Exchanges, Jenna and #ldsconf

Hello people that I love!

This week was SUPAH stressful, but overwhelmingly full of miracles and bright spots. I found myself utterly exhausted by the end of it, and pleased that I got to go to bed. Mom was right all along, she always told me that I would grow to love afternoon naps. Love is right!!!!!   

This week is the week that the Sister Training Leaders felt like we should be the ones they go on exchanges with. Exchanges are basically when you switch companions for a day with the local leading sister missionaries, who are called the Sister Training Leaders. 

There were miracles! We found a girl named Jenna, who the previous missionaries had fallen out of contact with.  Sister Asplund said that our meeting was totally something that Jenna and I must have arranged in the pre-earth life. I feel like she is right. It was uncanny: we both had a Dad die, we both have two younger biological siblings, the list of similarities goes on. 

It's the times when I meet people like this that I feel so thankful for the pain I've endured because it makes it possible for us to heal together. I've been blessed with a Momma who always was very good to us and taught us how to cope with our pain in healthy ways, but I know very well that not everyone has this advantage coming into life. I love that through my pain, I can help others find healing in Jesus Christ. It makes all of the tears and fears worth it. They are so precious, each of these people I have the privilege to meet. I wish that they could see and understand how incredible they are, with all of their quirks and hardships. They have NO IDEA how amazing they are. Can I just tell each one of you that are reading this that you are a blessing in my life? I know that I've told that to most of you before, but some of you don't want to believe me. Stop being stubborn! I'm right on this one, trust me. You are incredible.

 

Anyway, Jenna is going to attend the Saturday evening session of General Conference with me and Sister Tait and a family in the ward! General Conference is so inspiring, y'all better send me thoughts on what you discover. I don't know how to express how much I'm looking forward to this weekend! #ldsconf #soexcited!!!

Happy Easter everyone! Gots to go.

Love always,

Sister Rapier

"No more sugar for you!"

Dear Freindily,

What a week!! Every week flies by faster than the last. I'm sure that to you, all of the missionary emails tend to blur together because you read so many. The days probably blur together for you too. Life is nuts. Missions are hard and fun! 

Miracles! We met a family this week! When we were walking down the street to our next appointment on Thursday, this little boy runs up behind us and asks if we're going to his house. We told him we aren't, but we can if he wants us too, and he showed us which house was his before running away. We went back that night and got a return appointment for the next day. Friday night rolls around, and we go back to see them. Their entire family was there. We got to know them and invited them to church.

On Sunday, Alex came to church. He walked fifteen minutes. By himself. In the morning. To church. Alex is a fifteen-year-old boy. I don't think I've met many people who hunger for truth the way Alex does. Certainly I know a few, several of which are my closest friends, but it is still so remarkable to meet someone who hungers for truth. It makes me feel so happy and awed that I have the privilege to be a messenger to one who so earnestly seeks! There is true joy to be found in both the living and the sharing of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Wow. (:

Sister Tait is a lovely individual. She is a very easy person to get along with. I really like her. She's a long-boarding Utahn!

Disclaimer: the cake thing, I did that on a dare. From my hostess. Yes, I ate half of a cake in three bites. No, I couldn't hold still for the rest of the night. My knees were bouncing so hard that her floorboards creaked... yeesh.

Funny quotes of the week:

"I only have to pay taxes and die, and I've already paid my taxes, so now I just have to die."

-Mamma Keller, my favorite old lady in the ward (she's a little nuts but AWESOME!)

"I always look like a goddess."

-Sister Tait, hair blowing dramatically in the wind this morning

"No more sugar for you!"

-Sue, after I ate half of the cake

Love you all! Stay safe and don't forget to smile!

-Sister Rapier

Just another week... IN WOODSTOCK!!!

Naomi’s second area is Woodstock, Virginia, which is located in the northwestern area of the state. Woodstock is the fourth oldest town in Virginia and is the county seat of Shenandoah County. The city’s population is about 5,000.

Her new companion is Sister Tait from Cedar City, Utah.

Hello Framiree,

I love you all so much!! I've been thinking about y'all today. Hey, I'm in Woodstock, VA!!! Not the Woodstock where the hippies congregated to get psychadelic and listen to music and stuff, that's in New York. Perks: we have TONS of civil war history here!! Also, a hitching post on a main road for your horses. Woodstock is that cool.

