CSI: Arkansas--It's a thing

Fam bam, 

I am better these days. Sister Reynolds has a funny, sassy personality. She's reserved in the beginning, but everyone has to try to figure out how their personality fits in with being a missionary, and she worries a lot about offending people or being judged.

I am less discouraged but still wondering what "missionary work" looks like and feeling like I could potentially be doing it all wrong. . .? 

We don't have too many investigators right now. We're really trying to find some but that's easier said than done. And it's really all on the Lord's timing anyways, right?  

Arkansas is a crazy place. We received a referral for a home out in the back woods (there a lot of homes/trailers out in the back woods. . .people that don't want to be around other people, a lot of the  time). They had a dog the size of a lion guarding their house. No exaggeration. Along with some shetland ponies and other random animals. We couldn't get out of the car very far to knock on the door on account of the lion-dog but we've been several times and nobody's seemed to be home. Typical. Typical.

I've come up with a great idea, by the way. It's called CSI: Arkansas. There would only be too much material to work with. But probably the crimes wouldn't be legitimate enough. 

We have been able to talk with a lot of less actives though. So many have a testimony, know it's all true, and yet, don't go to church. I really don't get it. That mentality in and of itself is pretty discouraging since I'm not used to it but we've had some good spiritual moments and just hope to give them a glimpse of that gospel light, and renew their desire to come to church. 

This upcoming week is bike week. We're on a car share with 3 other sets of missionaries. We fortunately get a car 3 out of 4 weeks, but this week might kill us. I have no qualms whatsoever with riding a bike. But the only way to get anywhere here in Greenbrier is on the highway. On which we can't ride our bikes. So we're really depending on the members to cart us around. . .to go find people? I'm not really sure how it's going to work. 

Ok, I love you all!

Love, Rachel

I'm definitely in Arkansas.

Hi family! 

Well I'm definitely in Arkansas. 

My companion is Sister (Mallory--for Holly's fb stalking purposes) Reynolds, and we are opening up a new area (for sisters). Our area is called Choctaw (The Choctaw ward) and we live in a town called Greenbriar. It has been quite the experience. This is my companions third transfer (almost 4 months--she just finished training) and she's totally obedient and ready to work, so that's quite a plus. Not a crazy, which is good. 

We are sharing our area with Elders, who have been very great, very helpful at giving us referrals, telling us about people to go to, etc.  I guess the ward we are in has been looking forward to getting sisters for months. There are a lot of people that are much easier for us to visit (on account of the extra needed person of the same gender as the missionaries rule) and the young women I guess have just been so enthusiastic about missionary work in general and getting sisters. I thought the utter adoration of sister missionaries would end when we left Nauvoo but this ward is very supportive of us. 

There are a ton of less actives and recent converts and part member families for us to visit. Almost all of the recent converts no longer come to church.  We were able to find a less active 15 year old girl who had gotten baptized last year as we were trying to find another recent convert less active. She was such a sweet girl, and it was clear that she had felt the spirit while being taught, but did not truly understand the tenets of the gospel. We are going to try and teach her and her non-member family.  

Like I was saying, there are some great supportive and very missionary minded members here, which really helps. They are truly consecrated--ready to give of their time and resources (including just letting us teach in their house or business whenever we want). 

I don't really know how to describe the socioeconomic status here. We've visited a lot of trailers and tiny apartments. And there is just stuff all over people's yards here. Not everyone's of course. And there are just groups of dogs that kind of run around and follow you as you try to back your companion out of the drive way/road. I already have some teeth marks in my orange skirt (it was a friendly pulling of the skirt, not anything vicious).

People here are really into Jesus. I kind of don't really understand their fervor. I mean, the Atonement is central to God's plan but the way they talk about HIm just confuses me. I think they--they being a very generalizing term; just the people I've talked with so far for the most part--kind of lump everything spiritual or religious into just being about having Jesus in your heart.  I think it will be cool to build my own testimony of the Savior by seeing the beliefs out there and having to really hone in on my own. 

