Post Mini-Mountain Hike
Some quotes from the week:
"Sister Poppe has the voice of an angel.
When she sits next to me and sings in our pew I cry."-The middle Tony Hawk
son
That boy competed in the X-Games and he likes
to hear me sing, what is this? I'm not cool enough for sk8ers to like me.
"Did you hear that?"-Sister Dumas
"Yeah, I think it was a
chicken."-Sister Poppe (In the most serious voice I have ever heard in my life)"It was most definitely a dinosaur raised from the dead."-Sister Dumas
So apparently Bryce had to read a postcard I
sent him in front of his entire platoon. I don't even remember what I wrote,
but I received five letters in the mail on the same day from random boys in
Bryce's platoon thanking me for my entertaining postcard that brightened their
day. I'm assuming the same drill sergeant that made Bryce read the postcard
made the boys write me thank you notes. My companion and I had a good laugh at
my plethora of letters from the army that day.
(Mom’s note: Amanda should be
getting 46 more letters as Bryce’s drill sergeant did make the whole platoon
write her letters. I suggested she divvy
up all the letters amongst all the missionaries in her zone so all the boys
will get a response.)
I had an exchange this week with my sister
training leader, Sister Avanesjan, in her area. It was a super short exchange,
not a normal 24 hour one. She is German and a visitor center sister. I really
like her. We had a good street contact. The guy wasn't interested, but we
talked to him for 15 minutes. I told her at the beginning of our exchange that
I'm awful at street contacting and that in our wards we don't have the
opportunity to do them very often because it's illegal in the gated communities
to proselyte and our other community’s people are never in their driveways or
front yards. I said I needed to work on it and I got the opportunity after
dinner. She said I'm not awful at it; in fact I'm good at it because I'm not
awkward and I can talk about anything. I just get really nervous, so I take
that as being awful at it. We also had a really good lesson with an
investigator about the priesthood and his concerns. I enjoyed teaching him and
answering his questions with Sister A. She said that most sisters don't jump in
and teach on exchanges that aren't in their areas because they're too nervous
so she was grateful that I actually opened my mouth.
While I was on my exchange, Sister Avanesjan
asked if I am a clean person because the sisters we live with called the mission
president's wife to complain about Sister Dumas and I and our cleaning habits.
I was infuriated! I told Sister A about our apartment and the note we left and
everything. I explained that the sisters probably called to complain about my
note, not about my cleanliness but that Sister Jenkins may have been
confused. Sister A said, "I told
Sister Jenkins that given your personality I would assume that you are actually
the cleanest sister in the mission but I would watch you during our exchange to
see if you were clean. I've watched you and you seem tidy, but I've never seen
your apartment so I figured I would just ask if you're clean and I'm glad I
did. I'll call her tomorrow and set the story straight." So she must have
called her, because Sister Jenkins called us and asked about our apartment and
I just told her how gross it is and that we have talked to the sisters about it
more than once. She called the other
sisters and then called us back and said the most beautiful words I've ever
heard, "Sister Poppe, I talked to your roommates and I think things are
going to be clean from now on. I know it's hard when people have different
ideas of what clean is, but from what I've gathered they aren't following the
mission guidelines for cleanliness so I talked to them about that and told them
they need to follow the cleaning rules. They said they were hurt by the note
you left them, but I said that you had talked to them and that in my opinion a
note was just the next logical step to try and solve the problem. I sure do
appreciate you and your companion's cleanliness and overall hard work, I love
you two. Have a great day!" I didn't even get reprimanded for my note! But
seriously, is this 4th grade? Who calls the mission president's wife to tattle
on another sister because she left a "hurtful note"? It all backfired
on them and I am further affirmed in my correctness. I AM ALWAYS RIGHT. #owned. The other sisters have been overly nice since
the phone call.
We had a relief society craft night this week
that we took an investigator to. The Tony Hawk mom is in charge of activities,
so she told us that we could make one of the necklaces for free (they cost 8
dollars). We decided we were going to make missionary necklaces to remember our
missions by. Mine turned out super cute! I included a picture, but in case you
can't read it, one charm says "sister", another says "AZMM
'14-'15", and the last one says "3 Nephi 5:13", which is our mission's scripture.
Things ended on a positive note though. The
family said that they do love us and that they are grateful that we enlighten
them and listen to their concerns even when they go on rants. The grandpa also
asked for a blessing to help him quit drinking and we took a male member with
us so he gave him a blessing right then and there in the living room.
We got adventurous and taught some of the
ladies at the nursing home how to play Mexican Train. Hazel was being sassy
with me because I won two times in a row and she couldn't see the colors on her
dominos. The lady is hilarious I love her. Sue tried to run away and said
"If I try hard enough I can get into that room they won't let me in (that
room being outside; she was trying to get out the front door). If you keep
trying you have to make it through! Now let's go. Let's take turns." She was more impassioned in her delivery than
Martin Luther King Jr.
in any of his speeches. It was actually kind
of sad; I never want to get old. Ever. Just twinkle me like the 3 Nephites.
One of our 18 year old male friends invited
us to mission prep. We went and it was actually a great experience. The mission
prep class in this stake is crazy awesome! The kids who go regularly are so
prepared. They have a different RM teach
a chapter of Preach My Gospel each week; it is a well-run class.
Reese's Puffs were on sale 2 for $5 so that
was a little tender mercy #treatyoself.
I baked some Nutella chocolate chip cookies.
Baking without a Kitchenaid is so medieval. #spoiledkidcantuseawoodenspoon
Tony Hawk fam is doing well. Harry is getting
a little discouraged; he thought he would be baptized by now. I pray for him
every day and one of these days both of our prayers will be answered!
I've been studying up on the second coming
and it is really interesting, the institute manuals provide good information;
check 'em out!
XOXO,
Sister Poppe
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