"Weeds are not a waste. They are just flowers that no one ever loved." Sister Kimberly Wall
This week has been somewhat of a blur haha. It's been a good week, though. There are mornings where I wake up and go to the mirror and realize that I'm aging. Those eyes have been with me for as long as I knew they were mine but every once in a while things happen that make us all grow older together. They're still pretty little eyes to me, just weathered.
Before I go on, I have an announcement! The mission office that gives me my mail and whatnot is moving locations, so starting this week please send all mail to this address:
Natalie Raines
New York Rochester Mission
460 Kreag Road
Pittsford, NY 14534
If you've already sent something to the Perinton address it's ok it'll probably get to me fine, but from now on just send it to this new one. Thank ye :)
We had zone conference on Tuesday which was really good for me. Elder Hole and I sung an a capella mix of "Lead Kindly Light" and "I Need Thee Every Hour." We sung it once and it was fine but at the end President Christianson surprised us and had us sing it again as the closing hymn. It was then that I was led to my demise! What happened is we sung the first verse of each and then for the final verse I sung "Lead Kindly Light" while Elder Hole sung "I Need Thee Every Hour." By the final verse I was toast- crying in front of the entire Rochester zone. I was able to sing my parts occasionally, but overall I was no good. Read through the lyrics of these two hymns and maybe it'll make a little more sense.
Lead Kindly Light:
Lead,kindly light amid the encircling gloom; lead thou me on
The night is dark and I am far from home; Lead thou me on
Keep thou my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene- one step enough for me
I Need Thee Every Hour:
I need thee every hour, most gracious Lord
No tender voice like thine can peace afford
I need thee, oh, I need thee
Every hour I need thee
Oh bless me now, my Savior- I come to thee
I talked to President Christianson afterwords and he promised it didn't ruin the song so I'm glad to hear that. I am grateful for the people I serve with. They are kind and concerned always without needing to ask too many questions.
It's been entertaining to compare Austin's mission experience with mine. I think one of the hardest things for me here has been that generally people in New York don't want help. With...anything. I'm grateful for the chance to learn what that feels like though because I am one who often does not like accepting help with anything. I've found that when people help us they learn to love us and we love them in return. Essentially when we don't help people or don't accept help, we're just saying, "I don't really want to love you. But thanks." I would love to be able to do more things for people.
In the end, friends, I'm doing well. I am learning more and more about myself every day. I am forever sewing tiny seeds of glad tidings. It's not a terrible thing to be doing.
Till next week!
Sister Raines
Monday, August 20, 2012
Monday, August 13, 2012
Life's not easy being mean
First of all, song update.
I changed the bridge for the last song I sent out, so now the bridge is this:
Say your prayers, don't wish on stars
Stars don't understand who you are
Wishing wells won't change your fate
Thowing coins away as you wait
And I got all the piano finished! So it's done done. I also started a new song this week with a VERY different feel, so here are some of the lyrics :)
Life's not easy being mean
Only caring how you're seen
No wonder when you're feeling down
No one wants to be around
Life's not easy being mean
Life's not easy when you whine
We've had enough- you've crossed the line
If you would lose your attitude
You could find a better mood
Life's not easy when you whine
Life's not easy being vain
Successful people cause you pain
You put your whole life on a shelf
When you focus on yourself
Life's not easy being vain
Feel free to live your life
How it seems to you you should
But for me myself, and I
I'm gonna try my hand at good
Life's not easy when you hate
No one to appreciate
What did we ever do to you?
I changed the bridge for the last song I sent out, so now the bridge is this:
Say your prayers, don't wish on stars
Stars don't understand who you are
Wishing wells won't change your fate
Thowing coins away as you wait
And I got all the piano finished! So it's done done. I also started a new song this week with a VERY different feel, so here are some of the lyrics :)
Life's not easy being mean
Only caring how you're seen
No wonder when you're feeling down
No one wants to be around
Life's not easy being mean
Life's not easy when you whine
We've had enough- you've crossed the line
If you would lose your attitude
You could find a better mood
Life's not easy when you whine
Life's not easy being vain
Successful people cause you pain
You put your whole life on a shelf
When you focus on yourself
Life's not easy being vain
Feel free to live your life
How it seems to you you should
But for me myself, and I
I'm gonna try my hand at good
Life's not easy when you hate
No one to appreciate
What did we ever do to you?