I love missionary work. I love knocking on people's doors and having an honest moment for the first time in society's life. It's fantastic-ly real. Although we don't do too much tracting here, at least we haven't done too much so far. And in this mission, we call it "spiritual harvesting" ha ha 

We only go to doors we feel prompted to. And sometimes we offer to say a prayer of peace and blessing over the home (where am I?) and people here are cool with it because they love Jesus. It's nice though because as weirded out as I would be if someone came to my door and offered to pray, it does bring the Spirit, and helps them see that we are just Jesus followers like them and not of the devil. And then maybe their hearts are softened and they'll listen to our message? 

There aren't too many black people in this specific area, by the way. #don'ttellmesegregationisn'tathing 

Ok, I love you! I think I've covered most everything important. 

Love, Rachel

International Love

Hi Family!

I was given a shorter time to email today before the big departure on Tuesday. We have had little to do besides pack and watch conference, so you can imagine the weekend long party that has ensued. Was conference yesterday not the best conference of all time? Of all time?? Conference this morning was good too, but I started to lose it around Richard G. Scott's talk (I'm sure it will be fantastic upon re-reading) and also I had to go the bathroom unbearably during Eyring and Oaks. But I'm sure it was all very good. 

I was able to have my last golden visitor center moment on Friday.  I called a man in Sweden who, by all means, I should not have been able to talk with.  The only time I was able to call him was at 10pm his time. I don't speak Swedish. People never pick up their phones. But when it's in God's plan, it happens despite the seeming impossibilities.  The man was a golden convert of the guy who referred him to us but has become less active. He feels lonely in life, struggling with a "bad habit" (euphemism for addiction?), and doesn't seem to understand his purpose. He wants to settle down and get married to a good girl but he feels like he needs to travel the world first. He seemed to think that going backpacking around the world is the elusive golden ticket to his finding his place on this earth. Quite conveniently, I was able to tell him about my backpacking through Europe, or the American Dream.  It was fun and I had a good experience but in the end, when I realized that I had accomplished that thing that everybody wants to do, I didn't feel very fulfilled at all. I told him I have just as much fun doing nothing staying up late with my sister. Listen mister, if it's a soul searching journey you want, well, you're already on one. See: The Plan of Salvation. And http://www.lds.org/broadcasts/article/general-young-women-meeting/2013/03/your-wonderful-journey-home?lang=eng&query= and http://www.mormonchannel.org/our-heavenly-fathers-plan (Really, watch these links...those videos are better than expected, that's for sure).

I'm so grateful for the chance I have to talk to people in Sweden. And to see how much the Gospel is needed by everyone, even those who already "know" it. He said to me, "It's 10:30 on a Friday night in Sweden. I'm about to go clubbing by myself. I'm lonely." Even though I heard him say hi to friends while he was presumably walking down the street while talking to me, he's missing something. That kind of lifestyle is empty no matter how many friends you have. And even if you have the Gospel, if you are focused on other things, you will feel empty as well. I've felt it before. It's very easy to get distracted and search for things you think you want, as well-intentioned as they are. That's why we always have to study the scriptures sincerely, and for a decent amount of time, which I had a rough time doing right before the mish. 

Well, I love you! I'm excited for AR! 

Love, Rachel

This is not a real letter.

I really wish I had something inspiring to talk about. I (think) I am learning many spiritual lessons, but they're in progress, so I have nothing to really properly analyze for you. So, actually, there will be no email this week. This non-email is it. 

Some details. Leaving next Tuesday, the 8th. Don't know when my next preparation day will be. 

This is my new address:

Arkansas Little Rock Mission

905 Kierre Dr.

North Little Rock AR 72116

H-dog, you can update the fb. Also, it might change depending on my specific location, but you can always send stuff to the mission home.

Ok, love you! 

--Rachel