Aaaaaaand now that I am landed in the beautiful Arizona Desert, it is time to reveal my first area!!
But first.
So monday I flew out with 17 Elders at 3:30 am. Wowzers I was exhausted especially cause I couldn't fall asleep till about 1 amhaha. I felt super weird being the only girl. I was attached to my mission president's wife's hip when we landed haha then we went to the temple and took pictures and yeah! Lots of orientation and training. I LOVE IT HERE. It's super hot. But my watch tan line is fabulous. Then we went street contacting! I decided I could be shy or confident and I chose confident. I gave out two Book of Mormons and invited several people to meet with the sisters. I snuck a card with mormon.org on it to these ladies who were eating lunch and one lady found it and looked at me and smiled real big. Oh so I was in scottsdale at this point. Then I stayed at the McConkie's they are so gracious and fed us WAFFLES. Oh it was delicious I love them. Then tuesday we went to the church to find out the big news!!
I sat down next to the only other sister I saw in the room and we talked and I had met her last night- Sister Lieberman! She is super cool. Then as they were talking the pieces clicked haha She was the only sister trainer... and I was the only new sister... duh. Haha She is my trainer!!! She is AMAZIN. Like... the epitome of a beauty and grace. We are going to be a great team ah I love her so much!!
Now the moment we have all been waiting for... my first area is..... dum dum dum TAYLOR!!!! I am up in the gorgeous mountains in 70 degree weather. Its like Fairview but mountain form! WE HAVE A COW IN OUR BACKYARD. Can life get any better? I submit that is cannot! OH and I am on BIKE!! At first I was like oh heck no. but I am in love with it already! I am so excited to serve here!! Just walking down the road last night a man drove by on his tractor and waved and I was like yes. This is where I belong. They go fishin on Pday! Heavenly Father has truly blessed me to be here. And the air? Asthma don't stand a chance! It's so clear up here! So after the meetin and everything we stayed another night in Scottsdale cause Sister Lieberman had a meeting. Then we got to drive up here last night and here I am!!
Ok pause. So tuesday night I went on splits with another sister- Sister Rasmussen- she is fabulous- and we rode bikes!! This is where I fell in love with the bikes. It was sunset and we were just cruisin through neighborhoods and it was hot yes but my heart was even warmer. It just hit me that I am in the mission. I am ready to serve. I am here to tell people of Christ! How beautiful. Oh. And I only crashed 3 times! Miracles my friends miracles. Though one time was not my fault. I did not see that pole comin. Who paints poles the same color as the walls? Crazy people thats who. But yes I love bikes like where have they been my whole life? It is so fun. And my legs are beginning to look so good. ha. jokes.
Aaaaaanyways oh so tired has a new definition to me now. But I got this. I know when I am tired at the end of the day that I worked efficaciously throughout the day. the other night i was in the shower and i fell asleep. i ended up slipping and falling and now I have a very nice bruise on my leg to show for it. I know what youre thinking. Day 4 in the field and I have almost died several times. Jokes. God can stop bad things from happening to me but He can't make me anymore graceful. Sorry. But also another miracle happened. So for monday through wednesday I was living out of a small bag with necessities cause I was separated from my suitcases. I forgot my asthma medicine. So i prayed so hard everyday and kept my inhaler in my pocket. I just prayed that I could not have an attack cause I went several days without the medicine. And y'all know how it was- I missed a day and I would have an attack. So I prayed and told my companion and so she knew and could keep an eye out. I am also in scottdale and it just rained. So basically a hayday for asthma. BUT God watched over me! No attacks no nothin! Not even chest pain which usually happens anyways. I know that He is lookin out for me. Don't worry- I have my meds back and I am takin em.
So here I am, in the Family History Center in Snowflake, Arizona. Kinda ironic yeah? The ward mission leader is so pumped to meet me. The sisters told me that all he talks about is this Elder Flake who served there and how much he loves him. One of the sisters said "Yeah our Ward Mission Leader loved Elder Flake, he talks about him ALL THE TIME. He is a legend here. Do you know him??" and I said YOU BET thats my BROTHER!!! So everyone is freakin out cause Elder Flake's sister is serving here! Seriously. Jason left a mark here that its been what... almost 2 years and they STILL are raving about him. Brings a smile to my face everytime. My little size 8 feet got big size 14 shoes to fill!! I am so excited. And I love my apartment. Its so spacious! And I sleep by the window and I can see the cow. Ah life is SO GOOD.
Last night was my first night here. And it was dark and the stars were all out and the moon and it was GORGEOUS. We walked to visit someone and when we were headed home, I just looked up at the sky and my heart just filled with so much joy. These past couple of days were rough. I felt so out of place because I had nothing to do and just had to sit around the mission home reading and such. Satan was attackin my mind so hard core. Telling me I wasn't good enough. Makin me question why I was here and tellin me to go home. I slapped that man upside the head, get thee hence Satan! Walkin in Taylor under the stars... I know I am supposed to be here. I know God called me here for these people. I am so excited to serve them with all I got.
Wanna know what's crazy? So I prayed about coming on a mission after the age change in October 2012. The answer was no. So I applied to BYU and got accepted in February of 2013. So I prayed again, asking God if I should go to BYU or go on a mission, cause I was turning 19 in July. The answer was go to BYU for a year. So I did! And I learned so much about myself and I made friends that will be with me forever. I got to spend time with Ryan and Cari in provo before they move to tennessee. I got to be with Becca and Matthew when they announced their baby and spend ALL MY TIME with them. And I got to make memories with Jason that I will never forget. "Can you Sally forth the aunt Jemima on tuesday?" *Hands Jason a loaf of bread* hahaha I got to grow so close to my siblings at home and in provo, and become besties with Erin and all the friends and ahh my cousins and ahh it was so perfect! God knew I needed that. I grew so much. I learned things that I am utilizing now. AND THATS NOT EVEN THE BEST PART! So then in July 1, 2013, the Arizona Scottsdale Mission opened. When I prayed about going, it was before then. My mission wasn't even established yet! So I go to BYU for a year, grow immensely, then in February 2014, I ask God one more time. And He told me it was time. He needed me now. So I filled out my papers and turned that sucker in and here I am! God needed me right here, right now. There are people here that He is preparing me for. And I am so excited to find them!! Yes it is hard, but it is so fun!! When you see people's eyes light up when you tell them that they can be forgiven of their sins, that Christ suffered for them so they don't have too... it's a whole new feeling of happiness. I love it here. I have been gone for just 2 weeks now and I feel like it's been ages haha I have truly changed a lot. My heart isn't beating for me anymore, it's beating for God.
So pday was today cause of transfers but its officially on monday so I can email then! Send me pictures of Josh and Spencer in their football gear! I miss y'all so much. But I love you even more! Heavenly Father is watching over each and every one of you. He promised me He would if I worked hard. So that's what I am doin. We live right across from the rodeo grounds haha oh my word I am so happy here.
Trust Heavenly Father. He knows absolutely everything about you. He knows from before the beginning till after the end. Just be good. Do everything you can to follow Christ. That's all He wants! I love the primary song "I'm trying to be like Jesus." We just gotta try. Give it all we got. Push till you can't anymore. Take a leap of faith, and Christ will be your wings. I love y'all. My heart is so full.
Much Love,
Sister Crystal Flake
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