Date: Mon, Aug 23, 2010 at 5:03 AM
Mummy and Daddy!!!!
Well it's official. I'm out in the real world now, and I'm absolutely loving it!!! On Wednesday President and Sister Lindley fetched all fourteen of the Leeds missionaries and took us to the mission office for orientation and to their home for lunch. I feel it's best to inform you that I've been assigned to drive here in my first area :D hee hee. Life List #19 "Drive a british car on the left side of the road" HERE I COME!!! :D don't worry. I won't die :) I have my first lesson on Friday.
I have a crazy story I'd like to share with you. As President Lindley drove us to the mission office, Sister Lindley gave us each a nut and fruit bar. Well....combine that with loads of bumps and twisty turns all over the English country....and let's just say....it wasn't pleasant. I honestly felt like I had to urp all over tarnation!!!! "Oh heavens...this is not the best way to start off the mission!" So I prayed frantically saying "Heavenly Father, please help me not yack in this car!!!! Heavenly Father, please help me not yack in this car!!!! Heavenly Father, please help me not yack in this car!!!! Heavenly Father, please help me not yack in this car!!!!" The sensation got worse and worse. "Oh heavens help me!" Just as I was leaning forward to tell President to make and emergency stop, this salty liquid rushed into my mouth. "Oh no!!!!!!! It's beginning!!!! I'm having a real issue here!!!!" When the surge of panic subsided, I sat there in silence as my mouth filled up salty liquid, and I swallowed.....fill....swallow....fill.... swallow....fill....swallow. This went on for about a full minute. Then I had this feeling like I had as much as I needed.....and.....I felt completely better. IT WAS CRAZY!!!!!!!! I've never had that happen to me before. One minute I'm on death's door, ready to launch my stomach through the windshield and the next I'm completely fine. All this happened in the silence of the backseat, and I knew I witnessed a little miracle. Miracle number two.....my hands are dry. Everyone else here has jam-tastic hands....mine are bone dry. Halleluyer. Praise the Lort.
Anyways, after lunch, we went to the Leeds chapel for the transfer meeting. My fellow greenies and myself had to sit on the stand. There were a lot of eyes and a lot of whispers....I felt like I was on display in a zoo. "Please do not feed the missionaries....unless chocolate. Please refrain from any sudden movements, for new missionaries are quite skittish and haven't tinkled in a while. Any disturbance could be catostrophic. Thank You." We bore our testimonies. President introduced us (I got alot of grief for my extra long bio....especially for the comedy award bit). Then we were introduced to our trainers. I'm with.....drum roll please......SISTER STAR OWEN!!!! and we're serving in the WORKSOP area!!!!! Sister Owen is fantastic. She's so patient with me, fun loving and she knows her stuff. We live in a cute little flat, #37 Beaumont Rise, We have a blue door, and a magical key!!!! When I say "Magical English Key of Hope and Wonder," whatever you're imagining is precisely what I have!!!
The work is progressing so well here. We scheduled a baptism for Ashley Doncaster for this Saturday, 28th of August, and we scheduled one last night for David Savage for the 11th of September. They are both the sweetest people (single parents) with such a desire to have better lives for themselves and for their young kids.
I don't know how people get discouraged while "finding" on the mission. It's like a game... It's like Where's Waldo?! Ohp, where'd you go? You can't hide because I will find you! I love speaking to everyone here, because it's easy to see who is prepared to hear the gospel and who isn't. I love watching the spirit work on them during lessons. I always say I can hear what's going on inside peoples' heads, but I really can now. I've frequently asked a question and had the person look surprised and say, "How did you know that?" What can I say? The church is true! :)
I'm loving life here!!! The only thing that is even remotely obnoxious is the fact that the elders are uber patronizing. "K....I know I'm new, but I'm not retarded. Thank you very much." I love you all very much!
I love you all with all my heart! Write soon!!!!
Love,
Your Sister Stephanie White
PS. How is my blog coming along? Are you having any success with putting my stuff up? Are you checking my grammar? :) hahahaha Love you!!!
One more little nugget. The members here are fantastic. I walked into church yesterday and I felt like I was in a British version of My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Everyone saw me and said, "SISTA WHITE!!!!!!!" and proceeded to embrace me...well the ladies did at least.