You'll never guess where I am today! I've been transferred to East Grinstead. And guess what's in East Grinstead. The London Temple and Visitors' Centre! That's right. I am now a visitors' centre sister. How crazy is that? I've always thought it would be so cool to serve in the visitors' centre, but when Elder Martins called to give us moves calls, I cried!!! I wanted to stay in Eastbourne so bad! But I think I kind of knew I'd be leaving, because I loved it so much and I felt I was starting to get too comfortable there. And missions aren't for getting comfortable. Missions are for stretching and learning and growing. It's funny that I wasn't even excited to go to the visitors' centre because I was so sad to leave Eastbourne. But then I started getting excited. And if I have to leave Eastbourne I can't think of anywhere I'd rather be! I'm so grateful to be serving here. It's only an hour from Eastbourne and I'm in the same stake. It's nice not moving far and I love being in this center of missionary and member activity. And I'll get to see all the people I know who come to the temple! That's one of the best parts.
I held a cute boy's hand yesterday. He's three and his name is Logan. The Elders from Brighton and Haywards Heath brought two families to the VC (Visitors' Centre) yesterday. We taught them about Jesus Christ, the temple, and how families can be together forever. It was such a marvelous experience. I loved seeing these families learning about the gospel and catching that glimpse of the joy that comes when we live the gospel and receive the wonderful ordinances and promises of the temple. When they first got there, Logan had just woken up and wouldn't talk to anyone. But after a while he warmed up and pretty soon we were best friends. When we went back into the theatre to watch a movie for the second time, he reached up and said, "Hold my hand." Then we sat by each other during the movie and he talked to me the whole time. It was so funny and cute. I think that will be one of my favorite things here at the visitors centre--seeing families and children. When this family first got to the visitor's centre and we played the Christus narrative for them, I was watching Logan's face and saw how intently he was listening and a couple times a big smile flashed across his face. This is a message and a feeling that resonates even with children and sometimes children understand it even better.
8 October 2012
I can't remember how much I've told you about serving at the visitors' centre, but I think you've gotten the general idea that I love it here. As Sister Rodrigues (my companion from Portugal) puts it, serving in the visitors' centre is "my seaside." I just feel I was made for this job. And my companions (Sister Rodrigues and Sister Cabrera). I just can't say enough about them. I feel we've been friends so much longer than three weeks. And often I find myself thinking or praying for them as my roommates--and then I have to correct myself and call them my companions. Because they feel like my roommates and my friends, not just my companions. And all of this is just me leading up to say that I'm leaving the visitors' centre on Wednesday...(dramatic pause for us all to shed a few tears)....I knew it was too good here to last long.
After General Conference Saturday night (Saturday morning for all you Utahns), President asked me, "How's your French?" So I said Bonjour and Je m'appelle Soeur Reneer and then he said something about my companion and I was so confused thinking my companions are Chilean and Portuguese, not French. What was he talking about?! Then he went on to tell me that we're getting a new sister from France on Wednesday and I'll be training her and we'll be going back to Hastings (since it's a big flat) for two and a half weeks and then who knows where after that. I tried not to cry, but I've turned into such a big baby!!! My younger self would be ashamed. But with so many emotions you just can't hold it in! I'm so very, very sad to be leaving my companions. We have way too much fun together and they make me feel loved and beautiful and happy. I'll miss the other vistors' centre missionaries who are like a family and I've loved so much being privileged to see miracles taking place in the visitor's centre as missionaries and members bring their friends and investigators to learn more about the gospel and about temples. This is such a special place. Not to mention that it'll be so weird going back to Hastings. But hopefully it'll be a good weird.
This week a cute little family from Bulgaria came to the temple. They had a 6 year old boy and a little girl under 1. The little girl still spoke her own language anyway, so I could communicate with her just fine, but the little boy only spoke this crazy language called Bulgarian. He was playing with a toy car and I went to join him. Despite language barriers we both had a great time. We both understood car noises and motions and when he started chatting to me in Bulgarian I just smiled. They were both super cute and I loved how I could connect with both of them despite the fact we couldn't understand each other's language. I will miss seeing so many families. Family is so important.