We are rubber, you are glue
Life's not easy when you hate
Ok to understand the song (like all the others ha) you really have to hear the whole composition, but it'll do for now. It's really upbeat- I'm thinking trumpet, harmonies, harmonica? Still playing with it.
So you may have gathered, but this week we ran into many more really hateful people! I mostly just hate it for Sister Wall because she's the sweetest ever! It bothers me when people are mean to her! I'm mean enough on my own so maybe I deserve it but not little Sister Wall! It's frustrating when people are rude because when we knock on doors all it takes is for someone to say "I'm not interested but thank you!" And we say something along the lines of, "Ok have a nice day!" Sometimes we might as if there's anyone they know of who is going through a hard time that we could do service for. Shockingly terrible, I know. How dare I ask for service opportunities.
I've found since being here that one of the biggest insults someone could offer me would be to tell me that I'm not a christian, followed by asserting something else I do or do not believe. Who is anyone to tell ME what it is that I believe? Who is anyone to rob me of the title of Christian? It's nice to know that those outside of the Christian faith, and especially those outside of the religious realm, see this going on and think it's hysterical. Jon Stewart called a news anchor on Fox news out before my mission because she said something like "they consider themselves Christians" on national television. It actually really hurts! Mostly because everything I do in my life, especially as a missionary, is centered on the example and teachings of Jesus Christ. If you don't want to learn more about what I believe that is your perogative but don't you dare take the privilege of His name from me. Especially with contempt! It baffles me. Ah! I could go on forever.
Austin moved into my cousin's ward in Kingston! It feels like such a blessing! Somehow when I read that I just felt so happy knowing that he gets a chance to get to know them and that they get to know him! I am grateful that if anything happened to Austin (even though he has a huge web of connections and back up as a missionary) that some of the best people I know are right there to help him. I love that Heavenly Father really is aware of what we need and where we are! Sometimes it takes a while to see it, and sometimes it feels like He's far away. In the end He knows what's going on and actually cares! I'm grateful also that I get the chance to try and tell that to anyone who will listen.
Oh yeah! I almost forgot to mention. Sister Wall and I taught a college class this week haha. We were invited to teach a class on about the church and there were between 12 and 16 people there. Something like that. I didn't count. It was a social work and religions class and it lasted about two hours. It went pretty well! I love settings like that because people can just ask whatever questions they want, and it's not like we're trying to hide anything. There are always questions and random things that people seem to hear that bother them but they never have the heart to ask. In that setting it was a lot easier for them though and I think it was nice for everyone to walk away with a little more understanding of those in their community! All the students were really respectful in the way they asked their questions, too. I remembered how much I love teaching groups! So much fun. It'll be nice to get back and start teaching again.
Well I think that's it for this week. A year from now Austin and I will both be home! I'm glad we have the chance to grow so much before we start life together for real. Big step on the countdown, Dressman family :)
Love,
Sister Raines
Life's not easy when you hate
Ok to understand the song (like all the others ha) you really have to hear the whole composition, but it'll do for now. It's really upbeat- I'm thinking trumpet, harmonies, harmonica? Still playing with it.
So you may have gathered, but this week we ran into many more really hateful people! I mostly just hate it for Sister Wall because she's the sweetest ever! It bothers me when people are mean to her! I'm mean enough on my own so maybe I deserve it but not little Sister Wall! It's frustrating when people are rude because when we knock on doors all it takes is for someone to say "I'm not interested but thank you!" And we say something along the lines of, "Ok have a nice day!" Sometimes we might as if there's anyone they know of who is going through a hard time that we could do service for. Shockingly terrible, I know. How dare I ask for service opportunities.
