The Best Worst Birthday Week Ever

Hi!

Being that it was birthday week, I'm going to give you a day by day account of what happened!

Monday: We had a get together with other missionaries in our zone and had lunch, slacklined, and played ultimate frisbee to celebrate my birthday. It was fun! One of the recent converts in FG received the priesthood that night and he had the most touching reaction. He was so grateful and felt very blessed to have such an honor bestowed upon him. I don't think enough people react to receiving the priesthood in as reverent of a manner as he did. I think it is taken for granted by people who know they will receive it when they are 12. He went on to pass the sacrament yesterday and it was so cute! He's an adult, but it was still cute. He is from Africa and his wife is as well. They are a lovely family.

We had a zone picnic last Pday for my birthday and one of the 

elders brought his slackline. I refused to try initially because I'm 

about as graceful as a Hagrid on a unicycle, but every one insisted 

and I gave in. I did say that someone had to hold my hand though 

so that if I fell I would only break something instead of die. I did 

end up falling right after the second picture was shot and I grabbed 

Elder Parrella's hand to save my body from any harm. He isn't awkward, 

so it wasn't awkward which I was grateful for.

Tuesday: We had district meeting and promptly after our meeting Sister Smith was struck with the stomach flu. We spent the afternoon inside and I made cookies while she slept to give to investigators. We found a member to stay with her in the evening and a member to go out with me for our appointments. I made it until 8:00 until I started to feel sick as well. We had one appointment left with a LA lady that I really felt like we needed to see, so I didn't mention to the member that I was on the verge of emptying my stomach and we soldiered on. It was good that we did because the sister forgot about our appointment and said, "I don't know why you're here tonight other than the fact that you listened to the Spirit because I really was feeling lonely and down today. I needed a visit." After that appointment though I asked the member to just take me home because I was feeling ill. I got home shortly after 8:30 and by 8:50 I was in the bathroom over the toilet bowl. Sister Smith felt awful but had only thrown up once and just a little bit, so mid episode she flung open the bathroom door and said, "I AM SO JEALOUS THAT YOU'RE ACTUALLY PUKING!" Between my moments of agony I laughed and she laughed and when I caught my breath and could stand up again I pointed out how abnormal it is to interrupt someone while they're losing it in the toilet. We spent the rest of the night alternating trips to the bathroom. Luckily neither one of us needed the facility at the same time. Finally at about 4:00 am I was done and could sleep. Due to my sickness and  absentmindedness I didn't get the cookies put away though and had to just throw them out. Which I had already decided would be a good idea since I made them just hours before the flu hit me so they were probably full of germs anyway.

 

Sick day #1

 Sick day #2...progressively more pathetic as each hour passed.

Wednesday (Birthday Eve): We woke up at about 9:45 and still felt awful. We called the mission nurse and she said if it had been 6 hours since our last episode then we could go out if we felt good. We didn't feel good, but we had a stake meeting at 10:15, so we showered and went all ugly like to our  meeting. We felt horrible and I'm pretty sure I still had a fever, so after we endured the meeting we decided to go home. We texted the nurse and she chastised us and said we should have just stayed in all day anyway and shouldn't have gone to our meeting. I took a four hour nap and then we watched Legacy--a cheesy pioneer film, Elder Ballard's talk from Priesthood Session in preparation for zone conference this week, and Finding Faith in Christ. We then spent literally at least three more hours just sitting on our couch in the dark laughing and talking. Our roommates got home at 9:15 to us giggling on the couch with all the lights off and were super confused. We explained that the lights hurt our eyes and we were too lazy anyway to get up when the sun went down to turn the lights on. It was a bonding day for Sister Smith and I. Though it was truly the worst Birthday Eve of my life, it was somehow still one of the best at the same time. If I had to have the flu with any other missionary, it would be Sister Smith. We quoted the Parks and Rec episode that everyone gets the flu in to each other all day and just had as much fun as you can when you literally feel like you're dying. It was the first time since I was very young that my stomach hurt bad enough that I actually wished someone was around to comfort me. Even when I was a child I was usually fine by myself when I was sick, but I just wanted someone to scratch my back and love me because I felt pathetic and awful. The members and our zone leader were so kind to us though. We had many Gatorade's dropped off and Saltine's and some Jamba Juice...because it was the only thing that even resembled food that we thought we could stomach. We nursed our smoothies all day and nibbled on Saltine's.

