Week 3- Valley of Ashes!

So I arrived in Redlands A-ok on Tuesday, Aug 6. I almost slept in. Thankfully, my neighbor came and woke me up. Within 10 minutes, I was heading towards the bus stop at 4:30am. For the first time during this whole mission experience, I was actually getting a little nervous. It was similar to that feeling one gets when they are about to ride a huge roller coaster. There was a lot of chaos at the airport because there were hundreds of missionaries heading out that day. It was so lovely to talk to you all on the phone, except Manuel. Way to answer your phone.

 

My branch president always taught us that we, as missionaries are constantly being watched and heard by everyone. On the plane, there were missionaries who sounds like as my banch president would say "A teenager with a tag on". But on the plus side, I heard an Elder behind be talking about the gospel with this non member during the whole plane ride. I was so happy to hear someone in missionary mood already.

 

So the plane landed and I got to meet my mission president, President Vancott and his wife. They are so lovely. I am so excited to work with them. They are only in their 40's and they are already mission presidents. The airport had lost half of the missionaries luggage including my own so I was a little bitter pants but at least I had my carry on with clothes! I also made friends with others that lost their luggage so that was a plus. We had a super long orientation and then we had a lovely dinner at the President's home. For a while, I forgot that I was on a mission because I was just having so much fun socializing with other missionaries in church clothes. So I concluded the day thinking that even though it's deathly hot (108 degrees), my luggage got lost, my carry on got lost for a while, I was super tired, and hungry BUT ON THE PLUS SIDE, I made new friends, I recovered my luggage with extra service, I got delicious food in my belly, and I got to take an amazing 15 minute power nap on a comfy bed.

 

The next day is when we were finally going to begin the work. We awoke, ate breakfast, and did some scripture study, then headed to the mission office. There, I met my new companion for the next 3 months, Sister Fogg from Indiana. During the meeting, it was amazing to hear how fast missionary work is growing in this area. This mission opened in July and they have been drafting missionaries from surrounding areas like San Bernadino, Riverside, and Archadia. Most of the trainers have only been out for 6 weeks. Most of us new missionaries will become trainers in about 6 weeks which is crazy. I better get to know the area well right away.

 

To my unpleasant surprise, we got the desert area of the mission centering on Cathedral City and Palm Desert. The reason I have called this section 'Valley of Ashes' is because there has been a huge wild fire in the mountains right next to us. The sky is covered with a grey-brownish darkness causing aberration to the sunlight. The sun was an ignited circle of fire in the sky shining like an orange stage light. Stepping out and inhaling the air was like being near a campfire including the heat, color, and smell. I went to my first dinner appointment with the Sanchez family. They were a lovely family like I've never met before. I am going to meet a lot of families like the Sanchez on my mission for sure. We got to our apartment so I could unpack and get to bed. My apartment is older. It doesn't have too much furniture and it smells a bit funny. I unpacked my things and I found Netty's note and my 'On the plus side' embroidered pillow case. For the first time, I felt home sick and uncomfortable, but the moment I saw that pillow case, I remembered what I'm doing. I'm here to teach the beautiful gospel to the people in Cathedral city. I am going to love these people and serve them in anyway possible. So even though I am in an older apartment, experiencing different types of people, and dealing with a difficult weather situation, ON THE PLUS SIDE, I have air conditioning and running water and I can speak and understand Spanish.