Saying goodbye to my families in Mt. Airy was SUPER HARD. I love them all so, so much. They have changed my life. I know I'm kind of just another missionary to them but they have been my everything for months.
Sister Rodgers (in the picture) took us to Breakfast Tuesday. She is an incredibly special, courageous, hilarious, selfless woman and I want to be her when I grow up. We got a picture with Tiffany and her kids.
First thing that happened when we walked in their door was Ryleigh ran and hugged me and said "Don't leeeeaaaaave!". Broke my little heart. Love them so so super much. They are such a special family. They know the gospel is true, it will just be in God's timing.
Mt. Airy will always have a super special place in my heart. I have had dreams about the people in Mt. Airy ever since I left, kinda funny.
Wednesday SUPER early Sister Wilhelm took me to the Columbia Stake Center for the training meeting. I met the amazing Hermana Seader and our new trainee Hermana Day! They are both FANTASTIC missionaries!
We drove to my new area, Martinsburg. It is SO different here, like black and white. The work is very different. Downtown Martisnburg is so highly populated and people are everywhere so we talk to SO many people on the street and they actually listen! I can hardly believe it still haha.
Also, we have bikes every other day and I LOVE BIKING! It feels so good to be out riding around. So much easier to talk to people while biking.
So about the Spanish. We are in an English ward with a set of English Elders but are in a Spanish district and zone. We do a lot of English work but there are quite a few Spanish people here too. In fact, favorite story of the week: We were biking and Hermana Seader saw a man she had previously taught, Alfredo. We talked to him and he said we could come back Sunday at 5 for a lesson. We show up and there are MANY people there, all dressed up with their Bibles. Turns out it was their Spanish church they hold in Alfredo's shop. Hahaha. It was actually a super cool experience and good for my ears to hear Spanish only for a couple hours. They sang, gave sermons, prayed. Then they invited us to stay for dinner, and we accepted. While we waited, we got COMPLETELY BIBLE BASHED in Spanish. For like an entire hour. Can I tell you, I have not been so frustrated in a long time. Not because they were rude, they actually did it very nicely, but just so frustrated to not be able to answer their questions in Spanish. So frustrating knowing what I want to say but not being able to say it. So humbling. But it was still super cool, they were really awesome people. And the food was AMAZING. SO good. The Spanish is coming, slowly but surely. Maybe I'll be half decent in a couple months :)
I love it here. I love the work, the people, Spanish, everything. I feel so blessed. There are a lot of people being found and taught in this area and it is so exciting to be a part of it.
I've been thinking a lot about the hope that comes from KNOWING that Christ was resurrected. I love Joseph B Wirthlin's talk "Sunday Will Come". He says "The Resurrection is at the core of our beliefs as Christians. Without it, our faith is meaningless. The Apostle Paul said, "If Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and our faith is also vain.''.
In my studies this week it really hit me while reading 2 Nephi 2 and 6, Mosiah 3, 14-15 just how much Christ sacrificed. People always say "He gave His life" but that doesn't just mean he died for us. He gave every second of his life to us. EVERY SECOND. Ever choice. In a sense, he sacrificed HIS agency. He consecrated his entire life (which as missionaries we find isn't always as easy as it seems). He gave every choice to the Father so that WE could choose for ourselves. Because Christ was resurrected, we have hope. We have faith. We have meaning in life. The victory is already won. This week I am working on rejoicing in all things. There is no reason to be anxious, tired, stressed, worried, self-critical. Christ overcame all. The battle is already won :) How beautiful.
I love this work. I love Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost. I love you all!
Love, Sister Peck
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