My new companion is Sister Tait. We think very much alike, and it's really fun!!
 This week, we were driving in the car, I expressed that I didn't like something, so don't give me any, there was a pause, then we both started singing, "Don't want no pop, no pop! Don't give me no juice, no juice! Just give me that milk, moo moo moo moo! Just give me that milk, moo moo moo moo!" Sister Tait took the words right out of my mouth, we were so in sync! #YWCamp

The people of Woodstock are wonderful!! Fun story: I have met someone here with worse dental hygiene than any that I came across in West Virginia. She has one half-black tooth smack in the middle of her top "row" of teeth. Plot twist!

Another fun story: in Woodstock, there is a woman who is investigating the church. Her name is Joyce. No, not the same Joyce we were teaching in Martinsburg. It's uncanny! They both have this incredible power to talk your ear off. Company+Joyce(either one)=JoyceVoice. Hehehe. Anyway, both lovely ladies! I met Woodstock Joyce on Thursday. She has bad knees and a fancy pistol in her toolbox. She didn't show us either, just told us about both. Joyce had a question about the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ: why did God wait 1800 years to send a prophet after Jesus Christ and His apostles were all killed? Good question! In view of the lack of religious freedom in Eurasia at the time, it makes sense that God waited. We shared 1 Nephi 13:12-20 with her, and talked about how God prepared a way for religious freedom to be had and for the Book of Mormon to be able to come forth. Cool stuff! I love how verse 12 talks about Christopher Columbus.

My time has come to an end! Love you all!

Cheer and sunshine and love,

Sister Rapier

A Glorious Era has come to an end. Another begins!!!

Dear Frams,

Two days from now, I will leave Martinsburg, WV. I will never forget WWRB (Wilkerson, Watterson, Rapier, Bartschi) in the Burg - pronounced "werb in the berg." I have had an incredible transfer serving with these three in the Martinsburg Ward. 

For my next transfer, I will be serving in Woodstock, Virginia!!!! Wheeeeheee! My new companion will be Sister Tait! So bittersweet! It's such a joyful occasion to move to a new phase of life/the mission, but heartbreaking also. 

I'm out of time due to all of us emailing on the one computer at the church today. It kind of (really) stinks when the public library computer policies change, so there you have that.

Naomi arranged funeral flowers for a family in the ward

For the record, I will be returning to Martinsburg for the baptisms of Chong and Joyce. 

Love you all! The gospel is true and the book is blue!

#TheBookofMormon #readitbecauseit'sworthit

Love love love!

Sister Rapier

naomi.rapier@myldsmail.net

New address:

Sister Naomi Rapier

213 Patriots Place

Woodstock, VA 22664

In the Mission Field with Sister Bartschi

Dear Frams,

Hola from the other side! Of the country, that is.

Silliness with Sister Carpenter from the ward

I have had a request to tell about my lovely companion, Sister Bartschi. She is tall and gorgeous! I forget how much taller than me she is until the end of each lesson when we stand up to go. Then I remember! 

Sister Bartschi is quite similar to my sister Sabrina. As such, it took us a good while to learn how to communicate because we are VERY different people. Loreen, Nanna, Mom, all the rest of y'all who watched Sabrina and I grow up together, you know that this transfer has been quite a journey of learning for both me and Sister Bartschi. This having been said, she has become one of my best friends. She makes me laugh on my grumpy, sleep deprived days, she rolls with it when I forget what we're doing and have to be reminded again, and she really is just a lot of fun to be around. She has big sexy hair (because that's the kind of hairspray she uses) and she is A LOT better at cardio than me. I have the upper hand in yoga. Between the two of us, we consume an average of two gallons of milk per week, largely by way of cereal consumption.#ClaireWouldBeProud  

Happy Birthday Sister Bartschi!

Sister Bartschi has a beautiful testimony, and you can see her sincerity in her eyes as she bears it. She gives me a hug when I'm feeling sad. She is always there to back me up (when my teaching falls flat) and I'm always there to back her up (out of the driveway). But I also back up her teaching (: 

In conclusion: I like her, she is cool, President Christiansen knew what he was doing when he put us together. Every valuable relationship is built by trying really hard and enjoying the company of each other I think, and such is the case here. It was her birthday yesterday, Yay!~

News Flash::  

CHONG IS GETTING BAPTIZED!!!!! WHEEEEEE! 

Chong got a birthday cake for Sister Bartschi

We had asked her before if she would take this step, and she wasn't feeling it. When we went to see her last night, she brought up baptism, expressed her desire to have this opportunity, and asked if it would be okay if she were baptized. Miracles! Her faith is strong, and although she has been baptized three different times in other churches, she has come to know for herself that this is the next step that God would have her take in her life. She will be baptized by her LDS friend Jim on March 19 at 6pm and will receive the gift of having the holy ghost as her constant companion as long as she's faithful the next morning. This is what she's most excited for. She told us that she's been looking for this feeling of having the spirit with her for most of her life, ever since she moved here from Korea 40 years ago.

