It's fine, it's fine, it's fine-it's FINE...
It's fine.
Most missionaries don't see a single threesome their whole mission. After all how many times are we told in the scriptures that we will go out "two by two"?
Sister Pollock obviously is not humble enough...so she will be serving in her FOURTH threesome next transfer.
One of the sisters in the group in between Sister Waldie and I will be joining us next transfer. I really love her, so I am excited for the opportunity to serve with her...but good grief!
FOUR threesomes?!
It's fine.
It's fine, it's fine-it's FINE.
"Everyone is going to HATE us!"
The words of Sister Waldie echoed through our apartment earlier this week.
But first let me backtrack before I explain why...
I think I have explained that one can serve a mission in a few pictures, and that I am serving in merely one of them, as a young adult before marriage. There are also many opportunities for retired couples to serve together many places throughout the world (which I hope to do as well in a few more decades). One such couple serving here in Budapest comes to our Ward for church every now and again and did so the week before Conference. Before Relief Society (the last meeting of a 3 hour block of church servies, just for the women [the men have one for themselves])the sister started talking about a new program that has just been instituted here in Budapest. It is called Outreach and it is a tool to that invovles setting up a center for Young Single Adults (people unmarried between the ages of 18-30). For active and less-active members and for anyone who wants a safe, peaceful invironment to just...be. One floor of the mission home is set up to be the Outreach center at the moment and there is a study, there is a TV room where they can watch (approved) movies, there is music to listen to, books to read and a couple of computers to use for free. There are also pingpong tables and even a kitchen to gather.
Sister Roberts was telling us about it and then she mentioned the part that caught my attention. "They are going to call some of the full-time missionaries to work just with this center and the focus of their proselyting efforts to be to find young people and bring them to the center." That a district of missionaries would be assembled and assigned just to work with this program.
I went NUTS immediately. I didn't have an opportunity to talk to Sister Roberts anymore about it because when I started going crazy asking her questions about it, the Hungarians started going crazy wanting to know what was happening so I had to translate and by the time I was finished the meeting was starting and she left before I could grab her after church and ask her more questions.
The next day I happened to need to go into the office to work on a seperate project for something we have going on in my ward. The Assistants to the President (APs) were in and I told them in no uncertain terms that although I recognized that they have absolutely no say in the matter, if President ever wanted suggestions for names that this is has mine written alllllll over it. I also boldy just flat-out told President in my email to him that I heard about a district being formed to help with this and I wanted to be a part of it if he felt like that would right.
That was the last Monday in September, flash foward to this past Thursday. I am sitting down in my little cove enjoying personal study when our phone rings. Waldie picked it up and then the speaker asked for me.
"Hello Sister Pollock, this is President Gasser. How are you this morning?"
"I am very well, how are you?"
"I'm great thanks. Sister Pollock I see that the APs have you scheduled to come in for interviews next Friday, is that correct?"
"Yes, sir. Next Friday at 10 sharp."
"Is there any way we could change that-when is the soonest you could come in today?"
At this point I swallow my stomach wondering what on EARTH I have done that President needs to call me into his office to discuss.
"Well, we have our planning meeting today after Companionship study and then we have a program in the 8th at 2 o'clock, but we can be at the mission home by 4pm."
"Great. I would like to talk to you about something, and it just can't wait until next Friday. We'll see you at four."
After hanging up the phone, Sister Pollock immediately hits "Panic Mode". I almost called the APs, but went instead to my District Leader and mildy freaked out on the phone.
But I calmed down enough at went about my day. Four o'clock rolled around and we arrived promptly on the hour for interviews.
Sister Waldie and I were called into the new district consisting of us, the senior couple, the APs and a companionship of Elders currently serving in Buda. President said that he had decided we would be called in as soon as he could assign us to do and that the decision had been made at least 3 weeks ago-a full week before I said a word to anyone about anything.
It is going to be so awesome! I will basically be doing what I spend most of my church time doing the year before I came on a mission, with the twist that I will be out on university campuses finding people to bring! I will report more when I know more, but right now...
Everyone in the mission is going to hate us!
We already live in the famed Palace-let's be honest we can see Parliment and Buda Castle from our balcony and run by world famous sites of Budapest every day. And now we get the super-cool calling?
Everyone is going to HATE us.
I am stoked-because as it looks, this will be what I do for the rest of my mission. Setting up this program and getting the ball running to turn what is currently a center for a couple of student members into a bustling headquarters for at least 100 people.
I can hardly wait to begin!
