Tokyo Drift!

This past week has been the most eventful, life threatening,

emotional, spiritual week of my entire mission... Matter of fact my

ENTIRE life. I would like to say Sister Eggleston and I are indeed

grateful for ward members and their willingness to always serve us.

Before I word vomit the last 168 hours of my life I would like to pose

2 questions.... Did you know Sister Zubicki is a living testimony of

the power of prayer? Did you know Flintstone cars still exist today???

 

If I'm going to be riding in said car could someone give me a heads

 

up that I should probably wear a helmet because there's no seat belts

 

... Something?!

 

Anyway....sit back, relax, and enjoy the chaos :)

 

 

On Thursday we had the chance to go do a session in the Portland

temple! Apparently they changed the rules to where missionaries can go

to the temple twice a year, basically when general conference happens.

Hard part about it is, that we have to find members to drive us if we

wanna go!

Well Eggie and I are a glutton for punishment and decided for some

"reason", that we would let our district leader help us out with

finding a ride.  Mistake number one.... Sure enough the elders found

us one! But boy did we put too much trust into the hands of these

Elders.

The Elders informed us that we would be riding with the wife and

that they would be riding with the husband in  a different car.

Well on Thursday we all met up at 7 am, at the Elders apartment

complex. We soon come to find out that the wife is from the

Philippines. Oh and NEW to driving in the Ole USA!

Bless her sweet soul, but I kid you not I almost died 15 times!

I have never prayed so hard for my life to be spared by Heavenly Father!

Not to mention we rode in a car they had just bought for $600 dollars,

while the Elders are crusin in what seems like a BMW compared to our

ride. This car was covered in dents and holes, and smells that I didn't

even know existed. Yes I know you're thinking, "it could NOT have been

that bad, stop being dramatic Sister Z." Well ladies and gentlemen

I'm a missionary and I would never lie to you!

Oh I need to mention some of the experiences we faced while on the road:

We swerved into and out of lanes like we owned the road; literally made a SEMI TRUCK

pull off to the emergency right hand lane because we almost got into a

wreck with each other, we missed all our exits, and you guessed it!

Missed our session with the rest of our zone.... And we, I kid you

not, full on Tokyo Drifted into the temple parking lot! I

seriously thought I was in the movie Fast n Furious...oh yeah and that's

not even the best part - not only did we Roll a big whoppin 20 mph up

each hill because the car wouldn't shift passed 2nd gear on more than

one occasion we started rolling downhill!!! Yup!!!! Downhill!

Backwards! No Brothers and Sisters this is not a joke. I didn't know

you could have so much anxiety about driving until this day. NEVER

AGAIN WILL I LET ELDERS BE IN CHARGE OF FINDING ME A RIDE.

 

The total round trip consisted of 14 hours! The blessings that

came from this ride was a spectacular scenic drive of what felt

like the entire state of Oregon, and some really really hard laughs.

Mostly for my life, but hey I'm alive!

Sister Zubicki is a living testimony of the power of prayer!

 

A  more grateful heart I had indeed after this day for the 2 following reasons:

1 - the deepest appreciation for Heavenly Father not sending me to a

foreign country...I would not have survived.

2 -  the act of service this loving couple performed for us, even though

they will probably never be called again ha!

 

 

On another note. L-- our investigator was baptized on Saturday.

Sister E and I wept as we looked at each other and said "it was all

worth it!" It has been such an amazing blessing seeing this young man,

enter into a covenant with His Father in Heaven. He is incredible and

such an example to those around him. His family are not members. He

was introduced to the church by one of the youth in our ward. I stand

truly amazed at the youth in our ward! Lately I've reflected on not

only why they are so eager to bring others to the gospel but how they

do it. I think WE, as fellow Brothers and Sisters, and members of the

only true and living church need to realize what we have! You want to

know why I think the youth in the Bend Oregon Stake are openly and

willingly bringing others unto Christ?....because they GET IT. They

may not understand the deep doctrine. They may not know all the

"reasoning" behind the commandments we follow. But what they do

understand is this is the true church of the true and living son of

God. They understand that families are eternal. They understand that

the blessings this gospel brings into our lives trumps all the times

they get rejected, mocked, teased, and questioned! They understand

that it is ALL worth it.... Because in some way or another they

understand Him! Missionary work is not easy! Salvation isn't cheap! It

wasn't easy for Him thus it will not be easy for us. May each of you

remember these words from L-- to his friend days before his baptism...

"Thank you so much for bringing the gospel into my life, I'm finally

home.."

HAPPY EASTER!

 

...Never can I repay thee, Lord,

 

But I can love thee. Thy pure word,

 

Hath it not been my one delight,

 

My joy by day, my dream by night?

 

Then let my lips proclaim it still,

 

And all my life reflect thy will....

(Savior, Redeemer of My Soul)

  

Whew...  Missionary life is so exhausting yet so rewarding! I love it,

I love it more and more each day! I hope you have an amazing week

filled with missionary opportunities !

 

Muah

 

Sister Zubicki