From Syd

ear Family and Friends,

 

I present to you the too bluntly honest missionary of the week! Last week I had what I call Peeved Missionary Syndrome. I was hanging on a thinnnnnnnnnnnnnn string of very short nerves last week.

 

Last week was hard in an awesome way. It started on a Tuesday that my poor companion became very ill. I have never felt so cooped up in my LIFE. We are in a quadship so I have other companions, but we decided to split the area so we could do more work. So my usual companion was out of commission, I went on splits with my other companions and one of us would stay with the other. But at night, at like 6, I would be stuck in the apartment. I used to think I would enjoy that, but at last I didn't.

 

I also thought I was going to die. Apparantly Sister Weeks was a Car Racer back in the Pre-mission day.

 

During this week, Peeved Missionary Syndrome decided to come at the opportune moment. I would think things, and then theywould pop out of my mouth. I wouldn't even give a thought about it. Until I realized what I said, and I would be like- "Come back words! Come back!"

 

Everything would put me on edge! I was not a very pleasant person this week. Sister Tietjen thought it was hilarious, but she was delirious. So you know.

 

During splits, one day, Sister Weeks and I were driving with a member and I wanted to do some work in my area, so we decided to visit Ignocio. There were a lot more cars there than usual, so I was like, oh well more people to teach. We get out of the car and Sister Weeks and I were walking towards the house, and bam! I felt like some football player hit me and was keeping me in place. I couldn't move towards the house. I turned towards Sister Weeks and she looked just as shocked. We both turned around and our poor member present looked so confused. Haha. Bless her little heart. But I never felt such a strong push from the spirit. It was so weird.

 

We even went back to his house a couple days later, and it was fine. He went to church for the first time in years. It was so cute. He is this little Mexican man. We were talking with him at church and said he wanted to be baptized when he was ready. He also told us that alcohol has been tasting so nasty to him and he has been wanting to drink soda. He said that other missionaries have tried teaching him, and we were the best he has had. But unfortunately, we are going to be giving him up. We both went to a Spanish baptism, and we both thought how needed Ignocio was in the Spanish ward. It's frustrating, because we have given up ALL of our investigators. But we have been blessed so much.

 

Since Sister Tietjen was so sick, we had to work really hard on Saturday and Sunday to get our lessons. We taught so many people. We also went to the mall and contacted. It was terrible. But I made an appointment to get my haircut (on Monday of course). And I did! It looks really cute. Sister Tietjen got her hair permed. I love going to get my haircuts when I am a missionary. You get a lot of meaningful contacts. I talked to this really cool Buddhist guy and he was asking all the right questions. And a little Chinese hairsylonists said I was sexy. Never been called that before. hahaha. That's why I added that in there. Tehe. Okay. But, we also went laser tagging and IT WAS AWESOME!!!

On Sunday,

 

I love human beings, but this week was hard in the tolerance level. I have learned to really pray to see people the way that my Heavenly Father sees them. It's amazing how it works. I am so much better now, but I realized I need to be nice and watch what I say all the time (is it okay that I am still bluntly honest in my emails home;)) I have learned when other people start talking about someone, to just start saying something nice about the person and they join in. It really is awesome to just talk nice about people. And It is true what daddy says: Only nonintelligent people can't think of anything to talk about but other people. And I have been working on my intelligence lately;)

 

I love y'all! I wrote down some requests to send y'all but I can't find them! Hahaha.

 

Love,

 

Sister Powell

 

P.S. Read the new Ensign! It's AMAZING!!!!

 

Pss. I know the church is true!

From Syd

First off, before I begin and forget, I want something from y'all. I want all my convert friends and family to send me their conversion stories. You know who you are:) And I want everyone to send me their testimonies. Everyone! Do it. Hhaha. And also, could y'all send me some Louisiana recipes? Via email (sydney.powell@myldsmail.net). Elder Clayton is awesome and really wants some. The more recipes the better. He is the best Car Coordinater in the world:)

 

Sooooo, this week started with DRAMA. I hate drama. Haha. Sister Weeks had a big blow up (first couple weeks is hard in the mission). She would yell at us and we wouldn't know what exactly to do. I have never felt so scared someone was going to go home in my life. And we had no idea it was coming. We didn't do anything to cause it. The blow up(s) was so weird. And she seriously was acting like she was going home. It was going to happen on my watch! So we bought her Chinese food, which didn't help. It just gave us all food poisioning. Hahaha. It gave me the worst kind. Throwing up my friends. I feel like everytime I email you, I have a story about how I get sick. Haha.

 

 It's been a rough week. Satan really attacked us emotionally and physically. I have never felt so alone in my life, and so unsure. I just questioned everything and why I was even on a mission. I haven't had any "success". I got so many priesthood blessings this week. I just really wanted to hear from my Heavenly Father that everything was going to be okay. I felt like I was making all these phone calls and no one was answering me. Sister Teitjen and I were just so tired from working so hard and not seeing anything. I just felt awful. And it just kept getting worse. Here, Satan really works on your thoughts. He knows exactly what worries you, and I just wanted to scream and rip my hair out. I didn't have peace in my apartment, and I didn't have peace in my head and it was awful. And he attacked our sleeping time. I have had hardly any sleep.

