California!

 On Fri, 7/20/12, Bethany Paxton 

Hello everyone!

 

As of last wednesday I'm an official California traveler! A total of 6 other sisters and 3 elders went with me to San Franciso. Our plane was delayed and we barely made it to the consolate before they closed for lunch at 12:30. We got there at 12:05. All they did was see if my name and birthday was right, took my fingerprints and picture. Then we went to the fisherman's warf for lunch because they MTC gave us each ten dollars for lunch. We ate at Boudin's met at least 5 LDS families/indiviuals were touring SF and were happy to see us. We explained that why we were there and that we were excited to go to Paris. I'm glad I got to spend a whole day getting to know some of the missionaries I'll be serving with. I was worried that I would get there and not know anybody from the MTC because I wasn't in the same district as the rest. We also met a french woman from Aix-en-Provence at the airport while waiting for our return flight. She loves missionaries and spoke to us in French whenever she could. She was so knowledgable about the church, gospel, temple, new church buildings etc. that you can imagine our surprise at finding out that despite the fact that her late husband and her have fed the missionaries one a month for the past 30 years they never got baptized! She kept calling me "la meilleure eleve de francaise" (best french student) and told the others to stick close to me when we get to Paris. That was definitely a boost of self esteem that I needed for my french abilities.

 

Speaking of speaking French. I finally started practicing giving the lessons in french this week with the two other elders in my district going to Lyon. One of them pretends to be the investigator and the other is the member. I'm the missionary. I was really nervous, yet surprised at how smooth I was. last I checked I was not as good I've been doing so I''m positive it''s the spirit of the Lord helping me where I need helping. Couldn''t do it with out Him! I do have to ask for vocabulary about 8-10 times from the other elders, but that''s not as bad as I thought. Plus, we got three new roommates on wednesday and one is from Paris! She''s been helping me with stuff I dont understand as I read my scriptures in french everynight. Today I have to teach in the TRC by myself in french!

 

Update on my departure date. Everyone else got their departure information yesterday except for me and one other Elder (he has dual citizenship with france so my guess is his departure stuff is coming today) in my district. I have a feeling that I'll have to wait for a sister who can fly with me, but I also don't officially have my visa yet either, but I heard that the church expedites visas after we go to California. So I still don't know what happens after everybody else in my district leaves on the 30th and 31st.

 

I realized last week that I forgot to tell you that my companions are both going to arcadia california on their mission and didn''t know each other before they met on the airplane from samoa to hawaii!

 

This week has had so many spiritual experiences. I wish I could tell them all to you. The one that stands out the most was during choir last sunday. We rehearsed "This is the Christ"" with lyrics by elder faust for tuesday's devotional. There was a line that spoke about how many drops of blood were spilled for me and then was followed by "I too can testify, this is the Christ". I suddenly saw myself sitting on someone's couch testifying of the love of our Savoir. That combined with the beautiful alto harmony was too much. I stopped singing and tried not to cry. The other sisters said "Sister, we need you to sing so we can follow you!"" I was flattered and apologized and explained why. It reminded me of that scripture in D&C where Jospeh and the other witnesses said that they testify that Christ lives. So simple yet so powerful. I can testify of Him and well. I love Him, He loves me and I know He loves each of you.

 

I love you all,

 

Soeur Paxton

I'm Way Too Excited For These Things

Just to let you know. I finally got my FBI clearance the day I did my last post!


You know how girls get excited about clothes while guys get excited over what women call "toys"? Mostly technology and cars, or both. Before you get on a gender role soap box I'll just stop you right now and say that I know that it isn't always that way. I'm proof.

I think the T-Mobile girl is a good combination of both.

Here are a few of the toys that I'm excited to have bought for the mission. I do have to admit that my excitement mostly comes from my feminine side. 

The missionary blanket:

I bought this blanket from Deseret Book for $25 and I'm not totally sold. It's made of suede which is soft and it's large as you can see, but it's also extremely thin. In the summer it will be great, but northern France can get pretty cold in the winter and I'm not sure it will be warm enough.

What really gets me excited is how compact it is! 

It's freaking' smaller than Preach my Gospel! I still think I'm going to have to bring my Snuggie, but the missionary blanket can't be beat in convenience. 

The hair stylers:

These things are all dual voltage, which is great. You can find them at Target or Walmart for pretty cheap. I had such a problem with that when I did my study abroad. My 3rd day in Paris I tried plugging in my iHome and it burst into flames. I almost did that with my blow dryer several times, so I made sure to avoid that this time. The blow dryer has a switch and the straightener automatically adjusts. And for some reason it comes with a tiny one. Any idea of its purpose?

