Not in Kansas Anymore

Greetings loved ones,

Name the song. Do it. ANYWAY. Surrey is not Osoyoos. Not even close. I feel like I'm in Compton or something. Kidding. It's not as bad, just different from what I'm used to.

My new companion is Sister Christensen (hah…shout out to Hermana Shelby Christensen).  She's from Colorado/Vegas.  She's been serving here for the past 2 transfers and was on the island before that.  We actually went back to Victoria this weekend to see one of her investigators get baptized.  She and I get along well…which makes a huge difference out here in the mission field.  I couldn't be more grateful to have a comp who likes to laugh as much as I do!

Surrey is crazy. I've talked to so many different people. We went to Surrey Central to street contact (it's this giant train station/mall that is fair game for all the missionaries in the area) and I was so overwhelmed.  In Osoyoos there are like maybe 10 people on the street on a GOOD day.  Nope.  Here in Surrey there are hundreds.  I was dumb enough to walk up to people at a cross walk and shout "Does anybody want this card.... anybody? No…no takers?"  Everyone just stared at me.  As you see…I tend to cause a lot of unnecessary scenes. Whaterrr…

A few experiences that I remember are 1) we tried to talk to this Asian family and the mom said no and waved her hand at us…so then her twin 5-year-old boys caught on and waved their hands and said “no no no no no no” to us for a solid 20 minutes. People were staring.  2) As we were trying to get back to the car a creepy guy on a bike rode past us and said “I'm not lookin’ at you okay? Geesh…I'm too old for you.” So we were like…“uhh okay”. And then he talked to us and began to recite all these philosophical sayings. I think he had issues or something. Anyway, there was more creepiness but it's not appropriate for this clearly uplifting email.  3) THE WORST THING. We were headed towards a bus stop to talk to the people there and this one lady like flipped her lid. No lie.  We said “Hi we're missionaries…” and she started screaming profane things and making a cross with her fingers telling us to go away. We just walked away and started talking to someone else and she starts yelling and making comments like “at least I'm human” and “everyone stay away! Those are Mormons.”  Blah, blah, blah. I don't know what came over me but I looked at the person we were talking to and said, “Will you excuse me a moment please?” I marched over to that lady and said “Why are you doing this? We didn't do anything to you. We are just trying to share a message.  We are people too. Stop being so rude.”  She kept trying to cut me off but I just wouldn't have it.  I'm too stubborn and impulsive (I'll work on it, I swear).  So we start getting mad at each other and Sister Christensen pulls me away and we start walking somewhere else.  I don't even know why I started crying but I did.  I think I was just freaked out that someone had the audacity to yell at me in public.

I was sheltered in Osoyoos.  People throw rocks at things that shine right?  After I got a hold of myself and was able to truly understand Elder Holland's talk on the cost of discipleship.  Sadly, people are not rejecting us…they are rejecting Christ.  That hit me hard.  I can't even begin to imagine what He went through.  If I wimped out at just that stupid lady yelling at me…I don't think I could handle doing this for 33 years.  I'm so grateful for my Savior.

Highlights of the week (other than the obviously wonderful ones above)

- Saw 3 whales on the ferry to Victoria

- Attended a baptism for 6 people

- Sleeping with the window open and hearing the rain come down (name the song)

- Stayed with Sister Larsen in Maple Ridge for transfer meeting. What a blessing!

- Finding a new investigator while using the fitting from at Target today #classic

Thanks for all your love and support!  Hopefully I don't get shot this week...

xoxo,

Sister Annie Holm

Last night in Osoyoos.

Saying bye to my beloved Bro. Whitesell

Me and Sis Christensen