Day 16, the 2nd
Preparation day at the MTC!! We went to the temple, and I received so much revelation. I fasted on that day, asking Heavenly Father for certain blessings, and He answered me in the temple! I now know I am in need of patience. Our Father knows our hearts so well, and He is just waiting to give us what we need, if only we ask😁
Day 17, the 3rd
Regular classes were cancelled because we outgoing missionaries had infield orientation. It began around 8 am, and ended around 5 pm. Don't worry, they feed us in there somewhere, ;P
Day 18, the 4th
Went on "splits" with Sister Powers, another sister in my district. Splits is when missionaries are assigned to exchange and spend time with other missionaries in their district. It was a cool experience, to see how another sister goes about her day and how she plans and the like. That day we packed and did laundry, getting ready to leave for our mission.
Day 19, the 5th
Had the coolest dream ever! Peter Pan, the Lost Boys, the Jolly Roger, and I were in the Star Trek universe! It totally made sense in my dream, and it was super awesome! Mmmh. I must be mission pop culture. Since it was fast Sunday, we had a missionary conference for the entire MTC. It was incredibly inspiring and so helpful! The main subjects were charity, and true Christ-like conversion, in which we dedicate not only our lives, but our purpose to the Lord🤗 I want to tell y'all something. Every Sunday, we go walk around the Provo temple with our district, and sing hymns. After we sang some hymns, but before we departed for home, our branch president told us to go find a quiet spot to read or pray. I sat quietly, enjoying the cold, crisp, and holy atmosphere. While appreciating God's beautiful season of winter, I saw a young couple. The woman, in her early twenties, had long, auburn hair and bright, happy eyes. She wore a lovely blouse and skirt that complimented each other perfectly. She skipped as she walked beside her lover, a spring in her step. She smiled as if the world offered her all of the joys life could give. She held the hand of a man, also in his early twenties. He had dark, thick hair and was dressed to impress many a young lady. But he did not have a spring in his step. He did not stand tall. He was bound to the confines of an automatic wheel chair. He slouched a little to the side, and his arms seemed awkward as his hands clasped those of the perfectly healthy woman beside him. The two lovers giggled as they went about the temple. They smiled and talked happily to one another. They even shared a tender kiss that would have melted even Ebenezer Scrooge’s hard heart. This was true and everlasting love I was witnessing! This was a love that knew no boundaries, but was expressed wholeheartedly and with fervor. Indeed, the man was crippled, but did that taint the happiness of the couple? I say unto you, nay! It was the sweetest scene I have ever beheld. When sealed together in the house of the Lord, even the holy temple, marriages last for eternity, beyond this life and into the next. Families are forever, as our Father intended for them to be. I am truly privileged to have witnessed the everlasting love of that sweet couple. What a blessing.
We watched our weekly Sabbath film, and so Sister Rodabough and I saw Meet the Mormons 2, which features an Italian woman and her quest to feed the hungry, a horseman and his training and trusting of equine, and *my favorite* bless4!!! bless4 is an entertainment group who is also a family, and guess where they are? IN JAPAN!! They sponsor themselves because they have such high moral standards and all the other record companies wanted them to dress immodestly and adult-ify their lyric content, but the four Japanese siblings have kept their music and art clean! I wish I could listen to them, I really miss Japanese music. And French music. And Broadway..... BUT I AM AWESOME SERVING A MISSION! Look them up, it's bless4.
Day 20, the 6th
It was raining outside, and I felt that it was Utah's fair thee well for me. I loved the MTC, but was ready to serve my people in West Virginia. My, how I love the rain.