I've found since being here that one of the biggest insults someone could offer me would be to tell me that I'm not a christian, followed by asserting something else I do or do not believe. Who is anyone to tell ME what it is that I believe? Who is anyone to rob me of the title of Christian? It's nice to know that those outside of the Christian faith, and especially those outside of the religious realm, see this going on and think it's hysterical. Jon Stewart called a news anchor on Fox news out before my mission because she said something like "they consider themselves Christians" on national television. It actually really hurts! Mostly because everything I do in my life, especially as a missionary, is centered on the example and teachings of Jesus Christ. If you don't want to learn more about what I believe that is your perogative but don't you dare take the privilege of His name from me. Especially with contempt! It baffles me. Ah! I could go on forever.
Austin moved into my cousin's ward in Kingston! It feels like such a blessing! Somehow when I read that I just felt so happy knowing that he gets a chance to get to know them and that they get to know him! I am grateful that if anything happened to Austin (even though he has a huge web of connections and back up as a missionary) that some of the best people I know are right there to help him. I love that Heavenly Father really is aware of what we need and where we are! Sometimes it takes a while to see it, and sometimes it feels like He's far away. In the end He knows what's going on and actually cares! I'm grateful also that I get the chance to try and tell that to anyone who will listen.
Oh yeah! I almost forgot to mention. Sister Wall and I taught a college class this week haha. We were invited to teach a class on about the church and there were between 12 and 16 people there. Something like that. I didn't count. It was a social work and religions class and it lasted about two hours. It went pretty well! I love settings like that because people can just ask whatever questions they want, and it's not like we're trying to hide anything. There are always questions and random things that people seem to hear that bother them but they never have the heart to ask. In that setting it was a lot easier for them though and I think it was nice for everyone to walk away with a little more understanding of those in their community! All the students were really respectful in the way they asked their questions, too. I remembered how much I love teaching groups! So much fun. It'll be nice to get back and start teaching again.
Well I think that's it for this week. A year from now Austin and I will both be home! I'm glad we have the chance to grow so much before we start life together for real. Big step on the countdown, Dressman family :)
Love,
Sister Raines
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Sorpresa!
My life is full of people I care about very dearly, and marriage effects all of them. Many of my close friends are married or about to be, and my family is made up of marriages in varying degrees of health. I am grateful for the apostles and prophets who lead and guide us today, and that is where this message I'm sending you all comes from. If you want to do anything for me, please watch this with an open heart.
I don't seem to cry that often anymore, but this got me close. Life is made up of baby steps. I love you guys.
Monday, August 6, 2012
Gregorio bids farewell
Weird week! Many much thoughts. Buckle up or go play on facebook instead.
First big idea:
I have become so accustomed to noise! There are long, beautiful, quiet country roads in between little clusters of cities in my area and the other night as I was sitting in the apartment I stopped and realized how much was going on even when no one was talking! There isn't even a tv or radio in that apartment. Lights, AC, refrigerator and who knows what else creates a constant hum. This may seem like a super random observation, but I started thinking about how all of the noise creates comfort sometimes. Even I seem to sleep better when there's a fan going- something to block out the silence and random interjections that may come. Then I started to wonder if I ever do that emotionally or spiritually! Of course the answer is yes. It's so much more scary to handle the reality of questions unanswered. It's much easier to drown out doubt with noise. This week I'm trying to get rid of the extra. If there's a question about purpose of life, why would I listen to what everyone on this side of the planet has to say? Why should I run around in circles? This week is a renewed effort to go to the source with questions and concerns. Clear away the extra.
Second and really big idea:
Last week I mentioned that a man came to church out of the blue. This man ended up becoming quite the problem. Since after 8 months of emailing I assume only those who really care are still reading these, I'll be frank. He quickly turned slightly obsessive and after a little research, we discovered he wasn't being taught in his home area because he's a registered child molester. Clearly everyone deserves a chance to be taught the gospel of Jesus Christ. I do not believe that this man is outside of the bounds of the Atonement. There IS such a thing as a wise idea though :) Luckily without too much on our part, by the end of the week he texted us saying he has decided to stick to his Catholic roots. No more problem for the Brockport Sisters.
