Getting to Know the Area!

Well, this week was a good one!  Full of lots of exciting things!
Tuesday we did a lot of service for the community...all revolved around the senior citizens.  Ha!  We first helped out at a Senior Recreation Center and they had this cute little gym there for the old people to exercise in, and some other classes for them.  Sister Ibarra and I helped out in the organization department, helping put up fliers, putting together bags, information, and a bulletin board.  It was fun.  I kept eyeing the work out room though- maybe one day I will personal train the seniors ;)

After that we headed out with a sister in the ward to go and see some of the people who are listed on our ward roster, but no one has met them yet.  Unfortunately, none were home.  That happens often which is a bummer.  One day Sister Ibarra and I went out tracting and knocked on 18 empty doors, and the rest told us to go away.  ONE guy was nice to us and complimented our efforts. That was the tender mercy for the day, ha. 

That afternoon after a quick lunch at the church (thanks to meal prepping on Monday!  We are too busy to cook!) we went to a Nursing Home and Memory Center.  I was super nervous because in the past I always got super anxious going into places like that.  But I know that Heavenly Father blessed me and I was actually okay!  We colored, played bingo, cut out flowers, and talked with the residents for an hour and a half.  This one little old man named Tom told me that he had been reading in the National Geographic lately and I asked him what he had learned!  He told me with a very stern face, hands gripping his wheel chair handles, "The native African women don't wear no braziers!"  I died!  I tried not to laugh out loud, but I thought it was funny:)  He told me a little bit later that he had bad knees, and when I asked why he told me he was in the Air Force most of his life.  I asked him when he retired and he looked at me for a few seconds, then responded, "3 years ago!"  I had to keep reminding myself that I couldn't believe everything these little old people told me because they had memory problems.  But I learned that I am a very gullible person, haha!

Wednesday we had to leave the house at 4:30 in the morning.  I keep forgetting that the house has a huge security system, so we always need to disarm it before heading out.  Anyway, we drove to the Sister Training leaders house in Cameron (45 minutes away) and then drove the Sanford Sisters to Wilmington where we had Zone Conference.

Sisters from Sanford

We followed the Cameron Sister's car so I didn't have to put that much mental thought into the already long and draining morning.  That was a tough drive to do though.  We got to the church around 8 and talked with the missionaries in the other 3 Zones until the conference started.  President and Sister Bernhisel instructed us as well as a few Zone leaders and Sister leaders, then at noon we broke out for lunch.  We ate, then changed into our “play clothes” because this Zone Conference was special.  It only happens once a year!  We got to go play sports with the Elders!  Yeah, it was great.  We were split into teams and got to play Ultimate Frisbee, Capture the Flag, and Soccer!  Luckily I had a pretty athletic team and we dominated at every game.  All the elders were great and included me (I was the only sister actually PLAYING) in all the things we were doing.  It was so funny though, the first 10 minutes we had to kind of break the ice because we never ever spend time together.  So we had to force ourselves to play and mess around and touch each other during these sports!  It was SO FUN!

My District

The next day - oh heavens.  I was sore.  I guess I forgot that I hadn't played a game like that in a long time and running full out may not have been the best idea.  But instincts took over!  I was sore for the next few days.  The members all laughed at me :) That afternoon we had a thing called 'lunch bunch' with some R.S. sisters and they took us to Long Horn Steakhouse.  I am still trying to keep straight who is in what ward.  Being over 2 wards is quite challenging!  Plus, everyone lives far apart from one another.  There is a good amount of farm country out here- gorgeous, but it makes it harder.  I love it though.
 
That night Sister Ibarra had scheduled a Relief Society soccer night (maybe not the best idea since we were so darn sore) but it was a blast.  There were only 6 of us, but we played in the little gym and ended up having fun.  We got RSVP’s for more to come next week!  We will use this as a missionary tool as well because the ladies want to invite non-member friends.  It's a great way to introduce the church to people in a non-menacing type of way :)

Friday we had to fast walk the golf course to try and get our muscles loose...at least we succeeded in getting 30 minutes of exercise in!  It started raining on us and continued to rain all morning.  So I thought, “hey, this will be a good sweater day.”  We drove to a certain area in town, parked at a ladies house (whom we know) and BIKED around the whole area for a few hours.  (I couldn't stop laughing every time a car drove by.  Because I was picturing what they were thinking to themselves when they saw 2 girls, biking down the road in skirts...I had a goofy grin on my face the whole time...)

We had previously gone through the Area Book and found names of former investigators that were from a year or so ago and decided to go find them again.  Although they weren't home we were able to knock on doors and meet great people.  Some days you just plant seeds, represent Christ, and give a good name to the church.  I tried taking a video of us and almost fell over doing so...guess I was a bit over zealous!  But the sun did decide to come out, and when sun and wet ground in NC mix, it is not the most enjoyable experience. Never wear a sweater!  I was quite thankful for Air Conditioning later!

That evening we went over to a members home to help her organize her sewing room.  She is SO talented at sewing, but because she has been doing it for so long, she has accumulated quite a lot of stuff.  So we made a dent in that after eating dinner.

Saturday we were able to visit a less active sister in the rehab center because she had just gone through surgery to get her right leg removed.  She is a nice lady- but I couldn't really look at her at first because I got nauseous when I did...I just looked in my book of Mormon for a picture to share.  Then we proceeded to help Sister Edwards again with her sewing room.  We did a LOT to it, and I decided that I need to learn how to sew!  Or do something of that sort.  There are so many talents I want to acquire because of my mission!  I see all these things other people do and I want to do them ALL! Ha.

Sundays are my favorite days now.  I go to church from 7:30 - 5:30 in the evening.  Meetings, two wards, and choir.  It is a day I get to actually listen and learn rather than teach and discern.  It is a nice little break in my week and allows me to forget EVERYTHING we have to do and just relax and breathe.  But this Sunday that was short lived.  I was called on and asked to give a talk (which I am fine with...I actually love speaking.  But! As I walk up to go sit on the stand, I see my Mission President and his wife walk in...I was like NO WAY.

Supposedly this was the day for them to come and visit the ward.  NO pressure right?  Luckily my talk went smoothly and I didn't pass out ;)  Afterwards I was bombarded by the ward members saying I did a good job and 3 RS sisters told me I sounded like a future general presidency lady up there.  Oh good grief!  Haha.  But it was neat to hear a small talk from both President and his wife :)

I have been studying a lot about the temple this week because I get to go on Friday.  I have read a few talks, the “Preparing for the Temple” pamphlet, and in the Bible Dictionary.  It has been such a fulfilling study and my appreciation for the temple has grown.  I know that we receive blessings for taking time out of our lives for going- and I would encourage you to go as often as you can.

Never forget the power that can come from taking your questions and concerns to the temple.  It is the holiest place on this earth.  I am so excited to go!

I love you so, so much and hope you have a great week!!!! :D
<3 Sister Golden