Thursday (MY DAY OF BIRTH! MAKE MERRY EVERY ONE!): We still didn't feel great, but we put on our happy faces and went to the temple! How lucky for me that our temple trip for the transfer was scheduled on my actual birthday! Jamba Juice was having a special that day where four of their flavors were absolutely free before 11 am so we stopped there and then went to Pete's Fish and Chips as a zone. BAD IDEA! It was the worst "first solids in 48 hours" we could have eaten. I felt so sick after that and wanted to die. We had a lesson after that with our investigator that is getting baptized in two weeks and then went to Basha's with some ward missionaries (see picture for the story there). We had a lesson with the 8 year old and it was cute. He got up during the middle of the lesson out of nowhere and walked out of the room to ask his mom if he could be baptized. It was literally out of nowhere! She consented though on Sunday and we are setting a date this week! We're thinking May 16th! We had a fun dinner with some members that night and then at 9:00 we got a text from the senior couple missionaries who live in our apartment complex inviting us over for cupcakes. They're so sweet!

 For every one who isn't my mom....an explanation is necessary. My cousin Brittany and I have this ongoing joke that she needs to paint a picture of me on the cakes at Costco (because she works in the bakery) because they would always sell out because every one wants a picture of me on their cake. So my mother coordinated through some members in my area to get a picture of me on a cake in Bashas' on my birthday.  Oh my gosh. I lost it. I was so shocked and embarrassed when I saw this cake with me on it with this picture from a photo shoot Brianna and I did. They were ridiculous pictures not meant for normal human viewing! We kind of threw a wrench in our WML's plans because he was out of town so he coordinated with a ward missionary to get me to Basha's and it was supposed to happen in the evening but we called and asked if they could come with us to a lesson in the afternoon instead of the evening. So they agreed and they asked if we would go to Basha's with them for a treat after even though I really didn't want to because I still was feeling flu-y. But I just felt like we should say yes. So we did and we went to the lesson and we went to Basha's and they said I could pick anything I wanted so I was looking at everything and all the sudden there was this freaking cake with me on it! I actually screamed out loud because it freaked me out! It was terrifying/embarrassing/flattering? I looked like such a diva on that cake! It was hilarious though.

Friday: Sister Smith's high school bestie goes to ASU. President found out and actually gave her permission to give her friend a lesson at the VC. We met her for lunch and then gave her a tour of the VC. We didn't think she would be ready for a real lesson, but she asked some amazing questions that proved that she was ready for the Restoration lesson. After our Christ tour we sat her down and gave her an in-depth Restoration lesson. It was amazing! You could tell that members had always been such a good example to her and that member missionary work is so important! She said we were eloquent and that we presented the information so simply that we answered so many questions she's had for a long time. She agreed to take lessons from missionaries in Tempe and to read the Book of Mormon! The events were also a huge reminder that as missionaries we are just ugly. Sister Smith and I left our afternoon with her being like, "man, our hair is awful. Our skin is so not clear and our outfits are hideous. Why are real human beings so much more beautiful than us." We decided we had to love ourselves more though and we're just not going to focus on how truly awful we look each day and focus on how our appearance is an indicator of how hard we've worked for the past 11 and 15 months. Seriously though. When I get off the plane in a few months you're all going to cringe a little...but it is the mark of giving of yourself for a year and a half I guess! I wouldn't have it any other way! Also, the senior sister secretary in the office asked me for my flight information on Friday. They'll be buying my ticket home soon I guess, so that's crazy! I still have 3.5 months left people, you can't be getting my mind focused on home yet! She knows that I need to go to the MSP airport though and will be getting that squared away shortly.

 Sister Smith's bestie, Sister Smith, and me.

