Welcome to Arlington; Here's the Trash.

So, this is my first actual week in the actual mission field, but I'm not actually in a field because I'm assigned to Arlington, which is the biggest city I've ever lived in. It actually has more than 2 stop lights! Woohoo living that big city life. 

On our first day in Arlington a member was driving us and showing us all the sights of Texas, and then she said "when you enter Arlington, the first thing you see is the dump, so welcome to Arlington: here's the trash.

Our area is 3 wards, and both my trainer and I are new to the area, so we are white washing. My trainer is freaking awesome. Her name is Sister Swenson and she's 5 months in. She's a sweetheart and has been really good at showing me the ropes. She is from Heber, Utah.

Day One....

 Very Good!

 Sister Swenson

 My desk.

We took 2 of our wards from sisters and one from elders and the sisters left us really good notes for their wards with dinner appointments and lessons for the next week, and the elders texted us the name of their bishop and ward mission leader so we are all set. We have been so crazy trying to meet everyone we are teaching and also meet all the auxiliary leaders. I counted yesterday and we are teaching 33 people with 11 referrals! It's so much fun! We had a lot of meetings set up but mostly we are just calling and knocking and driving all over trying to meet people. 

Our very first day in the area we had our first lesson. Her name is Sylvia and she has been inactive for about 10 years. Then one day she decided to go back to church. And no one noticed her so she walked up to the missionaries and told them she wants to become active again. We taught her the first night and she can talk! I said maybe 20 words that whole hour. She was a total Texas talker, which is a term I learned and it's when people can literally talk for hours. Like I can't even talk as much as they do. It's really fun though. 

We also have an investigator named Bobby, who has a baptismal date but she hasn't to come to church and this week she finally did! So that was fun to be there with her! 

The members are so awesome, they are so helpful and we always have food or rides or anything! One member does missionary traditions and one is we sign under her table so my name is now on the bottom of her table! And she also made me a greenie basket! So Arlington is practically the best. We have a dinner appointment every night, except the 4th, because it's a big deal and everyone has work off and is going out. I'm so excited!! 

One night we had a dinner appointment with a couple and their two grand daughters. The girls were 7 and 5 and one of them said "hey whats your name" and I said "Sister McKee." And she said "what! Sister Zucchini!!" And that's my name now. 

So yesterday morning I checked the weather and it said it was gonna rain, so I wore it raincoat. And then we went to meet with the mission president and I was dying, it was so hot. And the elders were so confused and I explained that it is going to rain so I'm going to wear my coat. And I wore it all day in the heat and 0 clouds. Then like in zachariah 10:1 "Ask ye of the Lord rain in the time of the latter rain; so the Lord shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field."  And it POURED. It was so pretty, and j was so excited I had sister swenson take a picture if me in the rain. The rain was crazy and I remembered when someone told me that in Texas, when it rains it rains and now I understand. We got soaked running to our car. Fun times. 

Awkward sister McKee moments: 

I actually didn't have that many believe it or not.

Sunday night we had dinner at the bishop's house, and their family was so awesome and it was the most I had felt at home at someone else's house. And we were sitting around eating dinner and the bishop says "so sisters, do any of you have any skills or weird talent" (mom, I can hear you groaning from here knowing what happened) and not thinking I said "yeah I can vibrate my tongue and pick things up with my toes!" And they all just stared at me and the bishop just said "what...?" And I tried to change the subject but after a minute his daughter asked her mom if i could show them, so i had go show the bishop his family, the ward mission leader and his family my weird skills. The bishop said if someone cancels for speaking in sacrament he's gonna call me up to show everyone my talents for 10-15 minutes 

(depending on how long the closing hymn is). 

I know this gospel is true. I wouldn't have been able to stay out even this long if it wasn't. I see the gospel and how its changed people's lives and made them so much happier in ways they never thought. Almost everyone is a convert down here, and they have all expressed how grateful they are for the church and how its given them

 everything they need in life and more! 

Love, Sister McKee. 

No, Malena didn't knock this down, that was all our first thoughts. haha

 Malena's "Mom"  Sister Swenson

 Desk after a week.