Week 49: Heeeeyyy! (Look who is on a bike in a skirt!)

Hello hello! First off, I'd just like to say that I'm really happy right now. I don't want to be weird about it though, so that's all I'll say.

This week was so good! We borrowed our Zone Leader's bikes a few times and saw SO many miracles. I think the elders were a bit nervous for our safety, though. But we're alive and well, so no fear. Riding boy bikes in skirts is a little tricky though, because the bars are higher and don't exactly love skirts. But it all worked out. We found lots of new investigators this week! We've been really blessed in our finding efforts lately. I love it. 

One of the best things is when you teach someone, then someone else in their household finds the Book of Mormon, then starts to read from it, then asks if they can take the lessons. Then you die of happiness. I've realized that missionary work is so much more exciting when there are actual people you have to work with. And bikes. But one of the worst things is when you're expecting some of your investigators to come to church, but they don't come. It kind of hurts a little bit. Good thing there's always next week though. 

I also took a lot of non-member tours this week. Solo non-member tours. Those can be scary, because there is sooo much that you have to explain in order for any of the tour to make sense. It's kind of like a fire-hose. A lot of times they end up great, and a lot of times you feel emotionally exhausted and drained afterwards because of their attacking questions. Especially when you're on your own. But, that's all part of the mission experience, I suppose. Though most missionaries don't have to go through it on their own. Well, neither do I. I always have Christ and the spirit by my side. But what I'm saying, is most missionaries are ALWAYS with their companions. But not here, my friend! 

I went on exchanges to Kirtland again! Except for this time we mostly saw people from the other side of the ward. The side that I didn't cover. But, that includes the Deckers! So fun. We just did a quick stop by to say hello. It made my day. That, and teaching a lady who had 5 cats. Obviously.

On Wednesday, we have meetings all day long. I'm not even kidding. MLC from 7:45-9. Then a Mission Conference with Elder Bennett from 9-4, then another MLC with Elder Bennett from 5-8. Hooooly smokes. It will be grand. I'll let you know if I live through it next week. 

I love you guys!

Love,

me

We like to pretend we ride a tandem bike.

The Elder closest to me is the one that's Carter's twin. So freaky!

They look more alike in person, but you can still kinda tell.

Week 48: Hi Bishop Jenkins!

Hi!

This week was great, yet again. We found some more investigators and are continuing to teach them. None of them are on a date yet though, but soon! :) Hopefully. 

We also had Zone Conference this week, which was great. We've been talking a lot about how we can better work with members and help them with their missionary work. Being a missionary has made me want to be the BEST member missionary, because I can now see how vital they are in full-time missionary service. So so SO important! It's a little tricky though, because it's hard to meet with many of the members in our ward. They are all you families who have very time constraining jobs. We get fed maybe once or twice a week, so it's been a little difficult to work with them and get to know them. But I still love this ward! It's really growing on me.

Funny story: So while we are not taking tours at the VC, we are online chatting with people and making phone calls from mormon.org. This guy named Lee came on and said he was looking for a ride to church--specifically to the Poet Smith building. When I saw him typing that, my heart skipped a beat. "Poet Smith as in the one in Auburn?!" Then next thing ya know, he adds, Auburn, CA. I DIED!!!! So then I looked up his address to see which ward he would be in and he lives in the AUBURN SECOND WARD BOUNDARIES!!!!! What in the world. I died. So crazy. So we had to call the Bishop: Bishop Gary Jenkins. Holy smokes. I KNOW HIM!!! Is this really happening? What's going on? Can missionaries call  people they know? Am I even allowed to do this? So many thoughts were going through my head! I told Sister Beck to call him just to be safe, so she did. But I was still on the line listening. So I hear Lisa answer, then say she's going to go get Bishop Jenkins, then I hear him say hello. Then Sister Beck introduced us and said we were serving in Ohio, and Bishop Jenkins says, "Who am I speaking with again?" "Sister Beck and Sister Livingston" I started to laugh. So freaky. "And where is Sister Livingston from?" He knew, and I knew. But I remained quiet. SO weird! So then Sister Beck tried to explain what was happening with Lee, but she didn't actually know the whole story, so I had to jump in. "Hi Bishop Jenkins! It's Sister Livingston!" Laughter. Then we chatted. And it was wonderful. That was the first time I had ever gotten to speak with someone from home, other than on Christmas and Mother's Day. It was so fun. It actually made me a little home sick afterwards, but I smile whenever I think about it. It was definitely a tender mercy. Bishop Jenkins, thanks for the chat. :) It was great speaking with you. So yeah. That was really fun. And weird. And probably a once in a lifetime opportunity. Jealous? Jkjk. 

This morning we got to take a basement to bell tower tour in the Kirtland temple. Usually that costs $25/person, but the Community of Christ let us do it for free! It was so cool. So we started in the basement of the temple and got to see all of the original beams/stones/nails, then we went onto the main floor and got to walk all around, even sit on the original pulpits. Usually people don't get to do that. The we got to go into a crawl space between the lower two levels and see everything there, then up through all of the other stories until we climbed a ladder and got to see all of Kirtland from the Temple bell tower! SO AMAZING! It was so neat. It's so real, people! This truly is Christ's church, restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith. I know this for two main reasons. First, because I get to serve in a place where so much of the development of the early church took place. That is physical evidence. No one would ever create the sites that our church has, had these events not taken place. No one would go through all of the events that the early saints had to go through, had they not known without a shadow of a doubt that it was true. And no one would make up all of the stories that these men and women went through, unless they were really bored and really smart. Because it all makes sense and ties together. It's true. I know it is. But my second reason for knowing that it is true, is because I have felt the Spirit whisper to me that it is true, and nothing can take that away. It is amazing to be in this place, to get to walk where not only Joseph Smith walked, but where Christ appeared. I get to be here everyday--there is nothing better. But it's not the historical facts that make it so amazing, it really is the spirit that is felt here. I am grateful for the opportunity I have been given to serve in such a sacred place. I'm not sure what I did to deserve this call, whether in this life or the life prior, but I sure do love it with all of my heart and wouldn't trade it for a thing. So thank you for all of your support! I really appreciate and love all of you. 

