How I Learned to Appreciate Innocence

First of all, happy birthday to my kid-brother who's now 16. Yeah, totally remembered that your birthday was two weeks ago and realized that I'm a crappy sister. I give you permission to sell all my things on ebay to make up for it. Love you, Trev.

Now, for the big news. I'M STAYING IN ANNECY!!!!!!! And even bigger news...I'M SERVING WITH A MEXICAN! Her name is Sœur Cerdhe and she is evidence that revelation exists because we are seriously the perfect companionship. She's going to speak in Spanish to me (we've set aside "Spanish days") and in exchange I'm teaching her guitar. This transfer is going to be cotton candy.

The work has hit ground zero here, but...honestly, we're determined little folks. Annecy is going to explode with Mormons by the end of these six weeks, so be watching the news for that. My transfer with Sœur Sovaleni taught me so much and I will look back on our transfer as one of my favorite memories of my mission. She was sad to leave Annecy, but her loveliness is needed in Switzerland.

FACTS I LEARNED:

• My new favorite thing to make for people: Cookie Jars. Make a bunch of small cookies and put them in a jelly jar and then you have the perfect thing to endear people with. I want to be baking on Grandma status by the end of my mission!!

• According to my old companion: Turtles cry when they're sad. Like, with tears. 

• According to my new companion, who just finished serving with another Mexican: Mexicans have serious issues with other Mexicans who try to tell them what to do. I think it's hilarious.

This week's episode of "How to Be Smooth on the Phone":

Investigator (age 62): "Sœur Green, I'm so glad you called. I don't think I told you about my friend that had his first child when he was 57..."

Me: "Oh! Well that is quite different. Do you mind if we share a scripture with you really quick?"

Can I just say what a wake up call this last week of my life has been? It was so loud, my ears are still recovering. I think I have seen more hardship, more cultural differences, and more suffering that exists in this world on my mission than I have throughout my entire life. This week was especially unique. Not for any particular reason, per se, but I've never been bombarded with so much "reality." Ever. 

Last week, I went to Geneva again for an exchange with one of the other missionaries and taught a very kind man from Gambia. Towards the end of the lesson with him, we asked him if he was interested in being baptized. He replied, "My father is a big man in Gambia. If my family knew I was looking into Christianity, I would be killed immediately." 

Shortly after this experience, we walked by a row of apartment buildings and heard a child crying. We looked around and found a toddler screaming for his mother by the backdoor of one apartment with a stoic father behind him looking down at him crossing his arms. I was so anxious to leave Switzerland. There were things I saw that I really wish didn't happen.

Arriving in Annecy was a relief, but for some reason, I was just hit with so many insane situations within a couple of days that I never saw up until this point. My companion was contacting an angry, smoking man who decided that it would be okay to grab me and start putting his mouth on my face (yeah, that's all I care to say. I'm still angry about it); That evening, we taught a 60 year old woman from Africa who told us her mother was 11 years older than her; The next evening, we were followed home by a man for 20 minutes and we had to hide behind a building until he gave up; And, because life decided that I didn't have enough adventure for one week, I was almost robbed by a gypsy on the way home from church who started to grab at my coat and my scarf, telling me that her fully-dressed, content child standing next to her was cold and needed things to keep her warm. GAHHH!!! WHY NOW???

There's something to be said about innocence. Not necessarily "ignorance," but a sense of comfort and trust in your surroundings and the people around you. It is a blessing. I wouldn't say that I want to erase the memories of what have happened, because there is a reason for every experience we have. I'm also not saying that I've seen the worst of it, because that would be ignorant to claim. But, it's been a labor to keep an optimistic, soul-searching attitude after the experiences that I've had recently. 

I can't express fully or competently the gratitude I have for the knowledge of the teachings of Christ. The longer I live and the more I learn, the more I realize how crucial it is to remember the reason of why we are here and the purpose for the things we experience in this life. I love my Savior and the knowledge of the love He has for us. We have to remember that He has experienced these things LONG before we have. It is a test in this life to overcome the natural reaction to the things that happen, even if you don't understand the reason for them. I have a testimony of that. I can tell you with confidence that there is a light at the end of every tunnel if you are willing to walk the distance. 

I love you all. Keep being the wonderful examples that you are.

Sœur Green