Saturday: By Saturday we were running drastically low on miles for the month and we couldn't get any more. Any other time I've run low I've been able to sweet talk myself 100 more, but it didn't happen this time. I guess the mission went over their allotment last year and SLC came down on them hardcore for doing so, so this year they're being less lenient. Because of this we spent a lot of time walking, which was actually kind of fun. I love walking. Sister Smith had a sealing to go to for someone in her first area, so I spent the afternoon with another sister. It was nice to serve in the real ghetto--or as we like to call it, Mesaco, because it's Mesa's own little Mexico. I probably will never serve anywhere remotely low income so it was a taste of something different. We stopped by a potential investigator that we took to the VC last week and she let us in and we had a good talk with her. We're actually taking her to the VC again tonight and we're excited! She still is only interested for purely historical reasons, but that can change! We ended the night with a trip to Starbucks. We went through the drive thru so we would hopefully not be pegged as missionaries (avoiding the appearance of evil, ya know), but the girl knew right away. We had a good talk with her at the window though, so it was a missionary opportunity. You have to try the Frappe's without any coffee! They're delicious. Unfortunately, they're really delicious.

 We ended birthday week with Frappe's without the chino and a hipster selfie.

 Bestie Companions 4 lyfe.

Sunday: We did more walking on Sunday and got rides from people to supplement. It was kind of great! In ward council (which was just the Bishopric, WML, and us...I guess the third Sunday it is different in this ward) they wanted a full birthday week report before we gave our missionary report. They're so kind and loving! They died laughing at our report of our illness and at the Bashas' cake story and thanked us for the laugh...we realized later that they were basically laughing at us and not with us at our pathetic-ness when we were sick. Later that day we stopped by a member of the bishopric's house to look at his bikes (we're going to start biking to save miles and to increase our opportunities to talk to people!) and he said that there were a lot of comments yesterday about how well Sister Smith and I work together. He said that he told people that we already suspected we'd be separated because we are so good together and that people need to start talking about how awful we are so word gets back to the mission president and we're kept together. The bikes worked out and just need to have some tune up things done before they get them to us. Mine has a bay baby carrier on it, naturally. It would only happen to me. I can pull it off though! Plus I can strap my purse in it! Pictures will be sent next week! So we just have to buy biking shorts today and bike lights and helmets and we'll be good to go! Hopefully this leads to my legs being less white too.

That's a wrap! This week will always be known as "The Best Worst Birthday Week Ever". Because it was the worst. But the best of the worst. Sister Smith made it great!

Love,

Sister Poppe

My lovely companion placed these sticky notes on my package in a 

moment of weakness when I wanted to open it before my birthday. 

I'm proud to say that I didn't open it until 6:00 am on my actual birthday. 

#growingup

 Sister Smith decorated the living room wall. Happy 24th to me!

Our dinner appointment decorated their kitchen the night of my birthday. 

They're one of my favorite families!

Birthday temple trip. 

No, I didn't get any special birthday revelations. 

I still don't know when we should head to Missouri.

Post ZTM zone pic! I'm not sure why I look so blonde.

The conversation with KJ continues...it isn't looking good.

I fear that Sister Smith and I are halfway finished with our time together.

This is a note I forgot to send after my first week in the area. 

It was so funny and reminded me of dad.

7 Dayz of Blessin's

Hey all!
 

We shall heretofore call this week "7 Dayz of Blessin's". Seriously though, Heavenly Father was really good to us this week. There is a saying in our mission that obedience in the morning and diligence in the afternoon leads to miracles in the evening. I want to modify that to be obedience in your first transfer and diligence in your second and third lead to huge miracles in your fourth. After months of work and prayer, we saw some beautiful miracles this week.

The biggest blessing of the week was the new family we are teaching in Twin Knolls that I mentioned came to church last week with a member from Apache Junction.  The husband, wife, their three kids, and the husband's dad and brother all live in the same house, and they all sat in on the first lesson! The three kids and parents were the only ones at church yesterday, but we think the whole family will be on board eventually.  The whole time we taught them the Spirit was so strong! They said multiple times that what we were teaching were things they have always believed but they never had been able to find a church that taught those principles before. They have been so prepared by The Lord for us that it is amazing. I cried as we left their house because I was so happy that we have been blessed to be placed in their path. They are so humble and kind. They have Duck Dynasty beards too, so that is great. #7dayzofblessins

 

Remember the elder who is basically Uncle Si? Well he was just made my district leader at the new transfer this week, so this is going to be potentially the most entertaining six weeks of my life. We had some boundaries within our mission realigned so we are a part of a brand new zone called Sky River. I hate the name; it sounds like the name of a bad Japanese Anime show.

