bike, rain, skirt, and slick shoes...risky business

I am beyond jealous of the storms there!!!  We haven't really had any here, and this place is supposed to have CRAZY storms!  I am a storm killer apparently.  Great...

Oh, I guess we kind of had a storm on Thursday.  It was the greatest day!  It was a little sad because Sis G. was sick and couldn't go out, but then another Sister was sick too, so I went with her companion to their area for the day.  We got to bike and it was so much fun!  It turns out that I am not too stable biking in a skirt with dumb slippery shoes in the wind and rain, but I didn't crash at all!  I came close a few times though haha.  That just made it more exciting.  We crossed the street and got back on our bikes and (by the way, getting started is the hardest part of biking) so when we were starting off we were going down a hill and I was right next to this wall and I kept almost falling over so I just kept pushing off of the wall kind of pushing myself down the hill....I really did not describe that well.  But it was probably hilarious to watch.  Ok never mind, just ignore that.

But we got to teach some really cool people.  We met this man who has studied other religions and is searching for the truth.  he told us his dilemma was that he didn't know what was right and he didn't know which church to join.  Perfect segway into the restoration?  Um yes.  It was such cool lesson.  We were just standing in his doorway but it really was powerful lesson.   

We talked to a lady on the street who does research for a bible ministry or something like that.  She gave us all of her information and said we could come over, but I can't go to that one either ha.  I think she intends on helping us out and helping us to see the truth.  :)

Another man we're teaching called us and said he had something important to tell us, then proceeded to say that he had a dream and the date sept. 20th kept coming up and he couldn't get it out of his mind, and he thinks that is the day he should be baptized.  He is facing a TON of adversity right now, and more things keep hitting him--He just found out this weekend that he has cancer.  It is an incredibly difficult time for him.  If you could pray for him I would really appreciate it.

I know that it will be ok.  When we turn to the Savior, we truly can do all things and endure all things and find comfort and peace despite our trials.  I'm also so grateful for the way that members of the ward have supported and truly embraced him so that he knows that there are people who care for him as he goes through his challenges.  

We get to go on a hike with an investigator!  Sister G is patient and great!!  It turns out this lady works for a member of the 70.  He told her like a year ago that she would regret not converting sooner. After that she had a baptismal date, but then ended up backing out again.  But she still comes to church and she was there on Sunday!  

I'm so happy to be serving here (In Phoenix).  I'm kind of scared to find out about my visa...I almost don't want any information haha.  I'll be glad to go to Australia, but I don't feel ready to leave here yet.  I feel like there are people here I can hopefully help (or invite closer to the Savior so that He can actually help them ha). 

Addison's talk sounds great!!!  Wow.  Have fun with all that celebrating! (Our Anniversary and my birthday).  

I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!  Have a great week!

I love it here!

I feel like I've been here for so long, but I've only been on a mission for 3 weeks!  That's crazy.  

I don't know where to start, or what to say actually ha.  

I love it here!  It's really hot, but not too different from home actually. I think I'd be fine if I hadn't been in Provo all spring.  It actually hasn't been a problem at all because we have a car temporarily.  My companion has a hurt knee, she doesn't know what happened, but it goes numb sometimes and just has some pain, and the Dr. said he doesn't know what's wrong with it, so he gave her a prescription and said come back if it isn't better in 10 days.  So we live with 2 other sisters, the sister training leaders, and we are using their car for the time being.  I feel bad for stealing their car --their area is a lot further away than ours and they have to bike out there everyday.  Also I just really want to bike, I think it sounds fun!  (Don't remind me of this when it actually happens and it's not quite as fun as I expected haha).

A member posted this to Sister Formica's timeline.  Thank you!! 

The ward is wonderful, there are some really sweet people.  There are quite a few young couples from BYU and they have the cutest families ever!!!  I just love them!  Sis Graham (my companion) just laughs at me because seriously every single time we leave a house I say "Ok I just LOVE them!"  Because I do.  They are all that awesome.  

Sister Graham is really funny.  She went to BYU-I and is a theatre major.  She's super nice and sometimes when she talks she reminds me of Natalie...not really what she says, but just her voice.  Also she's got a good voice and sings all the time.  She is fairly patient with me, and I am learning slowly.  

Our ward mission leader is great, he and his wife are so involved and incredibly helpful.  They are both converts, he joined the church about 10 years ago and she did 3 years ago.  Her story is crazy!  I'll have to tell you in a letter sometime.  It blew my mind.  Now you're just going to have to wait in suspense ha.  

Rebecca loved this picture because
it shows the Savior smiling!

I'm still trying to figure out what on earth I am supposed to be doing.  I get a bit frustrated with myself at times, but I am working on being patient with myself and just putting my trust in the Lord.  I feel like I say that in every email, but I'm always working on it haha.

Her comments remind me of my (Rebecca's mom) favorite scripture:  Proverbs 3:5-6 

5 ¶Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thineown understanding.

