Hello Wonderful Humans,
Being in Ohio is simultaneously one of the strangest and one of the coolest experiences I have ever had. So let's start from the beginning and I'll see if the MTC Brain is going away yet. Monday night was a weird mixture of pride and sad as we said goodbye to our Elders who were going to be leaving for Utica at 3:30 the next morning. It's funny how quickly you can grow to love people as you spend time with them. I feel like I've known the peeps in my MTC district for very nearly my whole life. Tuesday night we had a second apostle for our devotional. Elder Ballard came and spoke to us about, you can guess it, missionary work. It's a good thing that I'm starting to enjoy this work, because I honestly don't know if I could stand to hear about it so often otherwise. Tuesday night we finished our packing and were miraculously able to be in bed for a four hour nap at 10:30.
Talking to you guys at the airport was such a tiny miracle for me. I know that for other missionaries, they wouldn't be able to remain focused on their work if they were allowed to talk to their families every two weeks, but man it would sure work out okay for me. Being the travel leader was stressful. I kind of doubt that other missionaries would feel as stressed out by it as I did, but it was stressful all the same. The height of the stress happened at the Detroit Airport when we had to get from Gate A7 to C11 and only had forty five minutes until our flight was going to take off. THAT AIRPORT IS FREAKING MASSIVE. We didn't realize that there was a tram until we were very nearly to the location where we would have gotten off anyway. Then a bunch of the Elders in our group wandered off to find food even though our plane was going to be boarding in all of five minutes. Conveniently our second flight was a tiny commuter flight, so it wasn't a long boarding process. We did spend nearly an hour on the tarmac before take off to get our wings de-iced and all that jazz. The flight was smooth and I was a neurotic mess. During our first flight, I had slept on and off and was fairly calm. By the time flight two was happening I was all but convinced that it would be okay to buy a plane ticket to Nashville and call you and tell you that this just wasn't my thing and that I was coming home. I'm such a scaredy cat sometimes (and let's be real, Satan REALLY doesn't want me on a mission). But Cales are woosies, not quitters, so I didn't do that.
At the bottom of the escalator where we would pick up our luggage President and Sister Daines were waiting. I absolutely love them. Their sixteen year old daughter Emily was there to take pictures of us and help with our luggage. After loading our luggage into the trailer, the assistants took us to OSU. We went to the institute building where I momentarily felt like I could breathe because it seemed that we were just going to do some sort of orientation or what not. No such luck. I guess I shouldn't have been surprised by the fact that they were going to have us get to work immediately. Blah. They assigned us temporary companions in experienced missionaries and had us go place Books of Mormon. Not like that's at all stressful. I'm honestly finding that being a missionary is about opening your mouth without worrying about how the people you talk to are going to respond. Our trio was one of the only one to place every Book of Mormon we had been sent out with (one apiece). The first guy that I talked to was totally disinterested in the Book of Mormon, but he did take our phone number in the event that he needed help with something or changed his mind. While the idea of the experience was painful, the actuality of doing wasn't that bad. It was planting seeds. I'm a good planter.
After our OSU throw you in the deep end of the pool experience we went back to the mission home for pictures and dinner. President had smoked a brisket for over fourteen hours in preparation for our arrival. Since all I had eaten all day was some hummus and pretzel chips with some Dr. Pepper, I was pretty excited to eat. The food was not only absolutely welcome, it was real and delicious and not MTC food, so that's brilliant. After dinner we had some additional instruction time and role played extending baptismal offers. It turns out that I'm absolutely on board with extending the offer of baptism in the first lesson because of how we do it. If I had been smarter and read Preach My Gospel I would have known and consequently wouldn't have been so alarmed by the proposition. After our brief instructional time they sent us to bed. I showered, briefly wrote in my journal, prayed, closed my eyes, and then next thing I knew it was morning again.
We got ready for the day and went to transfer meeting. Transfer Meeting is seriously insane. Tons of missionaries, tons of luggage, and changes. To start we had another quick meeting with President and the other couple missionaries to give us some additional information about our Missionary Funds, apartments, and general expectations. President Daines loves the rules, but he loves the rules because they provide blessings and safety. (I'm also happy to report that the crazy lists were written by the previous President, President Nielson/Nelson?). After we had our brief orientation they invited the trainers into the room. We role played more baptismal offers with random trainers and that was okay too. There's so much about being a missionary that is just accepting what is about to happen and doing. For the actual transfer meeting we went into the chapel and sat down. It was really interesting to watch all the missionaries who know and love each other. The people of Ohio love their missionaries so much that they come to transfer meetings to see who is going where and see missionaries that have left their areas. I never even considered going to a transfer meeting in Utah. The new missionaries sat on the left side of the stand and the departing missionaries sat on the right side of the stand. It was kind of awkward to be sitting there staring out at the rest of the missionaries sitting in the pews. The Assistants took turns reading out new assignments and people shuffled around and made room for each other. My companion is Sister Hibbert and she is a kindred spirit. She loves Disney, Doctor Who, Sherlock, Harry Potter, and Lord of the Rings. We get along swell! After all the transfers were read we sang the mission song, which was also way cooler than I had anticipated and then the departing missionaries bore their testimonies. We sang "God Be With You 'Til We Meet Again" which seemed fitting as they say that if you are companions with someone the transfer before they leave you "kill them off". In twelve weeks I'll be committing missionary murder as Sister Hibbert goes home.
Our area is Delaware. It's a cute town, though I'll be honest I really have no concept for the size. I love our investigators so much already. They are remarkable humans and it is such a blessing to be invited into their lives and homes to share the gospel with them. Our ward is incredible. We have had meals from members every single night so far. They are really excited about missionary work and have a ward mission plan. We get to go to the Relief Society Activity tomorrow night and help the sisters with their Family Mission Plans. Somehow I feel like Utah understands just how involved members can be in missionary work and how instrumental they are. They seem to really understand that here in Ohio.
Last night we got to sing in the Missionary Choir at the Missionary Musical Fireside. Our guest speaker was Elder D. Todd Christopherson. Yes, you read that right, this sister missionary heard from three general apostles in three weeks. How spoiled am I? He was incredible and really said some things that were applicable to the concerns and blocks that our investigators are currently experiencing. Two of our investigators were even there, so that was perfect. Our recent convert got to shake Elder Christopherson's hand and say hello. It was a really cool evening. In addition to the awesomeness that was our missionary fireside, it snowed last night. The children of Ohio are enjoying a snow day today.
How is unpacking going?
Ethan, tell me about school! (assuming you figure out the immunization thing). How is early morning seminary? And the guys in the ward?
I'm so glad to hear that you're all doing well. Keep sending scriptures that you like. I'm keeping track of the things people send to me :)
I love you all so much, but I forgot that I'm supposed to write President first, so I have to go do that now.
The church is true, life is good, God's in charge, and Satan hates you.
Love,
Jessica
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