Week 4

Hey family! How y'all doing? I'm practicing my Southern twang, and I think that it's coming along quite nicely. This week has been really good for the most part. Stressful, but good. But as one of the mission videos says, if you're not experiencing some amount of stress, you're dead. So I've definitely been alive this week. :)

Mary, one of the sweetest girls you will ever meet, is getting baptized this week on Saturday the 28th! Sister Seaman and I are so excited and so are a lot of other people. Unfortunately, this makes things a little complex. Everyone wants to help and everyone keeps planning things for the baptism...then Sister Seaman and I have to go back through and un-plan them. Mary wants to be baptized in Columbia, because that is where her family is and that is where her boyfriend's family is. Her boyfriend, Brandon, and his family are very very supportive of her getting baptized, and Brandon will actually be performing the baptism! It was just really complex trying to plan the baptism in Columbia, when President and Bishop both counseled us that we should try to have it here where her ward family will be. But, everything ended up just fine, after a couple of calls to President and Mary and several very stress inducing conversations, the baptism will be in Columbia! Sister Seaman and I are just trying to figure out a ride now...how to get there and how to get back...everything will work out in the end. I just need to have faith in that.

It would appear that I am just destined to always live next to graveyards. I lived near one in Utah, I lived right across the street from one in Logan, and here I am surrounded by them! I didn't know that one place could have so many graveyards! Don't get me wrong, they're not creepy. They are very well maintained and a very respected place, but they are pretty much on every corner! Sister Seaman said that they are always behind churches, and boy are there A LOT of churches here. In the missionary handbook, it says that we should avoid proselyting next to places of worship...well if we followed that rule then we couldn't proselyte anywhere, because there are a ridiculous number of churches here. It's a good thing as well though. Pretty much everyone here believes in Jesus Christ, we just have to fill in the rest of the Doctrine and we could baptize the entire city! Unfortunately Southern people are stubborn, and don't like change, but Sister Seaman and I are working very hard to change that in our area. :)

It rained on Saturday. It rained and rained and rained. Sister Seaman and I were soaked from head to toe by the time we finally caved and bought umbrellas. It was very refreshing though and it made the loud bugs stay in their little caves, so it was all good and very fun. :)

I've heard some very interesting names while I've been here. None that I've ever heard before, but maybe some of y'all have heard them before:

• Tywanda
• Sheraina
• Izona
• Anolee
• Kippany
• and my personal favorite "Imaginatiramea"

That last one is like saying "imagination" and then ramea. It means "one filled with light and imagination". Very beautiful name, I'd just never heard of it before, and it seemed to fit the little girl we met, so good on her!

 

I pet a raccoon! Don't worry mom, I didn't just go out on the street and pet a random raccoon. This lady in our ward found the little guy on the side of the highway one night, abandoned, and she took him home and raised him. He was really tame and so CUTE! I kind of want a pet raccoon now...but I don't think it'd be quite the same result if I just went out on the highway and picked up a stray raccoon. Maybe I'm just not thinking southern enough yet. :) Oh, and I stole a fig off of a former's tree. To be completely honest...it was Sister Seaman's fault. She started it and I just followed as the loyal trainee and took one as well. :) I don't really like them...but hey, I'm experiencing new things everyday!

 

My companion is a racist. But not really! Let me explain. We went on campus on day to go to institute. We always go if we have an investigator there and plus it's nice to have someone else teach us and help us find insights. We were trying to park, and the parking spaces all had different colored lines. Blue meant student, pink meant employee. So we were circling around forever trying to find "white" parking which is free parking. Finally out of frustration Sister Seaman yelled "these spaces are all colored!" She didn't realize how bad it sounded, until I burst out laughing and told her I didn't know she felt that way, and that it must be hard to be in the south then. Her face turned white, and she started laughing to. We might have to call president, but I think we're just going to see if her behavior improves first. :)

 

I think that we should be allowed to listen to Journey on our missions! The lyrics are totally related to the gospel! "Wooaoh, living on a prayer!" We are all supposed to live on prayers and have prayers in our hearts! "Take my hand, we'll make it I swear." Heavenly Father's hand in always outstretched and he is always willing to help us! I made this point to Sister Seaman, but she say's it's a no go. Maybe one day, but for now I'll be content with the Tabernacle choir. :)

 

As of Saturday, I've been out a month. It's been the longest month of my life and also the shortest. I love it here, and I also struggle here. But that is what makes it so great. I'm trying to continually improve myself and I can see Heavenly Father's hand constantly in my life. I've felt the spirit everyday, and I'm striving to have him with me at all times, and in all things, and in all places. I love you all and thank you so much for your prayers and your letters. They really buoy me up and help me to do hard things. This week will be a great one!

I love you so so much! Remember TLLY.

Sister Jones