Baptism!

Oi familia!!

 

Thanks for your letters!! I printed most of the trek ones out, so I will have more time to read them later!! But it sounds like the trek was a hit! I never got to do a trek, but everyone always says that they are good experiences!! Also, it sounds like Kara moved into her new apartment!! How fun!! Yes! Dad, I got your dearelder package! I seriously came home after emailing last week, and it was sitting on my doorstep! It was super ironic considering that I had just told you that dearelder doesn't work! Surprise!! It does! And I have been happily enjoying the sugar cookies that the package contained!! Also, I got both Dad and Amy's dearelder letters, so that's good! I got a letter from grandma, and I got a letter from mom...and I finally got my package from mom!! So, happy day!! All my mail is getting worked out!! Mom, that package is awesome!! I have been thorougly enjoying the trail mix and treats from the package, and I wore my sweater the day after I got the package!! So, thank you!! I am very appreciative!!

 

So, I'm sorry about the confusion with emailing and P-day and junk...since we are supposed to email our Mission President on Mondays, we are still going to have emailing on Mondays...but the rest of the "preparation day" things we are going to be doing on Saturday. So, I'm not exactly sure how that all works out, but I just nod my head and say ok sometimes. But Saturday's are gamedays...and gamedays are really not effective proselyting days, so that is why we are doing it that way. On gamedays, everyone is drunk...and football is a religion. So, we don't want to mess with that. We just focus on teaching inactives on Saturdays.

 

Ok. Everytime I sit to start writing an email home, I can't remember what I have already told you about my area...but I also can't really remember all that happened this past week. I don't even know where to begin.

 

Um...Tuesday we had a Mission Leadership Council in Macon. Ok, explanation. So, my companions are both Sister Training Leaders, so kind of as a default, I am too. Which is weird, because I am being trained. So, I'm like a wannabe Sister Training Leader. But we drove to Macon, which is like a 2.5 hour drive. Also, Georgia is an hour ahead of Alabama...so we had to wake up at like 4:30 our time to get to our meeting at 10. Woo! But it was good! We were trained, we were fed lunch. All was well! I also found out that even if my visa were to come, I will for sure finish off the transfer. So, I will for sure be here a full transfer, and then each transfer that I start, I can be sure that I will be here for another 6 weeks. So, that was kind of nice to find out. I just wish I had some perception of how long I will be here...I am completely content being here, I just wish I could mentally know. It would be nice. But oh well! I will be wherever Heavenly Father wants me to be! Also, I asked one of the leaders to order me an English nametag...because it gets real confusing when someone is looking at my nametag and they can't read it. I can just see the look of confusion on their face!! hahahaha.

 

Wednesday and Thursday we started up a booth of campus!! It was weird getting into the swing of things. As a missionary, you have a mentality to "talk to everyone", then classes get out and there are a ton of people, and it is so overwhelming!! So, we are learning to discern through the Spirit, those that would be open to our message. Because you definitely get those that ignore you OR you get the ones that love to come and Bible bash with you. So, it's interesting. Sis. Snyder got pretty bible bashed on Thursday. We are still learning how to tactfully and kindly get out of those conversations. I was simultaneously getting Bible bashed...but mine was done a lot nicer. Sometimes the booth can be discouraging...but we are prayerfully trying to find those that Heavenly Father has prepared.

 

Friday we had a Zone Meeting in Columbus, which is like an hour away...plus time difference. There are only like two companionships in the whole mission that are serving in Alabama...so we are the only ones that are off on our time. But it was funny because as Sister Training Leaders we did a training on working with the members. I'm sure those that knew I had only been in the field for a week and a half were like, "what is she doing giving us training?" hahaha. Whatevs. It was strange how many people just in my zone that I have a connection with. 4 of us came out on the same day. Sis. Snyder is from Fresno. One Elder was in my Freshman Ward at BYU. One Elder is cousins with the Kelloggs/Bogles/Grants. One sister is friends with some of my friends from Mesa. Welcome to the Mormon world! Connections everywhere!!

 

Saturday we had a baptism!! It was pretty exciting! Her name is Betty, and the Sisters had been teaching her and had committed her to baptism before I even got here. So, I wasn't part of the whole process, but I was grateful for the portions that I did get to be a part of. I was so cool to see how the Atonement has worked in her life and has truly blessed her. She really is one that Heavenly Father had prepared. It was so cool to watch her come out of the baptismal font, and be so overwhelmed with emotion from feeling the Spirit. I was so grateful that I got to be a part of that moment.

 

I have only been here 2 weeks, and I already feel like I know the Branch so well!! Mom, I think you heard...that there is guy in the YSA Branch that is cousins with the Tanners. So, that was a funny connection to make. But anyways, we love the Branch! It is still interesting to figure out how to be in YSA as a missionary, but we are continually learning. We have our ups and our downs, but I am so grateful for the opportunity to be a missionary and to testify of Christ. When we come across those that disagree with us...mostly I just feel so sad for them and the truths that they are missing! I'm so grateful for the knowledge of the Atonement and the knowledge that God is our loving Heavenly Father and that we are literally His children. I just started reading Jesus The Christ...and I am so excited to better come to know Christ.

 

I love you all!! I hope you are all doing well!!

Sister Van Wagenen