Week 25: Following Up

Happy last day of March!

So there was a tornado warning, and Hermana Stevenson and I took shelter in a bathtub. Bibble didn’t have a helmet. #prayforbibble

I already know nothing’s going to top last week’s … anything, so I’m not going to even try. Except for the fact that we literally had a tornado warning the day after P-Day. Which is when a tornado has touched the ground, so you have to go into the bathroom and sit around in anticipation that a tornado will come and wreck everything in your immediate vicinity. A tornado did not end up doing that to the Columbia Hermanas, but the entire zone was also freaking out right alongside me and Hermana Stevenson! Linden did actually did get a tornado, but the Linden Elders were all good and safe. No need to worry! The universe just knew I needed something to spice up this letter to you all, because if there wasn’t tornado warning drama, there wouldn’t be terribly much to talk about.

Just some of the district showing love to each other. You know how it is. <3

Good news! Hermana Dabb had to stay here a full week just to be safe, but she just got another negative test, so she flew home today! I sure will miss her, but she definitely needs to be back with her family. It’s literally a week overdue. I thank her and Hermana Likes for delivering food to us this entire week so that we could physically survive.

Since the whole district was on quarantine, we had an unofficial Official meme contest to lift our spirits. Sister Hess, who was supposed to leave the day we got quarantined, made this one. Truly S-tier. (Btw, Sister Hess got to fly home today, too!)

In way of news regarding physical survival: I am completely fine! As in, I do not feel sick anymore!!! It’s been that way for a few days, but still. One of our weekly goals as a companionship was to not be sick, so it looks like we’re hitting the mark.

Another district pic so Elder Myers and Elder Ward can shine in the spotlight too.

Now, I do love outside, but I’m sure this will surprise no one when I say that I’m perfectly fine staying indoors for a large portion of time. But something I learned is that having to stay in one room that you have to share with another person is a lot. Especially when you have to keep on being a missionary and lying around all day reading Saints isn’t an option (I wish!).

I realized that the best thing I could do was pray. And so I did. A lot. Alma 37 reads:

36 Yea, and cry unto God for all thy support; yea, let all thy doings be unto the Lord, and whithersoever thou goest let it be in the Lord; yea, let all thy thoughts be directed unto the Lord; yea, let the affections of thy heart be placed upon the Lord forever.

37 Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day.

I used to operate under the assumption that prayer only existed mornings, evenings and before meals. And it is important to have those times. My most powerful prayer this week was my personal evening prayer! But prayer is so much more constant than that. It is a persistent, consistent effort to turn your thoughts toward Heavenly Father. When I pray, I’m not demanding miracles or my will to be done. I’m seeking and gaining strength. I’m becoming better. I’m relying on Him and recognizing Him in a much bigger way that I wish I could sufficiently explain, but I’m not nearly accomplished enough of a writer to express that.

I got a surprise letter from Sister Gibson* slid under my door, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets-style. We love quarantine.
* One of Hermana Newton’s college roommates, serving a mission in Minnesota.

I encourage you, in moments when you think that something is too depressing, or too annoying, or in any way too hard — pray! If anything, because there’s always someone out there who’s willing to listen to you, even if you can’t see them face-to-face.

— All my love!,

Hermana Newton