Letters From Sister Emery: February 27, 2017- Sister Ure, Bend and D&C 4:3

Hello Family (and friends)

President and Sister Tateoka & Sister Emery

OR is beautiful. Everyone told me this, but now I know for myself. This week has been insane and had a boat load of ups and downs. I had to say goodbye to all my MTC pals, including my foyer friends. I only bawled my eyeballs out for a couple hours. BUT I am not even sad, because we are all going to be kick butt missionaries so it doesn't even matter. We got up at 3am on Wednesday to report to the travel office (and by got up I mean I didn't sleep of course). It was snowing and each of us were lugging three huge suitcases from our residence (which is the opposite side of the MTC), and we were tired and nervous, and it was just an interesting adventure. Our bus driver ended up being sick so we had to split into two vans and drive to the frontrunner. After a lot of Trax hopping, we finally made it to the airport. We got to talk to some family on the phone and my mom didn't even cry. (nice job mom.) The flight was a short one and most of us slept all the way through it, but before you knew it, we were in Oregon. Its so beautiful and green and foggy and fantastic. I'M DEAD. I LOVE IT HERE. We met our mission president and his wife. They're so funny and seem nice, but also kinda strict. (which isn't a bad thing.) We then drove from the airport to our mission home, which is so cute and really did feel like a home. We got some training and had some mission president interviews and then we went to bed. When we woke up the next morning (Thursday) and we headed to the church where we met our trainers. My Trainers name is Sister Ure. She's from Idaho Falls and she is on her LAST transfer. That means I don't even get to keep her as a trainer for the full 12 weeks, which is a huge bummer. Sister Ure is amazing. So amazing it makes it hard for me to feel like a good missionary, because she is the best. She is SO driven and is always ready to go out and work hard. We are in BEND!!!!!!!! (I LOVE BEND AND WANT TO LIVE HERE WHEN I GROW UP), in the Mountain View ward. The work in Bend is really slow. It's liberal and pretty big and the last several missionaries that have been assigned to this area have gone home early. Missions are hard. Sister Ure is excited because we both are SO excited and positive about missionary work. Good things are bound to happen. We have a few investigators that we feel have the potential to progress, as well as a few that haven't progressed in a while. But with me getting here to Bend, we are both looking at this like a clean slate. We are going to work hard and stay positive and bring some Oregonians the gospel. One of the MANY things I have learned from Sister Ure this far is the importance of members in missionary work. They are honestly essential. So we have been working hard to build member trust and get them excited for missionary work. So I have a challenge for all of you out there. DO MISSIONARY WORK!!! Even if you aren't wearing a tag or don't feel like you could do it, you can be a missionary. D&C 4:3 "Therefore, if ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work." Talk to a non-member about our beliefs and knowledge. Or bear your testimony to a less active. You never know who you can touch. The work may be slow in Bend, but us missionaries get fed WELL, too well honestly. I gotta start getting good about exercising. (It is harder in the field.) I love being a missionary. Adjusting is hard and rejection is hard, but you find joy in the little things. I honestly am growing and learning so much. I can't wait to see what the next 17 months bring.

I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!
Sister Emery

My address:

878 NE Hidden Valley Dr. #1

Bend, OR 97701