Week 2

Bonjour! Happy Mothers Day!

 

This week has been quite the rollercoaster concerning emotions, health and success.\

 

First off! San Francisco was a blast and a half. I definitely fell asleep on the plane, but it wasn't a really good sleep for a few reasons. One, it's a plane. Two, I was right next to an Elder and so concerned that I was going to keep bumping him or something. I don't know. And finally because I was fully aware of how unflattering it was for me to be hunched over like a goblin against the window with my mouth wide open. I was having anxiety that one of the Elders was going to take a picture of me (totally something my Elders would do) so I couldn't fully let my guard down. We got driven to the French Consulant by some crazy Russian lady named Elena. We became friends though haha and I gave her a pass along card. Hollah at your girl!

 

The French Consulant was terrifying- Parisians really are scary. But I secretly loved getting yelled at by the French. That only took like twenty minutes and then we were like "Uhhhh. We have 5 hours left in San Fran." So we explored! And saw some cray cray stuff. And we were walking down one street and this guy was like "Hey yo G's! Y'all is Gods people. I could tell, y'all got God all up in y'all." As weird as it sounds that was perhaps one of the proudest moments of my life haha. We explored some more, I told Elder Peck I hated sushi but had never actually tried it  and he pushed me into a street in china town, I almost died. Then a plane ride back to the MTC. Some guys came up to us in the airport and were like "Hello Elders blah blah blah." And I am like "Excuse me? I'm here too!" That happened a lot though, in San Fran also. People just ignored the lonely sister. What evah! I don't even care.

 

I was exhausted Wednesday. And may or may not have had a small breakdown. But I totally did. I'm so grateful I have my big brother here at the MTC to give me the words of comfort that I need. Also, before I saw Zach I went into the bathroom and fell to my knees and prayed as perhaps I have never prayed before. I plead with my whole soul and heart to the Lord to not leave me alone, to not forsake me. I then heard my companions outside the door, praying for me. I heard their words "Bless Soer Edwards to know she is not alone. Bless her to know we are here for her and that Thou art as well." I immediately stood up, dried my eyes, and went outside and saw that Zach had magically appeared alongside my companions. The Lord had not forsaken me. He has blessed me tremendously.

 

So my other big anxiety about the MTC is the food. It's not good. Or maybe it's too good and my pallette is not used to it yet. I don't know. Either way I go to the wrap bar most days and I feel the pressure to be extra healthy so I am like "Umm yeah, I will have the whole wheat wrap with spinach and wheat grass-not too much! And a few green onions, I've earned them." And I hate my wrap befroe I even sit down so then I usually just go get a cookie instead. Haha the life of a missionary.

 

One of my companions got really sick this week. (Don't worry mom, I walk behind her and spray sanitizer on everything she touches and sanitize my hands 14000 times a day, just like you taught me.) And as much as I hated seeing her sick I was secretly happy we could go back to the room and you better bet your bottom dollar that I took a nap. Missionary work takes a toll on ones mind, body and spirit. So I feel as if I am always tired. But I am happy and loving the gospel so that's more important. Although I don't quite have the fire of missionary work, where I just need to convert everyone I see or love the inverstigators, I know that will come with faith and time. Also it doesn't help that I know my investigators are fake.

 

I love the Elders in my zone and district. They are all so kind and happy and more than willing to help us in anyway they can. I appreciate their support- they have told us all more than once that if we ever need a blessing they are more than happy to give one. I love the spirit and the power of the Priesthood.  I still struggle with patience for my companions. We are all very different but I notice SUCH a difference in all of our attitudes when we decide to just love one another and accept each other's faults. It has not been easy, nor will it be easy for the next 18 months, to unconditionally love someone who sometimes you don't agree with. But I have a firm testimony that I am in the trio for a reason- to learn more love, patience and humility. And I appreciate their examples. I also believe this is one of my many refiners fires that will allow me to be more like my Savior.  I just have to try to not let my pride rob me of faith.

 

My French is coming along really well! Probably because all we do is teach, study, eat, study, cry, study, teach. We are in our classroom like 10 hours a day. But it's good, I am learning a lot. And I am so grateful that the Lord has allowed me to recall so much of what I knew in High School. My companions are really discouraged with the language and they keep comparing them selves to everyone else but I'm all "ain't nobody got time for that. I'm trying this new thing where I trust in the Lord 100% of the time. It's not easy but it has helped me tremendously.

 

Releif Society was amazing! Our speaker was Janice Capp Perry, the lady who wrote 'As Sisters in Zion' and 'I'm trying to be like Jesus' and 'A child's prayer' and pretty much all the best primary songs. And we sand a medley of all of the songs and it was sp beautiful! But of course the whole time I was like "Nicholas Handy (Handy Handy) are you really there?" Haha we are weird. Anyways she wrote a new song called "The Sisters of Zion" and it is all about sister missionaries and it is so SO SO beautiful. Find it. Love it. I love being a servant of the Lord.

 

Also loved that music and the spoken word. I thought about dad the whole time when the Whelsh (?) guy was singing. He was bugging me.

 

Well I have to go! I love you all!

 Thanks for the letters and emails and love! Keep it coming.

 

Soeur Edwards. :)