The Brunswick Stewbilee

I've made it through week 6. It feels like I've been here forever. I'm still not sure how time works on the mission.

These past two weeks have been super busy, I come home so exhausted every night. Guess that means I'm doing something right.

- We've been given a list of single women and less actives in our ward and have been calling them to get to know them better.

- A lot of our work has been with members and with member referrals. Or people the members recommend we teach or visit.

- Our apartment still smells a lot like weed even with all our air vents and candles. So one night sister Clark and I went to bed smelling it and I said "if we have weird dreams we'll know we're high" both of us had really weird dreams. That whole day was crazy. We acted like maniacs. I swear you can get high off of just smelling weed.

- We were able to go out of our area to listen to Elder Bednar speak to our mission. That was so cool! I was even able to comment and he asked me a question. A once in a lifetime experience for sure. I learned so much and the spirit was so strong there. Highly recommend listening to prophets and apostles, they are messengers of God.

- We had dinner with a less active family and they totally roasted one of the Elders. It was hilarious. They told him to stop flirting with the sisters. He hasn't, but it was a good try. 

- It's been hard to get to know people in the ward because our area is so big, there are a lot of old people, and a lot of people who aren't active.

- We've gotten pretty close with a few families. Our ward mission leader is the BOMB. I'm planning a 21st birthday for my companion,  Sister Clark at his house.

- I've been able to do a lot of family history work and even find a few names. Hopefully I did it right. But I got pretty excited about that.

- We had our first lesson with a member referral and she wants to get baptized. Probably in April. So we've got a while. But we're going to help her better understand everything. She also came to church yesterday!

- Everyone here loves to roast everyone. Its hilarious. It's really helping me get better at letting things roll off my back.

- We were able to volunteer at the salvation army the other day. So we called them and asked if they had more that we could do. And they did. So we spent like all of Friday stocking shelves and packing bags. We were even able to give the woman a lesson on the gospel of Jesus Christ. She was asking a lot of questions and we told her we would bring back a Book of Mormon.

- Every Saturday at 2 we've started playing volleyball with the ward. We're hoping more people will begin showing up and bringing their friends.

- On Saturday we went to the Brunswick Stewbulee it's like a jubilee but with stew. It was interesting. We were able to try 18 different stews. And judge which one we liked best. Apparently Brunswick is famous for their stew. It was pretty good.

- We went to see turtles today!! So cute.

- Sister Clark and I are memorizing 2 scriptures a week. This week its Omni 1:26 and Moroni 10:32. If you want to check them out.

I appreciate all your prayers and thoughts. I love you all. 

Scripture of the week:

2 Nephi 4:17-21 

I  love this because it talks about who to put your trust in and receive your strength from. It's great to read when you're having a hard day.

I hope you're all doing well. I love to hear from yall! 

Sister Bailey

My First Week in the Mission Field

It's been a while since I emailed y'all. It's been a busy few weeks. So welcome to week four! 

I am in the mission field! What?! 

My first area is Brunswick, GA. Definitely the deep south. The accents here are thick and great. I've decided to come home with one, so be prepared folks.

Let me give you a brief overview of what has happened over the past few weeks.

- We rang in the new year in the MTC at 10pm. And then went to bed.

- We had a devotional where they opened a time capsule from 2000.

- My roommates and I (not my comp, she refused to be associated) slung shot a bunch of things across our room. Even a donut:)

- We said goodbye to everyone in our district, I wasn't sad until until i had to say goodbye to my roommates, sister Bluth and sister Ehlers.

- Sister Downey had never flown before so I had to show her the ropes. And inform her that airport food sucks.

- We met our mission president and his wife. They are so nice. Then we had the best meal, so southern, but very delicious. One of the members made it for all of us 18 new missionaries.

- We stayed the night at the mission home. The mission home was not what I expected. It's just an actual home, not huge, but it's still fit all of us.

- We all got to draw a square on the table cloth. I drew palm trees.

- I met my companion on Wednesday, sister Clark. She's awesome so far. She says I'm very healthy, so I guess I have to keep that up. Not sure how well that will work, haha. She's from Boise and goes home really soon. So I'm probably her last companion. We don't have much in common, but God put us together for a reason. I have a lot to learn from her.

- We're white washing, meaning that we're both brand new to the area. That's not fun. Luckily yesterday was Sunday so we got to meet the members.

- Our apartment smells like weed. Maybe getting high. Lots of headaches.

- We've done a lot of service this week. We went to a farm and brushed and feed some horses and pigs. And helped a family move.

- We can hear everything the people do in the apartment above us.

- Our ward has both Elders and Sisters.

- The members are all older, but they're all great. But nobody's really signed up to feed us.

- We've been given a lot of referrals so far.

- Our area is huge, so basically our miles are shot.

- Elder Bednar is coming to speak to us on Saturday.

It's been a hard week, but it can only get better. I appreciate all your prayers and cheer-leading for me. I love and miss you all! 

If you want my address you can email me. I hope you all have a wonderful week!

Sister Bailey