Hermana Poulsen's sister missionary blog: Email and pics from 3/31/14

Email from 3/31/14

First my companion and I got food poisoning last sunday so that was great...We don't have very many dinner appointments because we have such a small ward and our fridge is completely empty by sunday night so sunday dinners are normally bread with peanut butter on it...

Our ward is SO small, you wouldn't believe it. On a good day, about 60 people show up...maybe. But the pews are so small and they're always so empty. There's 8 missionaries for that ward... there really only needs to be one set because the ward is so so sooo small.

We have 4 of our investigators tell us they didn't want to be taught. the first one did it through text. The second one wrote a note on their door saying they didn't want to be taught (as we were going to an appointment to teach them) The 3rd one just won't answer our calls or knocks on the door and the 4th one was the most devastating. My companion has been teaching them for 4 months and me for 3 weeks and I love this family with all my heart. They came to church on sunday and after sacrament meeting, they told us not to come to their house anymore and they didn't want to learn anymore. We were so sad. We love this family so much and they just dropped us. I felt like they broke up with us... it was the worst feeling ever. So, we ate all the Girl Scout cookies you sent in like, one day. Sister Scow and Sister Clonts loved the thin mints! And I love the lemon and samos! So yummy! Thank you so much for them!

anyways, last night we were still feeling down but before we went home we visited a less active member. Her life is a mess. literally, the most complicated life I've ever seen. She's so nice but her kids still live with her and they are the meanest people I've ever met! They trash her house, disrespect her and she's always working. It's so chaotic. But she was just so sad and literally told us that she didn't want to live anymore because her life is so miserable. After that appointment I just got in the car and wept because I didn't know what more I could do to help her...all I could think about was how much I wanted my mom. It's so hard to do missionary work because people don't understand what we do. People don't understand that we have these people that we love so much and when they tell us not to teach them anymore, it's like losing a family member because you never really get to see them again unless they really want you to come over. So, yesterday was hard. I'm just really glad that today is Pday, I don't think I could have made it another day without a break.

On a brighter note, we taught a lesson to the family with the dad who has a brain tumor. He's home now and recovering really well but there's still a pretty high chance that he doesn't have much time to live. But we went to their house to teach a lesson. My comp and I didn't know what to teach so we just went in and asked what they had learned through this experience (like elder Bednars talk from GC you sent) And it was really good to hear! We taught about the holy ghost and a few other things I don't remember but the spirit was so strong. They agreed to pray to know what church was true and we're following up with them this week. After the lesson we got in our car and my comp just smiled really big at me and I said 'what?' she said 'Hermana, you spoke almost perfect spanish in there. You only made one mistake and you fixed it!' I was so surprised I had no idea. I didn't even really know what I was saying or how I was saying it. But At that point I knew that we were really teaching with the spirit. It was the best lesson we've had since I've been on my mission.

Also, Saturday the 29th was my 2 month mark! only 16 more to go!

Oh we also had two creeper guys hit on us... so weird. so flippen weird. I wonder what the punishment is in heaven for hitting on sister missionaries.... I will have strong words to share with those men some day... but for now, we can only smile and give them a mormon.org card... WITHOUT our number on it no matter how many times they ask for it. It aint happening buddy!

I have a lot to tell you about the culture here, it's muy loco but I'll do that in a letter. I better send some pictures to you so I can be off on the rest of my Pday :) Tell everyone I say hola and I miss them so much! And keep up the great missionary work!!! There WILL be a temple in missoula someday and that day will be soon! Take care, Love you lots, Adios!

Love Hermana Poulsen