Melodie's Homecoming

Melodie spoke at church today to share some of her mission experiences with our ward. 

A lot of our extended family was able to come join us as well as some of her mission friends. My mom and brother seeing me take a selfie of Peter asleep next to me, with Natalie resting on his leg. He looked so cute in his little blazer!

Here are the bullet points of her message: 

- Intro, served in Indiana and Brazil, got back 2 weeks ago

- At first I wanted to travel, but covid happened lol

- Soon realized why I needed to be there, God has a plan. Got to use portuguese! 

- Hardly ever left the house, did almost all of our finding online

- Talked to a ton of people on FB, super awesome

- Weirdos on FB too, we got proposed to. Multiple times.

- Ricky, story, 3 nephites

- Hoosiers, we got “hoosiered at” many times which was terrible because I was always super anxious about wasting time. I didnt even want to take an hour for lunch and then people hoosier at us. I cried one time

- PEOPLE I WOULDN’T NORMALLY TALK TO, BUT I IMMEDIATELY LOVE THEM SO MUCH

- People who are interesting so different than me, Glen, Moody family, 

- I learned a lot about different companions, who I am, I learned how imperfect I am. Quiet, awkward, shy. I even made a list

- I thought before that I was basically perfect, but my mission helped me see how imperfect I really am. - How much I need a Savior. 

- I learned so much about the Savior. He is real! I need Him everyday to improve!

- Even though we were restricted with so many rules (stay 6 feet apart, masks, can’t talk to anyone, can’t track. 

- BUT IT WAS AMAZING TO SE HOW GOD WORKED WITH IT. So many times when people were just placed in our path: Brad, Gary whose son died

- Diane’s story

- Slowly things opened up, I didn't knock on a door until like 9 months into my mission and even then we didn’t do much. 

- Served in Michigan, Super pretty, lots of trees and birds

- Teresa, Mike Rusnak, Deidre

- Right when I thought I wanted to stay here, I got news that I was leaving for Brazil. I cried. 

- The work in Brazil is different, hard do adjust

- I thought my Portuguese skills were super good, but when I got there I had no idea what anyone was saying. I cried for a little while, but the gift of tongues is real!

- Met so many amazing people, I love people!!!

- Met MARTA, her story and how she found the gospel, her example

- People make me so happy! So it makes me so sad when they hear the gospel and don’t do anything about it

- Focus on ourselves, small sad world. Focus on others, world expanded and more joy

- There is an endless number of things in our little world, but when we open our views to others, our problems get resolved

- “Whosoever shall lose his life shall find it…” scripture 

- I have changed so much

- Testimony

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I taught Gospel Doctrine today, so it was fun to have Corey's parents and my parents and siblings join us in our class discussion there as we talked about Joseph of Egypt. Everyone knows his inspiring story, and I was excited that those chapters fell on the week I was teaching, since he has been a favorite of mine since 2017 when it helped me during a stretching time. He represented the second E in my Jewels acronym when I gave a talk and I want to be like him in my trials, which are much smaller by comparison. Anyway, so that was fun to teach and have them in the class. After church we all came back to our house for lunch and a nice visit. We ate and kids and cousins played games. 

Adults visited and that was fun. Joseph was sharing some parts of the story of his and Hyrum's cross country trip last August. Joseph has lost his debit card in Guatemala, and Hyrum left his in a gas station at the beginning of their trip, so they were surviving off cash Hyrum had from the $1000 dollar deal. When they were leaving Nauvoo, they decided to just drive all night through Nebraska and get home rather than spend any of their limited cash on a hotel. They kept themselves away with some carbonated drinks and by singing their lungs out. My favorite part was how they would let their imaginary audience know what a special event they were about to enjoy: "Joseph and Hyrum!!! One night only!!" 

 

It was funny. Good times. I thought Mel had some pictures with her companions who came to church, but instead she sent me these pics of her at THEIR homecomings. Mel with Sister Jenkins -

And Sister Adams.

(Sorry we didn't decorate for you Mel! I didn't know I was supposed to/should have/could have til I saw these pics! It didn't cross my mind.) And we've learned that Mel likes to wear unmatched socks. 

