I'm in Tennessee!

Any wise person may tell you that you must not help a baby chick as it prepares to hatch. If you aid in breaking the shell, the chick will not be strong enough to survive in the world; hence, adversity is a part of becoming. The last few days at the MTC were my egg shell. I got super sick, and I'm STILL sick! I've had a fever, cough, and cold, and it was not fun to arrive in the field so dissheveled. I believe the most discouraging thing as a missionary is being too sick to do the work. But I'm a FIGHTER and I haven't stayed home once! On top of that, we arrived in Nashville SUPER late because our plane was delayed 2.5 hours. We have just run into so many obstacles--it's crazy how Satan tries to oppose the work. But it's not about what happens to us but how we deal with what happens to us. I needed to be put in the refiner's fire one more time before I could go to Tennessee.

And I'm here! I'm in the Clarksville 3rd ward, which is northwest of Nashville. We're in the Hopkinsville zone, and my area goes all the way up to the Kentucky state line. The area surrounds Fort Campbell, an army base, so 85% of the ward has some sort of Army involvement, and there are many moms raising kids alone because their husbands are deployed or at the base 24/7. My companion is Sister Jensen, and I'm pretty sure she's already been exalted. She is AMAZING. Everyone has told me I have the best trainer in the mission. She's from Idaho Falls and has been out 10 months. She just came from the singles ward in Nashvile and has met a TON of famous country singers (she didn't even know who the JaneDear Girls were and the brunette was her Relief Society president!!!! I went crazy.) We are white washing the area! That means that Sister Jensen is as new to Clarksville as I am. It's been a HUGE blessing because the missionaries before us established some habits that weren't too admirable. A missionary's purpose is NOT to hang out at members' houses, or do Bible study with non-denominational Christians they've been visiting for 4 years who have no intention of being baptized! Sister Jensen and I are a REALLY good team.

We live in a super nice apartment complete with a washer and dryer in the bathroom. We love to fluff up our towels while we shower so we have a warm towel....are we spoiled or what?! We also have a full-time car, and we wouldn't survive without it. This is what Tennessee is like: there are NO sidewalks. The streets are narrow, two-lane, windy country roads that aren't lit. And on each side of the road you will find a WALL of trees. Basically, it feels like we are in the mountains, although we are only a few hundred feet above sea level. The weather is gorgeous. Today it's sunny and warm--probably high 60s.

My mission president and his wife are perfect. He is a therapist so I already have a personal interest there. His wife takes care of us as our second "mom." The members of the Church in Tennessee are unlike any Mormons I've ever met. They will bend over backwards to serve you and serve each other. They are selfless and they don't mind driving 50-100 miles a day to take missionaries wherever they need to go. We had dinner lined up every night our first week here and someone is taking us to the Nashville temple Wednesday. (I get to go to the temple Wednesday!!!!) The only problem is that church attendance is VERY low. Something like 10%? Sister Jensen and I have met more inactives than anyone else and are calling a lot of people back. Oh, and more than half the people here have southern accents! "Y'all" has officially become part of my vocabulary and I know I'll be drawling in a few more months. Knowing the mission president, I'll probably be here at least 3 transfers. So that means I'll be here in Clarksville until at least the end of June.

Teaching is the best. Everyone here knows and loves Jesus Christ, which is the best foundation. We have a baptism coming up with a man named Jerry, who came to church yesterday. He is just SO ready to become a member of the Church. We taught him the third lesson about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He has so many questions. I love being a missionary. I hope you are doing well. I pray for all my friends and family.

Note from big sister: Rycee has been unable to upload pictures yet, but as soon as she does, you can bet that I'll post them! Also, write and send packages to this address:

Sister Ryceejo Nordstrom
Tennessee Nashville Mission
105 Westpark Dr. Suite 190
Brentwood, TN 37027