Read the freakin book!

This week was great! I have nearly attained a six pack because of my incessant laughing. It's a good way to live.

We're still working with some people to work on family history, which I love. I wish I had more time to work on my own! But it's something I'll probably spend some time on when I get home. The highlight of our week is hands down Jenn and Van. Remember how as Visitor Center Sisters we work on mormon.org chat? Most of the time we get punk kids with nothing better to do, but sometimes we have the privilege of talking to people who have real questions and either don't know who to ask or where to go, or who are embarrassed to voice real curiosities. I love that. Ok! So Van is now 21, he joined the church a year ago after meeting a set of missionaries. His sister, Jenn, thought he was crazy and ridiculous. Then a few weeks ago, her boyfriend starting meeting with the missionaries, and now he wants to join the church. Before someone is baptized, they are required to leave behind various destructive behaviors- smoking, drinking, sex before marriage....so if someone is living with someone, they can either get married, move out, or not get baptized. It's not a hateful thing, it's just that we believe that God has asked us not to do those things because they are harmful in the long run! Anyways. Her boyfriend wants to get baptized, so he kicked Jenn out. By this point, Jenn was starting to realize that if he cared enough about this church thing to do that, there was something to it. That's where we come in. She messaged us on mormon.org chat, and we've been able to meet up with her again and teach her and answer any of her questions. She's a smart girl. Her and Van have both been through a lot. It's fun to be a missionary pen pal in a lot of ways. They're both really funny people, too. I love that life's potholes can either create bitterness or humor. Humor is the way to go, my friends. Don't get bitter! I'll keep you posted about how she's doing. Jenn has been reading in the Book of Mormon (she's decided to give it a shot after all this time ha!) and just this weekend she decided she would pray to know if it's true. My favorite part of being a missionary is knowing that anyone who goes to God to know if what we teach is true will know that it is.

My second to last transfer has begun! And pretty much everyone I work around is staying the same. I will never be able to adequately describe how awesome it has been to work with Sister Szuch. She is INCREDIBLE! I have been so blessed on my mission to be able to work around such wonderful people! It's been a blessing to watch her grow as well. She came out firm and strong as it was, but it's been fun to watch her become more confident and comfortable with herself and with talking to strangers. As Austin mentioned a few weeks ago, adjusting to missionary work is hard! Everything you're taught your whole life is contradicted- you're asked to talk about something extremely personal and sacred to you and then have it trampled on and challenged by people you don't know! It's not a carnival most days, but it's worth it. She's been a champ through this adjustment, and I love her dearly.

Can you believe it's almost March?! January inched, but February always seems to fly. I hope everyone is doing well. I am happy. Sorry there isn't much to write this week! Possibly more next week. This week just went by in a blur.

Love,
Sister Ray