BLOG for 13 April 2012

I'm in Nauvoo! I made it safe. You will laugh about my plane story though. I intentionally sat by someone I didn't know because I was determined to talk to others and not just my MTC companion. (or the 6 other sisters I was flying with. haha) So after I got off the phone with you we boarded the plane a little later. I didn't even look at my assigned seat, I just went for it. I met Wade! From Nevada. Total rancher. He had his famous cowboy hat that he was featured in a National Geographic with. Don't worry, he told me all about it. :) That's basically how our conversation started, I complimented his hat and he smiled. He told me about the cattle he raises and the wolves who are the predators everywhere. Our plane was going to St. Louis Missoui. His dad has an awful lung cancer and he's not sure how long he will make it past this week, so Wade took a week off of work to visit. I got to know him a lot and as a missionary ninja, I slipped doctrines about life after death, about our Savior and calling upon God in prayer for help. He agreed with some things I "taught" and was really sincere. I challenged him to pray. He said he was too preoccupied right now with his dad to try someting new and doesn't feel like he has the right to only pray when he needs help. "I need to earn his help." He said. I told him he can always pray and that our Heavenly Father ALWAYS wants to hear from us, just like our earthly parents. I asked if I could pray for him and he said yes. We talked of the Savior's appearance in America. When I asked to share a scripture, he said it'd be fine if I "practice on him". Little did he know, that wasn't practice! It was the real thing. I gave him the pass-along card with the picture of the Savior's appearance. I asked if he'd visit the mormon.org site. "I don't have a computer. I've never used the internet really." He is so cute and got out his phone. I responded, "Well, at least you have a picture." "Yes. I will keep that, and every time I see it, I'll think of you and what we talked about." He was so caring. He unleashed some of the things of his past. He cried twice. We laughed and I really started to understand him as a son of God.
Now, this whole time I was feeling REALLY sick. The last time I was on a plane, I was 16 and it was for an hour and I was sick. This flight was 3 hours. I could hardly think straight. I was only focusing on Wade's words, and calling upon Heavenly Father for strength. I had a barf bag with me from the flight attendant. Near the end of the flight, she came around picking up trash and by that time, I was feeling a little better and thought my stomach would just hold everything down. But then, we were almost done with the plane desent and my tummy didn't like a certain bump. Wade offered his hat! "No way, I'm not using it!" Not his precious hat! I stood up to go to the bathroom and a flight attendant said, "Ma'am, you need to sit down!" in a very serious tone. So I did. I asked if she had another bag and she found one.  Well, I sat down, too dazed and sick to get my seatbelt back on. I threw-up in my little bag. I think with the 3 gags, I had everything out that ever went in. I think it was pretty darn graceful for a plane ride. Wade was so nice and tried holding my hair out of the way. When it was all out, I felt SOO much better. I took a picture with Wade, while he wore his cowboy hat and I held my trophy barfbag. I had the biggest smile on my face. He was the best. He saw me at my weakest and felt bad, but I know he felt the Spirit testify of truths as I testified at my strongest when I could. I know God helped me.

Anyway! That was my adventure. 3 and a half hours later we arrived in Nauvoo. Which is fantastic and beautiful. We went to the Temple yesterday. I love my Mission President and his Wife. We had 3 meals at their house yesterday. The new sisters went on a wagon ride around Nauvoo. I also got my time period dress fitted for me. We wear those in the Summer when we are at the Old Nauvoo homes and sites. My dress is blue and I have two aprons. A pink and a white. We wear the colored aprons at the more fun sites and the white aprons at the more holy sites.