15 October 2012
SURPRISE!!! I'm still at the visitors' centre!!!!! Wednesday morning I was half-way packed and President called to say, "Just kidding, you're staying in East Grinstead." Missions are rough. As soon as you set expectations and make plans Heavenly Father adjusts them, reminding us that we aren't in charge, He is. As much as I love East Grinstead, it was hard for me to suddenly shift gears and rethink the next couple weeks. But I am SOOO grateful to still be here and, looking back, I'm also grateful that I thought I was going back to Hastings. I learned a lot from the time I was told I was leaving to the time I was told I was staying. Plus, we had lots of fun thinking they were my last moments in East Grinstead :) I feel like Heavenly Father was just testing my willingness and I'm grateful that I got to learn that I am willing to go wherever Heavenly Father chooses to send me and to go cheerfully. I'm grateful that once He got my willing heart He allowed me to stay here with people I have already come to love.
29 October 2012
I'M STAYING AT THE TEMPLE!!!!!! yippee! I am in a tri with Sister Yapi and Sister Cabrera. Sister Rodrigues has gone to the Island of Jersey where there are lots of Portuguese people and she is going to do so much good there, but I miss her terribly. I'm sad she is gone, but that seems to be what missions are secretly all about. Love 'em and leave 'em. It hurts every time.
5 November 2012
I get to play the piano for our firesides and events here which is really nice--and it's one reason they are glad I am still here. I'm grateful I can play the piano because it means I at least have one thing going for me as a missionary. And honestly I feel like playing the piano is a blessing to me more than for whoever I'm playing for. Moral of the story: Practice The Piano!!!!! Even the prophet thinks it's a good idea. (See Welcome to Conference)
12 November 2012
I'm driving in England!!!!! When I first got here I said I never wanted to drive in England. How scary! Narrow roads where they drive on the wrong side. But a couple of weeks ago when I realized I might have the chance to start driving here, I started getting excited. So this week Sister Carpenter took me out to drive and I passed the Sister Carpenter driving test. And now I'm an official driver of an official mission car which we use for official purposes like driving to the official visitors' centre or to the official grocery story or our official flat. It's a little scary but not nearly as bad as it would've been 7 months ago. And it's also quite fun :) I've gotten rather used to being on the left side and it'll be weird to go back to the right.
Saturdays at the VC are almost always busy and crazy and always exhausting. This Saturday we had some children who were waiting for their parents to go through the temple so they could all go in and be sealed! That was exciting. The kids were really cute, even if they were a bit crazy. We pulled out some coloring pages and I got to color with them a bit. Sometimes I am still secretly a child on the inside. Unfortunately, it's not too much of a secret. My companions are very familiar with the fact. So you might think that I'm in England being a responsible, mature adult missionary, but actually I'm just playing and coloring with children.
I'm exciting to start seeing this great army of sister missionaries coming onto the field. But will you do them a favor and tell them that serving a mission is not all flowers and fun? Remind them that it's hard work and that means it's hard and you have to work. But it's rewarding and you learn so much and we are blessed for the sacrifices we make. Serving a mission is such a great decision, but it's NOT signing up for an 18 month holiday. It's more like signing up for a 24/7 job that you're doing for free--but with the Lord's help and with the Lord's blessings. And with a bit of fun thrown in there, too, sometimes.
19 November 2012
Elder Herbertson (from the Quorum of the Seventy) visited our ward yesterday. And he had a fantastic Scottish accent. Thank you, Haley G, for introducing me to the charm of Scottish accents. It was awesome. But even more awesome than his accent, was the spirit he brought as he brought this ward a massive spiritual feast that we all needed. His talk in sacrament meeting and his lesson to the combined Priesthood/Relief Society were amazing. The whole ward just seemed happier by the time church was over--and the lovely sun outside added to the general joyful atmosphere :) We appreciate the sun here in England. I was so grateful for Elder Herbertson's visit. I believe he was the answer to many, many prayers.
We had Thanksgiving dinner yesterday. A real, American Thanksgiving dinner! We ate with all the visitor's centre and mission office missionaries (five sisters, two elders, four couples, and two senior sisters). Twelve Americans, two French, one Chilean, and two Canadians--wearing Canadian shirts. It was wonderful. Especially the pumpkin pie :)
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