And yet too late for my mind! I started thinking about the spectrum of insanity. We refer to mental instability in general terms of black and white. But at what point is someone insane? When I'm a little sleepy sometimes I don't think straight. When I'm upset or hungry or prideful I don't do things that a perfectly sane person would. For those who seem to have too much of an imbalance to successfully function in society, what was the purpose of that? It seems that we were put on this Earth with varying degrees of instability. With every punch that life gives out it seems sometimes we move a little further down. Thus the phrase, "You're driving me crazy!" :) I kept thinking about our run-ins this week, wondering when we're allowed to walk away from anyone we meet and label them as "nuts." It seems pretty obvious that sometimes people don't see things clearly, but this is a pretty foggy world. I'm reminded that it's in a foggy world that the beacon of light- even the Savior of all the world- stands out more clearly. Maybe it's those who are a little nuts who can recognize Him the best.
The members in Brockport are super kind! We are being taken care of well, so no worries about anything. There are a ton of anti-mormons in the area which has been interesting, but I guess there's a balance to everything. This week we realized that the area of Brockport is a third of the Rochester zone, and the Rochester zone is a fourth of the Rochester Mission. Whew! And we've got a pretty busy day planned so I think that might be all for this week. Sorry it's so intense.
Love love,
Hermana Ray
Random extras:
-We don't have bed bugs and everyone else does! Poor souls
-Sister Wall is seriously the best. AND she knows some ASL so while we walk we alternate between her teaching me ASL and me teaching her Spanish! It's great
First big idea:
I have become so accustomed to noise! There are long, beautiful, quiet country roads in between little clusters of cities in my area and the other night as I was sitting in the apartment I stopped and realized how much was going on even when no one was talking! There isn't even a tv or radio in that apartment. Lights, AC, refrigerator and who knows what else creates a constant hum. This may seem like a super random observation, but I started thinking about how all of the noise creates comfort sometimes. Even I seem to sleep better when there's a fan going- something to block out the silence and random interjections that may come. Then I started to wonder if I ever do that emotionally or spiritually! Of course the answer is yes. It's so much more scary to handle the reality of questions unanswered. It's much easier to drown out doubt with noise. This week I'm trying to get rid of the extra. If there's a question about purpose of life, why would I listen to what everyone on this side of the planet has to say? Why should I run around in circles? This week is a renewed effort to go to the source with questions and concerns. Clear away the extra.
Second and really big idea:
Last week I mentioned that a man came to church out of the blue. This man ended up becoming quite the problem. Since after 8 months of emailing I assume only those who really care are still reading these, I'll be frank. He quickly turned slightly obsessive and after a little research, we discovered he wasn't being taught in his home area because he's a registered child molester. Clearly everyone deserves a chance to be taught the gospel of Jesus Christ. I do not believe that this man is outside of the bounds of the Atonement. There IS such a thing as a wise idea though :) Luckily without too much on our part, by the end of the week he texted us saying he has decided to stick to his Catholic roots. No more problem for the Brockport Sisters.
And yet too late for my mind! I started thinking about the spectrum of insanity. We refer to mental instability in general terms of black and white. But at what point is someone insane? When I'm a little sleepy sometimes I don't think straight. When I'm upset or hungry or prideful I don't do things that a perfectly sane person would. For those who seem to have too much of an imbalance to successfully function in society, what was the purpose of that? It seems that we were put on this Earth with varying degrees of instability. With every punch that life gives out it seems sometimes we move a little further down. Thus the phrase, "You're driving me crazy!" :) I kept thinking about our run-ins this week, wondering when we're allowed to walk away from anyone we meet and label them as "nuts." It seems pretty obvious that sometimes people don't see things clearly, but this is a pretty foggy world. I'm reminded that it's in a foggy world that the beacon of light- even the Savior of all the world- stands out more clearly. Maybe it's those who are a little nuts who can recognize Him the best.