 

A family in our ward was supposed to feed us on Thursday night and they couldn't so they gave us a gift card to Smashburger. We were super pumped. Our excitement was increased when we found out that there was enough money on the gift card for shakes in addition to our meal! As we completed our order and handed over our gift card we were informed that someone in the restaurant had already paid for our meal! So we still have our gift card to use when we have an exceptionally frustrating or disappointing day. It was like a, call in the next ten minutes and get two Smashburger meals for the price of none kind of deal! #7dayzofblessins I do feel guilty a lot of the time about how spoiled we are here in Mesa.

 

Smashburger gift card!

Enough for shakes!

Someone picked up our tab!

 

We helped with an indexing relief society activity in Twin Knolls. We had a lot of fun; one lady even said that she wishes we had a later curfew so we could go with them to get pazookies on their girl's nights. These middle aged women just love us for some reason! I think we help them feel young.

 

We got new roommates; the days of a spotless apartment are over. A tripanionship moved in so there are FIVE of us in one apartment. We requested bunk beds so we could move our couch into our bedroom along with our desks so we can just bunker down in our room. It has worked out quite nicely! It's like a secret club house. I want to hang beads in our doorway.

 

 

We decided that we wanted to spice up Harry's lessons this week, so for one of them we did my cookie dough creation lesson (I'm going to have to trademark this lesson or something because word is getting out in the mission and people want to learn how to do it). Oh he just ate that lesson up! His fiancé even called us the next morning to tell us that he was still talking about it and that they sure do love us as their missionaries. The fiancé is finally starting to come out of a dark patch in her life and we feel like she is ready to take some steps in a more positive direction. We are really excited for her!  They also requested longer lessons because they feel gypped when they only get 50 minutes. We scheduled them a special super lesson on Saturday that lasted 75 minutes and they enjoyed that. I just really love them; they're such sweet people. They also gave me an American flag apron because I saw it in their kitchen and complimented it. They never use it and said I probably love America more than them so they insisted that I take it. I bet Barrack Obama himself doesn't even have an American flag apron! #7dayzofblessins

 

Whenever people ask me what kind of career I want to start after my mission I always say that I am interested in teaching, city administration, or writing but I'm not sure where the wind will take me yet. Sometimes I mention my desire to take over the world. My companion has started to end all career discussions that involve my political ambitions with #poppeforpresident. This really is going to be a grassroots campaign. She is starting about 25 years too early, but it's good to get the ball rolling I guess.

 

A family in the Thunder Mountain Ward asked us if we would teach the two children they have left at home the missionary discussions because they know we need people to teach and their son is Bryce's age and is gearing up to leave in a year for his mission. They're good kids and they're normal and fun to teach.

A member asked us to stop by the assisted living home her mom lives in occasionally just to visit her so she has some visitors other than family. We stopped by this week and chatted with her. She was kind of quiet until I told her about Sister Dumas tripping when she got off the top bunk of our bed the other night and at that point she lost it.  I've never seen a 96 year old woman laugh so hard! We also set up an appointment with the manager to talk about service opportunities there. He said there is definitely stuff we can do, and we are super excited for a few hours of each week to be filled with something meaningful! #7dayzofblessins.  We are getting better at finding creative ways to fill every hour of every day.

 

The custody battle rages on with the investigator the elders stole. We kind of backed down, a la the Bible story where the two women are fighting over the baby so the king is just going to cut it in half. We are the true mother so we handed over the baby and washed our hands of the whole issue. Our mission president called us in to talk everything threw with us and said we are doing the right thing and that it is a bad situation, but it will work out. Our bishop said that he still wants our ward to do the new member lessons with her, but we told him that he will have to initiate that because we feel strongly that we, as missionaries, need to sit back and let everything unfold so we don't seem pushy or overly eager for more lessons to increase our numbers (because the elders accused us of that already and told the investigator that that was all we were trying to do, though the bishop in their ward defended us and told the investigator that he didn't get that impression at all and that we were just caring girls who wanted to help her progress in the gospel...those elders are literally the scum of the earth. I have never met such rude and manipulative "servants of The Lord" in my life).

