Lindsay Made it to Maryland!

Kerry: I finally received the pictures of Lindsay's arrival in the Maryland Baltimore Mission on March 12!  Here is Lindsay with her Mission President, President Mutombo, and his wife:

And the new arrivals:

And Lindsay being assigned to her trainer, Sister Mutter:

Later in the week I was texted this picture of Sister Peck and Sister Mutter at dinner that Friday.  This was the first picture we had seen of Lindsay that week so we were pretty excited to see her smiling face!

I was able to talk to Lindsay on Monday, Mar. 18, 2019, (her first P-day) and found she was assigned to serve in Mt. Airy, MD which is 30 minutes outside of Baltimore.  Her companion is Sister Mutter and they live in a nice, little duplex in a nice neighborhood.  They volunteer at the Thrift Store near their house each Friday.  Both of them are new to this area so they are both learning who the people are and where everything is.  They have a very helpful ward mission leader and someone who arranges for them to be fed every night.  Lindsay says she has sometimes eaten 2 dinners a day as they meet with members and investigators.  Lindsay is upbeat and excited about her mission.  She says it is hard, but she's glad for the experiences in her life that have prepared her for this time.

A little bit of fun.

I woke up Wednesday morning sooo out of it. I'd had wild, vivid dreams all night and didn't feel like I'd slept one bit. I was so loopy. Sister Sato came into the room and I said, "Today is going to be a great day" and she said "Oh yeah? How so?" and I couldn't think, I was kind of stuttering and then finally I said "It's just...today's going to be a little bit of fun". And since then everything has been a little bit of fun. We always say stuff like "that workshop was...a little bit of fun" or "Have fun! But just a little bit." "Let's have a little bit of fun!" Haha I'm so funny. Every day since then they pick some random funny thing I say and call it the prophecy for the day. My Sisters are such a blast.

This week has been awesome. It was good because we knew it was our last week so we knew we could do anything. It was so fun. I have loved the MTC. I've learned so much and am ready to apply it. I feel ready and that's what is crazy cool. Not perfect ready, just ready to go and learn on the job. I am sooooo excited to get to Maryland!!!! But soooo sad to not be with Sister Sato anymore. I know I keep saying it but she is the biggest blessing to me. 

Tuesday we got to go to the temple, which is honestly my favorite thing to do, ever. Period. Which is why we got up at 5 to go this morning since we won't get to for 17 months!!! Sad. We sang in the choir for the devotional given by Elder Cook of the Seventy. We sang Precious Savior, Dear Redeemer. It was so beautiful. His talk was on humility and it was perfect for me, it spoke to my soul. I needed it because honestly I have not struggled here very much due to previous experiences and opportunities, and it was a reminder that even though I'm excelling I will not be able to reach my full potential without relying on Christ. 

Wednesday was great, Sato and I welcomed   the new district and took them on the tour. They are so much fun. What stellar people. Honestly being an STL has been amazing because I just get to learn and grow from the other sisters. Their stories of how they got here and how they overcome is a huge testimony builder. They are all incredible. I have loved serving them, empathizing with them, just loving them. 

That night we had an ice cream party! It was based on this bet that if Sister Claridge wore two different shoes the Elders wouldn't notice. No one thought they would notice except for Sato. Finally near the end of class Elder Heinhold said "I just have to ask--Sister Claridge, what's with the shoes?? Apparently they had noticed all day. So Sato won the bet and we bought her ice cream. 

 

Random stuff. We finished our teaching/memorizing goals this week! I'm pretty proud. 

Exercise time was such a blessing every day. Usually Sato and I ran for the first 10 minutes, then did either legs or weights depending on the day, then stretched, then wrecked the Elders at lightning. Well, Sister Sato did. I sometimes did pretty good. The last day (Saturday) our whole district played four-square and it was a party. 

Studies are great, I looove studying with Sato because she is so good with the scriptures and inspires me. 

TRCs were incredible. Somehow we ended up with both of them being legitimate non-members which was extra special. One especially, Foster, was such a blessing to us. We felt God's love for her and His patience as she slowly finds her relationship with him (she's very atheist). She feels the truth it is beautiful to see. I love her so much. 

This week was mostly amazing because of so many merciful experiences that confirmed to me why I'm here, why I am needed in Maryland speaking English specifically. I have so much peace and joy and excitement to get into the field even though I know it's going to be hard!

I love you and think about you all the time. I love your emails throughout the week, they make my days. I am happy you are all well, and I hope to hear updates on the baby!!! Sorry that I don't respond as much to individual things, there's a lot to do and my head gets distracted so please forgive me. Man you are all my heroes! Keep doing what you're doing and don't forget that Christ is the center of it all. 

Love you so much!!!
Love, Sister Lindsay Peck

MTC Week 2

Remember how last week I was so grateful I only had three weeks in the MTC? Well now I only have one more. And I don't know how that happened. I am sooooo excited to get into the field, but also a little less excited than I was to leave just because I will never have this type of learning/preparation opportunity again. Also because our district Sisters have grown INCREDIBLY close this week and I do not look forward to leaving them. 

In fact it makes me really sad. Sister Cockrelll, Mix, and Claridge are headed to Atlanta, Georgia so I will not see them again. Also it means that Sis. Sato and I won't be companions anymore and she has been the absolute best. We have grown so, so close so it makes me really sad. Basically I'm still way grateful I only have a week, but am savoring every single moment. I'm trying to work extra hard to make sure I leave feeling fulfilled and accomplished. 

So last P-day after we talked we went to the temple and it was AMAZING. A. Mazing. So needed for my soul. I can't wait to go again today. Also last P-day, we did laundry at 5 and exercised and stuff then took a nap. This nap was the most delicious nap I think I have ever taken in my life. I am so looking forward to today's nap. Blessed P-day. 

This week we were blessed by two amazing devotionals. Elder Christofferson came on Tuesday and slapped us all on the wrist. At least for me it was a real come to Jesus (ha literally) about owning up to our relationship with God and with Christ. We sang Joseph's Prayer with the choir and it was way spiritual. Then on Sunday our devotional was Brad Wilcox and he gave an amazing devotional on the gathering of Israel and us as birthright children. Sooo good. 

On Wednesday Sato and I welcomed and tour-guided two new districts, that was really cool. I can't wait to see them loosen up and grow closer as districts this week. Haha the whole time though I was just thinking about how grateful I was to not be them haha. 

TRCs have been amazing. The teaching experience is real. We feel the real Spirit and real love for these people. I love this work and am so honored to be a part of it!! The best day yet at the MTC was yesterday, Sis. Sato and I just felt overwhelmingly blessed and happy. Our lesson planning felt so inspired. Then when we gave the lesson to Foster, amazing things happened. I wish I had time to go into depth but I had the Spirit burn truth in my soul greater than I maybe have ever felt. It was incredible. 

Ah I have so many random stories that I'll have to tell you in the call. I love you all so so so much, I think about you often. Our family is so special and I want eternity with all of you!!! 

Love love love, Sister Lindsay Peck