The members in Brockport are super kind! We are being taken care of well, so no worries about anything. There are a ton of anti-mormons in the area which has been interesting, but I guess there's a balance to everything. This week we realized that the area of Brockport is a third of the Rochester zone, and the Rochester zone is a fourth of the Rochester Mission. Whew! And we've got a pretty busy day planned so I think that might be all for this week. Sorry it's so intense.
Love love,
Hermana Ray
Random extras:
-We don't have bed bugs and everyone else does! Poor souls
-Sister Wall is seriously the best. AND she knows some ASL so while we walk we alternate between her teaching me ASL and me teaching her Spanish! It's great
-We acquired a plant named Bernie! Someone we talked to on the street was gardening and had some extra little guys so she offered us one!
Monday, July 30, 2012
Hilton
"What a happy people we should be with the knowledge we have that this probation is not to prepare us to die, but to live!" -Deseret Evening News
What a great week! Brockport has been beautiful so far. Our area is super huge compared to most areas, but I would much prefer that to being in a tiny area.
First of all, the apartment is great! We have AC! It's wonderful. Poor Buffalo. Not that it's been really warm anyways since NY has stayed in the 70s and 80s pretty much all summer it seems. I guess some days it gets into the 90s, but nothing crazy like the rest of the known world. The Elders we moved in after left it really clean which I'm grateful for, also. A little more about Sister Wall (I'm sending a picture of us at transfer meeting)- she is from Provo, Utah and she's an elementary teacher. She's a lot more timid and reflective than Sister Thomas, so adjusting teaching with her has been very different but it's been good! I've started to notice my own teaching style come out more now that I'm kind of more in the lead. Sister Wall has been on her mission about 10 months, so we're both around the halfway point. It's a good place to be.
I'm really grateful for the chance to be rotated so often and to have the chance to get to know so many different people while I'm on my mission. Sister Wall and I have already had some really good conversations. Everyone has different experiences and perspectives! So interesting. Everyone goes through pain, you know? No one is left unscathed, it seems. One of the biggest lessons I've learned from Sister Wall so far has been just to be yourself. As she put it, "We're meant to learn from each other, not become each other." It's true! We've talked a lot about how comparison and pride break us down. Can you imagine a God that created us just to stand back and watch us rank each other? So terrible! I'm grateful to know that I'm beautiful in my own way. It's a long road to figure that out, and I've still got a long way to go. I'm getting there, though. Sometimes I look at pictures of people from home: Alaina, Aly, Randi, Amanda, Jenevra, Steph, Mindy, Anita, Erma...I am always struck with how beautiful all of those wonderful women are! Every time I look at a picture! Immediately after I'm always worried that that don't see themselves that way and I wish there was a way I could show them. My perspective about beauty (and myself) is so different than it was 8 months ago! Sister Wall really is a great example for me.
Yesterday we got to meet the Brockport Ward and I love them! It's a tiny congregation, but they are so strong! I'm grateful for the chance I have to get to know them better. Something amazing happened yesterday at church besides running into tons of amazing people! A man named Joe walked into church out of the blue wanting to learn more. He's been taught by missionaries before, but this morning when he woke up he just really felt like he needed to go the LDS church. So he drove an hour from Waterport and found himself in my Gospel Principles class! (it was my assignment to teach Sunday school yesterday which worked out well)
Well that's actually all I can think of that you all would find interesting so I think I'll just wrap it up there. Just suffice it to say that it was a really fantastic week in the end.
Till Monday,
Hermana Raines
P.S. How is Aunt Ginny doing? I've been thinking a lot about her this week. I hope everything is good!
I forgot to mention! New song this week.
