Good Morning, Salt Lake City!!!

I flew back on Tuesday and it’s been quite the reunion since then :)Lots of screaming, lots of hugging, lots of hip checking into walls…ahh the classy TMSQ Sisters. There is nothing like Temple Square; right behind missing my Sisters and President & Sister Holmes I missed the Spirit that is always present on the Square. I gained a greater appreciation for what we’ve been blessed with as a mission. Despite the wonderful effects of inversion, I love SLC.

We basically had no idea what we were supposed to do Tuesday night, our instructions? “Do whatever you want!” So we ate dinner at Hagermann’s then hit the Square! The lights are so beautiful and there are so many people! I love the excitement of the Christmas Season here but it sure can be exhausting. The lights & insanity will go until New Years and then the Square will, as President so tactfully said, “Let’s face it! It’s dead!” Hahahaha but it’s okay, there are plenty of people that need the gospel all around the world.

My last companion is Sister Kealamakia from New Zealand! She’s in her 4^th transfer, trained by Sister B. Hernandez who was an amazing missionary – so I’m not worried one bit. I’m back in the Extended Zone and we have been assigned to West Gate! I always wanted to serve in West Gate, so I’m super duper excited. So for those of you who have seen the beautiful Sisters smiling at you from that glass box right by the West Gate…that’s me :)

Have a very Merry Christmas everyone! Remember the true reason for this holiday.

Love,

Sister Despain Jr

Another Last

This week was another week of “lasts”. These kinds of weeks sure come around more often than I thought they would! Some less than important things like my last time running the OSU track, my last Sunday with a ward made up of more than just Sister missionaries, my last time having Elders in leadership and my last time locking Sister Baxter in the bathroom – jk. Some actually important lasts did happen this week though: My last time knocking doors; my last time teaching in the home; my last time searching the crowd in church to see if any investigators showed up.

Carolyn opened up a lot more this week; she told us stories about her son who passed away 15 years ago. At that time she didn’t grieve so she says that it’s catching up to her now. I hope that I never have to experience that heartache. At the same time, it’s brought her closer to God. We have high hopes that one day she will let it all go and then realize that the church is what she’s been wanting all these years.

Something that I have continued to learn throughout my experience here in Eugene is that I grew up in a very clean, happy, warm and Spirit-filled house :) There are so many people, members included who don’t have the true Spirit of Christ in their home and it’s sad to see! They need our help too, to come closer to Christ. This has been one of my greatest joys in being here in Oregon – being able to help more with less-active members.

I got to go through the Portland Temple this week with the other departing missionaries! It’s a beautiful temple; it was a good feeling to be back in the temple. The ride up & back was less than comfortable as I was squished in the back seat with two other people that were….less-than-small. I was certain I would come out of there with scoliosis or spina biffida or something! But all is well, my spine is still straight :)

I’m leaving a small part of my heart here in Oregon but I’m taking most of it back with me to TMSQ!!!

Read your scriptures, pray & hope for the best!

Sister Despain

Ghost Town

December 12, 2011

Tuesday we did some housework for Carolyn, who was laid up for the day. We see her every week but typically she’s up and about. She belongs to the Methodist church and isn’t interested in the message we have to share but professes to be open-minded. As we discussed the gospel of Jesus Christ she referenced the scripture that makes up the most part of the 13^th Article of Faith. If she only knew :)

As we closed our discussion, Sis Kennedy discovered Carolyn’s cat, Oscar rolling around in my nice red coat! Learned my lesson….such a stinker.

I found it – the ideal family <3 We visited Stephanie and her family to share our Christmas message and challenged them to invite a friend or neighbor to hear it. Their little 6-year old “Rae Rae” volunteered every time to read from the scriptures and was a pretty good reader too! Their house was clean & organized, the kids were quiet and paid attention and you could definitely feel the Spirit in their home. If nothing else, I’ve learned what kind of home I want to have in the future.

If you remember Susan from last week, here’s an update on her. I talked with her very briefly on the phone, enough to discover that she can’t meet with us for reasons that were not clear. What I could understand was “…the Mormons have done some very bad things to young girls…I can’t—I can’t….”; needless to say, I think she’s confused. We left a copy of Mr. Kreuger’s Christmas on her doorstop later in the week – we hope it helps lift her spirits as she’s alone this Christmas season.

