I think this has been the most chaotic transfer I've ever had! And I didn't even go anywhere... Lol the other half of the ward got white washed which makes things a little difficult. But it'll be really good for the ward and they are really chill and easy to work with which makes it easier. But I am the only one out of the four of us who knows the are which is crazy because I have only been here a transfer and it feels like I am covering 2 areas. But it's okay, life goes on and the work will be done.
My new companion is Sister Hewlett. She is awesome and super funny, we get along great! Love her to death but this week was almost the death of me lol! It was good but it was soooooooo long. No joke, I was in bed last night and was thinking how happy I was that the next day was p day and I said, man can you believe we are already half way through the transfer!? And sister Hewlett was just like.... Ummm it's only been a week.
This week we set a baptismal date with our sweet investigator Michelle. She is so excited and was so happy to go to church. But it was a little rough because we actually volunteered to clean her house. I was happy to do it for her but oh my word. I don't know if my nose will ever work again. But I am happy that she is at least in liveable conditions now. We had to throw away a lot of her dishes because there was no way we could save them. We found these pots with what I think was pasta at one point, but that was probably from last year. It was filled with mold and maggots and I really really don't wanna think about what else. We also had to spray ourselves down with rubbing alcohol multiple times because of the bed bugs. But thank the heavens we are going strong, STILL BED BUG FREE BABY! It's been a problem here and a lot of the missionaries have been getting them.
I've been studying this talk all week called The 4th Missionary. It's really changed my perspective on what a good missionary looks like. And it's been a hard lesson to learn but I've come to realize that there is no "example missionary". I think that we like to create these images in our head of what perfect is in hopes that it'll be easier to become. But that's not how it works. This is a lesson I have been trying to learn for a long time, and one I know I will continue to learn throughout my life. The best missionary I can be is me. This is the Lord's work. No one else's. So the only way I can be "a good missionary" is if I do the work he sent ME to do. Not my companions, not my president, but me. And there is no example missionary, because we have been called to the same work, but he has not called us to do the same things. And I think that applies to life in general. Why do we compare ourselves when our roles and responsibilities and missions in life are all different. There is a quote from that talk that I have been thinking about all week, he said "your world is in our head. Get your head on right, and your heart will follow. You'll be right" I also have been thinking about something my dear friend Billy always tells me, "no brain, no pain". Billy, I couldn't say it better myself. Thanks for keeping me straight. I have a tendency to overthink, but I know I am not the only one who has this tendency. No brain, no pain. I've been trying harder to just roll with the punches and do the work the Lord needs ME to do, and accept the fact that it is going to look different than everyone else. Because none of us should look the same, that's why he gives us different talents and abilities. I think we really become successful when we learn to trust in the Lord and use the talents and tools he gave US, not the person next to us. But that's a lot easier said than done, which is why we have a lifetime to figure it out. And I hope I can get close somewhere in that time.
I hope you all have a fan-freankin-tastic week! And I'll catch ya next week ✌️
Sister Grant
