In Which I Hear My First Tornado Siren

Well, that's sensational, isn't it? But I have your attention!  Spoiler alert: nothing much happened.

Here's the story: We've been working with an investigator I will call...  wait. Did I give her a pseudonym already? I soooo can't remember. Let's call her Rachel. Because I like all the Rachels I've ever met, and I LOOOOVE this lady! She has a son we'll call Scott, in honor of Scott Shea, who continues to send me awesome letters!

Anyway, we're at Rachel's house giving a lesson. She is so awesome and progressing, and reading, and she just has such faith. Before the lesson, Sister Harris and I had noticed the dark clouds gathering, so we called one of our leaders for the weather update, and she said all looked fine for the foreseeable future, so we went ahead with the lesson. Part way through, we suddenly hear this loud noise. I, being a bit dim, said, "Is that the tornado siren?" The ward member who came with us just calmly said, "Yep!" and so we all trekked down to the basement where we continued our lesson--on the Plan of Salvation! HA! "So, when the tornado comes and we die, do you know what will happen to your spirit?"

Luckily, though, it was just a heavy thunderstorm, and nothing else. It was a pretty good lesson, and didn't scare her off, though, because Rachel and Scott made it to church on Sunday and stayed all three hours! Now that is an accomplishment!

We had some other good lessons with folks, and we continue to try to meet as many people as we can. I just want to say though: Members need to give referrals! I don't think I realized that much at home, but I realize it now. Also: you should use the visitor centers near you. They are amaaaazing! And great ways to share the gospel in a non threatening way. Do it!

On to MY visitor's center experiences for the week: I met another of Dad's relatives! Dad's relatives just come from everywhere, and it's hilarious to me! So I was on a tour with a couple when Sister Harris comes up and says, "Sister May, you're wanted at the front desk! I'll take your tour until you're done!"

Confused, I make my way to the desk, where Sister Butikofer is behind the desk talking to a couple. When they see me, the man says, "I'm related to Mays, though I'm not a May, I'm a Hathaway--" and then I rudely interrupt him and say, "Oh! Like Aunt Claudia!" He looks surprised and says, "Claudia was my mother!" So yeah, Dad's cousin and his wife happen to know another missionary couple at the trail center, so when they were coming through, they decided to stop and see the center. When he saw Sister Butikofer's name tag, he said, "I'm sort of related to some Butikofers! My mother's brother married a Butikofer, but his name was May." Sister Butikofer was quick to point out Elder Butikofer was related to a May working in the TC that very day! And my companion ran to find me. Isn't that hilarious?

So I gave him Dad's contact info (who knows if they'll get in touch, but that would be great!), and then he had to get a photo with me, so that was super fun.

Here's my weekly tip for prospective missionaries: Practice the piano! Because if you even play a little bit, you get nominated to be the designated pianist, and it helps if you at least know a few hymns before you go. Ahem. That may or may not be based upon a true story.

We had dinner with our Bishop's family this week, and I love them! They are great, and he knows all about Strange Brew and the Great White North, so you know he must be excellent.

Also, Sister Harris and I have almost been eaten by dogs, twice. Once we were saved because the owner called the dog off, and the second time we were saved by a screen door. That second dog looked like the dog from the Sandlot, so I was a little terrified. Everyone has a dog in Nebraska, and I mean everyone. And the dogs all bark, and none of them are trained to just ignore people walking by on the sidewalk. (I should reiterate: the dogs that nearly ate us were not at houses we were approaching. We were merely walking by on our way to somewhere else!) So we are all lucky that I was not the meal of a very large dog this week. That would have been a sad and inauspicious end to my mission. Here's to hoping I still have some 16.5 months to go! (I'm just kidding, Mom. I'm safe, I'm well, and the dogs didn't really come close to eating me. It's called creative license, okay?)

Seriously, you should all keep up the letter writing, because it's awesome. Thanks!

The Golden Unicorn Award of It Doesn't Exist goes to: the tornadoes everyone warned us about this week but did not appear! (I think I forgot to mention that one night they had us go in early because of some nasty weather, so we hunkered down in the basement with some Oreos, but it was just stormy.) (Not that I am complaining. I'm not. And my heart goes out to Oklahomans and everyone affected by the tornadoes there. But I'm just saying, that I feel a little bit like a townsperson in the story of the Boy Who Cried Wolf.)

Love you!

Sister Loradona May