Dearest family,
So
last week the subject of my email was something like "Opposition in all
things" and I realized I didn't explain that at all. But it kind of
applies even more to this week because truly we are facing so much
opposition here. Where there is so much light and progress, Satan will
continue to fight hard to tear it down. I think almost every day this
week we had someone talk to us about anti-Mormon stuff or investigators
text us and drop us. It was crazy. And yet, I still feel like it was a
good week. No matter what happens, it is just simply a blessing to be a
missionary and to be doing this work.
I would
say I am being converted to this life. Obviously, I love it so much
already, but like Elder Garrett Lewis told me a few weeks ago in an
email (shout out to G-money), the longer you are out the longer you want
to stay doing this amazing work. Yes, it is hard and there is rejection
and exhaustion but ultimately it is the greatest thing. I do experience
pangs of missing certain things, like a few days ago we were listening
to a BYU devotional on my ipod and just hearing Cecil's voice
introducing the speaker made me tear up a bit--BYU is so wonderul--but
for the most part I am becoming more and more immersed in this place and
this calling.
Have I ever mentioned that I
love Malawians? Holy cow, they are the kindest people. I was on
exchanges with Sister Falco and we were walking through my area and all
of a sudden these crazy drunk man started walking with us and mumbling
in Chichewa about God. She was kind of scared but that is not unusual in
our area so i just told her to keep walking and not to look at him.
Finally, this man stopped us and asked if he could help. He even gave
the drunk man money to walk away. Other men also passed by and asked if
we were ok. That is SO Malawian. They are protective of each other even
if they don't know you. We weren't in any real danger but it was so nice
to feel looked out for.
So yeah, I experienced
exchanges for the first time this week and they were fun. I think they
mostly served to make me even more grateful for my incredible companion.
Not that I don't love the other sisters and didn't learn from them, but
Sister Orr really is so great and we are a good team. I feel so blessed
to have not only a companion but a friend in her.
Do
you want to hear something crazy? Last P-day we were grocery shopping
and this azungu walked up to me and asked where I was from. He works or
the US embassy and wanted to know what we were doing in Malawi. We told
him a little about the church and as we got talking he told me that he
was from Northern Virginia. As we talked some more we found that we both
went to Robinson. Uh, what? It was the craziest thing to be standing in
this Malawian grocery store with someone that went to my old high
school. This is a small world.
So, Mom and Dad,
you know how when you are stressed you laugh really hard over the
littlest things? Well, I've noticed that I do the same. I don't feel
like I am stressed almost ever despite the pressure of the calling, but I
think there is an underlying stress inside of me that causes me to
laugh to tears almost every single day. Sister Orr and I laugh so, so
much over the dumbest things. Even the fact that the closing hymn at
church yesterday was "Joy to the World" in September made has laugh so
hard. Laughing gets me through. You have to continue lauging or you will
find yourself crying.
Like for example, Sister
Orr and Sister Falco and I wake up every morning that we can and work
out together. This week we were tired of our normal routine so we turned
on my music and we each had five mintues to lead out and whatever we
wanted. They followed me in interprative dancing all around the flat.
You've got to do what you've got to do, right :)
Another
thing that makes us laugh is that they always switch the Ls and the Rs
here when they talk. It changes the meaning of things quite a bit when
they say "play" instead of "pray". "For if ye would hearken unto the
Spirit which teacheth a man to play, ye would know that ye must play;
for the evil spirit teachent not a man to play, but teacheth him that he
must not play". Ha! Too good.
I love you all so much!
Sister Michaela Proctor
P.S.
The mustard skirt I was wearing in the pictures last week was a skirt
made by one of the members of the branch presidency. I drew a design and
he just made it. So cool!
P.S.S. Mom and Dad. Apparently
packages take forever, especially since you have to send them to Lusaka
and I'm in Lilongwe. So they recommend sending Christmas packages
like...this week. Just to let you know.
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