Sister Morrison takes on the Steel City: 12.12.2016

Scavenger Hunt Week

This week feels like I've been on week long mission scavenger hunt since we are both new to Berwick. Sister Birch just left here and she did a wonderful job at leaving behind notes and scheduling a solid week for us, but it still wasn't easy. Everyday we went from place to place not really certain of what to expect, so it was a little amusing! This upcoming week will definitely be our first "sink or swim" week because we had to plan it with our limited knowledge of people. But, it will all work out!

Tuesday Sister Terry and I headed to Green Tree for the trainer / trainee meeting, but before we made a mini detour to see Sister Montague! I babysat her kids when I was a beehive, and recently she moved to Wexford where Sister Kwasney is serving! It was a little weird to see how big her kids have gotten, but it was so fun to see a familiar face from back home. I was super happy that it worked out so I could see her. The meeting was also good. Before the meeting I was able to say goodbye to both my trainers, Sister Durfee and Birch. It was really surreal to see them go. During the meeting I got to be with my two other trainees, Sister Kwasney and Terry! It was so much fun to have both of them all day with me, and it was a little bit of a proud parent moment to see both people that I trained train.

My new companion is Sister Piña, from Kentucky. I guess Kentucky is pretty similar to Pennsylvania, so the whole culture shock adjustment hasn't been too hard for her. I'm still trying to get a feel for her personality, so I don't really know what else to say about her. Sorry.

I'm still trying to get settled here, but from what I can tell he ward is great! People just walk up to us and said "Hi, I'm happy to come out and teach with you, so call me!" Plus they feed us like crazy which hasn't happened for me since Pittsburgh. I'm a little relieved because it will give us a chance to know more members, but at the same time, I have a higher chance of getting fat again... Pray that doesn't happen haha. Thankfully we had the Ward Christmas party this past weekend so I could meet a bunch of people whose names I have already forgotten. But on the bright side, I sort of remembered their faces at church the next day haha.

One person we are working with right now is a man named G. He's engaged to a returning less active, W. G is getting baptized in January, and a week prior to it they are getting married! I've never had to plan a wedding before, so this should be interesting! We had he family History consultant teach G how to do family History to take names to the temple, and it was a success! So it looks like in early February G and W will be going to the temple! And even better, we are wishing the two hour limit from the temple, so we will also be able to attend!

I am also super humbled to teach M's. Their son, N joined the church back in July and from what I heard from Sister Birch, and all the other members here, he was amazing! He always invited people to learn more about the church, and knew the scriptures than most life long members. Unfortunately, he passed away a month ago, and his parents have rightfully been a wreck ever since. They had recently started to have the missionaries over, almost like a grieving session where they taught gospel principles like eternal families. We went over with a ward friend of N's and shared scriptures that helped us during hard times. Although we didn't teach the Restoration and commit them to being baptized, their hearts are slowly opened get up and becoming prepared to fully accept our message. I did experience "mourning with those that mourn" and trying to lift their spirits a little.

Sister Morrison