Lyrics:
Once I had a dream
A point from which to grow
Sometimes life can seem
To move so slow
Step by step we turn
Leaving what's behind
Keeping what you've learned
In heart and mind
Chorus:
I know I need to give it one more try
I bet even birds are scared to fly
Sometimes
Way up high and scared to die alone
And still dreaming
Other times you run
And time is going fast
You seem to race the sun
Wanting days to last
Ugly skies ahead
And racing ever near
Awake- arise from bed
There's no room for fear
You know you need to give it one more try
I bet even birds are scared to fly
Sometimes
Way up high and scared to die alone
But still dreaming
The more you stand tall
The further to fall and
The higher you go
The harder the blow since
The taller you stand
The harder you'll land
But the more you can see
The happier you'll be in the end
I know you need to give it one more try
I bet even birds are scared to fly
Sometimes
Way up high and scared to die alone
But still dreaming
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our greatest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure." -Marianne Williamson
What a great week! Brockport has been beautiful so far. Our area is super huge compared to most areas, but I would much prefer that to being in a tiny area.
First of all, the apartment is great! We have AC! It's wonderful. Poor Buffalo. Not that it's been really warm anyways since NY has stayed in the 70s and 80s pretty much all summer it seems. I guess some days it gets into the 90s, but nothing crazy like the rest of the known world. The Elders we moved in after left it really clean which I'm grateful for, also. A little more about Sister Wall (I'm sending a picture of us at transfer meeting)- she is from Provo, Utah and she's an elementary teacher. She's a lot more timid and reflective than Sister Thomas, so adjusting teaching with her has been very different but it's been good! I've started to notice my own teaching style come out more now that I'm kind of more in the lead. Sister Wall has been on her mission about 10 months, so we're both around the halfway point. It's a good place to be.
I'm really grateful for the chance to be rotated so often and to have the chance to get to know so many different people while I'm on my mission. Sister Wall and I have already had some really good conversations. Everyone has different experiences and perspectives! So interesting. Everyone goes through pain, you know? No one is left unscathed, it seems. One of the biggest lessons I've learned from Sister Wall so far has been just to be yourself. As she put it, "We're meant to learn from each other, not become each other." It's true! We've talked a lot about how comparison and pride break us down. Can you imagine a God that created us just to stand back and watch us rank each other? So terrible! I'm grateful to know that I'm beautiful in my own way. It's a long road to figure that out, and I've still got a long way to go. I'm getting there, though. Sometimes I look at pictures of people from home: Alaina, Aly, Randi, Amanda, Jenevra, Steph, Mindy, Anita, Erma...I am always struck with how beautiful all of those wonderful women are! Every time I look at a picture! Immediately after I'm always worried that that don't see themselves that way and I wish there was a way I could show them. My perspective about beauty (and myself) is so different than it was 8 months ago! Sister Wall really is a great example for me.
Yesterday we got to meet the Brockport Ward and I love them! It's a tiny congregation, but they are so strong! I'm grateful for the chance I have to get to know them better. Something amazing happened yesterday at church besides running into tons of amazing people! A man named Joe walked into church out of the blue wanting to learn more. He's been taught by missionaries before, but this morning when he woke up he just really felt like he needed to go the LDS church. So he drove an hour from Waterport and found himself in my Gospel Principles class! (it was my assignment to teach Sunday school yesterday which worked out well)
Well that's actually all I can think of that you all would find interesting so I think I'll just wrap it up there. Just suffice it to say that it was a really fantastic week in the end.
Till Monday,
Hermana Raines
P.S. How is Aunt Ginny doing? I've been thinking a lot about her this week. I hope everything is good!
 |
| Sister Fetuli is training again! The "mom" and the "sister" |
 |
| New companion! |
 |
| Elder Adair! He's home now, but his Dad was my bishop for awhile in Provo and got me through a lot. I love the Adairs! |
 | |
| Saying bye to Little Sophia! She lived in the upstairs apartment in Buffalo. She told us that aliens eat peanut butter and jelly one night when that's what we had for dinner. |
 |
| Saying bye to Taylor and Laney Hawes from Buffalo! I miss them already! |
I forgot to mention! New song this week.
