Well hello there family!
I
seriously can't believe how crazy these past few days have been. I have
no idea where to start! I was so grateful I got to talk with you on
the phone while I waited for my flight to Detroit, even though it wasn't
really that long of a chat, it was great to hear your voices :) My MTC
experience was probably about 400x greater than I ever imagined! My
district was great, my companion was great, I had the best teachers, and
I grew so much! I'm excited to finally be out in the field though! I
am doing really well here! Just trying to get used to life as a
missionary, and it will probably take a while, but it will be worth it!
I have already seen so many blessings in my life from my decision to
serve. We'll see how much I'll be able to tell you!
So, both flights went really well, even though I was crazy
tired. I wish I could sleep better on planes, but I guess that just
isn't one of my gifts. When we finally arrived in Manchester I was too
nervous and excited to be tired though. We walked down the stairs and
President and Sister Wilkey were waiting for us. They are so nice! I
can't believe they are leaving so soon, and even though I have only
really interacted with them for two days, I feel like I have already
grown to love them so much. I felt so loved and cared for when I first
arrived, and the mission home in Bedford, NH is beautiful! I'm really
grateful I had the chance to meet the Wilkeys, and I am excited to see
what the new president changes here in the mission! After sleeping like
a rock, we had transfer meeting that morning. It seems like forever
ago! I really had no idea what was going on, but it was great. The
missionaries who were leaving bore their testimonies, and then Sister
and President Wilkey left their final thoughts with us. I felt the
spirit so strong. Then at the end President Wilkey announced our
trainers (btw, there were 19 girls who flew out with me! A mission
record!) I got announced first, and as you already know, I have been
assigned with Sister Wallentine to open the Ellsworth area! My
companion is such a great example to me! She has been out for more than
a year and has great advice. She is so patient and we have a lot of
fun together! Anyways, so we are about 4 1/2 hours away from Manchester,
so that was quite the car ride especially because I was so tired.
Right when we got to Bucksport though I had a burst of energy. We live
in the cutest little place, and have the greatest view! Right across the
street from a river (we go running on the waterfront, and it is
actually enjoyable)! A member family decorated our door with hearts and
we have our shelves stocked with food from the members. They are so
great :) We are in a branch of about 60 members, so really small, but
they are really loving and welcoming. I have felt right at home here!
The only problem is that the area is soo spread out. We have to drive
40 minutes to the chapel. We have actually had to drive so much here
this past week. I'm so grateful that we have a brand new car to take us
everywhere! We had to go back to Manchester
on Friday
for a training meeting, which was fun. We really haven't had too much
time to do normal missionary work though. It has also been hard opening
a new area because we don't have a teaching pool at all. We have had
to start from scratch, but we have found a couple of people to teach. I
need to be better at opening my mouth and talking to everyone, but I'm
getting a bit better. It is a bit of a culture shock here too, but I've
been adjusting pretty well. Our branch president is really awesome and
is so willing to help us with whatever we need, and a lot of other
people in the ward are too! President Dauk even played a prank on us.
He knocked on our door pretending to be someone looking to know more
about the church. We had a lesson out on the porch and he didn't tell
us who he was until the very end. He makes me laugh, I'm glad he wants
to be so involved in the missionary effort. The branch hasn't had
sisters in years and years, and we are pretty much spoiled. It's great.
We had a barbeque with some members that the Elders here threw for us
on Saturday.
We had a lot of fun :) I am so glad that I get to work with them! Now
we just need to find people to teach! We had some success street
contacting one day and got two new potential investigators, but that is
about it. We've been organizing the area book and trying to contact
less active members, but we haven't been having too much success with
that. Overall though, it has been an adjustment, but a good
adjustment. I have grown so much, and I can recognize the spirit a lot
better in my life.
One of the highlights of my week was probably in church
yesterday. I was warned two days in advance of the fact that I was
going to be speaking in church, and boy was I scared. Normally I take
time to look at talks and write and re-write my talk in advance so I can
pretty much read it word for word at the pulpit. I don't like public
speaking AT ALL! But, I didn't have enough time to do that yesterday,
so I really had to trust the spirit, and thankfully, I didn't totally
bomb it! I really wasn't as nervous as I though I would be, and the
words came! I am so grateful. It also helped that I spoke on the
Atonement. I love my Savior, Jesus Christ and I would never be able to
do anything without Him! I also loved going to the worldwide broadcast
yesterday. Hopefully you watched it. If not go watch it as soon as
possible. The work is truly hastening, and I am so grateful that I can
be apart of it as a full-time missionary! However, every member a
missionary! Pray to find people you can share the gospel with, and then
open your mouth! We have such a wonderful message to share that
blesses lives and brings hope. I am so grateful for the experiences I
have had here already, and I can't wait to have even more. It may be
hard, but it is worth the effort!
It has been nice to have a P-day though! We got lots of
food at the grocery store, and got our laundry done. We are planning on
going out to Acadia National Park on Bar Harbor today! I have heard it
is beautiful there, although everywhere I have been has been gorgeous
so far. There are trees everywhere and the town is really cute. I am
just so grateful and happy. Really happy!
Love from Maine!
Sister Bergeson
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