17 months and 1 week missionary puns

Thats right folkens! Time keeps on flying by and, as much as I don't like to admit it, I only have three weeks left. It doesn't even seem like I have been out for that long until someone says something and then it comes as a slap in the face. This weeks reality check comes from a member. We were eating dinner over at a members house and he said something about accidentally breaking the ice tray. The dad joke side of me took over and I said something along the lines of "hey, way to break the ice!" After I received a couple of weird looks, one person commented on how it sounds like I have been out in the mission field for a while. It's okay, Søster Zenger enjoyed it. ;)

I accidentally left my planner at a member's house yesterday and so this weeks update comes straight from memory. Haha get ready. I might include some things from last week as well.

- On Easter Sunday I gave a talk and they told me that it was only supposed to be 5 minutes. When sacrament meeting began though, I was the only speaker sitting on the stand. I was so scared that I would have to talk the entire meeting and my mind flashed back to my Ålesund days of giving 20 minute talks. Luckily the other speakers were there and were just sitting in the congregation. One of them shared her conversion story and talked about how the first few pages of the Book of Mormon were not impressive to her. It wasn't until she came to 1 Nephi 3:7 that she felt something. It is so comforting to me that God also converts us in different ways and there is not just one standard process to gain a testimony of the true gospel. 

- We had an easter scavenger hunt with some members. It is a really big family thing that they do annually and they were really nice to include us. We did a bunch of different challenges that included sports, obstacle courses, and horse shoe throwing. The only thing that the missionaries were really able to help out with was the quiz about the details of Jesus' last days before he was crucified. 

- Søster Zenger and I met someone on the buss that moved here from India 4 months ago. We were able to get his number to meet with him at a later time and then stop by his house later that day to give him a Book of Mormon in English. It was funny because we both felt like we should stop by that same day that we met him in the evening and we knew the general direction of his house because he showed us from the buss window. We headed there and then looked at all of the mailboxes for his name. When we showed up, he and his friends were very welcoming and fed us Indian Mangos. He was a little shocked that we knew where he lived though! Little did he know that in addition to missionaries we are also proffessional private investigators.;) It was a great experience though and we look forward to meeting with him again this week. 

- Yesterday was members day! Every activity we had was with one or more members and it was great. We started by visiting a member who has been very sick. We shared a late easter message with her and then after hearing about her situation, decided to schedule a time that we could come back and go on a walk with her as well as clean her house. She was so grateful that she started crying. I don't think that I have ever met someone who is more pure-hearted and kind than she is. The member that we had there was great and was a big part in making sure that we have a time to go back and help her. Next, we visited a member who is on her way back to church. She has had some hard experiences with the church in the past and it is really inspiring to see her start to work through those feelings and heal those old wounds. Then we were over for dinner at a members house. I don't think they know how much feeding us dinner and asking us about our lives and our missionary work means. I always feel so uplifted after visiting with members and this woman is so special because she is always striving to strengthen and serve those around her.

 

That is about all that my scrambled brain can remember. I have thought a lot recently about the experiences that the Lord has allowed me to have and the person he has helped me to become on my mission. I am filled with so much gratitude that I have been able to serve and I look forward to these next coming weeks.

I love you all so much! Thank you for the prayers and emails! 

Love, Søster Starkie

PS: Our mission is slowly becoming a technology mission and so we are now starting to use Facebook as part of missionary work! Just thought you should know so that you are not alarmed when you see me on there. I am not home three weeks early and I am not a disobedient missionary breaking rules.:)