Here are a couple of pictures of Kylie, other missionaries in her area, and some ward members on Hurricane clean-up. She said a lot of what they were doing were gutting houses: pulling up carpeting, removing moulding, and dry wall. She was on splits that day and is seen with Sister Ward, an English speaking sister who also entered the MTC on May 30, who just transferred into the Metarie area.
Hello Everyone!!
Alright, I am finally able to write a real email! Yay!! So much has happened I wouldn't even know where to start. Like we are officially Spanish sisters now. We moved over to an apartment in Kenner quick one night after being in La Place. ...
Its transfers week! We were allowed to go back to our areas yesterday, but will probably be back (serving - Hurricane clean up) in La Place this weekend. Also, remember how I said the news has been all over? Well....go to:
http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/mormon-helping-hands-clean-up-from-hurricane-isaac?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+LDSNewsRoomTop15+%28RSS%3A+LDS+Newsroom%29
for the article, there's also a link to avideo that was on the WGNO news. All the people you'll see in it are people that I work with. Two of the elders are my zone leaders who live in La Place, and when I've been organizing I've been working with them, my mission president, and the stake president. Then the two or three other elders you'll see (one has dark hair, one has light...both tall ish) live in our same apartment complex and work in my English ward and I've been working in their crew when I've been out gutting houses, which was everyday, except for the day they shot that footage of them carrying stuff out :). Anyway, so you won't see me on there, but I thought it was super cool that you could see all the people I've been working with, both just as a missionary, as well as in La Place.
Mom, my feet are doing much better, I've been diligent with the cream, so I don't have "swamp feet" anymore :) Also, Metairie didn't have really bad flooding, just really bad power outtages. And there's the looting. It's mostly bad in La Place because there's just big trash piles in front of every house, so big you can't hardly see the house. But it happened a little in Kenner. We were supposed to move into that apartment earlier, but couldn't because someone came through and stole the stuff that was in it. So they cleaned it up and now we live there. Sounds scary, but I promise it's a safe place now and we're being smart. There's just nothing in it :) But that's one of the fun things about being a missionary...you don't need much! And you can pack all your stuff and move in 30 mins! Although we might ask the office elders for a microwave... :)
We got the "official" call last night from President that we are coming to transfers and that we are both training. So we'll go to Baton Rouge tomorrow. It's so crazy how it happens! Seriously, this whole area was uprooted. It's like you just start to get to know and working with missionaries in your district or area and then you're all moved around. I'm pretty nervous about what's happening, and my DL told me he'd help me out in Spanish meetings and just questions in general. Well, he got a call last night that he's leaving so, it's a bummer but I'm not too worried because I know that these transfers are inspired and that they each go where they're needed at this time. And we all talked last night and figured out that almost every companionship in our district will be training. So I hope everyone's coming ready to work because this Spanish ward is really struggling.
My challenge, along with my new companion, is going to be to build a teaching pool! We know nobody. I seriously feel like we're getting whitewashed into an area. But Dad, just like you said, it doesn't matter how many balls we are juggling, or how fabulous we appear to the world. Real success comes from feeling inner peace. We will be successful because we will do everything we can, and that will bring peace. The week of the hurricane, when I was in the mission home, I started getting really worried, and scared, about how I'm going to do what I'm being asked to do. I've read the scriptures and I believe things like that when we are meek, His grace is sufficient, and that through man's faith, miracles can be worked. My fear is that I won't have the faith or meekness necessary to qualify for that help. I didn't express all that to President Wall, but I did a bit in the kitchen one night, and in his relaxed and calm manner, he talked about some commandments like tithing where we just need to write the check. So I think that might be my motto this transfer: "write the check." :) Haha, and then figure out the specific ways I do that each day. Any other thoughts? I'm always open to them as you know!
I just forwarded an email with some pics in it that one of the elders have. I was on exchanges that day with Sister Tuft, she's awesome!! She also entered the MTC May 30, we just didn't know each other. So we'll serve our whole missions together, which is super sweet. She's one of the Metairie sisters who just moved into our old apartment.
She and her companion are now teaching Mahala, who's baptism did not happen because the apartment she was supposed to move into fell through. So she doesn't qualify for baptism. She was super sad, and to be honest, I was super sad when we handed her over because you just get so invested in these people! The great thing is I don't have to worry because she was being converted to the gospel, so everything's gonna be fine :) It's just a heart tug. I really hope everything works out and she can be baptized either this weekend, or the next.
Thanks for all of your encouraging words, I really appreciate it! I hope you all have a wonderful week!
Love y'all!!
Hermana Marks