Lyrics:
Once I had a dream
A point from which to grow
Sometimes life can seem
To move so slow
Step by step we turn
Leaving what's behind
Keeping what you've learned
In heart and mind
Chorus:
I know I need to give it one more try
I bet even birds are scared to fly
Sometimes
Way up high and scared to die alone
And still dreaming
Other times you run
And time is going fast
You seem to race the sun
Wanting days to last
Ugly skies ahead
And racing ever near
Awake- arise from bed
There's no room for fear
You know you need to give it one more try
I bet even birds are scared to fly
Sometimes
Way up high and scared to die alone
But still dreaming
The more you stand tall
The further to fall and
The higher you go
The harder the blow since
The taller you stand
The harder you'll land
But the more you can see
The happier you'll be in the end
I know you need to give it one more try
I bet even birds are scared to fly
Sometimes
Way up high and scared to die alone
But still dreaming
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our greatest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure." -Marianne Williamson
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Sayolala, Buffalo gals!
Heya! Big news. First of all, I am back from pageant. We survived! In the end it was a lot more like spending all day every day at an amusement park than I anticipated. So tired, but it was really quite good. I'm grateful I got the chance to meet so many wonderful people! More about that later.
The real big news! I'm getting transferred! And...so is Sister Thomas! They are combining Buffalo North with Eggert, and Elder Vazquez and his newbie will take both areas. So I am going to Brockport with Sister Wall! It was an Elders area, so it will be similar to when we moved into Buffalo- both Sister Wall and I will be new. The really big news is...I'm still full proselyting! No visitors center for me still! I'm really really happy about it. This really is the dream for sister missionaries out here. The dream is to go full proselyting in Buffalo at all...but two different full proselyting areas is absolutely unheard of. I am so grateful! Plus I got the chance to live with Sister Wall in Fairport for the first week of pageant and she is really great. Comfortable with who she is and hard-working. It looks to be a good time coming up here. Also it will be cool to move into different territory because Brockport is in the Rochester zone. There are four zones in this mission: Palmyra South, Palmyra North, Buffalo and Rochester. This means the only zone I won't have experienced is Palmyra North :) SO HAPPY!
So moving into this new transfer, here are some lyrics from Mindy Gledhill:
The real big news! I'm getting transferred! And...so is Sister Thomas! They are combining Buffalo North with Eggert, and Elder Vazquez and his newbie will take both areas. So I am going to Brockport with Sister Wall! It was an Elders area, so it will be similar to when we moved into Buffalo- both Sister Wall and I will be new. The really big news is...I'm still full proselyting! No visitors center for me still! I'm really really happy about it. This really is the dream for sister missionaries out here. The dream is to go full proselyting in Buffalo at all...but two different full proselyting areas is absolutely unheard of. I am so grateful! Plus I got the chance to live with Sister Wall in Fairport for the first week of pageant and she is really great. Comfortable with who she is and hard-working. It looks to be a good time coming up here. Also it will be cool to move into different territory because Brockport is in the Rochester zone. There are four zones in this mission: Palmyra South, Palmyra North, Buffalo and Rochester. This means the only zone I won't have experienced is Palmyra North :) SO HAPPY!
So moving into this new transfer, here are some lyrics from Mindy Gledhill:
I wanna hold the whole wide world
Right here in my open hands
Maybe I'm just a little girl
A little girl with great big plans
About this past week! I had some more really enlightening conversations. And thoughts. That seems to happen when your life is flooded with new people. One of the sister missionaries we lived with hit a wall where she realized she's been running from commitment her whole life. A pretty big realization if you ask me. It was interesting to talk to her about it and realize that so many of my friends and family are suffering from the same fears. They are understandable- they operate under the assumption that people who really knew you wouldn't love you, or that it would be easier to gravitate towards new people who somehow don't have flaws. Having companions has really been a great teacher not only for me but for all of the other sisters that EVERYONE has issues. After my mission I'll have options: I can stick with the people I love and work my problems and theirs, or I can keep running. The truth is, part of the reason we've been allotted time on Earth is to learn how to conquer our issues. We have the chance to learn how to really love someone and to learn how to be loved. That entails commitment, fidelity, moderation, respect, service and humility. If you can't make a relationship work here, you're really just asking for an eternity of solitude. It's a big, important thing. It'll definitely require more thought. But I'm glad I'm figuring it out.
