The Week of a New Companion

September 15, 2014

Getting a new companion is the worst. Everything is different. I'm not a big fan of change. And when you're literally with someone 24/7 it can be very difficult. It's hard to adjust to someone new. 

The area is still doing great! Our new District Leader said our numbers are literally the best he's ever seen. So obviously we're doing SOMETHING right here in Dublin, VA. Which is why I don't understand why people seem to think we're doing everything wrong. Being a missionary is stressful. And it's not buckets of roses and daisies. Just so everyone knows. Best 2 years? Yes. Also the worst 2 years? I'm only 3 1/2 months in but it could be. And that's not a bad thing! But sometimes it's a very frustrating thing.

The area is continuing to blossom and grow. The pattern is that when members are involved in any way we find new investigators. When they're not we can do everything in the world and it just doesn't happen. So get involved. Get to know the missionaries in your area. For goodness sake FEED THEM! Even if it's making food and dropping it off at their apartment or getting it to them some how. ANYONE can feed the missionaries. Open your house to them. Make it their bona-fide pit-stop for water and a toilet. Tell them when you're available to go teaching. Let them know your home is open for them to teach investigators in. Offer to host a party of sorts at your home where they can invite people. Like a bonfire, game night, sports events, ANYTHING. Invite friends to ward parties and activities. ANYTHING. 

Do you see the pattern here? Ask the missionaries how you can help them and they will tell you. If not call the Mission President and he'll make sure they find something. ANYTHING. I don't care who you are, what your life is like, how much money you make, how much you work. YOU can help the work move forward. YOU can receive amazing BLESSINGS that will pour out in your life as you work with missionaries. So STEP UP! And then let me know what things you did so I can use it to help people here. They have so little, and there's so few of them. But they do so much, because they recognize the importance. And they recognize that it is their RESPONSIBILITY.

 It's also a commandment......just throwing that out there.

Something big is setting up to happen here in Dublin, VA. I know someday I'll come back and be able to be in awe of the growth here. I'll say, "I remember when 70 people coming to Sacrament was a good Sunday." "I remember when Dublin and Pulaski were part of the Radford ward." "I remember when the closest temple was in North Carolina, but they were in the D.C. temple boundaries."

It's pretty awesome here.

-Sister Packard

Best:

1. Meeting Elder Bingham's little greenie.......that was so long ago for me :)

2. Staying up til 2:30 Wednesday night helping Sister Stone pack and then leaving at 5:30 to get to Blacksburg for transfers.

3. Crepes at the Morgan's for dinner.

Worst:

1. Change.