The Week That It Became Beautiful In My Eyes

March 2, 2015

We woke up nice and early (Thurs) to drive for transfers. We met all the other missionaries at the church at 5:15. Transfers were delayed by 4 hours. So we went to the Appomattox Sisters' apartment and slept for a bit. Finally it was time and we got to follow the bus from stop to stop. It was so much fun to see all my missionary friends! We rolled into Charleston, so many missionaries, but so much fun.

 

Then I got on a bus with 9 Elders and we drove to Clarksburg. I got off the bus to see Sister Wonnacott (MTC companion) and Sister Banks running up to me. I thought that maybe they were just close by and wanted to say hi? NOPE! It was decided 3 days earlier that I would be in a trio with them and not the STLs. In Morgantown not Fairmont. Everyone else knew that, except my Zone Leaders and I. It was definitely a surprise. A slight relief. But hectic and really threw me off.

 

I'm in Morgantown! Like, on campus at West Virginia University. It's pretty awesome. I've been looking for the basketball players everywhere, and then found out they were playing Baylor on Saturday, so that's why I hadn't seen them yet :) 

I'm still keeping my eyes peeled ;)

 

I also feel slightly trunky because it makes me miss living in Provo and being around a college campus. I also find it interesting that I've gone from Radford University and Virginia Tech, to Liberty University, and now West Virginia University. I'm destined to go back to College when I get home......bummer.

 

It's weird being with Sister Wonnacott again. We already know each other so there's no awkward time getting to know each other and being over the top nice to try and show off. We've gone straight to the nitty gritty. It's actually been wonderful. All three of us say exactly what's wrong and what things need to change. Because there's already been one complete blow-up with yelling, pointing, and crying, and we DO NOT want another one of those. But Sister Banks and Sister Wonnacott told me they prayed me here. So we're taking it one day at a time and making sure everything works well. Communication is key.

 

We had Stake Conference this weekend and the Area Seventy spoke about the importance of counselling and not arguing. In homes especially. It was perfect for us. My favorite point was that when everyone has the same information they generally come to the same conclusion. So we need to be sharing information and not conclusions. All three of us have been focusing on charity and praying for it.

 

These are the smallest "boundaries" I've had yet but there's lots of people. There is a set of University Elders who focus on young students so we get to work closely with them. They handed off an investigator to us on Saturday and he is so ready. He just wants to be baptized. It felt so good to teach again! I love teaching.

 

Back to Stake Conference. My patriarchal blessing talks about my mission being beautiful to me. And for the first 7 months of my mission I kept wondering how many years down the road it would be before I could look back and see this as a beautiful experience.

 

And then during a lesson on happiness I thought it again and realized how stupid I was for thinking that. If it'll be beautiful one day, it's beautiful today! I'm just not seeing that. So I made it a focus to recognize the beauty today.

 

And I feel like Saturday it finally clicked. I was thinking about my mission so far and the people I've been able to teach. There truly is no greater joy than seeing others come to understand and live the Gospel as taught by God's prophets. And I was overcome with this immense joy and gratitude.

 

And I realized how much I truly love my mission. I LOVE IT! It can be so hard at times, and I wouldn't do it again without an eternal companion, but I love it. And I wouldn't trade it for the world. And since then I feel different. I feel this intense desire to go out and truly share. To talk to everyone and help them understand that life can be different. I finally feel like I get it. Like I've finally had that change of heart.

Yeah.

 

The apartment is so small! I went from having a whole room as a closet to three feet of a closet, no dresser or drawers, and no desk or chair for me at the table. I've got a mattress on the floor between their beds and it's really crowded. It's taken me quite a while to find a place for my things and it's still a slow process. We bump elbows a lot. It's FUN!

 

Having two companions isn't too bad because there's someone else to take the edge off and talk to. But. THERE. ARE. SO. MANY. EMOTIONS. Girls. Yikes.

 

And we spend a lot of money on food. We discovered that today.

 

We've got some really cool investigators, but I've only met two so far :) They were such good lessons. I really really really really really really love teaching. It always slightly irks me when people say, "The secret to Missionary work is WORK." Eh. When I'm "working" (ie tracting and other "labor") I am not the happiest or feeling the best. But when I'm teaching.

 

We're called and set apart to be full-time teachers. "The secret to Missionary work is TEACHING." So dear friends and family wherever you are. The missionaries are not there to tract or beg people to listen. We're there to teach. Members are full-time finders. We really truly need you. Ask the missionaries what you can do to help. And then actually do it.

 

People at home are getting married and having babies. I love you all. But I also am slightly upset that you're not waiting for me to get home.......

BUT THE BABIES ARE SO CUTE! 

(Newest niece- Ainsley Marie Packard :)

Keep making more for me to love :)

 

-Sister Packard

 

Best:

1. We crossed the West Virginia state line and with in five minutes came across "Possum Hollow Road". I love West Virginia. We're much more in the Rolling Hills and the roads are nuts. Potholes everywhere.

2. I saw all of my MTC Elders this week! Elder Bingham was only for like 2 minutes but probably the most exciting. He literally jumped up and down. It was real manly.

3. Hot water that lasts for days. It is so wonderful.

4. I'm in the same ward with Elder Zazueta!

5. I had 2 1/2 whole hours on a bus with all Elders and no Sisters. It was a slight piece of heaven. Why are girls so different?

 

Worst:

1. Still so much snow. It's cold! But not unmanageable.

2. Tears.......so many tears and "hurt feelings". Girls need too much attention.

 

If you want to send anything send it to

112 Wedgewood Dr #8 Morgantown, WV 26505.

Or as always you can send anything to

888 Oakwood Rd Suite 310 Charleston, WV 25314 and it will get to me.