I'm Becoming Athletic?

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!!!!

I'm so done with this emailing every week thing that I'm skipping the pleasantries and jumping into things.

We have been singing to a few elderly people at the rest home in our area and we've made a few friends. One of them is named Polly and she loves us so much. She always tells us we should start a band and that we should be on America's Got Talent and such. She was telling us about how sad she is because most of her family is dead, so we gave her a Plan of Salvation pamphlet. She said she has been reading it and that she wants to learn more. A few days after that, we got a phone call from a member who said she was emailed about a potential referral. The email was all about Polly! The lady who emailed doesn't live here and didn't know that we've been talking with her already. She just said she knew of a sad, lonely woman who wanted help with family history and would probably be open to learning more about the church. That was our sign that we need to start teaching her and that she is prepared!

We contacted a former investigator couple who had a baptism date at one point in time a few years ago and they didn't follow through. They're older and at first were very skeptical of us. We broke the ice and they're quite enjoyable people. Sister Smith said they had tried contacting them a million times and had even had a doorstep conversation that went nowhere, but now they're ready! Heavenly Father blessed us with a lot of miracles like that this week. I firmly believe that the first 14 months of my mission were a test to see if I really had faith. After I endured every possible form of rejection and lack of tangible success, I am finally being blessed with the miracles that people associate with missionary work.

We're meeting with a lady, who we will call the Bohemian. Because she's pretty edgy and cool. She's had a lot of struggles and trials in the past year or so. She's fallen pretty far and hasn't been very open to our message. She loves us as people though. We finally had a bold talk with her and learned of all of her concerns and she broke down. At the end of it she committed to read the Book of Mormon though!

Our WML's neighbor that we've been teaching loves the trinity. Hardcore loves the trinity. Well, we shook her faith in it a few weeks ago I guess. She said after we left she was so mad at herself because she couldn't remember why she even believed in the trinity. She's been studying a lot since then and is trying to strengthen her testimony in it. Too bad it won't happen, because the trinity isn't even a real thing! With time she will realize the reason her testimony is crumbling is because it isn't true information.

We've had contact with a prospective elder a few times in this area and it hasn't led to much. I made a goal to be bolder during weekly planning on Friday and had the opportunity to do it a few times over the weekend. Our time with him was no exception. He likes me already, so I decided to just tell it like it is. He was saying he doesn't watch the Priesthood Session of conference because he doesn't even have the Melchizedek Priesthood. I told him that the 12 year olds don't either and yet they watch it. He admitted after that he didn't have an excuse. He was kind of getting whiny about something else and I point blank asked him if he wanted to change to be worthy of the MP. He said yes, but he had to change like 17 things. I asked him which thing he was going to change right then and there. He picked one and asked if we would meet with him weekly to help him conquer his demons. We agreed and are really looking forward to it. I shared uplifting things too and prayed before we left. He said that I had a talent for saying exactly what the Spirit wants me to say. To be honest I've struggled my entire life with knowing if I'm actually saying what the Spirit wants me to say or if my brain is just making up thoughts. So it was good to know that maybe I actually am better at following the Spirit than I think I am.

We hid in the bathtub one night this week and scared our roommates and shot them with our Nerf guns. We're getting too creative! It was so funny though.

I gave a talk on obedience on Sunday in Vista Peaks. It went really well. People genuinely complimented me. Sometimes people just say good talk and you know they don't mean it. But I really think these people meant it. I read a lot from 1st Nephi 3-5 and put in my own commentary and then shared a few personal stories from my life. It was good for me to study obedience a lot last week for my talk, because I struggle with that a lot! Not the obedient part, just the not questioning part. I always question things and I need to be better at being obedient out of love.

Man. I KILLED it at zone sports today. You guys wouldn't even have recognized me! We played chair soccer (a game where you have a fold up chair and instead of scoring goals, you want to hit every chair on the other team with a soccer ball before the other team hits your chairs). At one point in the morning I got the ball at the beginning and ran across the court and literally hit all 6 chairs on their team and we won the match in about 45 seconds. I got MVP. We normally don't even do MVP at zone sports, but I got it. I don't even know how it happened. Maybe the Lord is finally answering my 4th grade prayers and I'm becoming athletic? Let's be honest. It was actually just the Celine Dion shirt I was wearing that lead to my success.