6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

https://www.lds.org/scriptures/ot/prov/3?lang=eng

We had ipads and I think they are simultaneously the most frustrating and handy things ever.  My ipad doesn't work half of the time, but then a paper area book would be so much more of a pain.  

One thing we were discussing with one of the members yesterday is the how incredibly powerful the Atonement is.  It not only allows us to repent, but it provides comfort, healing, hope, strength.  It has an enabling power.  Because of the Atonement we are never alone.  Because of the Atonement we are able to return to live with our Heavenly Father after this life.  What an amazing gift.  I can't put into words how wonderful it is.  But it just is great!

Um I just remembered other good stuff to tell you but my time is up ha.  That's why I always kept a list of things to tell Rach.  Otherwise my brain is too unorganized.  I'll have to save it for next week.  The computers are so frustrating.  It took 2 librarians to help me get one working today haha.  

Umm I LOVE YOU SOOO MUCH!!!  Hope everything is going well!  Loved all of your emails!!!  Sorry this is so scattered.  I am not really even sure what I said ha.

Well, no address or pictures this week, but at least we know she's alive and well.  We love her beautiful scattered brain.  If you want to send her a letter, I'd send it to the mission home in Tempe.  See the Address tab above.  Thanks for reading.   

Arrived in Tempe (...last Tuesday)

Here are all the new missionaries arriving.  

President and Sister Toone and Sister Formica

Hello!!!!  I feel like I am emailing from the other side of the world. Ha, nope just a few hours away.   But I'm just emailing really quickly to tell you that I can't email until Wednesday. Makes sense right?  president said that the new missionaries could email and let our families know that p day is Wednesday so no mom gets upset or has a heart attack. It's wed because we are going to the Mesa temple Wednesday!!  So I'll talk to you then.

Off to Tempe

Mom's note:  Short emails this week - but I decided to piece them together to share.  We missed Rebecca's first Pday last week - it caught us by surprise, so to make up for it, we sent an email from Dear elder, we each sent her a letter, and we sent a package with some papers she wanted and zucchini bread.  We thought maybe we sent too much.  This was her response...  
   
You didn't overdo it, it was great haha.  I LOVED the package and the letters and you all are just amazing!!  I got it last night.  Please tell me you read adams letter ha...best thing ever.  I will definitely write him back.

The week before she left, when we couldn't find Rebecca,
she was usually on the roof reading the Book of Mormon.
Sunsets, reading, and the gospel - can't get better than that. 

Dad, you'll be glad to know that my comp lives by the saying "when you're on time you're late, when you're early you're on time haha.  We have been going to sleep a little later than we are supposed to, which we are working really hard on!  There's just no time.  We come home from teaching and have to jump into bed (ok there's a little time, but not enough) but we have stuff to do still.  But that's a goal we are working on, to be exactly on time. 

(In my email, I asked her whether she gets to play sports during exercise)  

I played vball once but it was bad, so I'm sticking to other things so I don't get frustrated or too competitive haha.  We play speed/bump/there are a million different names for it, and four square and frisbee and what not.  It's been fine, I'm glad to be able to get out and have fun, and learn to just have fun with it ha. 

Oh by the way, my visa is not in, sooo I am going to Tempe AZ for a transfer to wait for my visa and sis vea is too!!  So that'll be good!  And I'm excited.  It feels right.  Everyone thinks I should be really disappointed, but I am feeling good about it.  I'll let you know my address, I thiiiiink the mission home might be:

Sis Rebecca Formica

1871 E. Del Rio Dr.

Tempe AZ 85282-2822

Um, Dad can you possibly send me a copy of your priesthood lineage?  Um, also I forgot to get a father's blessing the night I left!!  I definitely was planning on it but I guess with sliding (*see below) and packing I forgot.  That seems so long ago ha, but at the same time, everything went so fast.  I'm leaving in a few days...tuesday morning at 4:30 we leave the mtc.  Wow.  I can't possibly be ready, can I?  Ahh. 

Um no time for the rest of it, but I'll send a letter.  Sorry there really isn't anything for the blog this time.  

I am really learning to trust in the Lord.  I am so grateful for His guidance and love.  

Gotta go, love you!  BYE!

Rebecca has always been good about taking time to go outside and appreciate the world.  And she made us do it too.  

Becca came home June 26.  She had a bucket list of things to do before she left.  One thing she refused to give up on was moving all the furniture and sliding across our family room floor.  So Tuesday night before she left, we all got socks on, sprayed a little section of the floor with Pledge (not recommended) and slid across... with some fun variations.  It was a fun way to spend the last night together.  And in order to save my tailbone, McKay made me a poster.  

First Pday

I can't really describe the MTC, it's weird, but then good and hard, but I'm not sure why it's that hard!  I feel like it shouldn't be that bad.  My Branch president used an analogy to describe the MTC that was pretty accurate though.  He said it's like you're buying a new computer.  The first few days all you are doing is downloading the programs and getting what you need to make the computer work.  And it takes a while for you to get used to it.  I figured you'd understand it mom because you hate doing stuff like that--getting it set up and downloading, downloading, etc. Getting all the programs and everything you need to work.  OK I just read through that and I did not explain it well...oh well.  You and dad went through it, you understand.  

