Cruel, Cruel Summer

So apparently God was fearful of what would happen to the universe if me and Sister Larson were to be too far away from each other.

Last Tuesday night at 10:15 our mission president called to tell us that Sister Larson would be moving as well so me and my new companion could live with Sister Larson and her new companion. That phone call resulted in a late night of tears, panic attacks, stomach aches, and jamming to music. What an unexpected surprise!

The next morning at transfer sight I was a sight to see. Baggy eyes, tears, and messy hair, sitting on the gym floor like a lost puppy anticipating the coming weeks. I literally had no care in the world for what anyone thought of me. And honestly, everyone there already figured I'd be a wreck because I was leaving my best friend.

But hey, now we literally start and end every day together.

2 other companionships had to move just to make this all happen.

Just so me and Sister Larson could live together for 6 weeks.

God must really have a sense of humor.

Not gonna lie, my new areas are pretty tough, especially coming from an area where we literally always had something to do. Now I'm having to try so hard just to keep us busy. I'm filled with urgency and a desire to do the work, but having to slow down a bit, which I never thought would be a struggle on my mission. I guess things change as you change.

People here can be straight mean. I've had a lot more rejection this week than I'm used to and desperately tried to find people who would want to meet with us.

Here are three of my desperate attempts:

me: "hey, excuse me man!"

dude: "sorry i'm Catholic."

me: "hey dude we were just looking for an apartment number"

dude: "oh, sorry, this is my niece's house"

me: "oh well, does your niece need Jesus?"

*sees a car rolling by with three kids piled in the front seat with their dad, waves them down, and asks them to roll down their window*

me: "hey we are missionaries and.... (I continue to give my spiel)

dude: "yeah sorry we go to Calvary and we need to go."

*rolls up the window and drives away.

and then FINALLY I got a person who would listen,

"THIS MESSAGE WILL LITERALLY BLESS YOUR LIVES SO SO MUCH WE LEFT OUR FAMILIES BEHIND FOR 18 MONTHS JUST TO BE HERE TO SHARE IT WITH YOU."

We got their number, but when we texted them it wasn't the right person.

Needless to say, the week has been interesting. Regardless of it all, I'm still glad to be here. There's been a lot of tender mercies:

*I got to be with Sister Larson on her birthday

*Our new wards actually feed us

*One of our wards is super happy to have sister missionaries after only having elders

*I feel less lonely living with so many sisters

*My trainer from the beginning of my mission sent me a really uplifting talk at the perfect moment I needed it

*I get to end my mission the way I started it, sleeping on the top bunk

These aren't giant, earth-shattering miracles, but I'm just looking for the small things. If we can't see the small things, the big trials and tests in our lives will seem so much greater. I'm terrified of the next few weeks as I step outside my comfort zone without Sister Larson as my companion, but I know that with the Lord, I can do anything. Each trial is there to test our faith and to see how much we will rely on the Lord, and I've definitely needed His shoulder this week.

Sometimes the hard things feel cruel, but hey at least it's summer. And 100 degrees.

(song lyric title courtesy of 80's band Bananrama - Cruel Summer)

Don't forget that Jesus loves you,

Sister Wallace

Pics:

1. Last day as zone leadership. These missionaries are awesome.

2. Saying goodbye to our fav apartment. That place was home

3. New comp Sister Peterson!!

4. Our fav couch

5. Lol

6. Saying bye to James

7. Was so hot this day