First Week In Chicago Land (Nov.14-21)

This is not the Chicago West Mission. I've discovered my mission covers northern Illinois and not even really a block of the good old Chi. The place I serve in, Schuamburg, is the second to closest area that it comes to being near Chicago. I'm in Chicago land. But I don't mind, I know I'm meant to be here and I love it. It took my whole first week to get over all of the squirrels and geese here! It was a serious but hilarious distraction for me and I swear there's more squirrels than people here. It's cold, but it hasn't snowed yet, and I've got a great coat that keeps me warm and I don't look like the kid in Christmas Story who can't move his arms.... yet.

My first week was extremely frustrating but great! I'll have to say more about it later since I'm already running out of time writing, but don't worry, I'll fill you all in it later. 😊

My companion, Sister Jardine, is a beautiful and looks like Blake Lively. No joke. She has a hardcore work ethic, and is fearless until it comes to any kind of bug which I discovered today when she sicked me to kill a spider whilst screaming. I love her and she's a fantastic missionary trainer! This is her first time being one, and she's only been a missionary for four months but she's amazing.

Last Monday me and Sister Jardine along with a member named Ethan met with an investigator, Kay, at the Elgin Library. I was anxious waiting but also excited to meet with Kay for the first time.We waited in a conference room for him and were excited when he came. This was my first real lesson with an investigator one week in my mission. A lot of the work I've been doing so far has been strengthening our small YSA branch with drop-by's and doing some classic tracking.
 Kay is a very abnormal investigator. He was the one who approached a pair of Sister's now transferred out of this area after they gave a lesson to someone the library, recognizing them. He said how he really appreciated our health code, The Word of Wisdom, and is interested in the church. He has a history of being a apiscaplaeion (I'm sorry, I really don't how to spell that) and taking some teachings from Buddhism and I think Hinduism, and has read some other holy scriptures. 

Kay has a very, very busy work schedule so no one has ever really met him. The Sister's only met and taught him once, and the Elder's after them were only able to do some lessons through long phone calls. Me and Sister Jardine were the second ones who's ever met him in the six months he's been an investigator. 

It was amazing to finally meet with him. He's very smart and has researched quite a bit about the church. When we taught him we had a hard time since he's such an intelligent thinker for him to learn with the Spirit,and him not learning about the gospel with his head but with his heart. But already just days later he's progressing fast, and we think the next time we meet with him we will invite him to baptism.

There are a lot of other things that have been happening, but again, I'll fill you all in later. I've still have had a difficult time being patient with myself. I've been trying to learn more about the Atonement and how to utilize it, and yesterday I think I made my first real step towards that during 12 Week. I shared my frustrations with Sister Jardine about how I really want to learn more about the Atonement, and she testified what the Atonement was to her. She than asked what it meant to me. I began to explain what it was to me and it ended up being a testimony of it, and helped me realize I know more about the Atonement than I think. 

I'm still struggling in some ways, but I'm growing stronger, and I'm excited for the work and being a missionary.

-Sister Petty