 

We met with a less active guy this week. By some miracle his daughter was over when we dropped by and she gave us the entire scoop on her dad.  She is active and she has a daughter on a mission right now so she knows all too well why we were visiting him. She was hilarious about the whole situation. He was embarrassed at how much she was sharing, so he just went inside and grabbed us some homemade frozen burritos to avoid the awkwardness! He is very kind. He and his wife own a Hawaiian reception business run out of their backyard so he invited us to an anniversary party next weekend so we can see their performances and what exactly they do. We are excited! The daughter is the lady who texted you a picture of Sister Dumas and I this week, mom.

 

Sometimes getting close to members is hard because they open up to you. We had three different women tell us this week about their marital problems and it is just so sad to hear. I'm grateful that they trust us and that we have a good relationship with them (and that all three women have become more active in the church since we have been meeting with them), but it breaks my heart to see such wonderful women struggling. It's hard too that we can't really offer advice, though I think just us letting them vent to us helps a great deal. It has also heightened my already high fear of marriage. If my mission has taught me anything, it is that you have to marry someone on the same level as you. If your spirituality, general life expectations, or important habits (such as work ethic, scripture study, church attendance, etc.) greatly differ, you will have problems. It's so sad how many people go inactive in the church because a spouse drags them down. Remind me of this if I ever start to fall for a scrub (cue 90's song by TLC..."Scrub, I don't want no scrub, scrub is a guy that can't get no love from me..." Until I typed that out I didn't realize how horrific the grammar was in that song #ebonics)

 

We went shopping today and we are getting our hair cut and eyebrows waxed later. We dubbed today personal grooming day. I found some great things at TJ Maxx. It is the best one I have ever shopped in! My biggest find was a Calvin Klein skirt for $15. I got a couple Michael Kors shirts as well for a good price! I love name brand steals!

 

This week has really been a faith building week for me. I've been able to recognize the blessings that come from diligence in The Lord's timing. For The first time I really believe that The Lord placed me in this exact area for a reason. It has been such a blessing to feel like a useful servant.

 

Peace and Blessin's,

 

Sister Poppe

  

Me 

Me, Sister Dumas, and my awesome cousin Jessica

who took us to lunch last week!

My Milkshake Doesn't Bring all the Boys to the Ward

Here we are at another Monday!

Man, I don't know if it is me or what, but my weeks keep getting filled with more and more crazy people and experiences. It's probably the world's birthday month gift to me. I do enjoy entertainment.  The first of this week’s entertainment was the Easter Pageant.  We got to attend the dress rehearsal last Tuesday and it was pretty good.  As a child I thought it was a super long production, like four hours, but it is only one.  So I guess six year old me was a little off.  We are working at the pageant this Tuesday night and going with some of our investigators that night and then we are working it again on Thursday evening.  It will be a nice change of pace and it will be nice to know that at least two nights this week our plans won't be cancelled!

