January 18, 2021
So as a missionary, it's pretty common to switch around in your mission. About every 6 weeks (which we call a transfer), our mission president moves missionaries around to new locations within Idaho and Oregon. How often you transfer depends on how the mission president feels prompted, but usually missionaries don't stay in one place for very long.
This week we recieved transfer news, and because I've been in Boise for almost 6 months now, I fully expected to leave. To my shock, both me and my companion will be staying here for another 6 weeks🥳🥳 which means at the end of this transfer, almost half of my mission will be spent in one area. (Welllll like almost 8 months... but pretty close lol)
In celebration of discovering I'll be staying in Boise for 8ish months, I decided I'll list 7.5 things I've learned in BN1🙌🏻
1) You don't have to be rich to be generous
One low key embarassing example of this is when I forgot to bring nice shoes after a service project, and I didnt realize it until we had to be at a lesson in 15 minutes. I was stuck in a dress and Nikes with pretty much no other options😂 As I was about to resolve myself to pretending tennis shoes are the new high heel, we remembered that a kind member lived nearby. Luckily, she was generous enough to give me a whole closet's worth of shoe options to borrow.
In addition to generosity to me, they are also so giving to those around them! This area of Boise is not the most well off in the world, and often others in the area will ask for food or clothes or a ride somewhere. Although they are often in the same boat, families (usually ones with 8 kids, 2 jobs, a church calling, and full time school) are always willing to give of their time or resources to help.
2) Calling someone by name makes a huge difference.
One thing I've really appreciated about serving here is that several people have made a point to say "Sister Gwilliam" (or Squilliam or Gloria or some attempt at it😂) instead of just "Sister". I've done my best to call everyone by name as well.
Several of the people we're teaching feel more comfortable calling us just "Sister", so a definite highlight of this week is when Casey - one of my FAVORITE people in the world - said "I love you Sister Gwilliam" as we were leaving. She had never used my full name before, so I felt so loved in that moment.
2.5) The potato thing is a total myth - except for when it isn't
We either have no potatoes at all, or every single person we meet that week gives us 2 different forms of potato for dinner and a free sack of potatoes - there is no in-between
3) A clean home makes a difference.
I've noticed this in our own apartment, and I've noticed it in the homes of others. I don't mean spotless clean - when you have 8 kids (or one missionary companion😜) that's not always realistic. But basic hygiene and cleanliness bring in the spirit and definitely make a difference.
4) If you treat everyone as if they are going through a hard time, then 98.876% of the time you'll be right.
This week we were worried about a lesson, because a little boy we are teaching is always bouncing off the walls. It's reallyyy hard to keep him focused sometimes...actually most of the time😂 We always play games to teach, so during this game, as he was jumping from checkpoint to checkpoint, I asked him how he could be kind to someone this week. Usually he gets distracted and goes on a tangent, so we have to repeat the question again so he keeps his answer on track. As I was about to repeat the question, I felt like I should stop and listen this time. He started talking, and although he didn't answer the question, he told me all about another boy at school who has been bullying him.
Suddenly, the reason he's had trouble staying focused made sense. It must be really hard to learn all about being nice to other people when people at school aren't nice to you. I was filled with so much love for this little boy! Although I couldn't take the bullying away, I was able to talk to him about his problem in a more compassionate way, and I feel like I understand him better now.
I've found that this is the case for most people. Whether unfocused or seemingly perfect - pretty much every person you meet is struggling with something you're not aware of.
5) Those who have gone through the hardest things often shine the brightest
Cliché quote I know😂 but because I have been blessed to talk to several people who have opened up about their trials, I have seen just how beautiful they've become because of it.
6) If you ask small children "does this look drinkable?" for an object lesson, then they will walk up the the bowl and stick their entire face in there to drink it. Even if another child's face is already in the bowl and the water is covered in pepper...(#lessonfail)
7) Those we work with think we're teaching them, but often they're teaching us much more.
I have learned SO MUCH from the people in Boise, and I'm pretty pumped to serve around them for another 6 weeks!
Love you all! Have the best weeks!
-Sister Gwilliam
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