So, it's Saturday night in Poznań and the
Elders call us... three times...while we were planning...and PRAYING
even... Haha... we rejected and ignored their calls until after planning
and prayer and then we called them back. What's up? Starszy
Skolimowski starts out by saying, 'have you heard the big news?' '"No,
what?" 'President Monson's announcement, you haven't heard it?' 'NO,
WHAT IS IT!?' - so he's on speaker phone, we hadn't got to watch
conference but the Elders watched it with their english speaking
investegator at the Reed's apartment - and then he drops the bomb, 'They
announced that Elders can now serve at age 18 and girls at age 19.'
'WHAT!!!' ARE YOU KIDDING?! Sister Folsom and I sort of...errupted...
haha it was very LOUD to say the least in our apartment that night.
After a few seconds of freaking out, I realized they could be pulling
our leg. They've done it before... so we checked for understanding,
like a good missionary should, and then decided to check in with a
different source, out of the mouth of 2 or 3 witnesses, you know? So we
actually rudely hung up on the elders and called Elder Reed who then
CONFIRMED this craziness. We couldn't stop thinking about it. It was
really hard to get to sleep. I haven't wanted to call my family and
Jenny so much in the last six months as I did last night. I just wanted
to talk to you guys so bad about this! NATHAN! I did the math and if
you leave in July, that means I won't see you for a total of like 3
years and four months. That really stinks. But I'm willing to give you
up for the Lord. Besides, sacrifice brings for the blessings, right?
SCOTT! Have you talked to Scott much about it? You said you felt like
you lost a year of your life, I just kept thinking about you, Nate, and
wondering how you were feeling, if you could sleep Saturday night
alright. I think my head would be spinning. This is going to
completely CHANGE things, you know that? Mormon culture is going to be
so different. And SO many more girls are going to serve. Jenny! man, I
read your letter today and just cried. I'd wanted to cry for you when I
heard the news on Saturday but I was too excited to cry. Today, I
guess I was just in the mood and have now been able to cry --cry for
happiness that you get to go now and you don't have to wait like I did
(if that is, of course, what the 'man upstairs' has in store for you).
Then again, like my Mom said, I definitely was supposed to go on a
mission when I went, because that was what was supposed to happen. I'm
so grateful that I met Sarah and Laura and Stirling and Tyler and Bobby
and the 8th Ward and learned to play the guitar and everything, no
regrets! Such a good life, I'm leading! You know that? WE are
SOOOOoooooo BLESSED! I guess I cried about that too, mom's letter just
made me smile and cry. She has such a strong testimony.
Yep so the Lord is preparing an ARMY, you know that? An army
of young, prepared people. Let me tell you, Nathan, Scott, Jenny, and
who ever else is thinking about serving now - YOU ARE READY. God
wouldn't have changed the time period if he didn't know who was on the
earth, RIGHT NOW to send out. God loves you and, like President Monson
said yesterday, he's in the very details of our lives. (By the
way I did get to watch Sunday morning session - and just the segment
from Saturday's session when the prophet made that announcement.)
Dad, you asked if I'm tired. Well sometimes I feel tired,
expecially now that my legs and feet are realizing what they got
themselves into... I do need to go buy some new boots and my favorite
pair of shoes are almost worn out as of right now! But generally,
especially on lessons, I'm not near as tired because I can actually
understand most of the conversation and I try to add in more things than
I used to. So that's good.
You also asked about service
opportunities. We were able to move a dresser drawer thingy for a lady
the other day who needed it moved...um... and I'm sure there's other
things we've done as service but for the most part we don't really have
any planned things. I wish we did. Sometimes after people rejecting us
so much all I want is just someone to serve. I love it when
an old lady is walking slowly with tons of groceries and we just get to
help her, it feels so good to just simply SERVE because a lot of the
time I just feel like I'm bothering people.
Transfers are on the 26th of October, so my companion will leave me
the 25th or so. I'm a bit nervous, sad that sister Folsom is leaving,
but definitley ready for some change up in here. I really hope I get to
stay in Poznań for the holidays at least. I love this place so much.
It's so beautiful. The leaves are starting to change and the people, I
love the people here, and the lay out of the city, and the branch, and
just... EVERYTHING! I LOVE IT! This is my city, definitley was meant
to be here.
O.k. well, I feel like I haven't shared enough spiritual things, I
am a missionary after all. Just know that FAMILY is so important. Oh
my goodness it's so important. I recieved a letter from Rishi this week
and one from Katherine's family a while ago and I just LOVED getting
those letters and recieving e-mails from you all today. I'm so grateful
that God has given us FAMILIES. We got to meet with a family this
week, actually, and I think it may be the first actual FAMILY who we've
met with ALL TOGETHER. We meet at the homes of families sometimes, but
only one of the parents listens or something... so this was actually a
young mom and dad, with their baby in the room, he's like 10 months old
and named after his dad - SO CUTE! They were so fun. I'm so grateful
for the opportunity we had to TEACH them! I honestly didn't think that
lesson would go through - it's always the lessons you don't think will
go through that do. So God wants you to just LOVE your
families, try to find ways to serve them, know that you were put in YOUR
family for a reason and God loves you so much. I want to be with my
family forever and I'm going to miss Nathan alot but at least we can
still write, eh?
Man, there was so much else I was going to write, but my time's up.
Love you all tons,
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the ONLY true
church on the earth today. I know it as much as I know that I have blue
eyes and blonde hair - speaking of which, do we have Norwegian
ancestors? Several people this week told me I look Norwegian!
O.k. Dozobaczenia
-Siostra Amber Allen
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