Family... isn't it
about... time? Ha! My goodness! How the heck are you all? I hope everyone has
enjoyed their week! For those of you experiencing the nightmare called
"finals" right now, just know that you are getting the best
missionary prayers a sister has to offer. So don't be surprised when you get
all of those A's! Still study though! And rub Buddha's belly for good luck. (
That's the recipe for my finals success.) Bonne chance!
This week was a
whirlwind! Lots of miracles, lots of tender moments. Lots of getting hit on in
the metro. (My favorite-- thug master T yelling "Ehhhhhh, sexy
LADAY!" at me from across the station. Mmm. Heaven.) So I'd say it was a
pretty successful week! This week we had zone study, which for Sister Cutler
means.. ELDER HEAVEN!!! Ha ha. Blagues. Elders are huge babies. On Monday night
Sister Foniciello and I get a text from an unknown number demanding that we
need to prepare chicken breasts for twenty people because some elder has the
idea that he wants to eat Hawaiian haystacks at zone study. Do you see where
this is going? After poor Sister Foniciello (bless her heart) endured a solid
hour of a Sylvia rant (which I'm sure my friends and family have missed terribly
since my departure) I accepted the fact that I would be buying and making
chicken for 18 whiny elders. For TWO HOURS we slave into the night making
chicken, because as you know, having estrogen gives you this miraculous ability
to cook! Don't ask an elder to cook anything! Heavens, no. It's not like 16
months of independence as a missionary has made them capable of throwing
chicken into a pan and making it edible. This is, in fact, the reason sisters
come on missions, in case you didn't know.
So the next afternoon
at zone study we gather for lunch. All I know is that I contributed copious
amounts of chicken, and so I assumed my part was done. OH NO. There I find
myself with a group of twenty-year-old boys looking at me helplessly. Their
expressions practically SCREAMED, "Get thee to the kitchen, woman! Me want
HAYSTACKS!" Finally some brave soul has the courage to turn to me and say,
"Uh... Sister Cutler... umm... like... do you know how to make Hawaiian
haystacks?" It took everything within my power not to yell "GIVE ME
THE CUSSING CANS OF CREAM OF CHICKEN SOUP, ya ding-dongs!" Ha ha patience
is a virtue, and I have it. So guess who made the Hawaiian haystacks? The
elders did, of course, under my orders. I made them open cans (poor babies) and
dump it into pots and mix the chicken in. Rocket science, I tell you! I was
asked questions like, "Uhh... Sister Cutler... should we like... um..
strain the pineapple juice out of the cans?" ... "Yes, sweetheart.
Yes, my darling, darling boys." It was pathetic. I feel like this learned
helplessness is only going to get worse as more sisters enter the mission
field. DON'T BUY IT! Make the elders open cans. Make them cook chicken. Make
them mix salad into a bowl. DO NOT BAKE THEM COOKIES. My goodness, they need to
learn. Ha ha I'm being harsh, but it was a ridiculous experience. I really do
love the elders in my zone. At first they were terrified of me, and then they
found out that I'm 20 and I'm from the new wave of sisters their age. You
should have seen how fast the dynamics changed! I guess elders aren't into the
whole cougar thing? But as soon as they found out that I wasn't an old maid,
ELER LOVE was poured forth from the heavens. Ha ha I can't wait for all of the
drama that is about to ensue when all of the sisters get here. Lock your
hearts!
Other than the
Hawaiian haystack mayhem, this week had some exceptional moments. This year our
ward had the once in a lifetime opportunity to host the Jewish and Christian
commemoration of the Shoah. It was incredible to be able to come together with
the Jewish community of Montreal and remember the victims of the Holocaust. A
female Rabi (I was in heaven) gave a stirring address about tolerance,
overcoming fear through love, and always remembering so that history does not
repeat itself. I was so moved. It was touching to be a part of a concrete
example of communities joining together out of love and respect, showing
solidarity and a willingness to overcome prejudice. A woman sang several Jewish
songs written by brave women during the time of the Holocaust. I was able to
have the experience of listening as they prayed together, remembering and
mourning for the lives and dreams that had been lost. I am SO glad I was able
to have this experience on my mission. I truly love Montreal. There is so much
diversity and tolerance for other people's backgrounds, religions, and personal
beliefs. This mission really is so perfect for me. I'm grateful that I had the
opportunity to witness and take part in this community's event. Anyway, just
thought I'd share that little experience with y'all.
I hope everyone has a
wonderful week! Thank you for all of the lovely pictures of the cheerful spring
you are having! My heart is aching. We had a big snow storm this week, but
today is lovely and I plan on enjoying it with my awesome companion and my
almost as awesome district. Also, SHOUT OUT to Jane Bryner and Kristin Matthews
for well-timed letters this week. The love and validation was definitely
needed. Anyway, I hope everyone is doing well! Take care! I love you all and
miss you soooo much!
Love,
Sis Cutler
I am pretty awesome.
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