The Week Where the Rain Couldn't Even Stop Us

This week on Sister Cale in Columbus-the Sisters got to go to the
mission home, it rained, Elder Garmon (their not entirely trusty GPS)
navigated them to New Albany before taking them to the temple, it
rained, they had their first meeting with their district (now that the
transfer is halfway over), it rained, they were introduced to the Area
Book Planner app, it rained, and it rained some more. Oh, and Dan got
baptized.

Dear Loves,

Hello Friends! Weeks where P-day isn't on Monday are the weirdest in
the world. It honestly just kind of throws off the flow of everything.
First you have a week that feels desperately long. And then you have a
week that feels insanely short (all in the same seven day time
period). But was a blessed long and short week it has been.

The biggest blessing of this week was being able to watch Dan get
baptized. I get it now. The joy that they talk about when you help
bring someone to the gospel. I officially understand it. I also think
that it would be more than fair to say that it takes a village to make
a baptism happen. I was so grateful for all the ward members who came
to support Dan and participate in the program as well as our District
who all rallied together in some form or fashion to make sure that
everything went smoothly. I also have to send a major shout out for
Sister Brown out to the cosmic universe as she became my memory this
week in helping remind me of things like the fact that we needed to
get jumpsuits for Dan to try on and pick the programs up. I'm hoping
that having the planner on the iPad will somehow restore some of  my
lost brain power as it would appear that I've completely lost it in
some respects. Really though, more than anything I was grateful for
the sweet spirit that was there as Dan made that covenant with our
Heavenly Father. Something that was really cool about his baptismal
service is that when Brother Morgan was giving his closing remarks he
said that people in that room had promised to come and share the
gospel with him during the pre-Earth life. This was particularly
powerful to me, because several months ago when Sister Hibbert was
still here we had a lesson with Dan where I testified to him that
exact thing. I know that's the case. And I know that Dan is one of the
people that I was supposed to come to Ohio for.

This week was the rainiest week I have ever experienced in my
life...and I lived at Scout Camp the Summer that it rained two weeks
in a row. Ohio rain is largely different from Utah rain because with
it comes the supreme joy and exciting experience of humidity. Neat.

We had an awesome District Meeting and I'm feeling a little ripped off
that transfers are July 9, because we won't have had any time at all
really to get to know each other better. It's just too bad because we
could all really end up being good friends. It's fun to be able to be
friends with missionaries.

The temple this week was awesome, even if our dear sweet little
outdated GPS thought it would be amusing to freak me out and take us
to New Albany (nowhere near the temple) before taking us to the
temple. I was just grateful that we had Sister Russ and Sister Dowell
in the car with us because Sister Russ served in New Albany so she
knew the fastest way to get to the freeway. We had to sprint to get
inside and they held the session for us, but we ultimately did get to
the temple. Granted that we didn't have as much time for pondering
before the session started, but the spirit was still there and I was
so grateful that we had made it that my normal feelings of panic and
horror at being late were washed over with relief. I love the temple
so much. And I feel really lucky that I've already been able to go
three times.

We had the best P-day ever and were able to go to Easton Mall with
Sister Turner, Afton, and Cohen. I love this family so much. And even
though it was only about forty-five minutes away, it felt like a
mini-vacation to be away from Delaware not on specific missionary
business (don't worry, we had permission from President).

This week we started stage two of having iPads-the Area Book Planner
app. Honestly, I hate it. It's kind of like when we got the data
tracking program and internet time card at work. Initially the idea
sounded brilliant. However, when the system deletes an investigators
information after you have already spent nearly an hour putting it in,
it's less than charming. So I've been praying for charity towards an
app. Which is not something I had ever thought would be necessary in
my life. Hopefully once all the information is in it won't feel as
awful.

The church is true, life is good, God's in charge, and Satan hates you.

Love,

Jessica