I hope you all have a wonderful week!

Love,

Sister Livingston

Week 47: Hashtags for Days

Hello! This week was a VERY good one. We had transfers, so I am now serving in Shaker Heights with Sister Beck! She is from New Zealand! Originally from Oregon, but she and her family have lived in NZ for the past 10 years or so. She is the greatest and I am so grateful that I get to work with her. I've already been able to learn a lot from her and can tell we'll have a good time (we already are) and work hard together. Best of both worlds. Thank you, President. :)

Also, yesterday we saw a #sweetmiracle. We have been teaching these two girls, they are 8 and 10 and absolutely LOVE the Book of Mormon. It's the cutest. But the one thing that was making us a little hesitant about teaching them was the fact that their parents never listened in or cared about what we were teaching them. But then we went over yesterday, and the grandma (4 generations live in one household. Crazy.) was like, "Step outside. Can I talk to y'all for a minute?" I had a mini heart attack. I thought we were busted. But then she just said how they wanted to know what exactly it was that we were teaching the girls, so we explained and she loved it! She went on to explain how she had been reading from the Book of Mormon (real version) that we left with the girls and agreed with it. Then she asked if she and her daughter (the girls' mom) could sit in on the lessons and asked if we could come back on Thursday! #everymissionary'sdream AHHHHH! MISSIONARY WORK IS THE BEST THING YOU'LL EVER DO!!! I love it so much. 

We had Mission Leadership Council yesterday as well. And guess what! We are in the process of getting bikes!!! I've always wanted to ride a bike. I think it would be the neatest thing to ride one in a skirt. So cool! I'm excited. Sometimes I think it would be funny if missionaries used roller-blades instead. Classic. Also, our new Zone Leader is Carter's twin. Literally. With both looks and mannerisms. It's really weird but really funny. He even said, "Otay" this morning. What the. We also wear the same glasses. #iwearmanglasses

I left my planner at home today so I can't really remember what else went on. But basically I'm very happy right now. I love my mission so much and wouldn't trade it for the world. This truly is the work of the Lord. I know that it is, and I know that Christ lives. I'm grateful for the opportunity that I've had to serve and share my testimony of Him with those around me, and for the many blessings that accompany missionary work.

I love you all! Thank you for your love and support. It is much appreciated. PS Sorry for all of the #hashtags. Sometimes I think they're funny, but then, turns out they're actually not. But I'm too lazy to delete them, so I will just continue to take some time to defend and justify my overuse of hashtags. You're welcome.

Much love,

Sister Livingston!

Week 46: It's always a good time despite the gray hair!

Hello! This week was a good one! We were able to meet with several of our investigators and find a few more. But here's the thing: I went on 3 exchanges this week. I also served at the Visitors' Center 3 days this week. So moral of the story: Sometimes I don't always get to see my investigators and it makes me sad. But, sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven. So I'll do it. 

I first went on exchanges with Sister Sorensen (my MTC companion). It was interesting to be back with her. Felt kinda weird, like I needed to be at a doctor's appointment or something, but it was fun! It was neat to see how much both of us have changed since our time together. Then the next day I was with Sister Holmes. I lived with her for a transfer and absolutely love her. We were painting some member's cabinets white, and then I accidentally brushed my hair through the wet paint. So I had white hair for the rest of the day and people thought I had gray hair. I don't really. It's brown. Well actually, I still have some paint in my hair so that's fun. Okay, enough about gray hair. Then yesterday, I went on exchanges with the one and only Sister de Kock!! It's so neat getting to serve in the same area as her because that means we get to go on exchanges a lot. And she makes me laugh like no one else. Except for maybe Lucy and Chancey. They're pretty funny, too. I like funny people. Laughing is fun.

This morning we had district meeting, and we got to hold it in the School of the Prophets. It was so neat. It's not every day that you get you have meetings in that room! For our mission study, we focused on how we can better help both members and investigators see the importance of families. So we discussed that, then we all went around and said one thing that our families have done for us. It was tough to narrow it all down to one thing, because you've really done everything for me. But something that I have really been grateful for, especially lately, is how you never just gave anything to us with no effort on our part. We've always had to work for things! And I love it. Hard work is so important, and I'm blessed to have been born into a family who values it. So thank you for that. And I'm sorry for the times I was less than grateful to work for different things. But you guys are great and I love you! Thank you for all that you do and for the love/support you show me. It is greatly appreciated. 

I hope you all have a wonderful week! And happy Birthday, Dad! Sorry I haven't gotten you anything yet. I'm running out of monies. And birthdays kind of just come out of nowhere here. How in the world is it already August? I'll see what I can put together. I love you so much! I hope it's a good one. :)

Love,

Sister Livingston