I had an exchange this week with my sister training leader and it was such a wonderful experience!  The one we had last transfer was literally a waste of time, but this one was awesome. My companion went with my sister training leader's companion to their area, and Sister Snyder and I stayed in my area.  I was excited to have the opportunity to prove my value and plan a day the way that I want to.  My companion has a hard time letting go and doesn't like to listen to my input and it has been frustrating, so I was really pumped to be in charge for a day.  The night before the exchange we trade companions and talk about our goals for the transfer.  Sister Snyder is new at being a sister training leader and she told me that she very intentionally picked me to be her first exchange.  I didn't know her very well before our day together, but I guess she has observed me for quite a few weeks and wanted to start with me because she knew it would be a positive experience.  She was nervous to be in charge of her first exchange and said that I am personable but professional so she knew I would be nice but would give her honest input about her leadership style and capabilities.  I felt honored...but then got kind of nervous because I realized if she's been watching me other people may have been too!  I think I can adequately describe our relationship by saying we're like liquid pipe snake.  We work well together to get the job done.  When we combine, we're explosive!  She only has four months left in the mission, but I am praying really hard that she spends one of those transfers as my companion.  We had lunch scheduled with an investigator who dropped us, but wanted to eat with us.  We haven't talked to her in a month or so.  At lunch she shared some of her fears and concerns and we talked through them with her.  My companion isn't the strongest listener, so it was nice to be with someone who just listened with me so that we could help her.  The lady has a cute little beagle and that beagle loves me.  She will come and sit by me and lick me and climb on me.  We were in the middle of discussing something and the lady was like, "Man, Lysie has always loved you!  From the moment she met you she has just never left you alone!  It's because dogs can read auras and you have a good one." That's right.  Dogs can read auras.  And mine is good. #humanwhisperer.  After our visit with her I said I wanted to walk down the street to meet with an Iranian woman who had been to her neighbor's mission farewell.  We have talked to her a few times but she has never really talked to us long.  Her husband is still back east while they wait for an adoption to go through so she is a single parent right now and has a lot of yard work to do to get her yard up to HOA standards.  I stopped and asked if we could help her and she said that she didn't want us out in the heat but she invited us in and we talked to her for an hour and half!  She is a forceful woman and has strong opinions, but Sister Snyder and I held our ground really well and just had an adult conversation with her.  We didn't preach to her or belittle her ideas.  She invited us to come back whenever we wanted to and agreed to let us come back next week to help her with her yard work.  I called the elders in my district and they are coming with us now as well so we can get everything done in a few hours.  We stopped by a few other houses after that and stopped by a member's home so I could update her on someone she has been fellowshipping.  We then went to dinner with a cute new family in the ward.  After that our appointment cancelled, so I wanted to go to a less active family's home who we have had a hard time working with.  She never wants to talk to us, but won't say that, she just says things like "today isn't a good day."  So we stopped by there and she seemed stand offish but we just kept talking to her and after a few minutes she came outside and we sat in her garage and talked for over an hour.  She said she doesn't trust missionaries because some stopped by (my companion and me) a few weeks ago and then never came back.  She didn't remember me, but she remembered my companion and said she didn't like her but that we seemed like nice girls so she opened up and told us about her life.  Sometimes it is sad listening to people talk about their lives and realizing how hard it is for some people to live and make the right choices.  I just wanted to cry for her.  Well it was a good experience and she has more faith in missionaries now and agreed to let us come back over for an FHE lesson tonight.  She wasn't too jazzed to find out that my companion wasn't gone for good and that she would be with me, but I promised that it would be good and that my companion is a nice missionary too.  I've been feeling like we needed to talk with this lady for weeks but it has never been a priority for my companion so it was good to get it done.  I then had a lot to report to the bishop at ward council yesterday about that family because they are on a list of people to look after.  We taught three daughters after that and it was good.  They weren't interested at first so Sister Snyder and I were straight with them and told them that we didn't care if they were only taking the lessons because their dad wanted them to.  They better pay attention or we weren't coming back.  And then we gave a lesson on the gospel of Jesus Christ and two of the daughters were way more interested.  They've had lessons before according to their teaching record and the missionaries stopped because the girls just wanted to goof around.  So we let it be known that we aren't there to mess around and that if they are we'll just leave.  They were great after we set that expectation.  At the end of our exchange Sister Snyder and I had an evaluation and she couldn't come up with one negative thing to say about me.  She said that she is telling president that I am not valued where I am and that I need a leadership responsibility or at least a companion who will value my input. She said that I am where I need to be 100% of the time and that I follow the spirit so closely that that is why I have success.  She can understand now why I'm frustrated because we waste so much time visiting people who we aren't supposed to be visiting.  I was starting to believe that I wasn't following the spirit because my companion and I always have different ideas of where we need to be, but I am in tune with it, my ideas just get tossed out so frequently that I started to believe that I was wrong.  She also said that I am a wonderful teacher and that it must just come naturally.  She said other nice things too and gave me a strand of lights from the Mesa Temple Christmas lights!  She had two strands given to her and she wanted me to have a strand.  I felt honored.  She lucked into getting them because they were not going to use them again and she happened to be in a ward with the lady who was in charge of Christmas lights this past year.  I took away a lot from that exchange and have confidence in my abilities now.  I recognize that I have been given a lot of talent and because of that much is required.  I feel guilty because I have a lot of success when I'm left to my own devices and I feel like it is undeserved because I don't try very hard, I just do what comes naturally.  But I guess that just means that the Lord has given me talents for His benefit so I need to keep using them for his benefit!  My companion was pretty ticked off that I had such a successful day and she wasn't here. I told her it's because she doesn't give me the opportunity to lead and Sister Snyder did and I knew where we needed to go and because I listen to people and she doesn't.  We got into doors because I didn't shove a Book of Mormon into people's faces 3 seconds into our conversations.  The rest of the week went better than normal as my companion kind of sat back and observed me and wasn't so eager to preach.  I have to say that I do love my companion, we just differ in teaching style and it has been hard for me.  I love her as a person but don't necessarily love her as a missionary. Oh, and I saw a naked man watching TV in his living room that day as well.

