And three million years later is was my preparation day.

Family!

It's finally my preparation day! Yes, it was reassigned to Thursday. At one point, I quoted one of the lost boys from Peter Pan to Sister Mills, "I never had a mother. . . ." because that's how it felt. Which brings me to my next point, which is that I was transferred to Carthage! And Sister Mills is my new companion!

I've never served in Carthage before (obviously) and I lovvvveee it!! Instinctively, I was quite sad to leave Nauvoo because it's kind of my place, ya know. But Carthage adds a lot of new elements and it's so wonderful. First of all, we are in an apartment of just four of us. I miss the other sisters but I honestly am a lot more well rested, and sometimes I do like my winding down time. Also, Sister Mills, who was in my district in the MTC, is actually a weirdly perfect fit for me. Like seriously, we are a great team. It's the weirdest thing because in many ways we are so different. Our personalities just aren't the same at all. But we run on the same frequency or something. I don't know. I'm trying to break it down so I can apply it to my future marriage. We both work on the same logic, I think. Oh, it's so hard to say.

Anyways, everyday in Carthage is great. It's seriously the most fulfilling missionary work. The spirit is so strong in the tours and you get to talk to the people before/afterwards. There are many things I miss about Nauvoo, but I think this was a needed break.

Highlights: We gave a tour to a group of three FLDS people (the polygamists). So, I always get a really eerie vibe around them (they've come into Nauvoo a few times) but this was my first one on one time giving a tour and I, personally, actually felt the spirit really strongly because I was trying really hard to see them as children of God, with their own needs and concerns (which I would imagine are many, on account of who would want to share a husband?).

Then later that same day we gave a tour to the most awesome prepared non-member couple and it was the greatest. Sorry, guess you had to be there.

On Sunday, Sister Mills and I were assigned to the Seventies Hall and there's a keyboard in there, which, we discovered, plays beats. So we actually had a real live jam sesh singing our own jazzed up versions of hymns to these beats and it was the time of our life. I also had my own pulpit at which to sing.

We are also trying to figure out things to do in the evening since we can't come into Nauvoo on a regular basis and do call center (it's been renamed by Salt Lake "teaching center"). So Sister Mills and I are trying to contact people and get some service going on because we literally have nothing to do. Yesterday we sang at a rest home. Supes fun.

I LOVE all of the seniors that we serve with in Carthage. It's great here because couples serve together so we get to serve with the senior elders, too. They're a riot.

I know this letter is all sunshine and giggles but what am I supposed to do? It's a good time in Carthage and I'm enjoying the newness of it (what a novelty). I'm turning into one of those sister missionaries. I'll probs want to get transfered back to Nauvoo next transfer (aka my last transfer. . .what the what...) but that's not really in my control and I've learned enough to trust Heavenly Father.

Ok, I love you!

Love, Rachel

Oh yeah, and forget about what happened pre-transfers. I have no idea. It's such a blur.