to 70. So yes, it's been a rough week, but mostly for Sister Klecker. I feel so bad for her. :( And I feel like I have no idea how to help her. But thankfully, she and I talked things through on Saturday after Sister Bosch and I had been on exchanges Friday and Saturday (Sister Skabelund is still recovering and Sister Packard asked us to exchange for the week so Sisters Skabelund and Klecker can both recover- she had asked us to do that on Monday before any of the craziness went down because Sister Klecker has been so sick with her allergies, etc.). So, things are all good with Sister Klecker and I.

Susannah though... :( We thought she was all set to go to the temple, but she apparently had a vision that her family was all set and didn't want her to do the baptisms, so she didn't come on Saturday. And in all the craziness we haven't been able to visit her, so we're going to have to do more damage control there. I'm a little worried we and the branch council pushed too hard. :(

BLEH! So I feel like those are all the lowlights, but here are the highlights!!

Being on exchanges with Sister Batschi was actually pretty awesome. She is an AMAZING missionary. We had so much fun getting to know each other. And then on Wednesday night, we had a GREAT FHE with our investigator Maya and her family. Her non-member mom asked some fantastic questions and we had a lot of fun also playing Fruit Basket. As we were walking to the car afterwards, I thought about the two great FHEs we helped with this week and reflected on how it really is so important for a family to take time to have fun and enjoy one another's company. I know that's where I've bonded so well with all y'all and it has been so fun to see that happen for the people we teach.

Also, we had a web conference with President and Sister Packard on Tuesday morning where (among mission-related things) he told us their dating story, kissed her in front of us all, and also later broke out into a rap. It was hysterical and I just LOVE them! :)

On Saturday afternoon, Sister Bosch, Elders Butters and Bartlett and I went and stood outside the Book of Mormon Musical and handed out copies of the Book of Mormon. It was SO fun! Such an adrenaline rush, but I felt like I was the one on stage- I got all excited and happy and we ran out of copies in about 5 minutes. It was so cool! We're hoping to go next Saturday with more missionaries and actually set up a building tour- our building is a block from the theater. It's going to be SWEET! :)

And of course, the biggest highlight was THE BAPTISM FOR LYDIA AND ARTHURLYN! Although, Satan did all he could to stress us out. We went to the Brickels and had a great lesson right before and we were about to leave right on time when for some reason, Brother Brickel decided to derail and take 30 minutes reading an 8 page pamphlet about hell. I was DYING. I need to be bolder about just being bold and being like, "BROTHER BRICKEL! WE HAVE TO GO!" But, like I said, I'm a wuss, so we ended up being 5 minutes late. I was so embarrassed, but everything else went down just fine. :) Sister Klecker played the uke and I sang "When I Am Baptized" and the girls were just so excited to be baptized. And their non-member dad came! And it rained lightly afterwards. It was just perfect. And I think Sister Klecker LOVED it, despite still not feeling well. I hope it was a good reward for what a tough week it's been for her.

Wow... longest email of all time. My brain is fried. (Plus, we went to Newport and saw the Breakers, the Vanderbilt mansion- talk about visual overload!)

For the record, transfers are now on Wednesday night and our preparation day is always on Monday now.

Oh, and our prayers have been answered!!! I get to stay here one more transfer!!! I AM SO EXCITED!!! Although, Sister Klecker is getting transferred. :( Lame. I already know who my new companion is though, and I'm really excited to work with her. I've looked up to her for a long time. Sister Crane is her name. :)

Okay, I'll let you go now that I've talked your ears off! (Typed your ears off...?) :)

I can't wait to talk to you all on Sunday! I can't believe it's already here!

LOVE,

Sister Wheeler Jr.

P.S. Betas, THANK YOU for the wonderful Easter package! You are all so sweet and it was such a boost this week. I love you all!!!