October 27, 2014

Dear Mom,

President Weidmann made a new rule that Sisters can only teach women and Elders can only teach men, no exceptions. This rule had been suggested but not completely mandatory beforehand. Anyway, he sent out the message via text one morning about two weeks ago. So, me and Sister Schofield now have zero investigators, unless you count Natasha. We divided up our investigators and all the phone numbers we'd gotten while contacting among the elders. It's just really hard getting women to talk to us here.

We both went to the dentist today. If you ever are apprehensive or uncomfortable about going to the dentist back home, just know it can be a lot, lot worse. I spent the entire cleaning intermittently spitting out mouthfuls of blood into a little sink that they placed next to my head. The last time I remember bleeding at the dentist was when I was little and they had me show them how I flossed, and they quickly pointed out that the bleeding was my fault for not flossing regularly. The whole cleansing was quite painful and they ended it with flossing my teeth with what felt like sandpaper. Afterwards I went into the bathroom to clean my face off and my gums throbbed. I avoided Sister Schofield directly after my appointment because I knew I wouldn't be able to keep from telling her how bad it had been, and I figured it was better if she was going in to not know beforehand. She came out with an interesting look on her face and started shaking her head. At least now I am tartar-free. (Though in America they seem to integrate their knowledge of how bone doesn't bleed into their tartar cleansings.)

We also took Sister Schofield to the doctor today to try and find out what is causing her headaches. We found some holy water in a bathroom cupboard in our apartment and I suggested pouring it on her head to see if that helped.

Forgot to tell you about the institute lesson at the army base last week. The lesson was only with two soldiers because apparently a bunch of people were just shipped in and out and they don't know everyone who's a Mormon yet. The lesson we taught was on the Atonement, and I think it went really well. We sat in the chow hall with them and two senior couples (the Nelsons and the Tooles) and gave it there. When we first sat down one soldier said to Sister Schofield, "How's it going with keeping world peace?" "Isn't that your job?" she asked him. "No, our job has to do with when world peace is threatened." "I guess we work from the inside," I said. We ate at Taco Bell afterward and at the little grocery store I got some instant oatmeal, chicken noodle soup, skittles, and a protein bar.

I also got a package from Anna aka Sister Boucher (in North Carolina right now). She sent me a shirt, a cd, and some halloween oreos along with a very nice note. I gave a few oreos to the elders and the package was gone after three days. It was so, so nice getting that.

The Nelsons showed us some video they found online of some missionaries who made a song called "All About That Book", which I thought was fantastically cheesy. A few days later when we were in Center I heard the song All About That Bass playing out of a cafe and appreciated the remix a little better after that.

https://www.lds.org/church/news/the-surprising-science-behind-supremely-happy-people?cid=HPFR102414513&lang=eng

Found something scientific yet uplifting on the church's website. I hope you have a good week. I love you so much.

Sister Riddle

John 14: 18, "I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you."

Sorry for any repeats with the scriptures. I forget which ones I have posted.