June 17, 2013

Dear Family,

So, I am alive. I made it to Nebraska.  Did you get the pictures from President Weston? I LOVED the calender that was in the package. :) Thanks so much! :) We spent a couple nights in a hotel because we had in field training at the mission office.  It was weird going to the trail center without you guys.  We were driving to the trail center and I was like, "Hey! I know where we are, I've been here!!"  Then I got assigned to my first area which is Le Mars, Sioux City Iowa. There has never been Sister Missionaries in this areas so we are opening up a new area, which is really hard to start form scratch, but that's alight.  It's the ice cream capital of the world, because this is where Blue Bunny ice cream makes all the ice cream. That's pretty great.  My companion is Sister W and we live in a member home.  The C's have been working on their basement forever and have only got the bedroom finished and with our help are working on the bathroom and family room. For a couple in their fifties they've got a lot of energy.  We call them Mom and Dad Nephites. :) They're so funny and so willing to help us out with the missionary work here in Le Mars.  So everyone here either Catholic or Catholic and an occasional baptist here and there.  But holy cow they do not like the Mormons...at all. When we're walking around it reminds me of Lord of the Rings when Gandolf comes into the Shire and is given the title "Disturber of the Peace."  Yeah, we have that title.  We hear over and over we have a church so don't bother us.  And we're like you have some truth in your church and that's why you go to your church because you don't know where to find the full truthfulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ, just COME TO CHURCH!!! I love teaching people about the gospel though.  Because I know that they feel something and even if they don't accept it they feel of their Savior's love through the Spirit for at least a second and they're slowly being prepared to receive the gospel.  We found out from the bishop yesterday that there are 500 people in his ward and only 160 are active and he gave us the responsibility to get all the less actives back to church...So yeah.  A lot of them have been offended by either the Bishop or a member in the ward.  They're great people and do love the Lord, but they have that road block to get back to church.  We've got our work ahead of us.  So we have this lady that is a non member who believes she is a witch.  Like for real she thinks she is a witch...The bishop was like please don't go visit her she will try and put a curse on you and it'll just freak you out. Oh man, some people's kids. :)  So all letters and packages and stuff all have to be sent to the Mission Office and then the Mission Office sends them to us.  I don't know why but that's just how they do things I guess.  So the humidity here is like 85% and it's the worst.  I mowed the lawn and I was soaked in sweat.  I don't sweat a lot so that was really gross...when we go running in the morning I sound like an asthmatic.  This is my companions last transfer so she just laughs at me is like you'll get used to it. 
Well yeah it's been exciting and it's been a great learning experience so far.  Talking to people on the street isn't so scary anymore and I like being in the field rather than being in the MTC. :)

Tell Dad Happy Fathers Day!! I love him lots and am grateful for his example and all the help he has given me throughout the years.  He's the best Dad.  I hope it was a good day because he deserves it. 

Tell Uncle Bob Happy Birthday for me. :)

Look forward to hearing from you
Miss you guys!

Love, Sister Curfew