Clarendon

Sometimes writing these emails is really lame because I would much rather explain in person. Typing is so silly.


This week ended up good. I've found that often before really good things, all hell breaks loose. I think it's to make the rainbow at the end more beautiful for you, and maybe a reward for all the work it took to get through the storm. Either way! So this week was the first week working with the new Elders and the smaller area! It was nice. We got a chance to go into parts of our area that we've never seen, and let me tell you- I am living in one beautiful place! There are these long stretches of fields and orchards with very few people but it's nice when you need a bit of time to think. These days it seems I run into those moments alot. This Earth is one beautiful place.

This week was full of Spanish randomly! ...I don't really know what happened! When I say full, that is relatively speaking. I taught like 4 lessons in Spanish. Sometimes I think Heavenly Father sends some of those my way just so I don't lose it and then it's over. We'll see! There's a man named Jose who comes to church every Sunday but doesn't want to read in the Book of Mormon because he's Catholic. But he's been taking us to teach his friends haha. He's...very interesting. None of his friends speak English, but Jose speaks English very quickly with an extremely thick, Salvadorian accent. He's just as difficult to understand speaking English as he is in Spanish, so normally he's just passed on to me. Just such a funny circumstance all around.

We've been teaching the Albright family, a lady named Mary and a lady named Connie consistently. It's strange how much I've come to care about these people! I mean it's easy to love people in general, but week after week as I come to understand their fears and concerns and background these people really come to own a part of me in a way. We open ourselves up- we're so vulnerable- and it's worth it! But I know that any day someone could turn around and suddenly decide they don't want us to come back. It happened in Buffalo, and I know it's possible to happen here. It's just so hard to get over! I hope and pray it doesn't happen with the people we're teaching now. I really do love them so much.

This week was also the real change from summer to autumn. It's cold and it ain't turning back! Everyone keeps talking about how cold this winter will be...maybe they're all crazy! Or maybe I'll come back with a ton of stories! We shall see.

I know I've thought a lot about things this week, but my head is still kind of a jumbled mess so I'm having trouble writing anything ha. Hopefully by next week more will be processed and I'll have more to say. For now, just know that I am doing well, working hard, and growing a lot. I hope everyone else can say the same.

Till next week,

Sister Raines