So I am tired of people acting like there is nothing we can do to make the area I'm in more productive.  People always say things like, "This is just a hard area," and "There isn't much we can do," and my companion keeps saying she is burned out here.  So we went to our weekly correlation meeting and I passionately shared my frustrations.  I said I wasn't sent on a mission to have nothing to do because an area is dead.  Talking about it won't do anything.  We need to act.  If we do all we can do and then the area is still dead, then we can sit around and talk about how much it sucks.  So after my little rant my ward mission leader set up a meeting with our ward missionaries and said we will get to work.  I came up with a bunch of different ideas to jump start the ward and the area and I presented them at our meeting on Sunday. Our ward mission leader is going to run them by the bishop and then we are going to get to work.  I outlined our plan of action for less active families, the job of the ward missionaries, my expectations for the ward members, and came up with a few easy motivational things to do during priesthood and relief society.  Our ward mission leader said that I have the authority to share with ward members our frustrations with their lack of help in a "loving but bossy way"(he acknowledged that I'm good at that) and that it is time that people step it up.  I was relieved that his response was to work harder and to not tell me to calm down because nothing was ever going to happen.  I'm excited to see if we get anywhere good after this.  At our first meeting where I ranted we got a little off topic and I said "Well, my milkshake has never brought the boys to the ward," and he had a good laugh and then said, "What does that even mean?"  So then I had to explain to him the song and he was dying.  Every few minutes he would start laughing again and just say, "Oh man, milkshake, that's too good."  So after we left he and his wife listened to the song and "jammed out to the brother music." I apologized on Sunday for being so passionate in my ranting and then defiling their home with the milkshake song but he said it was great and his wife said they enjoyed it and that we can't be missionaries 24/7.  So I was relieved that they didn't like turn me in to the missionary gestapo or anything.

The crazy elders who brought me flowers last week stopped by and gave us some pie the other day.  I decided to go to the bathroom when I saw them coming because I didn't want to talk to them.  This is how the conversation without me went:

Sister G: Thanks for the pie.

Elders:  Is Sister Poppe in the bathroom or something?
Sister G:  Yep.  (she didn't know what to say at this point so she just said the following) She's fixing her hair. We're the face of the church.  Gotta look good.
Elders:  Oh that's good.  At least it's not that time of the month.

OKAY WHO SAYS THAT?  Also, why couldn't I have just been relieving myself (which I was)?  Seriously?  So then I came out and didn't know that they had talked about all of that and just thanked them and sent them on their way.  Even when I shoo them away they still want to be my friend.  I don't want to get rude, but I may have to.

Yesterday we had took a nap during our lunch hour and Sister G didn't set the alarm right so we slept for an hour and a half and it was glorious.  Mainly it was nice because I can't be held accountable for oversleeping and because we didn't miss anything important.  #birthdaymonthmiraclenap

We taught Neville yesterday about the creation.  Well I created this hands on lesson (he is a hands on learner) where we made cookies and I related each day of the creation to a step in the cookie making process.  It was a lot of fun and we got cookies out of it.  We started with all of the ingredients on the counter as matter unorganized and then went into the lesson and by the end we had a perfect cookie...just like when the perfect earth was created.  I asked him if we would have blown his counter up with all of the ingredients if we would have gotten a cookie and he said no. He then realized why we believe the big bang wouldn't have led to the earth.  It was a good lesson for him and I think he took a lot away from it.  It was fun for us too.

Ward council is hilarious.  People can't agree on anything and I just sit back and watch it all happen. 

Our investigator Harry Potter has taken to complimenting all of the prayers I give.  Yesterday I said one that he thought was extra good so he said he is going to call on me from now on to pray at his house.  I told him he is too easy to impress and that he would get more out of our lessons if he prayed every time.  He informed me that my prayers are better and will give him better blessings and answers.  So I'm a professional prayer now.

I'm out,

Sister P

 

This is the Easter shrine that I created.  We had some extra hearts from a heart attacking expedition we went on and my companion got some Easter eggs in the mail so I put them in this basket with a picture of Jesus for a little spicy Easter decoration.