Buenos Dias people!!
Yup....it's Friday. Fridays will be the day I send e-mails for the next 6 weeks (at least). Let me just tell you all: WOW. It just got really real. On Wednesday I moved up to Salt Lake City, Utah. After I chose to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, I could have been called anywhere in the entire world, but I was called to serve here in Salt Lake City. Although Salt Lake City may sound a little bit "commercial" or "typical", I have met so many people from all around the world. While at Temple Square, most of the visitors that I have met are not members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS). I have met people from France, Korea, Switzerland, Florida, Washington, England and Guatemala (to name a few). Not to mention, the female missionaries (called sister missionaries) that also serve here are from all over the world too. There are sisters from Japan, Germany, Kenya, Nepal, India, Cambodia, Uganda, Canada, Hong Kong and so everywhere else you could imagine. There are tons of sisters from California too. I have a new companion, Sister Montana, from Buenos Aires, Argentina. She is a spit fire! I love her! She has a really positive attitude and really has a wonderful way of connecting with people. She is showing me the ropes and helping me so so so so much as I keep trying to figure out what I am doing. I feel a bit dazed most of the time as I do my best to figure out where everything is. I really don't know much yet, but I have a pager, so I feel pretty official. :)
My first assignment here is in Welfare Square!! :) I only spend a few days a week there, while the rest of the week, I am in the general area of Temple Square. I LOVE LOVE LOVE Welfare Square!! It is incredible. I have only spent one full day there and I have already learned so much more than I ever knew. Most of the people that come to Welfare Square particularly are already members of the church. Thursday, my companion and I took 60 people on tours of Welfare Square. But many people (members or otherwise) aren't very familiar with the really amazing things that Welfare Square does. I, for one, have learned SO SO much!! I've learned about how the giant white grain silos store 16 MILLION pounds of wheat!! Wowza!! (On one of the tours, there was a lot of kiddos. I initially told them that the big white silos were where we produce the marshmallows in the entire world....ba dum ching. Don't worry, I told them about the wheat too)
I've learned about the church's LDS Employment Center too. Basically, people can utilize the LDS Employment Center to improve their job skills and learn more about how to get (and keep) jobs to support themselves.
There is so much more about Welfare Square for me to share (you'll learn more over the weeks!). I love the 3 main goals of the Square. Essentially, the purposes of providing these programs for people are to:
1) Help take care of the needs of others
2) Help empower others to take care of themselves
3) Help others learn how to care for others.
I love it!! HELPING!! I am so grateful for the chance that I have to learn about different pieces of the church that so many are unfamiliar with. I know that Welfare Square serves as an example of the gospel: the teachings of Jesus Christ in ACTION. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is a church of SERVICE and action. I am reminded of that everyday. I keep learning new things everyday! :)
Thank you all for your love and support!! I love you!
Love,
Sister Harmer
