Let me tell you about Halloween on Temple Square. You are going to wish that you were a Sister missionary serving here by the end of this. So, on Halloween, the square closes at 5. For your information, the Square never closes, like ever. But on this one day a year it does. They close at five and all 200 something sisters all cram into Theater One in our mission home basement thing and we all eat food together! I might mention that during the day all of the sisters are low-key dressed up and then by the nighttime, everyone puts on the rest of their accessories that would not have been appropriate for the Square. So, after we eat, the APs get up and they give us a briefing on what we will be doing next... CAPTURE THE FLAG!!!!!! ON THE SQUARE!!!!!!! They even made their own safety video with rules and dos and don'ts. It was legit and it was hilarious. Then, they split us into groups and we were let loose on the square. I will be the first to say that I knew nobody was going to win. There were way too many sisters, about 100 on each team. Even if all of the offensive sisters were in jail, there were still so many sisters guarding the flag and the jail that nothing would really happen. But that didn't make it any less fun. I made one run for the flag and I actually got super far so that was cool. Mostly I played defense but lemme tell you, I went HARD. I was booking it. Keep in mind that we are all wearing proselyting clothes, skirts and dresses and slacks. I was one of the lucky ones that was wearing slacks but my shoes were the worst for running so when I really needed to move fast I took them off. It was 20 degrees outside I may add. But I was still sweating that is how hard I was going. One of the senior couples mentioned it to me the next day and said they had no idea how fast I could go. I thought it was common knowledge but I guess that was the first situation that anyone would have seen me running so it actually makes sense. Anyhow, after running around for what felt like two hours, we had donuts and hot chocolate, ran around some more, had more sugar, and then all got herded into a big theater in the North Visitor's Center. There, they revealed that we would be watching the LIVE ACTION CINDERELLA. That entire movie was a straight scream fest. All of us are way too deprived of romance so even just the Prince and Cinderella looking at each other caused us to flip. But let me tell you, it was unforgettable to watch that movie in that setting. This was easily one of the best nights of my life. Also, Sister Brinkmeier and I dressed up as Elders and it was ICONIC. So many people asked us to take pictures with them, so that was an ego boost.
Also, I went on I think one of the best exchanges of my life the other day with Sister Norton. She is from Washington State. She is in our district and she and her comp (sister Do from South Korea) had some major problems last week and Sister Brinkmeier and I had to sit them down in a room and facilitate a comp inventory with them and then help them set goals to fix it. Kind of like we had done with ourselves with no supervision the week previous! It went well and they were doing a lot better but we went on exchanges because we're their district leaders and we are supposed to. We just had the best and most full day of missionary work. We taught five lessons and we had a miracle and we stayed super focused during our proselyting time (where we are basically just on Square talking to people and trying to do contacting and lessons for an hour/ covering shifts) which is a big deal because it is way easy to get distracted by other things when you have proselyting time. We found two new people in the Teaching Center even though the online queue is dead and that was a huge miracle. One even wanted to meet with missionaries! We took someone through the God's Plan for His Families presentation and during the last room, the most SPIRITUAL room, the fire alarm went off in the North Visitor's Center. That happened last week too! But, we were almost done anyway, so we took this group of cousins from Australia out the nearest exit in a calm and orderly fashion and asked them what they thought outside. It was kinda awkward because only one of them was answering questions but it was still cool. I met a really cool couple in the Assembly Hall! They had so many questions about the church and just everything so I answered everything by teaching the restoration, half of the plan of salvation, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ all in 15 minutes and super simply (isn't it cool how the Gospel is so simple?) and then they took my contact info and promised they would reach out. One was from Spain and other from American and they lived in "Barthelona" (that is how Carlos, the guy, said it anyway) and his wife was named Emily and we literally had the same birthday just nine years apart! Isn't that neat! Carlos said that it was a sign. I agree, Carlos. They were just super cool. Honestly, it was just a day of hard work and fun with Sister Norton. She is just a good missionary that has the desire to do work but is sometimes held back because of her comp and her comps issues with depression and anxiety.
Side note: I love Temple Square and I love being a missionary. I love what I do. It is the best thing I have ever done. That doesn't mean that it's easy. Did I cry multiple times this week?? Yes, yes I did. Am I glad that I'm here? Yes, yes I am.
Back to business, also on my exchange with Sister Norton, we helped Sister Fisher with a gluten-free assignment (because Sister Norton is gluten-free). Sister Fisher's son owns a business that makes gluten-free food and it is named after her because homegirl can't have gluten. Apparently, President Dallin H. Oaks is also gluten-free. So we, under the instruction of Sister Fisher, put together a box of gluten-free things to go to him tomorrow at the Administration Building. However, we wouldn't be on exchanges the next day even though I still wanted to go along to deliver the box of goodies. So Sister Norton invited Sister Brinkmeir and me to go along, kind of as a district activity thing. We get buzzed into the lobby of the Administration Building which is ridiculous fancy btw and I'm pretty sure is made out of solid gold and we are looking around the lobby when lo and behold President Dallin H. Oaks himself walks out of his office and right into four Sister Missionaries that are just chillin in his lobby. I froze. Everyone froze. And he just said "Why hello there sisters, let me shake your hands before I go on my way" so then he shook all of our hands and he asked us what we were doing there and we said "Oh we are here to drop off some gluten-free things for you from President and Sister Fisher" and he said that his secretary Marge would be out shortly to get them. He then went past the gold gate that separates the lobby from the rest of the building and walked away with Elder Soares. Coolest thing ever. Honestly, it was a super cool experience and I am just so blessed because these things have been going on since literally day one. I think that I average seeing a general authority a month. Not too shabby. #bestmissionever #takethatsacramento. Just kidding dad;)
Also, we had a new person get put on date this week for the 27th of November! I had called him I think last transfer and the missionaries had gone over and done a Bible study and we would text but he just kind of plateaued progression wise. So I texted him and asked how things were going and he said that his grandma had just passed away and he was having a hard time. We comforted him (via text) and then set up a time to call and tell him more about where his grandma is. We got the locals involved because he hadn't been answering their texts and then told them to text him on Facebook because that is where we had been talking and he was super responsive on that. They quickly set up an appointment the day after ours. We taught him the second half of the plan of salvation and the next day the sisters slam-dunked the remainder and invited him to be baptized and he said yes for Nov 27! I'm so excited for him! We now have a weekly appointment and he is super excited to learn more. Also, I'm grateful for the knowledge that we have because it helps take the sting out of death. I'm grateful that he now has some of that same comfort and that he requested a bible and we could help him out. I love what I do!
Dad, I hope your back feels better! Mom, keep on killing it! I love you both! Also, I can't see the blog on Facebook so I would love to keep getting them in the emails:) I can't see the pics which is weird but that's okay. I miss you guys a lot. I am just a tad bit homesick, I won't lie to you. I think I should probably lose myself in the work more and that would help. Well, I'll talk to you next Tuesday. I love you both so much! Thanks for all the support!
Love
Em
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