June 23, 2014
Cheyenne, WY
"Why does it have to be follow the spiders? Why can't it be follow
the butterflies!"
So we live in a basement apartment. Some of you will know that there
is a room in my parent's house which I can count on one hand the number of times
I have entered it. Basement bathroom. Well, Brother Russell mowed
the lawn on Saturday, which apparently caused some disruption in the
wildlife. Namely, we battled giant spiders on Saturday night instead of
going to bed early like we had planned on.
The first of the battles was the longest and hardest fought. The
spider was hanging out under a heater so we could neither catch him (my idea) or
smoosh him (Sister Christensen's idea). The rest of the heater happens to
extend along the whole of my bed, so as he ran away from our lights shining on
him we pulled the bed away from the wall. What came to mind that might
solve our spider problem? Well, maybe if we spray him with hairspray or
febreze he will die somehow. So I kept an eye on the spider while Sister
Christensen collected our weapons. The sprays did serve to make things
slippery so he couldn't crawl out of sight and we eventually took care of the
problem. I am a murderer :(
So yeah, three battles later we were tired, still a bit anxious, but our
windows and walls were bug killer sprayed and I slept on my bed as an island in
the middle of the room. Just in case.
In other battles. We had an epic light saber battle with the Russell
boys on Monday. They made light sabers from pool noodles and duct tape and
we had a grand every man for himself war :)
We had zone conference in Laramie this week where I saw my mission mama
(Sister Zvirzdin) for the last time as she goes home at the end of this
transfer! Holy cow!
How does that happen? I knew most of the missionaries giving their
departing testimonies which made me sad and happy. Sad to see them
leaving, but happy to know that they have worked hard and been "good and
faithful servant[s]"
Strangely enough, much of the training by President and Sister Brown at the
conference was on marriage and family. We tend to get lots of marriage
advice from all over the place as missionaries (funny, since we aren't looking)
but I much prefer that which comes from my leaders, the prophets, and the
scriptures! One thing they mentioned which I know is completely true is
that as we go about our missionary business we are, knowingly or unknowingly,
making two lists. One of my lists is what I want my home to be like, the
other is what I want in my husband. I didn't think about the fact that I
was doing that, but I definitely have been!
Marriage is on the brain as my dear brother Peter is marrying Sarah Dallas
this coming weekend and I am very excited for them! It is a big decision
to make, thank goodness Heavenly Father is willing to help us with those kinds
of things ;)
On an exchange this week with Hermana Smith (not to be confused with Sister
Smith) we were in an appointment (which went very well, Sister L____ is going to
be starting to read the Book of Mormon again) and when we came out to the car
there was "something there that wasn't there before!" Someone smeared
Vaseline all over the windshield and under my door handle!
I realized later that the person couldn't have done it on purpose to the
missionaries, otherwise there would have been Vaseline under BOTH handles, since
we come in twos ;)
We had some of the most amazing member present lessons this week! On
of them with E____ who is the aunt of a ward member who asked us to teach her
and she came to church for the first time this week after our first lesson with
her on Tuesday. It is awesome too that the ward member who made the referral was
at the appointment and had already invited her to church and offered to pick her
up. I love that kind of missionary work!
As well, things continue wonderfully with S___. I love her so
much! This week we brought a sister from the ward who has been a member
only a little longer than I have been a missionary and S___ was so excited to
meet "a fellow heathen!" She refers to herself that way not infrequently,
in a cute way ;) It was really good for both of them though, because they have
been in similar situations where my understanding of things is limited, having
been brought up in an active LDS home. We also got to watch Elder Bednar's
videos on "Patterns of Light", which explain a little more about how we receive
revelation/inspiration, with S___ and the R______ family.
We met some new people and are keeping our forks as Charlotte's grandmother
would tell her because "the best is yet to come!"
love, Sister Emily DeFord
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