For any not familiar with military bases, "post" is an area gated off where people serving in the military have the option to live. On post is the fort and all the military personnel, as well as housing, schools, supermarkets, and all other things you would normally find in a town! Here's the trick with post: we can't proselyte! We literally have to TAKE OFF our name tags before we pass through security and we can't knock on doors or even talk to people on the street about the Church! There was a huge ordeal with the chaplain a while back and it's a whole political thing. So how do we do missionary work? Through members! Members have to drive us onto post, and members have to talk to their friends and invite them over, and we teach there. The Fort Campbell branch is wonderful. Families are constantly moving in and out because of the army, but the branch can never become a ward because of the times that most of the Priesthood leaders are deployed.
Anyway, this entirely changes the face of missionary work. We have to rely entirely on members to do missionary work, which is really the way the Lord designed it to be originally. We spend a lot of time with less-active families. Right now the work is really slow, but I'm excited for all the miracles that will come.
I am learning a LOT of military lingo: R&R, MRE, MOS, PCS, BCT, platoons, schnooks, Rakkasans, infantry, and the list goes on and on.
My companion Sister Jasper is from Anchorage, AK and she's awesome. She goes home this summer and so she has a lot of experience. She has been through a lot of trials during her mission so I really look up to her and admire her. It's really weird leaving an area and a companion for the first time. The first time you change is the hardest, and then I imagine it will get easier to move areas. It's hard to be so close to my last area. Sometimes I just want to drive down to Clarksville and check on all the people we taught and the members. When you give your whole heart and soul into missionary work, you grow to love the people.
So this week, remember how important you members of the Church are. We missionaries NEED you to constantly be thinking of who the Lord has put in your life that needs the Gospel. I promise you that there is ALWAYS someone. God micromanages our lives, and he has intentionally placed each of you in a unique situation where you with your shining light can bless the lives of others. I love you all and thank you for your letters, prayers, and encouragement.
Sister Ryceejo Nordström
P.S. We stayed at a member's house last night with the last name Nordstrom! We're probably cousins! Cool, huh!
A Schnook!
Thea and her kids at her baptism
P.S. We stayed at a member's house last night with the last name Nordstrom! We're probably cousins! Cool, huh!
A Schnook!
Thea and her kids at her baptism
