Texas is it’s own country, I kid you not. Culture, food, religion, accent, it has it all. I left the MTC at around 5:00 am on the 21st. I was the only one without my companion from the MTC. I felt so so so lonely that first day, it was just insane. Everyone was nice, but they all knew each other and I was definitely the odd one out. Whenever people talked to me, it felt as though they spoke to me out of pity. Who knows if this was actually the case, but it was really hard. I missed my companion like crazy and all my girls back at the MTC. So it was super tough.

We rode the bus to the train and another train to the airport, all while lugging around two big suitcases, a carry-on and my side bag. Needless to say, it felt nice to finally just sit and relax on the plane. The last few hours of calm before the storm that will be the next 18 months of my life. I sat next to an Elder and we chatted for awhile before he totally clocked out and slept the rest of the ride. But it was really nice to get to know him and talk about mission stuff. 

We landed and I was worried our mission President would be waiting there with pass along cards like, “okay get to work!”. But I was relieved that wasn’t the case. We got our bags and met President Chapman and his lovely wife. Man, they’re like your parents out here. We didn’t do much the first day except for some training and dinner and then all the sisters went to a very sweet member’s house to sleep for the night. The next morning, we got ready and the Elders were there to pick us up, all gentleman like grabbing our bags and helping us out. We went to the stake center, did more training, ate breakfast and met our trainers! They had the new missionaries come to the front of the room and then they’d announce who their companion was. I was one of the last, but my companion is Sister Minson!! She is the bomb! 

My first area is in Decatur, which has a population of about 7,000 and our apartment is right by cows, which is awesome. They’re so cute. Our apartment is pretty awesome to, the only downside is that our shower doesn’t drain super fast… bummer deal. But anyway, this week has been actually pretty chill. With the missions utilizing more online platforms, there are way more opportunities to reach people through Facebook and things like that. Sister Minson and I actually have the calling of running a Facebook page called Followers of Christ in Decatur, TX. Feel free to like our page! Because of this calling, we actually haven’t done any contacting yet. Which has me a little nervous because I’m scared to talk to people hahaha. But I know I have to do it eventually. 

I have met the ward and been to several dinners with members and they’re all so lovely. There’s one older sister who cracks me up. She used to bad ham the church all the time, but she started taking the lessons and was baptized last year. We visit her pretty often and she’s just too funny. When I first met her, she told me she hated me hahaha! But then the next time, in the middle of talking, she just looked at me and said “You’re pretty” she’s just so funny. Cracks jokes and laughs all the time and you know she just loves ya even when she’s throwing shade. 

We do a lot of service hours here. We help at a food pantry, paint little old ladies fingernails at a local nursing home and help out at the museum. It’s been refreshing to serve. Gets me out of my own head. And those sweet little old ladies are the cutest. One fell asleep while I painted her nails and I just held her hand until she woke up. I decided to paint her nails bright pink and her face when she saw them was just priceless. It’s crazy how much you learn to love the people so fast. We also had my first baptism this Saturday! I was definitely single-handedly responsible for that one 😉 It was so amazing to be there. Seeing the transformation even after he was baptized was remarkable and he kept saying “That was so amazing” over and over. What an incredible moment to be a part of. 

Funny story before I end this email. Literally one of the things they warn you about the most happened. Sister Minson was assigned to speak this Sunday and we already knew that for awhile. On the first night, I met the bishop and he asked if we wanted to split the talk and both speak. We decided we’d just have Minson speak…. HOWEVER on SUNDAY MORNING I just had a feeling.. so after ward counsel, I picked up a program and I’m sure you can guess what happened next. “Speakers: Sister Minson & Sister Oldham”. FREAKING HECK. I had literally only the time in sacrament meeting before I stood up to prepare something. Luckily, I didn’t have to speak too long because Minson spoke for most of the time. But I literally kept laughing and shaking my head like, they warned me… they told me this would happen. And my first week, it did. Honestly though, what a great experience! It was so awesome! My talk was alright, but I’m so glad it happened! Even if I was shaking the whole time haha. 

I am starting to really feel homesick, and I have never felt the adversary’s thumb press on me this hard before in my entire life. I have yet to cry, it’s like my mind isn’t allowing me to truly feel all the emotions of everything  going on. If it did, I think I’d just break and crumble. But I could go for a good cry haha, maybe that’d help me get out of this funk and get into the groove of being a missionary. How amazing it’s been to go through all this though. I know this experience will be the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I know that the adversary has been so heavy because he knows this is the true church. He knows what joy it brings to people and he knows that I will be a great missionary. (At least I hope so haha) This week, I’m gonna try and figure out how to not worry so much about myself and to be bold and courageous. Fear is a tool of the devil and I won’t let him have me. I’m grateful for the Savior. I know he died for me and he suffered for me. I know he can give me strength as I just do my best. As I give all I have, I know he’ll make up my shortcomings. And I have plenty of those. 

I hope you all have a great week and feel free to email me any time! I can read them, just not respond to them until Pday, which are Monday’s. So I love getting little messages throughout the week! Remember that God loves you and he’s aware of you. He wants to hear from you 🙂 Pray always!

Scripture of the week: Alma 26: 11-12

Get Busy, Get Lost!
-Sister Abby Oldham