Speaking of power difference, my adapters/converters: 

I'm not sure which name goes with which function, but the large one changes the power from 110 volts to 220. That way things won't blow up like my clock did. The other ones allows the metal tongs to fit into European outlets which are round instead of squarish like ours. You can buy them at Target or Walmart, but a lot of times they're packaged with ones from other countries that you're not going to, which is a waste of money. I got these at a travel store in the mall. About $5 for the small ones and $10 for the big one.


Alarm clock:

I decided to get a clock that used batteries instead of plugging into the wall because then I wouldn't have to worry about buying more converters then necessary. This one was about $12 at Target.


And my favorite thing. My bag!:

I'm not just excited about it in the same way that I get excited about a purse. Honestly, a backpack would be more comfortable, but all European missions require a side bag because they don't stand out as much and are more accepted by Europeans.


What really gets me excited is that it's a SafePac bag. I borrowed one from a friend during my study abroad and it gave me wonderful peace of mind. I knew I had to have one for my mission. This one was about $100.


It had really nice features that prevent it from getting stolen. The bag is made of metal mesh so thieves can't slash and grab stuff as it falls out. The straps have metal wire so it can't be cut from my shoulder.  There is a guard that keeps cyber-thieves from stealing private information from my electronics (not that I'll have a lot on my mission). 

My favorite safety feature is that almost every zipper connects to a hook so pickpockets can't easily unzip my bag when I'm not looking and take things. 

The zipper and hook

The bag also had two side pockets for a water bottle and umbrella. It is smaller than most side bags, but I'm hoping that means it won't hurt my back so much. Plus, it still has plenty of room for a notebook, planner and few other odds and ends.

I can't wait to use all of them starting next week. Next week!

The Never Ending List

And it goes on and on and on…

My mom and I have this master list of everything I need to do and buy before I leave for the mish. She and I keep saying that we’re almost done because we only need to “this” or “that”, but then we say “oh, and that too” as an afterthought. Then more afterthoughts come and soon we realize that we still have 15 things we’ve got to do.

Right now though I’m calling the stuff left over the “odds and ends”.  It’s the stuff like my 4 generation chart, laundry bag, battery for my watch, etc… For the most part the really big things like paperwork, clothing, doctors’ appointments (for the most part), etc are done. Still waiting for that FBI background check though!!!!

I also have another list, separate from my mom’s list. It’s the things that you take for granted because normally you can just buy them at the local Wal-Mart if you need them. But then one day I’m going to realize that there aren’t any Wal-Marts in Europe. I started making this list right after I got my call. Anything I wasn’t sure I could get easily in France went on the list. Here’s the list so far:

simple nail polish (pink, clear, nude)

tights and footie socks

nail file and clippers

shampoo

my journal

liquid AND pencil eyeliner

pencil eyeliner sharpener

safety pins

cucumber melon body spray

my Ped Egg (hey! Don’t judge!).

Yes, I chose to promote this product. Because it works...

The list was longer, but my mom reminded me that I’m not going to a third world country and that I’ll be able to find a lot of the stuff I need when I’m there like tweezers, make up remover and lotion.

For the most part, the remaining items on the list are things I’m worried I’ll totally forget because it’s not normally stuff that I have to worry about finding. However, some things are listed because I like particular brands/smells/colors (like my shampoo) and I don’t know if I’ll like the brands in France or if I’ll be able to locate them wherever they are.

Is there anything else you guys think I need that I might not think of until I get there? The good thing is that I’ll have some time while I’m in the MTC to buy a few things.

Visas

Hello everyone! I hope everybody had a great Memorial Day weekend!! If you’re not in the states, I hope you still had a wonderful weekend. I got to go on our last family vacation before my mission and it was grand. There are a few pictures from the trip at the bottom.

I thought for this post we could cover something that has been a thorn in my side and the side of many a missionary: the Visa (cue dramatic music). It seems to me that in the past few years getting missionary visas is becoming harder and harder. Especially for those going to the countries of Brazil , Spain and, you guessed it, France . Sigh. I’ve heard over and over about how missionaries have to stay in the MTC longer than usual or they get sent to a mission state side until their Visa comes in. In fact, here in Alabama we have a few missionaries, who have been called to Brazil , doing work here until theirs come in. Unfortunately, one of them received his and then lost it. He’ll have to serve the remainder of his mission here. Poor guy.