On Thursday we had Combined District Meeting – so it’s the Eugene Zone. Total we number about 40…and only 3 of us are Sisters! I had to recite D&C 4 as part of the “Opening Exercises” and it went well! Luckily the ZLs called a week ahead and asked me to do it, so I had plenty of time to practice. President Young dropped in on our meeting and answered questions at the end. Most were about haircuts, suit color, dinner etiquette (or the lack thereof) and finally we got into recognizing promptings of the Spirit. Our discussion reminded me of Elder Bednar’s talk about not worrying if something is a prompting or not; if it’s good – do it.

Eugene is a college town and given the season, it is now a ghost town! Literally EVERYONE has left for Christmas break. We knocked a whole complex and no one answered the door. Despite the lack of people, we did find a really great guy for the ZLs [we teach the girls, the ZLs teach the guys]. His name is Regis, he’s 20 yrs old and goes to the University. He’s really into his church but has a wonderful faith in Christ that allows his to be open and interested in learning more about Him!

This is my last week in Eugene! I’ve loved being in Oregon and will cherish the experiences I’ve had here. The culture of the city for sure is different…but that’s what makes it such an interesting place :)

It’s all true.

Sis Despain

Eugene scented Glade

December 5, 2011

Submission for C2 ward newsletter: After 8 weeks in the beautiful Corvallis, it's time to leave. Today I'll head to Eugene where I will switch from being a Beaver to a Duck! Not sure how I feel about that yet...beavers have grown on me a bit! My time here at OSU has been priceless; I've learned a lot. Members are the key. Natural beauty can't happen without rain. As long as your companion loves you - you can take on the world. Never underestimate the power of a YSA ward. If you THINK you have a cavity...get it checked out sooner than later. The strongest testimonies are developed in the hardest times. Love the Lord, put Him first & everything else will take care of itself.

For those of you who are just coming into the story at this point, I spent the last 8 weeks in Corvallis with my all-time-favorite companion, Sister Britton. Last week I got transferred to Euguene, OR; I’ve been here for a week.

Eugene is most definitely NOT Corvallis but it’ll do for now :) I’m assigned to a trio, so my companions are S. Baxter & S. Kennedy – both are from Utah. The OEM is basically 95% Utahns – super weird. We have a quote wall in our apartment; one says, “Eugene scented Glade --- aka Pot” TOO.TRUE. Sometimes I wonder why people here aren’t more receptive to the Spirit and then I remember that half the people we talk to are high! This however, does not mean it’s unproductive. One guy we tracted into last week “said” he was interested – but really was high – and is now meeting with the Elders!!! So we keep at it and share the gospel with literally everyone J

This week I had my first-ever experience with explaining our beliefs on ghosts. On exchanges, Sister Judd and I helped Maria figure out how to explain to her guy friends why she wants to marry someone who holds the Priesthood. Thank you Dad for always being worthy of that – it has blessed my life so much. Lauren is getting baptized on Christmas Eve! She’s headed home to California for the Christmas break but will get confirmed here when she comes back in January, I’m sad I’ll miss that.

Susan…should have been a cat. Or so she tells us! This poor lonely, old and frequently cold lady just needs someone to love her. Her father was never in the picture, he mother died 13 years ago, her brother has never been nice to her and she lost her five children as babies. Now she lives alone with three cats. Half the time I thought she was crazy and the other half I figured she’s just got to be really lonely. But I will say that there were several instances when I though, “Oh man – this would be the perfect set up for a super-creepy movie…” because she has the perfect laugh for it. We asked her if she would be interested in learning more about how families can be together forever. She replied, “I wanna see ‘em now!” she said that each time we asked and I wanted to tell her that I get it – and so do I -- but sometimes “the heavenly virtue of patience is required”.

Watching the Christmas devotional made me homesick for TMSQ. Just 2 weeks!

Love is truly the tradition.

Sister Despain Jr.

“And thus they were instruments in the hands of God in bringing many to the knowledge of the truth, yea, to the knowledge of their Redeemer. And how blessed are they! For they did publish peace; they did publish good tidings of good; and they did declare unto the people that the Lord reigneth.” Mosiah 27:36-37