Hello there!This week was an odd one for sure! With transfers and such, schedules got changed up and things popped up unexpectedly, so a very unusual start to Sister Smiths mission! She is just amazing! She is already great at talking to people, and it doing well with these southern folks and their talking! She came at a bad time with the weather though. We are getting into the warmest part of summer so... I am seriously considering cutting my hair. Not really cuz it's hot, but because it is just annoying, and I'm ready for something new! It will also be easier to do. What do y'all think?!?!
We had one last hoot n' nanny as a send off for sister Steifeldt. Brother B brought his cello and played the bass line for us, it was soooo cool and beautiful! Hope we can do another one soon!
Sister Steinfeldt wanted to get adjusted by Brother T [a chiropractor in their ward that gives the missionaries free adjustments] at his clinic one last time, so we went there Monday. Seeing him tweak and push on her back made me a little more scared to do it! But I think if would feel great too. So that's something else fun and exciting I may try!
So, Wednesday was the big day. We got up there and waited for a while for pres. weed to come out and have a trainers meeting with us. As we were waiting, Elders Carr, Davis, Hansen and Giles all walked in! It was so good to see them!! Carr and Davis are training, Giles is here in Rocky Mount, and Hansen went to our neighboring zone. So things are getting switched up around here! But it's all good :) The training meeting was good. Lots of good advice on what to do, and what not to do. Then we went in and met our trainees! They called us one by and one and told us who we would be with. It was kinda awk doing it in front of everyone, but sweet too! Then we did a quick role play and more advice, and we were off! Laura drove us (thank goodness for her!) And we were back home!
I didn't have a lot planned for the day, so I was worried about that. I wanted to have a full first day for Sister Smith, but it just didn't work out like that! But God is good, and the day was actually packed! We went to the H’a and role played a lesson we would be teaching later in the day. That was helpful for Sis Smith I think, and the lesson late went well! Then we went to dinner with the A’s which is always a treat! They are a pack of southerness, but I love them to death! Then we actually picked up a new investigator! So that was something cool, miracles abound! We slept well that night :)
Thursday we had our first scripture study class, it was great! Only 4 active members showed up, but we had a great discussion on the first article of faith and learned a few things! Then we had cookies (that we baked) afterwards! They kinda got all stuck together though, so it was hard for peeps to peel them off, but good times :)
There was a crazy storm too! We were eating at the T’s and the thunder was so loud, you could feel it! Then the sheets of rain came down and it was so thick you could barely see the trees in the distance!
The next day there was another storm too! We actually got a flash flood warning on our phone! And we were supposed to be going to a dinner app! So we started heading over, and the rain descended. I could not drive anymore, and water was filling the streets, so I looked for a place to pull off. Up in the distance I saw a glowing sign that said "Cornerstone Baptists Church." Praise the Lord! We pulled into their parking lot which was up on a hill and out of the water and called the B’s to have them pick us up. They had a big car, so there's could withstand the rain. So that was quite the adventure! Even though that church isn't the true church, I was still very grateful for it and I'm sure God was watching out for us.
I hit my 5 month mark yesterday... It feels like it's been years. But people keep telling me when I hit 6 months, it will fly! We'll see about that :) But we are gonna go celebrate today by introducing Sister Smith to Sheetz and buying me this delicious looking peanut butter doughnut... it has been calling my name!
Thought for the week: Our District Leader asked us to read in the back of our Gospel of Jesus Christ pamphlet and do the additional scripture study. One of the questions was "What is the gospel" The references it took us to was 3 Nephi 27:13-22. It said something along these lines; The gospel is THE way, not A way, to live a happy life and live on into an eternal one. It is the way to find our purpose in this life. It is a way to be free of guilt and find peace. It just laid it out so simply for me, and that is all the gospel is. It is simple. With diving back into 12 week [training lessons], I'm being forced to look back upon the basics. One of the questions it asks us missionaries is "Do you show those you are teaching how to develop faith in Jesus Christ?" I have really pondered that, and I could use some improvement! That is our whole purpose. To help people find faith in Christ. I'm excited to train, because It is kind of like I'm being re trained again! Let's see what God would have us learn :)
This upcoming week has got a lot going on, but being busy is good! I hope y'all have another great summer week, don't let it fly by too fast!
Love y'all lots! Have a blessed week
Sista Poulsen
Questions email bonus:
It was a crazy week! We are way low on miles right now, so we have been trying to work around that. But we didn't do any of the 1 week 12 week training last week cuz things were just not going as planned. #Worsttrainerever But Sister Smith is wonderful! Way more confident and out there than I was as a greenie! And she isn't home sick at all, which is good cuz we wouldn't want 2 cry babies in the house, but there is still one :P
