Sister McKay Dickson: Week 51: Whiplash

Sooo this was probably one of the craziest weeks of my mission. Hence why my weekly is titled whiplash: because there were some awesome times, and also some big unexpected news, so stay tuned.

Things to know:

- Our friends Latticia and Adora did not get baptized this weekend because neither of them are ready :(( But I know that they just need time, and its all in His timing.

- My birthday was one of the awesome parts, one of my members had us over for dinner and decorated her whole house for me. My roommates also made me a cake. I thought it was going to be weird just doing missionary work most of my bday but I absolutely loved it!

- This week we also had a cool miracle: A lady called our Bishop and asked to meet with the missionaries. We called her and she said she was a non member and wanted us to come and teach her! We invited her to church and she wasn't able to come but said she wanted to next time. So cool!

Stories of the week + Spiritual thought: (SORRY THIS IS LONG BUT YOU GOTTA READ)

- Sooo it all went down on Friday. It started with us going to Chewelah for exchanges with our STLs. We get up there and they tell us that they feel like the Spirit is telling them there's a reason we shouldn't be exchanging. So we all prayed to see how we felt and we felt like we should leave after doing service together. We get to service and notice we have a missed call and a voicemail from one of our returning members named Michelle. Oh man was I unprepared for what happened next. Her voice was breaking and it sounded like she had been crying, and she asked us if we could send a blue heart to one of our members phones. My heart dropped and I knew immediately what that meant even without her saying it. Our member Brooke Ellefsen in the River Ridge ward has been battling stage 4 terminal lung cancer for 5 years, and her health had been declining very rapidly lately. I couldn't control the tears and sobbing that started erupting lol, and the sisters walked me back to the car. Brooke had passed away Friday morning and it was a quick painless death, but I was just so in shock because no one was ready for it to happen so soon. I had gotten very close to Brooke during both my times in North because she would fellowship for Michelle. Her and Michelle were friends in high school but hadn't seen each other since then because Michelle hadn't been active her entire life, and when we started helping her reactivate, they were able to reconnect (What a miracle that she just HAPPENED to be living in the same ward as her childhood friend). Those lessons held some of my strongest spiritual experiences on my mission, and I am so grateful that I got to know Sister Ellefsen on my mission and witness her doing what Heavenly Father needed her to do and help bring Michelle back. My heart aches for her sweet family, and seeing them at church this week just about broke my heart. It's times like these when I am so grateful for the knowledge of the Plan of Salvation and having faith that God is in control. I know that having faith in Him means trusting in His timing.

- So for part two of crazy news on Friday. Trusting in His timing has definitely been the theme of this week. The STL's were definitely listening to the spirit because after that news we decided it would be best for us to just leave and drive home. While trying to drive home through tears and a massive migraine, we get a call from President. My heart dropped to the floor, because it was danger day (the day that missionaries get called into leadership or to train). We pulled the car over and answered the phone, and President called me to be an STL, and I was nottt happy. I feel bad hahaha because since I was already so emotional I just started crying on the phone with Him. I told him about the unexpected news I had just received and how this was all just very unexpected for me because I thought I was going to get to finish training Sister Skinner. We talked for a bit and I told Him I would be more than happy to accept the call and do what the Lord needed me to do. My heart was still broken because I really wanted to stay in my favorite area & keep training my sweet Sister Skinner. But President confided in me who her 2nd trainer would be and I immediately felt so much peace. We opened transfer calls yesterday morning and what he told me was confirmed, Sister Allen (my roommate) was going to be her 2nd trainer! And I found out I'll be going to Moscow. AGAIN! Crazy. I was feeling major deja vu because last time I left North I went to Moscow. This time I'll be in a different area, I'll be in Troy & Potlatch (which is super boonie, I'm hyped to be back in the boons) with Sister Hart! It should be a party, especially because we have the same first name. Kinda funny that my transfer goal was humility tho, because I have definitely had numerous very humbling experiences this transfer.

Anyway thanks for anyone who read all that, you're a real one. Excited to continue doing the Lord's will and finding those who He needs me to find, no matter where that is. Said a lot of hard goodbyes but honestly so grateful God let me come back to North and get more time in my home away from home. I'll never be able to put into words how much the experiences I've had in this area have impacted me, and I'm just glad I can come back and see all my favorite people and ward members after the mish.

Until next time...

In Moscow!

Love,

Sister Diggy

Pictures:

(Spam with lots of bday & bye pics)