"I just don't want you to hurt yourself"

Hiiiiiiii. 

Mom- I appreciated the subject to your email this week. I can't wait to watch Holiday Engagement. That'll be one of the first things I watch when I get home. Such a good movie. I didn't get the shoes yet (they're probably at the mission office) but I did get the license! Thank you for figuring that our for me. Also, thank you for the shoes. You're such a good lady. I love you so much. Dad- I'm thinking the speedo would be a good idea for the run in a couple weeks. Also, maybe you should just wear it to church as well. That'll make all the newbies respect you. I sure love you, Dad! Emily- Good luck with trig, cutie. I love you! 

Quotes of the week: 

1.) "Sister Golden you will be trained by Sister Reddish." -President Brown My new companion is Sister Golden. I think President Brown thought it would be funny to put me with yet another companion with a color as a last name. ALSO, all three of my trainee's have last names that start with G. There are so many things that are right about our companionship already. This time training will be a little different; Sister Golden did a 2 transfer trial mission in Washington before she went to the MTC and came to Ohio. She's already a really good, hard working missionary which has made my stress load WAY less. She suffers pretty bad with anxiety but she's not letting it get her down. I call her my step daughter because she was already half way trained... Guess who she was companions with in Washington? Mikayla McCrae. Isn't that the craziest thing ever? We were pretty excited about it. Anyways, this whole paragraph was pretty scattered, but moral of the story: Sister Golden is golden. Ha, I've waited a whole week to put that in my email.
2.) "Oh man, I don't want to talk to them. They look normal." -Me This week I have suffered from major culture shock. We literally only talk to normal people all day. I think there was like 2 people who were normal in PA.. and that was Sister Grant and I. I am currently living in Oberlin, Ohio (address: 190 E Oberlin St. Apt. D, Oberlin, OH 44074). It's a small college town. I think the college is like a "private" college. That's what the people are telling us anyways. It's also super liberal. We've been told that if we see "two men or two woman holding hands, don't be surprised" by multiple ward members. SO, to fit in, I just hold Sister Golden's hand everywhere we go. Ha, nah, I haven't done that.. yet...  We've been able to find a ton of new people to teach the past few days though, so that's a blessing. Heavenly Father has been preparing this area like crazy. Plus, there's tons of black people and I LOVE BLACK PEOPLE SO MUCH. I'm happy I get to finish my mish in this area. I think it'll be a good one. 

3.) "I have 50% of my hearing left, so you gotta speak up." "More like 70%." "WHAT?" -Brother Karl (ward mission leader) and Elder Ballard (district leader) The Elyria Ward is full of elderly people...which is fine, like I don't have anything against old folks, but none of them can hear me. I feel like I'm talking as loud as my voice will go without yelling and they still have no idea what I'm trying to say. A lot of time I say things that are semi important, but not important enough to yell... so I want to be like "nevermind"... but then I don't want to seem rude... it's been a real struggle the past few days... I guess my life is pretty good considering this is the biggest struggle I've been having, but it still is a struggle and a half, let me tell you. Sister Golden and I are trying to find nice, young families, so that in about 5 years when basically everyone has passed on, the Elryia Ward will remain standing. #kiddingnotkidding

4.) "Are you sure you're okay? I just don't want you to hurt yourself." -Random lady Here's the awkward story of the week... and of my mission...and of my life. SO, we were tracting pretty late at night (like about 8:30) and we tracted into this nice older woman. While we were talking, I started feeling a little tipsy. I STARTED FALLING OVER. I was standing with my legs crossed (Why was a I standing like that? I don't know.) When I tried to catch myself with my foot, my foot hit one of their yard decorations so that made me fall even more. Luckily, Sister Golden caught me before I totally fell, but it was a close one. Then I think the lady was concerned for my well being (probably because I almost fell over on her porch and I wasn't even moving) so she didn't want us to leave...but she also didn't want to hear about the Restoration...so I was like "Oh, I'm fine. I promise. I'm just awkward and have a hard time standing." We awkwardly walked away from the door into the darkness. As we were walking away all I said to Sister Golden was "Stuff like that happens to me all the time. You're going to witness so much awkward the next 12 weeks." She laughed like I was telling a joke, but she will soon realize that I was not joking. Not joking at all. 

5.) “What shall we give in return for so much?” -President Dieter F. Uchtdorf A lot of times this week I had thoughts like "Wow, you know what would be nice? If President Brown would send me to an area that already has investigators." and  "I don't really want to tract anymore." stuff like that. Wanny thoughts. I read this quote in some of my notes a couple days ago, and I guess it kinda humbled me. You know who had a really hard life? Jesus Christ. No matter how hard it gets here in Elyria, it will never even be comparable to what Christ has already suffered. AND because He suffered, He can not only help me change and become better, He can help everyone we talk to change and become better. That is a miracle. I know I will never be able to repay Him for everything He's done for me, but I'm grateful for the opportunity to serve Him and to teach my brothers and sisters about how He can change their lives just like He's changed mine. 

I love all of you tons. Have a good week! 

Love, 

Sister Reddish