We have also been teaching a lady named Joyce! Joyce is having a rough go at things and has been for quite a while. She wants to change! Every time we go to see her, she has a more positive and clear view of herself, others, and the world around her. It has been remarkable to watch her realize what she is, what she wants to be, and to see her moving in that direction. She is a truly remarkable woman of strength and courage. I cannot tell you how much I admire her determination to stick with it and get back up even though things are so hard. She has taught me a lot about timing. She has also taught me much about recognizing people for what they truly are, and not what they appear to be upon first appraisal. It is phenomenal to be around her and to grow with her along this journey that we are both taking.

Sister Bartschi and Sister Rapier in the Mission Field

Funny story for the week: there is a lady in the ward who we're pretty sure is trying to marry one of us off to her son. She will occasionally walk up and interrupt various conversations we're involved in to laud his singing voice, his righteousness, et cetera. It's really funny!

Love you all, and be of good cheer!

Sister Naomi Lydia Rapier

The "Igle"

Dear Framiriendsy,

This week I send cordial greetings to you all!

My dear mother has pointed out that I've been quite neglecting to talk about the lovely people that I'm teaching and who I interact with every day! Time for a few stories which may or may not be in order and may or may not be related.

Yesterday, we were visiting this sweet old couple, Eugene and Dot. Eugene was telling us a story, and this is what he said:

"We seen an Igle flyin' over the moun'un, it was real nice, and Ahvy turned to me and said, 'Gene? Is that an Igle?' and I done seen its white head so I told her, 'Yep Ahvy, that's and Igle."

It took us a few minutes to figure out that he and his granddaughter Ivy had seen an eagle flying over the mountains.

One of our investigators, Arianna, is very much like Claire, for any of y'all who know Claire. She makes many of the same faces and she has many questions. She's so sweet. (:

Yesterday I took a leap of faith and invited a woman named Joyce to be baptized in our first lesson with her. The sisters who were here before us apparently taught her some of the restoration, but we hadn't been able to actually teach her until yesterday. She accepted! Joyce wants to be baptized when she knows that these things are true. It's been remarkable to see the change in her countenance as she contemplates truly turning her life around.

Okay, I'm running quite short on time.

No squirrel stew yet, I'm still hopeful. The weirdest thing I've eaten so far is meatloaf inside of a bell pepper.

Love you all, Bye!

A little basketball practice...

Yoga day

Pranked by the elders - all yarned up

Another week we've watched fly by...

Dear Famiriends (Family+Friends -- get it?!),

Wow, it's been a great week! I was feeling tired today, but not any more. I ate some of the hottest hot sauce from Buffalo Wild Wings when we went there for lunch after District meeting; we'll just say that it woke me up. Whew!! Steele, you would be proud, the sauce had ghost pepper in it, and I ate a whole fry full of the stuff. It burned, it also did a really great job of clearing my sinuses out. Perks of hot sauce!

The work is flourishing!!!! So many in Martinsburg are super prepared for this message of happiness that we have, and I just feel like I can't move fast enough. 

Our investigator Arianna has so many questions! It's incredible, she says that we're answering simply questions that have been "confuzzling" her for her entire life, even though she's only 13. Wow, what a feeling it brings to teach her. It is so incredible to watch the light come into her eyes when she learns something new. She understands the importance of our Savior Jesus Christ, and even though she has a hard time reading the Book of Mormon because many of the words are new and unfamiliar to her, she keeps reading. It's amazing to watch how much belief she has that the Lord can help her understand if she keeps on reading. I watch her understand more every day! God truly does work miracles every day. I am so thankful to be here to see it. (:

Keep sending prayers. I pray for y'all too. love you!

Yours, Sister Naomi Rapier

P.S.- I know that my emails are posted on a blog and that the blog is linked to facebook, so many different people might see it. I don't know who sees my emails/blog, I also don't read minds to know what questions I have left unanswered. Maybe you want to know how red my face turned from the hot sauce (answer: VERY red) or maybe your question is more deep. Whatever it is, there is a simple solution: email me!! I love you people and I will respond, even if it takes me a few weeks. naomi.rapier@myldsmail.net. Click. Write. Send. Done. Enjoy the silliness or seriousness of Naomi'Sister Rapier's answer. It's that simple. Love y'all!

Feeling the love for Valentine's Day <3

Making Valentines

Heart Brownies <3