Day 21, the 7th
Up at 3 am, all packed and ready. At the airport by 5 am, on the plane to Atlanta, Georgia by 8 am. I purchased a calling card and called my family from the airport (as missionaries, we can only contact our family by telephone or skype twice a year, but when we travel from the MTC to our missions, we are allowed to call for about an hour :) ) I talked to my mama, and then later to my da. I had mom wake my little sister, Lizzy, up from sleeping, and told her how much I loved her😘 I also got to talk to Jake for a minute. I love my family!! So the flight to Atlanta was long, and there were a lot of passengers. The plane had two isles and three rows of seats, a total of 8 across. There were tv screens build into the back of each chair. As missionaries we are not to watch films, unless they are directly related to missionary work. Not even Disney😢 It was a loooong flight without Disney.... But there was a patron a few seats in front of me and to the right, and he was watching Doctor Strange. I guess it wasn't so bad of a flight after all😏 The layover in Atlanta, Georgia was long, our flight was delayed for more than five hours. Yup. Needless to say, I am grateful for Oriental food and coffee shops! We made to Charleston around nine, and me the mission president and his wife. Instead of interviews, we got dinner and then went straight to bed😴
Day 22, the 8th
Orientation Day! I had a fever in the night, and on and off all that day. I didn't get enough sleep to battle whatever I had, but I took short naps in the car here and there. Lots of mission training that day, wow! Around noon we visited the state capital and there's a museum underneath! It felt like a Disney Land exhibit! There were animatronics and motion censored audio. There were forests, blacksmiths, mines, railroads, and towns! AWESOMNESS!!! We went to a local burger place, called Dairy Winkle, and President Salisbury looooooooooves Dairy Winkle. There was a local baptism that night that the president took us to. I slept through most of it because my fever was highest then. I also had the chills🤒 When the baptism was over, we went outside and you'll never guess what happened! IT WAS RAINING!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My favorite weather! It felt really great on my face! It wasn't raining super hard, but all the other non-Oregonians thought it was pouring buckets☔ Heavenly Father knew the rain would comfort me and I knew He was watching out for me :)
Day 23, the 9th
I was still sick that day, but no fever, thank goodness! Transfer day! We got to find out who our trainers would be, and where we would go! I got assigned to Buckhannon, WV, which is up north. Sister Stettler is my new companion and my first trainer! She's so sweet and very kind, but she also got me going going going right off the bat! I've learned to much from her. Our apartment is small and modest, a little run down, but it's home :). It had snowed in the middle of the night, and got progressively more snowy as we traveled further up north. In just one day, Buckhannon got four to five inches of snow! And just a few days before that it was in the 60*s! Today, it is now in the high 60*s, low 70*s. Bipolar, right? Oh, and y'all know that super sketchy back road from Salem to Independence? Well, EVERY ROAD HERE IS JUST LIKE THAT, BUT EVEN SKETCHIER! The more wind-y and dangerous routes are called hollows, but are pronounced "hallars." And yes indeed, I am picking up a twang. It's hard not to!
Day 24, the 10th
Planned for three hours (weekly planning, every detail!) We tried to get appointments with our investigators, but they weren't home. All four of 'em. *fists on hips, tapping toe, scowling* But it worked out-- we went tracting (knocking on doors in neighborhoods) and ran into the coolest woman EVER! She must have been in her sixties, and had the coolest house (her husband is an artist). She's Catholic and we spent about an hour just talking with her. She gave us a mini tour of her *drop dead gorgeous* home and we talked about faith and the Lord's tender mercies. We left her with our card and number, and she said we are welcome anytime, and to expect a call from her soon. She also referred us to her friend who has a shop out by where we live :) #LedByTheLord! I met some member families and recent converts to the church. These people are most excellent!👌
Day 25, the 11th
Worked out! Taught a lesson on the Book of Mormon to a less active member, and we truly believe the Lord has been preparing her to come back to church. A member took us out to lunch to a Mexican restaurant (yuuuuummmmmyyyyyyy!) We did a lot of contacting and tracting, but it was hard for our investigators to meet with us. We met our neighbors while they were rocking on their porch. A mother and daughter, both elderly and retired. They rock! They are Baptist, and have such faith in our Savior, and we instantly became friends. They said to come over anytime and would like to play their piano for them (Sister Stettler is quite musical, whereas I.... am not). Man, I love community grandmothers!
Day 26, the 12th
CHURCH!!! I met the bishop of our ward and quite a few ward members. They are so loyal and faithful in their duties as member missionaries and aid in our work of finding and teaching others. I love 'em!!!
Day 27, the 13th
PREPARATION DAY!!!! Thank goodness, it could not have come soon enough! Today, we cleaned our apartment, washed our car (Whom I named Bucky!). Right now we're at the library emailing y'all on the public computers. After this, we'll go shop for food and a few items I need to pick up, and then I will proceed with the ceremonial induction into Buckhannon by purchasing a frozen hot chocolate and eating a traditional West Virginian pepperoni roll!
I love y'all, and thank you for enduring my super lengthy emails, I'll shorten them up I promise! TTFN, ta ta for now!
Sister Mary Sierra Peacock
West Virginia Charleston Mission
"Rise in Might" and "Fight the Good Fight"
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