March
4
I
took soooo many pictures of our adventure to Pooh Country. I had
sooooo soooooo much fun. The Horsleys are awesome. They take such
good care of us and they spoil us and they know how to have an
adventure! I hope you get to meet them someday. As you can see from
the pictures, we all wore wellington boots so we could tromp through
the mud. and it was sure muddy in parts! We did lots and lots of
walking through the Ashdown Forest and it felt so good to get out and
move and breathe fresh country air. I'd been sick for a few weeks and
I'm pretty sure that walk healed me. Then we went to Pooh Corner for
some hot chocolate, etc. It was a phenomenal p-day. I'm so lucky to
have such awesome senior couples taking care of me and making sure I
have the adventures I desire before I leave.
Because
I have left. Tuesday president called to tell me officially that I
was leaving on Saturday. It's good to be gone. The visitors centre wasn't the same place without Sister Cabrera. I
was sooo ready to leave. But I wish I could have stayed in the area,
or just taken a few families with me. I will send you a picture of my favorite family in East Grinstead. It's often hard to
recognize why I am in a certain area at a certain time and to feel
that I didn't really accomplish anything in my time there. (There were) lots of little moments where I was
able to touch lots of live at the visitors centre or in the ward. But I didn't
really accomplish anything big. I didn't see anyone progress toward
baptism. I didn't find any new investigators. But I know that even if
my numbers are complete rubbish, it's the people who I interacted with and
the way I made them feel that matters most--at least to me. And I am
so grateful for my time in East Grinstead and at the visitors centre. I'm grateful for those people. I'm grateful for Sister Cabrera times a thousand. I'm grateful
for the amazing senior couples who are my friends and my mission
grandparents. I'm grateful for the Finns. And I'm grateful for all
the adorable primary children. I will miss them too. Friday night a
four year old who is relatively new in the ward came to the visitors centre with
his mum. I greeted them at the door and he shouted, "Do you
remember me? Do you remember me from primary?" It was so cute.
Those kids made me feel special and welcomed in a big ward where it
was easy to get lost.
So
enough rambling. I guess you're probably wondering where I've been
sent. Well, I've been holding you in suspense, because it's almost
too exciting. My new area is called Wandsworth. My new companion is
Sister Anena from Uganda. She's been here her whole mission, nearly 6
months. And guess what's in Wandsworth. Just the River Thames. And
the London Eye. And we ride the Tube and red double decker buses.
Yes, I have been sent to London! Real London! As London as it gets
for sisters in the England London South Mission. And like the rest of
this past year, it hardly seems real. Wake up Sister Reneer! You're
in London! Can you believe it?!?! No, not really. But then I look
around and think how familiar everything looks. These roads look just
like the roads I've been driving on the past three months. Same
signs, same size, same crazy parking on both sides. I look at them and think, I could drive on that. And that makes me feel local. Maybe I
won't realize how British I've actually become until I go home and
everything that is supposed to be familiar now seems foreign. Because
after being here a year, England is starting to feel like home.
But
changes are hard. I don't like them. You said some things that
describe exactly how I feel. Going to a new place you find yourself
surrounded by people who know nothing about you, don't know all the
cool things you've accomplished and overcome, and simply don't
realize how awesome you are. And it makes me feel like I have to
prove myself all over again. lately I've realized how important it is
to like yourself because I'm always with me and when I like being with
me, then I can be happy wherever I am and whatever I'm doing. But if I don't like me than I'll pretty much be miserable all the time. In
the past month I've forgotten a bit how to like myself. So in the
midst of all the other adjustments I'm making right now, I'm
struggling to regain that respect for myself and the joy of my own
company. Missions are hard and lonely enough as it is. But as long as
you have four friends you will be okay. (God, Jesus, the Holy Ghost,
and me.)
Well,
enough feeling sorry for myself.
I
wanted to tell you more about this new area, but I have run out of
time. I will send a few pictures though.
Basically,
I have met people from all over the world in the last couple days!
This ward and area is sooo diverse. it's pretty cool. Also, i will
let you know when I get to see the London Eye and I will definitely
take a picture for Emma :)
I'm grateful for the wonderful family that I
have been blessed with. The small and simple
things we do each day really do make a difference and are the most
important things.
okay,
i really need to go now. bummer. this is always the shortest part of
the day. and sometimes of the week.
I got a letter from Opa. He is so great!
Love
you all lots and lots!!!! I forgot to get my new address so I'll send
that next week.
Love,
Sister
Ruth Reneer