The following conversations are real life pieces of dialogue that show that President and Sister Jenkins are randomly treating Sister Smith and I like we are this in love, co-dependent newlywed couple:

After we gave our training at the train the new trainers meeting:

"President, you do know I've never trained, right?"-SS
"Yes. We just didn't want Sister Poppe to get lonely without ya up there with her."-KJ

Sister Smith had an STL meeting and I was out with a member:

"Sister Smith you seem quiet today."-SJ
"Oh (random quiet words)."-SS
"We just need Sister Poppe here by your side, don't we."-SJ

For the record, we are not co-dependent, in love, or newlyweds.

Love,

Sister Poppe

If we could actually sidesaddle ride a shark with a laser coming out of its eye

our teaching appointments would probably increase at least 46%.

We had a FHE lesson with our ward mission leader's family and an 

investigator last week. Their absolutely adorable son left early on the 

lesson and came back with two pictures of Jesus and drug out the stools 

and put the pictures up so that Jesus was at FHE. 

HALLLA Freedom is our favorite license plate in Mesa. Happy Memorial Day!

We recycled my birthday wrapping paper to take our WML a gift on his 

birthday.  He's on a health challenge so we wrapped up almonds and beef

 jerky and tied a floss ribbon around the top to amp up the class factor a bit. 

I don't think anyone has gotten as much use out of that cat wrapping paper 

as we have.  We've turned it into cards, used it for nice notes, and actually

 used it to re-wrap stuff. #recycle #poormishprobs 

When we get home before our roommates we like to pull pranks on them and scare them. A few nights ago we decided to lay out the most random stuff in the living room to make it look like the beginning of a horror film. Then we hid on the porch and shot them with our Nerf guns after they were confused and scared for a bit. **fun tidbit: I'm the proud new owner of that typewriter you see pictured! I mentioned that I've always wanted a typewriter and our new member, Bambi said she was trying to get rid of her mom's and she gave it to me. It's from the 70's...I really want one from the 1800's, but I'll take what I can get. I tried to use it, but it wasn't working. I'm afraid it's a broken 70's typewriter. Also, you can't tell through our creepy movie filter, but we TOTALLY matched that day unintentionally. Lace tops and navy skirts. It happens far too often.

 

 My favorite Samoan

 

A French greenie helping with our swag spirit

Hermana Guapa

Hello!

We have been meeting with our ward mission leader's neighbor (who we will call Rose, just for the simple reason that I'm down to half an hour to write this letter and I don't have the time to think of anything more creative!) and things are going well. She is interested in the church for purely historic curiosity at this point, but she did commit to read the Book of Mormon this week so her secular interest is about to become a lot more spiritual. We also took her to the VC to see JSPR this week and we invited her to the missionary fireside we sang at last night. She enjoyed the fireside quite a bit. We also formally invited her to take the lessons this week and she agreed. Though again, for only the sake of understanding those around her better. Yeah. Whatever. We'll see what happens. We don't get to tell the Spirit no! She said that she likes discussing ideas with us so it will probably go really well.

We had exchanges this week and I was with Sister Whitney Smith for the day and we found a new investigator in the Springs together. It was like a Preach My Gospel moment. Seriously. We were walking to knock on a potential's door and we saw a lady on her porch. I had the impression that we should talk to her, but she was on her phone so we just smiled and walked by. As we got just out of eyesight we heard, "Girls! Come back!" We turned around and as we approached her she looked at me straight in the eyes and said, "Do you believe in the Holy Spirit?" I responded, "Yes, we do. And in Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father." She went on to tell us about the struggles she's had since moving to Mesa six months ago and said, "I just don't think I'm feeling the Holy Spirit in my life. How do you feel the Holy Spirit? I need to feel it in my life!" I asked if we could come in and talk with her and she let us in. We spent half an hour talking to her about baptism, priesthood authority, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and the great apostasy. It was a jumbled first lesson without the first two points and without the Book of Mormon. She said she has been baptized into three different churches in her life and just wants to feel the Spirit. She invited us back and we are so excited! Everything that morning had been crazy and nothing went as planned and truly everything leading up to that point prepared us for that moment. We needed to be in front of her porch exactly when we were and it lead to the most miraculous finding experience of my mission. We are going back this week and I fully intend her to accept what we share with her. The only problem is that she lives with her daughter and wants to move out, so it is likely she could move out of the area. Her daughter is also pretty anti, so that isn't good!

