Mom,
The first few days were really hard, particularly because
it was just so hard to adjust to being in the field and not at the MTC where
everything is schedule for you. The first day (Wednesday) we were pushed right
into work. I had a temporary companion named Sister Tautuiaki. She's from Hawaii and she is
awesome. We just went around knocking on doors and talking to everyone. We met
a man named Gerald who I feel was totally ready for the Gospel. I tried to give
him a Book of Mormon but he wouldn't take it. He is in the sister's area so she
is going to see him. When we got back I was just so overwhelmed with
everything, but everyone there is just so loving and welcoming and all the
sisters gave me hugs and told me it would be okay. And it is. President Gelwix
gave me a priesthood blessing too during my interview. He asked to give me one
and it really helped me. I try to remember it every time I am feeling down or
depressed or lonely.
The next day we got our trainers. I was super excited. We
had some meetings in the morning before we met them and we couldn't see them
before they came in. President Gelwix didn't decide until that morning, so it
was definitely inspired. My trainer's name is Sister Ard. She is from Washington in the Tri
Cities? I wasn't entirely sure where that was. I know that she is my trainer
for a reason and I am really grateful for her. Nine months ago (when she first
got here) she was like me--afraid to talk to people and overwhelmed. So I know
that God put me with her so she could help me overcome that fear.
You're going to love this: We have a car! All the sisters
do. We have limited amount of miles though, so if we run out we DO have to ride
out bike. I did get the bike though. It is a really nice bike. I just haven't
had the chance to ride it yet :) I am grateful we have a car though because it
is HOT here. Yesterday it got up to 106 degrees. I haven't been sweating all
that much though, because I figured out a really cute easy hairstyle for my
hair. I was experimenting and it just worked out! Looks different every time
though...My bedding was here when I got here too, and it's a big comfort to
have it. The sheets are really nice but I don't use them. I just sleep on top
of them.
I am in Fresno,
in one of the richest areas there is here. I love the members--they're awesome.
But the other people are so hard to reach. Some of them won't even open their
doors and others think that they only need to Bible. We do go around and offer
to pray for families and homes and that is sometimes a success. People are
generally more open to prayer than they are to hearing the Gospel. I am working
on my ability to talk to people more and more and I am grateful that God is
always here to help me. I can definitely feel Him and all the prayers of
everyone at home.
I had to say good-bye to my MTC district on Thursday
and it was super hard. I love my companion from the MTC so much and I really
hope that the companion she has will help her in the ways that I wasn't able
to. I also absolutely LOVE my elders. Elder Bean and Elder Mo'O were awesome
for me on Wednesday and Thursday when I was just so overwhelmed and emotional.
They just sat with me and talked. They made me feel a lot better. Elder Nielsen
is in my district here so I'll see him at least once a week. They are all so
great and thinking of them really keeps me motivated, knowing that they are
doing the same thing that I am.
It was really nice to talk to y'all on Wednesday.
Now we just have another six months of waiting :) I love you all and I miss you
so much. I pray for you every day and night, and I know y'all pray for me too.
I love you and hope all is well. Can't wait to hear more of what's going on.
Always <3,
Sister Reese
Dad,
It has definitely not been cold. We have air
conditioning in our apartment so during personal and companion study, I use the
extra blanket I brought while I study because I do get cold in the apartment.
But it got up to 106 yesterday and it's supposed to be 110 tomorrow. I heard it
is supposed to cool down this weekend but we will see.
He's such a funny dog. I miss him. We go to houses with
dogs a lot but most of them are teeny ones. And they bark a lot when the
doorbell rings. It's kind of annoying
Mom said you went to the races. I remember doing
that last year. It was actually kind of fun though a little loud.
I am still feeling overwhelmed, but it is getting
better. We don't have any investigators so all we do during the day when we
aren't visiting members or studying is tract. It is one of the hardest, most
tedious things about a mission. Knocking on doors isn't as effective as we'd
like it to be but we are required to do at least two hours of tracting every
day. Saturdays are the worst. I am trying really hard to change my attitude
about tracting because I know miracles happen when we trust in God, but it is
really hard to do that when we are walking in hundred degree whether from house
to house, some of which won't open their doors or don't really listen to us.
The members here are great. I love them a lot and I
know that they will be good for me in the next twelve weeks. We are in one of
the richest parts of the mission. We are in Fresno, so it is interesting. I am not sure
how I would feel if I had to spend most of my mission here. Which will probably
happen now that I said that. I love the members, like I said, but the other
people are so hard to contact. Many of them are never out and about or they
don't answer the door or something like that. But I am trying really hard to
increase my faith that God will help us. I know there is a reason that I am in
this area, and I know God will reveal that in his own time.
My trainer's name is Sister Ard. She's
from the Tricities in Washington.
You probably know where that is but I didn't. Oh! And I forgot to tell Mom
that I have met a lot of people that actually know where Middleton
is! Some have family there and some just know. There is a woman in the
ward who went to Boise
on her mission! And there is a man here who did too. I was so
excited! It made me feel a lot better.
It was really hard on Thursday to leave my MTC
district, but they were all so great to me. Elder Bean asked me how I was doing
and when I just broke down, he talked to me and helped me a lot. So did
Elder Mo'O. I really miss my MTC companion and I pray every day that she
is alright. I also hope that we will eventually be companions again, but we'll
see how that works out.
I love you so much, Dad, and I miss you and everyone
else. I pray for you every day and I can feel your prayers for me. Thank you
for being who you are. I love you!
Always <3,
Sister Reese
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