When I got my mission call we wanted to put in my Visa application immediately, but we had to wait until I got my FBI background check to send it in. I sent the background check application in to D.C. as soon as possible and then waited the 6-8 weeks. I wasn’t that worried because the mission travel office in SLC only asks that they have the Visa application by one month before my MTC report date (July 11^th).

Well, as usual, it didn’t go according to plan. After waiting six weeks I received a letter from the FBI saying that they couldn’t give me my clearance because we gave them a money order of $19 instead of $18. They had their money! Why did they care?! Put it toward the national debt! So that very day I sent in the correct amount and called to find out how much longer it would take. It was another 4 weeks.

This week is the 4^th week and I should be getting it soon. However, I know that if I don’t get it then it would almost be too late to put in my Visa application by the time the mission office asked for it. That would mean delaying my mission until August, which I DO NOT want to do. We decided to pray as a family Sunday and Monday and then call the travel office last Tuesday. I found out from the nice lady on the phone that I could have put my Visa application in months before and then sent in the FBI clearance later. Ahhh! I wish they had said that in the instruction sheet they gave me.

I should note that not all foreign visas require the FBI clearance. A friend who is going to Brazil said he didn’t have to. I guess it depends on what each country’s requirement is. Pray that mine comes soon!

My advice for the week is 1. Put in all applications you receive ASAP 2.Check and double check the instruction sheets 2.Remember that every detail is important to the government 4. Don’t be afraid to call the travel office if you have questions.

In front of old coke truck at the World of Coca-Cola.

Stone Mountain

Sister Missionary Fashion Show

One of the many things I have to do to prepare to leave for my mission is finding clothing to wear. And it can be difficult sometimes because, you know, there are rules...

Sister missionaries have to dress even more modestly than most Mormons do, BUT the church has changed the guidelines so they don't have to look as...as...conservative? (I'm being nice).

This is how they used to dress. 

As you can see there are a lot of long skirts and dark clothing. I know for certain that the skirts used to have to come to mid-calf. It's hard to find that length so most missionaries settled for long skirts. I'm not sure if un-form fitting or button up shirts were rules too (some people have told me yes) or if that was just what developed over time. Regardless, it wasn't attractive. 

The elder definitely have it easier because of what this says:

At the very least they don't look dumpy. 

I'm really not trying to be mean! It's just how it was. Plus, I bet it was frustrating because a good amount of these girls dressed very fashionably before and after they were missionaries. They looked like totally different people. 

Finally the church realized that people were not as responsive to sister missionaries as to the elders. Some of it was because they thought the sisters were polygamists. But I think it was because women thought that if they joined the church they would have to dressed like the missionaries who were teaching them did and men were worried they're wives would. 

So the church changed the guidelines. They now encourage patterns, colors, more form and less bagginess, and allowed to the skirts to be shorter, they just have to cover the knee while sitting down. 

http://missionary.lds.org/dress-grooming/sister/

My mom and I have been worrying about this for awhile. It was important to both of us that I look fashionable (especially in Paris!!!), but we still needed to make sure I was modest. After a few shopping trips we think we're on our way. I'm supposed to have 8-10 out fits. I have a few dresses, but our goal is to have skirts which can be paired with several different shirts which will create opportunity for a lot more than 10 outfits without taking up too much space.

I divided them into winter and spring.

Winter

Spring. As you can see I like turquoise, but I bought
a skirt with pinks and yellows for variety.

In addition to skirts, shirts and dresses I've also bought several sweaters in different colors; turquoise, purple, black and white, I'm still looking for a pink one. I've also bought a white dress jacket because I've heard that some mission presidents require dress jackets for baptisms and meetings with the president. I haven't heard if that's the case for my mission, but I thought it couldn't hurt. I'm looking for a black one too.

The last thing I should talk about  are the shoes. As cute as the clothes can be now, you pretty much can't have cute shoes because they aren't practical. This is the part that is killing me the most. I LOVE shoes, but there is no way you can wear high heals and walk 9 hours a day, especially on the cobble stones of Paris. And you don't even really want to buy cute flats because most of them with wear out in a couple of months and they don't have very good support. 


So, I broke down and bought ugly, but durable and comfortable shoes; one pair black and one pair brown. Hopefully, after a few months in the field I'll be so focused on the work that I won't care as much. I'm thinking about bringing a pair of white flats, even cheap ones, because I wouldn't wear them too often and they would really help complete a few summer outfits. I have to convince my mom first because there is the issue of luggage space.

