Hahahahahahahah I just came up with that subject, super clever, huh?
Anyway.... I've never experienced so much anger and frustration and happiness and spirit all at the same time.... I love it and hate it all at the same time. I feel like some moments I'm hanging on by the skin of my teeth. An inch away from giving up. BUT I feel like I have a little bit more hope as of 20 minutes ago when I had an interview with the mission president. He said there's no comfort in a growth zone and no growth in a comfort zone. So basically I'll be uncomfortable my whole mission or else I won't be growing. I have sooooo much to learn and improve on. He said a lot of other things and I wish I could have taken notes.... but it was good. I feel a little better.
So I've decided to work on my charity and humility. We had an amazing lesson yesterday in Gospel Principles about charity and spiritual gifts. I have a particularly crazy spiritual gift I don't know how or when to use and maybe I haven't been able to yet cause I struggle with charity. I have been the recipient of so much charity in my life and I am seeing how selfish I've been at times. There's so much I don't want to give up, passions to bridle, thoughts to let go. But I read a talk from October conference by Elder Gay about what we need to give up to exemplify Christ. I feel like if I can do that and have more charity, I'll be able to help people the way the Lord wants and needs me to. Including my family. I just... olive you guys!
So a highlight of the week was probably the fact that we taught 23 lessons. The standard of excellence is 20 and I've never reached it the whole 2 months I've been a missionary in the field. So that was cool that we exceeded our goals.
I really don't know what to say this week. I am struggling to recall specific events, I've just been so overwhelmed with so many things. Things go up and down with my companion. We could be BFF's outside the mission but sharing missionary responsibilities is reallllly hard. Some moments are contentious. The next moment we're having the best time. The next moment we're so tired and want to give up. The next moment we find common ground. I'm so confused! Being a missionary comes with this really weird subculture. Inside jokes, unspoken rules, loopholes with obedience, district secrets.... not to say that all missionaries are bad. It's just odd. But fun. But weird.
I feel like this email has been all over the place... Someone (all of you) tell me how life is over yonder in Tville? Abbi, how was your birthday? Naomi, are you excited for school to end? Sorry I didn't email you last week. Sarah, I'm super jealous you went to the Manti temple! How was it?! Mommy, congrats on finishing those camps! When I read your caterpillar comment, I laughed super hard. Dad, how's work? Getting some good long boarding in? Don't hurt yourself! Lisa, Laura, Grandma, how's spring cleaning going? I love cleaning... that's like all I contribute to my companionship and when we do things with other elders in our district. I just do the dishes, clean whatever, everyone else is proficient at cooking and food knowledge... They just jump right in. That's ok though, I have like 4 recipe books I've collected over the last 2 months... I'll put them to good use soon.
So I failed at taking a picture of my and Sister Graves with our bikes... the new goal is to have one by the end of the transfer. Life is just too crazy! I'll tell you what, I don't know how I've had energy to get from place to place. On Friday, we were halfway into Corrales, left at4:45 to make it to dinner by 5 over by the church which is pretty far away from where we were. We were 15 minutes late, but it should have taken us almost an hour to get there. We were even riding against the wind in 90 degree weather. I wanted to throw up the whole time I was pedaling and pedaling, I was so tired ready to just give up and walk the rest of the way. But somehow, we made it. Goodness gracious. IT'S SOOOO HARD!!!! But I'M SOOOOO GREATFUL!! I know that in hindsight I'll look back and say "hey, that was an awesome experience." But right now it sucks. I'll be honest.
Anyway, I love you all sooooooooo much! Thanks for everything you do. I hope that I'll be able to be more positive in the future, but I have no one to complain to besides the Lord. So sorry you guys get the short end of the stick. ;)
I've been reading John. I love all of it. John 14:26. AWesome.
OLIVE YA!
Sister Schieving
**Editors note: I often edit Sister Schieving's emails for content at her request, leaving personal bits out or whatever. This week, because there were no specific directives to leave anything out, I opted to leave in the evidence of rough moments. A mission is a struggle sometimes, and not always peachy keen and perfect. So, pray for your missionaries, where ever they may be. Pray for them to have success, growth, and strength trough the tough patches. Our missionaries are a special part of the Lord's army and need all the support they can get! **
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