This is gonna be a quick one because I spent a lot of time getting pictures sent [see below].
This weeks been kinda random. We went on exchanges both Thursday and Friday with the other Sisters, which I enjoyed. We went once last transfer and it wasn't so productive, but I liked working with the different sisters. I learned a lot and got to work in new areas. We went to Lakewood Thursday and it's as much downtown-Clevelandesque as you get. We went to this little village (really what it's called) and it was totally smalltown. The houses were Podunk and I almost felt like I was in another country.
I always went through the drama of thinking I was getting transferred. We were going over our prospected "transfer board" trying to figure out who was going where and I got scared. Because it's the summer starting, they're planning on sending 22 Sisters to the sites. That would have left only 5 sister areas open, and we have 3 new sisters coming. They'd have to close the majority of the sister areas, and Rocky River is usually closed every summer and the AP's just cover it in their "free time". I started worrying about all the people we're working with and what would happen to the Albanians etc. We decided we might as well not tract since they'd just get lost in a week when no one would follow up on them. It was sad! But then we had interviews and President said he wasn't going to close the River. Whoo. They're working something crazy out.but I still can't figure out who my companions going to be. All of the sisters that are 'non-Kirtland' and won't go to the sites are either training (we think) or been out less than me. This probably makes less sense to you all than it does to me. But moral of the story is, I think I'm staying.
Other highlight of the week is we found another old man. Older this time. Larry, he's 88. I was actually on exchanges at the time, so it was Sister Clove's doing :) We weren't quite sure what to do with him because honestly he can't hear anything. We were on his doorstep for 15 minutes knocking and ringing the doorbell trying to get him to hear it. He was listening to something really loud. finally he saw us out the window. Church was funny with him though.. Ah I'll have memories of that one. I had never even met him until church and I was the only one sitting by him. I had no idea how deaf he was, but he has a little headset thing that's supposed to microphone everything. He couldn't get it to work so it kept squeaking throughout sacrament meeting and he kept leaning over to me telling me about it. Granted he couldn't hear himself, so he was YELLING and I had to keep shushing him the whole time. Sister Clove caught my eye contact and told me to hush him up, but he couldn't hear me telling him! If I tried to whisper anything to him he'd just talk really loud asking me to repeat myself. I ended up leaning away from him as far as I could in hopes that he wouldn't try to talk. He knows it's true though and we actually set a baptismal date with him last night.but we're trying to figure out if that's going to be a good thing. I was debating, but I had thought- We baptize for the dead, why not for the old. Any insights?
Not a lot of progress with the Albanians. Both the teenage kids from the different families were going to come to church but their ride got there and Artur (the member) was sick and so NONE of them came. We're working on it still.
Real quick cool story. On the first day we met George (General Conference) we went to grab a quick lunch between sessions. No one would pick somewhere so I shouted out "Arby's" and we did it. (Maybe I told this story already.sorry) But we were talking for awhile in there, and when we were leaving this guy was watching us so I said Hi, and he recognized us and I guess had learned a little about the church a while ago. He lived in our neighboring area, so we got his info and they started teaching him. And, he got baptized on Saturday! He looks completely different from the day we met him. He was scruffy and sad looking and he shaved and spruced himself up and the difference is amazing. So, something as insignificant as picking a place for lunch can lead to more than you'd ever suspect.
Man! They never end up being quick. Sorry. but this is more for me anyway. :)
Love you all,
Sister Ruthanne Salisbury
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