The Week I Got Transferred (Again)‏

On this week's episode of Sister Cale in Columbus-Sister Cale and
Sister Wolf got to go to an End of Summer Event with Half the Mission,
the Sisters did the best service project ever and helped Sister
Ahlstrom plant winter pansies, not only did they sticky-note people,
they were sticky-noted by the brilliant Uptegraft's, Exchanges were
inspired and hilarious, the General Women's Broadcast was absolute
brilliance (and three of our investigators came!), the Sisters worked
like beasts on Monday and accomplished more than half of the week's
goals in the course of an afternoon and evening (because God loves
us), Sister Wolf got called to be a trainer, Sister Cale resigned
herself to leave her area after just six weeks again, and the Sisters
spent transfer morning touring Yellow Springs with all its very cute
shops.

Hello Dear Ones,

So, a week and a half is a lot to try to remember. One thing that I am
absolutely certain of is the complete joy and happiness that I have
felt in doing the work this last week and a half. I don't know that I
would want to be like Ammon and the other sons of Mosiah and be a
missionary for fourteen years, but I definitely can handle another
nine months (she says when it's not freezing cold yet) of this wonky
wonderful life.

One of the best parts of this last week was exchanges. Sister Crandall
came to Fairborn and miracles poured down from heaven as we went out
contacting. We went to try and give a referral the Bible that he had
requested, but he wasn't there, so we looked around and noticed an
apartment building that looked empty at best and sketchy at worse...so
of course we decided to go knock it. By the time we had knocked the
ten doors in the building we had taught a lesson, set up two return
appointments, received a referral, and were carried by angels down the
scariest staircase that I have ever seen (it was a metal staircase, it
gently swayed with each step we took to the top, and when we got to a
top there was a hole in the landing-definitely safe). We then went to
another street that we had planned to contact in and were able to
schedule three more return appointments and invite two other people to
watch General Conference this weekend. On top of all the contacting
miracles, we were able to teach three lessons and just had a blast. It
was brilliant. I feel like I learned a lot from Sister Crandall about
approaching doors and inviting people to learn about the gospel. It
was great.

The General Women's Broadcast was another one of those miracles this
week. I love General Conference so much, and especially now because it
somehow makes me feel more connected to home. I really appreciated
President Uchtdorf's parable. I learned something new about why the
Savior instructed in parables. Of course the Savior instructed in
parables because he wanted those who were prepared to understand more
to gain that instruction, but prevent those who weren't prepared to be
accountable for more from understanding. I have a testimony that
parables also open the door for personal revelation. I was able to
receive so many answers to my questions as I listened to President
Uchtdorf and the spirit. It was so reassuring and uplifting. I'm
really excited to see what General Conference brings.

Fun fact, there are things that Sister Missionaries can totally get
away with with greater ease than Elders. One such thing is
sticky-noting and this past week, sticky-noting worked a miracle. Last
Wednesday night we had an appointment fall through, but we were on the
sketchy side of town and didn't much feel like it was advisable to go
contacting in the dark. We decided to sticky note our investigators.
When we got to their house their front door was open with the glass
door closed, so we weren't going to be able to put the sticky notes on
the door like we usually do. We were going to stick them on the window
and then realized that we're both short, so that was going to require
us jumping and they would certainly hear that. So we left the sticky
notes on the side of the house, knocked on the window, and drove away.
Kim called us and asked if we had left the sticky notes. We said that
we had. She told us that it made a big impression on her son Adam
(we've been teaching his wife Megan and he's been uninterested in
learning himself). Well, it made enough of a big difference that when
Megan came to the church for a Chapel Tour on Monday night, Adam came
with her and not only accepted the invitation to learn more about the
gospel, but also accepted a baptismal date.

Miracles are happening in Fairborn, and that is why I have to leave.
There was an Elder at the last transfer meeting, who quoted Nanny
McPhee in his departing testimony saying that missionaries are just
like Nanny McPhee becase "When you don't want us, but you need us, we
have to stay. And when you want us, but you don't need us, we have to
go". I know that in these last six weeks in Fairborn Heavenly Father
has allowed me to be the instrument in his hands in bringing about a
lot of good. And now it's time for me to go elsewhere. (I would feel
less resentful about leaving if it didn't mean having to pack again).
Wherever I go next, it certainly won't be boring, and I know it will
be according to God's plans.

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

Love,

Jessica