I had a bunch more thoughts as I met the people who came through the sites this week, but they would take far too long to type and it would be far too much to read. I'll spare you all, and maybe tell you one day in the future :)
Exciting news from this week, though: I GOT TO SEE MCKENNA, MATT, AND THE CORDELLS! It was so beautiful and so good to see them! I really have some of the greatest friends in the world. I also got to see Sarah Ayer's family! They were wonderful and I talked to them for a little while. The greatest thing I realized seeing people from home and related to home was that life will slide right back into where it was- except better! It didn't feel at all like I hadn't seen McKenna in 8 months. I know that's how it will be for everyone when I see them again! Nothing too much changes. Even though my heart has changed and I'm a lot more stable than I was and I may have picked up different habits, I'm still me! And I still really love stripes and Greg Laswell! I still say really strange things and think too much and ask for hugs! Sometimes it's easy to get scared that life moves on without you, or that people will change when you're not looking. My personal progress does not mean I'm a different person. I'm still me :)
Well that's all for this week I think! Today is Sister Thomas' birthday (23 on the 23rd!) so we're gonna go celebrate! Much love from western New York!
Sister Raines
Right here in my open hands
Maybe I'm just a little girl
A little girl with great big plans
About this past week! I had some more really enlightening conversations. And thoughts. That seems to happen when your life is flooded with new people. One of the sister missionaries we lived with hit a wall where she realized she's been running from commitment her whole life. A pretty big realization if you ask me. It was interesting to talk to her about it and realize that so many of my friends and family are suffering from the same fears. They are understandable- they operate under the assumption that people who really knew you wouldn't love you, or that it would be easier to gravitate towards new people who somehow don't have flaws. Having companions has really been a great teacher not only for me but for all of the other sisters that EVERYONE has issues. After my mission I'll have options: I can stick with the people I love and work my problems and theirs, or I can keep running. The truth is, part of the reason we've been allotted time on Earth is to learn how to conquer our issues. We have the chance to learn how to really love someone and to learn how to be loved. That entails commitment, fidelity, moderation, respect, service and humility. If you can't make a relationship work here, you're really just asking for an eternity of solitude. It's a big, important thing. It'll definitely require more thought. But I'm glad I'm figuring it out.
I had a bunch more thoughts as I met the people who came through the sites this week, but they would take far too long to type and it would be far too much to read. I'll spare you all, and maybe tell you one day in the future :)
Exciting news from this week, though: I GOT TO SEE MCKENNA, MATT, AND THE CORDELLS! It was so beautiful and so good to see them! I really have some of the greatest friends in the world. I also got to see Sarah Ayer's family! They were wonderful and I talked to them for a little while. The greatest thing I realized seeing people from home and related to home was that life will slide right back into where it was- except better! It didn't feel at all like I hadn't seen McKenna in 8 months. I know that's how it will be for everyone when I see them again! Nothing too much changes. Even though my heart has changed and I'm a lot more stable than I was and I may have picked up different habits, I'm still me! And I still really love stripes and Greg Laswell! I still say really strange things and think too much and ask for hugs! Sometimes it's easy to get scared that life moves on without you, or that people will change when you're not looking. My personal progress does not mean I'm a different person. I'm still me :)
Well that's all for this week I think! Today is Sister Thomas' birthday (23 on the 23rd!) so we're gonna go celebrate! Much love from western New York!
Sister Raines
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| Deborah Tilley |
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| The Rainey family! I kept seeing them on tour and I really like them! Sister Rainey gave me their information and offered for me to stay with them when I go back to Utah! People are so nice! |
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| Sarah Ayer's family! |
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| A scene from the pageant: Christ teaching the children |
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| Dinner with my best friends! |
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