 

One day we were driving to service when we saw the Jehovah Witnesses spilt up and start knocking on our neighbors doors. THEY LOOK EXACTLY LIKE US. They started to wear skirts and name tags. Ah! haha. And they were about to knock on Vina's (our Indian Investigators Door). I felt so strongly that we had to visit Vina. So we swerved our car James Bond style and hopped out the car and ran to her door in jeans and a t-shirt. We looked those girls up and down and they looked at our nonpros apparel up and down. I felt like I was in Mean Girls. It was awesome. And Vina opened the door. We needed to be there. Her son just gotted kicked out of his home in Fiji. She was so scared the missionaries wouldn't be able to find him. So we asked her if she wanted to pray with us. She chose me to say it even though I was still kinda bugged that he wasn't answering my prayers. Right when I opened my mouth to pray, things just started to pop in my head. I just spoke and it wasn't like I was speaking. I just was filled with so much love and peace. I just started crying as I was praying. Somehow I knew the things she needed to hear, and that her son was going to be okay. I knew that Heavenly Father loved her sooooooooo much. After the prayer and during she just started sobbing. She cried and cried and thanked me. And hugged me and told me I was her daughter. She told me and the other Sisters that she had felt like someone was putting thoughts into her mind and was sitting on her the whole week, and right when I prayed she felt like the person was pushed off. I felt that exact way.

 

I realized as I was praying for Vina, that I was being amazingly selfish before. God gives me notes of his love and his existence everyday. He answers my prayers. But sometimes he doesn't answer a certain question because I already have the answer. But there are some people, who need their prayers answered through people. He needs help because some of his children don't see those miracles. Vina needed her prayers answered, and I was the missionary there to help Heavenly Father. She needed to tell Heavenly Father something, and she just didn't know how to say it.  I need to be on a mission. Teaching people how to pray, to feel their Saviors love, and helping my companions is so much success. Sister Weeks is doing amazing.  We all had an amazing Companionship Inventory. We went on splits one night and Sister Weeks just told me her gratitude that I was there and how she knew I loved her. She said she never wanted me to go to Brazil and that she prays every night that I won't (meh). That I always made her feel welcome. She thanked me for letting her be herself. I cried, because I had been working so hard all week making her feel loved. I also made her bear her testimony. She was reluctant too, I think she was feeling the same way I was before I prayed for Vina,  and then she said a beautiful testimony that gave me peace and she started crying.  I just love everyone so much here.

 

I just want y'all to know that I know this Gospel is true. That the Book of Mormon is true. It brings me joy and peace everyday. I know that Jesus Christ is the Savior. He loves us so much. He died for us, and he understands us. And we have an incredibly loving Heavenly Father who sent us to this Earth so we could return to Him as families. He is so incredibly unselfish. He gives us opportunities everyday to work on our families, and he won't ever have a perfect family. He sacrificed that so we could. And all he asks is that we help His children return to him. Don't be scarred of spreading the gospel! Have family home evenings and invite friends. I love you all so much. I love my companions, and we are doing great. I am glad I am here and I can serve.

 

I love y'all!

 

Sister Powell

From Syd

Hi my lovely friends and family!

How has life been going? My life has been interesting. And this email is probably going to be really short. haha.

So, Tuesday. Transfer meeting. I was super depressed. Haha. I sat there, and I realized how much I am going to be miss, not only Livermore, but also San Jose California Mission. I sat there and was just like: "This is my last transfer meeting here." and I just started crying. I must have looked pitiful, because President kept apologizing to me. And he tried to give me shoes, but at last, there is none my size. Silly man. 

So at transfer meeting, I was sitting in agony, awaiting my fate. My Zone Leader from Livermore became the Assistant to the President, first transfer, and I was jealous because I wanted mine to be over. But I was like the last one. Haha. I am with Sister Livingston, Sister Tietjan, and Sister Weeks. We are in a quad so when I go to Brazil, it will be a trio. All of them are so awesome. Sister Weeks is fresh out of the MTC. She is super sweet. Sister Livingston and Sister Tietjan are hilarious. They all have blue eyes and I got stinky hazel eyes. Haha. Only issue I have with them:)

The area I am in is super awesome. We have a goal for 42 baptisms and we have high standards in this area. It's awesome! I have yet to be in an area so motivated. And I have been in a lot of areas here. haha

Wednesday was fun. We visited a lot of people. Including some awesome members. The only problem is I felt like the whole entire time that my stomach was going to explode. I had a fever and I was throwing up. My stomach hurt so bad! It had been hurting all week, but it was terrible feeling. I woke up, and my companions told Sister Abrams about it and I was forced to go to the hospital. Meh. And guess what it was! CONSTIPATION. Haha. Meh. I had 4 months worth of waste in my stomach. I haven't used number two since the MTC. Apparantly that is super bad for you and you get super sick if you don't poo. Go figure. I am super sorry parents.I got lots of laxitives though. Yay! The good stuff. 

My hair has been horrible here. It's been super depressing.

I have one miracle to say. We needed a new investigator. We were looking in our area book and we saw this lady Jeanette who was dropped. So we decided to go visit her and she said she had been waiting for us for 2 years! It was super awesome and now she is our new investigator. And this guy gave me his number at the Library and I think he thinks we are going on a date. He is going to be dissappointed when I have someone else with me and we teach about the Book of Mormon. haha.

I love y'all so much! I hope you are happy and in the words of my mission President:

Me (on the phone): I'm doing good! How are you?

President: I'm doing good. I'm pretty regular.

I hope you are all regular! I'll more next time. The world seems to not want me to email.

Love, 

Sister Powell