Remember that one time I told you about that sister who loves my

blog and has always wanted to be my companion? Well we were for

a day! We went on an exchange. I'm afraid she probably realizes now

that I'm not as amazing as she originally thought.

We also spent some time at the assisted living center in our area during exchanges and Sister W. Smith and I had a great time visiting the members in there. They're so sweet and so grateful when we come by. I really don't want to get old! We met an old Catholic lady who was convinced we were nuns because we go by "sister". She told the Mormons at dinner that she met some nice nuns and even they tried to tell her that the sisters that came were Mormons. She didn't believe them. She told us, "Go out and make every one Catholic in this place, sisters! Some other people (most likely the Mormon) share their beliefs in here and we need 'em all to be Catholic!" 

I was really struck with the importance of the work I am doing this week. I've always known it was important, but I just felt differently about it this week than I ever have. Maybe it's because I hit 15 months on the 29th or something. I just really love what I'm doing and know how valued missionary service is. We often do things (like visit the assisted living home) that no one else has a lot of time for. Honestly, teaching nonmembers about the gospel is sometimes the least effective part of my day. Really uplifting people is what is important and what Christ did the most of.

We set a date for our 8 year old to be baptized on the 16th! Woo! We have another baptism this Saturday! My record is increasing by 200% in the next two weeks. #holllaaa #blessings

On Friday we had zone conference and it was my favorite zone conference of my mission. We talked about having a change of heart and making permanent changes to our natures. I love it. I am so grateful for the lessons I've learned on my mission and for the way my nature has changed. I feel like such a better human being now than I did before I came out. I am excited to always serve selflessly and to be an instrument in the Lord's hands for eternity. During the conference Sister Smith and I both had to give two one minute lessons without prep time. It was kind of fun and President Jenkins thanked us after the meeting for our good comments. He also said that he will possibly consider keeping us together for another transfer because we keep working on him! We still think it is a slim possibility though, so pray for us! The best part of the day was when President Jenkins turned the meeting over to Sister Jenkins and introduced her as Hermana Guapa, which translated is Sister Hottie or Sister Babe. They're so cute!

Saturday was a day of moving! We helped two families move and it was crazy! 

There were other great experiences, but I'm out of time! As always, excuse the typos and general lack of awesomeness that comes with penning something in a brief period of time.

Love,

Sister Poppe

Cat wrapping paper. I still stand by my statement that cats in real

life are awful, but cats on things and in YouTube videos are hilarious.

And with this package, birthday month is officially over. Until next year,

birthday month. Get ready, because next birthday month will be huge.

I will be celebrating a quarter of a century of life after all.

We have a problem.

Dos de Mayo lunch celebration...

because we won't have time on Cinco de Mayo

 Bike swagger

 

Just doing missionary work on a bike.

Funny story! We had a mission fireside last night for nonmembers and Sister Smith and I were asked to sing in a small group of sisters. They have these monthly and I've sang at a few. They have recent converts share their stories and have a few musical numbers and then the mission president speaks and sometimes Sister Jenkins does. They're intended for nonmembers and they're great! We had two investigators come and after the program we were talking with them as the chapel cleared out. We found ourselves as the last people there other than President and Sister Jenkins and a counselor in the mission presidency. They were talking with us and then it became 10 minutes to 9:00 and we started leaving because of our curfew. As we were leaving President Jenkins said he would walk us out. When we got out front our car was on the opposite side of the parking lot (it wasn't a huge parking lot, but decent sized) so he told us to get in the car and he and Sister Jenkins would give us a ride to our car. We protested, I said, "President, this is why sisters gain 30 pounds in Mesa," and he just laughed and made us get in his car. We ended up talking to Sister Jenkins for 10 minutes while he talked outside the car and it was fun. This was made all the better because at zone conference a few days before as they shook our hands President pulled Sister Smith in and said, "How is one of my favorite missionaries doing," a few minutes later as I shook their hands Sister Jenkins pulled me in and whispered, "You are my favorite person, Sister Poppe." Neither of us heard this but as we told each other later we thought it was funny that neither of them are supposed to have favorites and somehow their two favorites ended up in the same companionship. So as we sat in the back of their car we felt like their children. But it also kind of felt like we were in the back of a cop car. He drove us to our car and thanked us for all that we do for the mission and then awkwardly waited until we started our car and drove off. The best part is that we took this picture, which we have entitled, "Backseat with Mom and Dad," without them even knowing.

No caption provided, but aren't they cute?

 

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.