We start teaching our investigator today, well really tomorrow but that's just because we signed up for tomorrow ha.  Our investigators name is Alex.  OK the computer is going crazy now... I think the hardest thing is that I keep forgetting to call my roommates sisters.  The four of us are always together, I mean always.  And there are two of us who cannot remember not to say guys. We are kinda doing the flip thing from the best two years except I feel like if I actually punch her she will cry* or something so we aren't really doing it, hopefully we'll just learn fast.   (*not much like Rebecca in the punching category). 

Our district is kinda funny, we were singing in the morning and it sounded soo bad haha.  I was trying not to laugh. The guys don't really sing.  They are pretty quiet in general, we are going to try to get to know them better, and I think it will be a lot more fun after that.  One of our sisters laughs constantly.  Like all the time ha, it's great.   

Oh fun fact we are in a zone with the ASL district!  So that's pretty fun.  I haven't signed with them much,but I just thought that was fun.  

Yesterday I managed to lose my card twice.  And it's the key to like EVERYTHING.  Not kidding, it gets you in every single door in the MTC, it gets you in the gym and gets you food and you can use it at the bookstore and probably 10 other things.  But it won't happen again.  

I decided that I can't be shy, if there's something that needs to be done I just need to volunteer and do it.  Our district is all pretty quiet and shy, and there's only one of us who really plays the piano (or at least one who will admit it haha.  I am not counting myself as skilled enough because...I'm not ha).  But yeah, the more I do things and practice the more comfortable I will be, and the more effective I will be able to be in the field.  

I love what we are learning about here though!  It is hard, but it's all good!  I will become better at teaching!  Slowly, but eventually haha.  I love this gospel!!  It is wonderful!!  It brings so much happiness, and that is what I have to keep reminding myself.  That is why I am here.  I am beyond grateful for the Holy Ghost and his role in teaching!!  It's so comforting that we can have the spirit with us while we teach.  

Oh, my companion is sweet.  She's tongan, and she is soo patient and funny and I like her!  We think very differently when it comes to teaching, but that's good because as long as we plan well and have the spirit it will bring more perspective to the lesson!  One of my roommates is amazing. She has 13 siblings and she is one of 2 members in her family and she has gone through some hard stuff, but she has such a strong testimony.  My goal is to learn something from everyone I meet.  I know there is something I can learn from everyone.

Ahh I know there are tons of things I am forgetting to tell you, but oh well.  I know it really doesn't matter.  I love you all so much!!!  Read this to dad or something, and tell him I'll send him an email next week when I get one!  JUst kidding, I just figured you can all share.  Love you all sooo much!!  

I TOLD you my emails would be boring, sorry!  (She doesn't know that everything coming from her, especially during her first few months, is treasured.)    

Sister Formica

Hooroo!

If something's in blue, it's Mom commentary.... in this case because Rebecca ran out of time and didn't title it.  She asked me to finish up this post or delete it, and I figured you'd rather read it than read nothing, even three days late).  

Well I don't know where the time went, but it went somewhere, and fast.  I'm leaving tomorrow to the Provo Missionary Training Center, and then on to Australia!  I feel like I have so much to do still!

Packing for a year and a half is no joke.  I struggle with packing for a week, so this is kind of a nightmare haha.  I guess no matter what is inside my suitcase, I'll be gone tomorrow at 3 in the morning, so I better just throw it all in.

It's the pheasant that freaks out that gets shot.  I feel like the pheasant that is freaking out currently.
(Ashlyn's mom told me once how she remembers to always stay calm ... in Bambi, when the pheasants are hiding from the hunters and hear them getting closer, the pheasant that panicked flew up and got shot... why?  Because she panicked.  Luckily Becca didn't fly up and get shot.  She stayed calm enough to finish packing at 2:30 am and get 30 minutes of sleep.)

I am so grateful for the opportunity to go

My mom will be updating this blog with my emails every week.  When Rachel left she told everyone to be patient with my mom, but I can't say the same...at this point she knows way more than me about blogging. Thanks Mom!

People keep asking, "Are you just so excited?"  Yes absolutely!!  But also no.  I have been bouncing back and forth between extremely excited and incredibly nervous so much that I almost feel like I have multiple personalities.  Just kidding, but at this point I feel calm and absolutely ready to go!

Over the last two years I discovered that I am the worst at emailing missionary friends.  (Sorry guys!  When you get back I'll...buy you all ice cream ha.  Idk probably not, but I am really sorry).  But I'm going to be a hypocrite and say that I would LOVE emails from everyone!  And I'll try my best to be better at the other side of the it.

If you want to receive the blog in your e-mail, sign up on the home page, lower right side.  Then you'll receive an email from "FEEDBURNER" that asks you to click on it to make sure you want it.  Then when I add a new post from her e-mails, you'll get it in your inbox.  

"Hooroo"!  Australian slang for good-bye or see you later.  Sometimes said with the h silent, sometimes not.