Getting My Mission Call Part 2

Tuesday night, the night before I was told my call would come was stressful, but only because I was feeling guilty over my possible reaction to my call. You see, my minor is French teaching and it's kind of important that I know French. However, the language wasn't coming easily for me and going on a French speaking mission was exactly what I needed. If that wasn't going to happen, then I needed a "useful" language like Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, Russian or maybe German.  


However, I was horribly conflicted because I was worried that having these feelings meant that if I didn't go to a country with a "useful" language then I would be mad the whole time and wouldn't be a good missionary. These feelings had been plaguing me for months, but on that Tuesday it was so bad I couldn't sleep. Eventually with some praying and soul searching I realized that I had to be the one to make the decision to be a good missionary. Once I did that I finally found the relief I had been waiting for and promptly passed out on my pillow.


The next day I went about class as usual just waiting to get done with my classes so I could check the mail. Right before my last class I received a text from my roommate telling me to "check it"! What?! The mail? Couldn't check that because I was at school. Facebook, maybe? When I called my roommate all she did was yell "CHECK IT" in the phone and hung up, so I was still in the dark. 


Then I saw this on my Facebook.

I wanted to skip my last class, but I realized it wasn't like my call was going to change or anything during the time I was in class. So for 50 minutes I sat through Korean History and looked at the clock every 30 seconds.

Finally, I rushed home and called my parents to tell them I would be calling them back in a few minutes with the news! My roommates took this picture. 

They wanted to do it in front of the Eiffel Tower in our apartment, but I 

thought it would look stupid if I didn't get called to Paris.

Then I took the envelope and drove to the road that goes above the Temple.I ripped into my call (I always thought I would cry for a few minutes before hand, but I wasn't that patient).

The first word I saw was "hereby" which was a relief because it meant I was actually getting a call rather than a rejection letter. Then I saw "France Paris". 

Honestly, I was shocked. I figured that if I were lucky enough to go French speaking it would be to New Caledonia or Montreal. I couldn't believe I was actually getting to go back to that beautiful, beautiful city.

The top half of France is my mission. The bottom half of Belgium and all of 

Luxembourg are part of it as well. They're shaded gray on the map.

I called my parents and, after my mom finished screaming, I drove back to my apartment and told my roommate's. And we took this picture and called a million people to tell them the news.

Getting My Mission Call Part 1

For any non-members reading this blog, a "call" is what we Mormons have named the place one is assigned (called) to serve as a missionary. Not to be confused with a  "calling". You can look that one up yourself. 


Also, a "ward" is what we call individual Mormon congregations. All the Mormons in a certain area ("Stake", as in the stakes that hold town a tent, not the meat) are divided into wards of about 300 people based on where they live, kind of like school zones, and then are assigned a time and place to meet for church.


And now to continue with my story...






Eventually I had my interviews and my papers were submitted. And then the waiting began for my call.


This was the hardest part of the whole process. There is really no set time that it takes. One normally hears that in Utah it takes about two weeks, but not always. And whenever someone heard that I was waiting for my call they felt that they had to tell me all the horror stories. Most of them had to do with their Stake President forgetting to turn their papers in or losing them all together. My roommate's call took 4 months! When she called to see if they got them at the mission office in SLC they just said that they had received them, but they just didn't know where to send her yet.


So with all of these stories in my head I waited. Then, a week later, a guy in my ward who'd turned his papers in the same day as me got his call to Sweden (Yay Nick!) and my call didn't come. 


I was given some interesting piece of news though. Apparently the Bishop of our ward got news from Salt Lake that Nick's call was coming the weekend before it came. I had no idea it was possible to know before hand. So now those of you working on your papers right now know that this is a possibility.


But seriously ya'll, the waiting was driving me crazy. I was checking the mail every day, filled with a thousand disappointments every time it didn't come.

The next Sunday came and the executive secretary told me the Bishop wanted to see me. I was convinced it was something bad such as the mission office had just told him they would be unable to give me a call for whatever reason. We had just had a lesson in Relief Society about how the Lord is with you through all trials, so while I walked downstairs to his office I just kept telling myself that I was going to be OK because I had the Lord on my side no matter what (not as comforting as I would have hoped, but I still believe it today).

When I got there the Bishop told me I was going to receive my call either on Wednesday or Thursday depending on how long the mail took. This would be a good time to inform you that in Utah (Provo) calls almost always come on Wednesday. Then there was the awkward moment where I wasn't sure if he was going in for the handshake or the hug. It ended up being this weird sort of side hug.

But I digress. And it's getting late so I'll have to do Part 2 of this experience tomorrow.