Week 5

Captain's Log: Stardate-- 2017.Feb.20

Yohoo! Family!

How ya'll doin'? This week has been full of firsts and definitely changed my life... I forgot my journal, so this captain's log is not going to be a fleshed out as the others, so bear with me, s'il vous plait!

  Last Monday we went to visit our bishop's glass factory. He's a glass blower by trade! I bought a few things and will be sending them home when I can. Reminded me a lot of the glass blowing place in Lincoln city :) Early in the week, I had my very first encounter with anti. Anti is a term we use when we come up against someone very opposed to us Latter-Day Saints. They preach Anti-Mormonism. It was really scary. The man was actually very nice, and we could tell he was concerned for us and our salvation, but he did NOT like the Church. Not one bit. He told us exactly what he thinks about our religion and he really offended me in regards to the prophet Joseph Smith. Sister Stettler and I could feel that the Spirit had left us immediately, and we both needed to get out of that situation. It was spiritually unsafe for us. You could tell this man had done his research on our beliefs and practices. Anyway, we spoke with him for about ten minutes. This really shook me up. Not my faith, not really. But I did come away feeling like I needed to take a spiritual shower. Like I needed to watch General Conference or something. I felt yucky, like the Adversary used me for mud-ball target practice. He threw a lot at us, and he wasn't done. Even though we are blessed with protection as missionaries, Satan has a way of still getting to you. Like a dart in the back. Sister Stettler and I continued to do the Lord's work, but we felt... off. Like when you get an immunization at the doctor's, you're still sort of susceptible to the virus, and we were a bit weak. Truth be told, I was very weak, and I needed a righteous protein shake of scripture and prayer! Sister Stettler actually found a talk given last General Conference by Elder Ballard. It's titles "To Whom Shall We Go," and the scriptures in it rock! This totally buoyed me spirits up and I feel much, much better now!
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Sister Stettler's birthday was yesterday (She's now 20 years of age) and we celebrated it with the Gregory's. They are new members of the Church, and they are like home. They are pretty country (I love that about them!) and they give my my weekly dose of belly-bustin' giggles and guffaws! We're actually teaching their daughter, Sabrina, and we just set a baptismal date for March!! I love her and her family so much! One of the greatest temptations here in my area, is that there are so many cute babies, and as missionaries we are not allowed to hold babies or children (legal reasons). Sabrina's baby is the most adorable ever! (Besides Scarlett and Andrew, of course). Sabrina is so sweet, she lets us coo over her baby while she holds him😙😁😁 We ate cake and ice cream and dinner at the Gregory's, and Sister Stettler opened her gifts there. I love the gift the Gregory's got us- necklaces! They are super pretty:)

I just realized y'all might not know too much about West Virginia. Well, I'll start with the basics. The water here? Undrinkable. So every week we add to our supple of bottled water and jugs if clean water for our food storage. We only use the tap water for washing dishes and bathing. There's also a lot of poverty here. Seems like most people do not know how to take care of what they have. We know the message we have to share with the world improves the quality of life, and helps everyone :)

Drugs. Yes, it's true. West Virginia has a lot of drugs. There are at least half a dozen drug houses in each town, and in most trailer parks and neighborhoods. WV has the highest drug related death rate in the country. Oh joy. We have to be very careful, especially a Sister missionaries. Don't worry, Mom, I care both packet knives and my pepper spray with me at all times. Most everyone warns of certain areas, and they are surprised we do what we do even knowing the risk. Prayer is our sure protection. Everyone has a dog here. I've only met one family who does not own a dog. Poor elders, they get sicced a lot by unfriendly people. I swear, it's like the dogs know we bring messages of Jesus Christ and of salvation-- and they, the dogs, do not like us. Not even the cute ones!

Buckhannon reminds me of the outskirts of Turner. There are some very pretty drives here, too. The weather pattern is identical to Oregon's. Instead of wait five minutes, just wait a day. We had snow on Tuesday. Then 70 degree weather the next day. Rain. Spring. Overcast and chilly, and in the 20's. Balmy the next day. Mind you, I've only been here a week and a half, and I've experienced all four seasons! Oh, by the way, I highly recommend everyone read 1 Peter 2:9

I love the ward here--most everyone is willing to come out with us and teach lessons and go tracting. The youth here are great, and I just love everyone! We had a valentine's dinner Saturday night, and some investigators came! Man, I just the Buckhannon ward! Later today we are going with Hannah, a senior in high school, to go hiking (Eastern silver Falls, here I come). Before hiking will stop by Walmart for groceries and the like, and then go to The Daily Grind, a local coffee shop with killer hot chocolate :)
I miss every one back home in Oregon and all my friends at BYU-Idaho. My testimony grows every day. I love y'all! I will see you again,
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