Home From Brazil

 Melodie arrived safely back home from Brazil today! Truth be told - we were not all there and waiting for her when she came out the exit (but we'll pretend we were for a photo op)

We were expecting a 10:30 am arrival time, but then we got an early morning phone call from her. Corey dismissed it, thinking it was his alarm, and then he went to the gym. I answered it when my phone rang 30 seconds after his, knowing that if we were both getting a robo call at 6:15 am, it probably wasn't a robo call. It was Mel, letting us know that she missed her connection in Atlanta. It was probably my fault, cause I had requested an avocado, cause they bring back good memories (last paragraph, an email from 2007 as I struggled through my first international experience. I had been focusing on the trial, but then avocados were the first thing I was able to be grateful for) Too bad for me it didn't make it through customs. Melodie's later arrival time did give me a chance to go mail a package to Hyrum. He needed some more journals, as he was coming up on his last 4 blank pages. I shipped three journals to him, and then I hurried back home to crank out a "welcome home" poster. I had meant to have the kids make posters on Sunday - seemed like a good Sabbath day activity, but we never got around to it. No problem - there were two extra days to still get it done if we were being procrastinators. Still didn't happen. With her later arrival time, we decided to send the kids to school, so Daniel was the only one around to help me this morning. He did a good job writing out the letters I told him - 

I cut up the letters of her name for a MELODIE "sign" and I made a very nice Brazil flag with all the star constellations on it and everything, but those two didn't make it into any of the photos. Corey's parents made the nice black one - appropriately showing how she served in Indiana and Brazil 💕

So we were a little late leaving home and giving ourselves enough time to picking up the kids from school. We parked, ran in, Corey took a left to the baggage claim with most of the kids and I went straight to the Greeting room area, where Mel was standing with my parents, Corey's parents, and Joseph. I got a hug followed by Daniel - 

Joseph said she had only been there like 4 minutes before we came. Corey and the kids were there quickly and there were hugs all around for everyone - Peter! 

Wes!

Owen!

Lily!

Natalie got a hug and noticed Mel's long hair and started braiding it.

Corey got a hug too, but I didn't get a photo of his. Group photo - 

Yay! We're so happy she's home! Melodie and Sister Adams holding babies that they've missed in person - 

Melodie had a little entourage of helpers follow her for her suitcases.

And then we headed out to the cars. 

Melodie noticed the dry air and that she wasn't sweating! It was a nice early spring-ish day. It's been nice weather this week. My parents went back to work, but took Joseph by the Front Runner train on their way home, and the rest of us went to to Chuck A Rama.

It was a late lunch but I also counted it as an early dinner too, since the kids were all very full when we left. We did cut up watermelon for dinner later and that hit the spot. 

jMel started to unpack her luggage a little bit until our Stake President, President England came by to release her from her service at 5:30. Then the moment came and she took off her tag. Corey and she both shed a few tears. It's hard when it comes to an end. I do remember when I came home and was released, that I felt a literal physical weight/stress was lifted off of my shoulders. Much like the stress that Hyrum took on when he was set apart and said he felt like he had a gun to his head, lol. Ethan felt that too (under point #7). It's all good though. I'm sure Mel will have lots to do. Her siblings will keep her busy and I'm more than happy to have her here to help when the baby comes in 3 months. She will probably do a few online classes for school and is going to get back her flute skills. We're so grateful for her testimony of Jesus Christ and for the love she's developed for Him and the people she has served on her mission. We're happy to still have two missionaries out for a few more months until Ethan comes home at the end of June, and again are very grateful to have Melodie home. 💕

Week 77 - Mission accomplished

Oi pessoal!! 

Well this is it, my last email. Sorry for not writing last Wednesday, I didn't have much time, or motivation. Also I wanted to email my mission president first just to make sure that I couldn't extend haha. But alas, my mission has come to an end. Sister Jenkins and Sister Adams and I flew from João Pessoa to São Paulo, to Atlanta Georgia, and soon we'll take a plane to Salt Lake! This is werid, it doesnt feel like I'm going home. I don't even remember what life was like before serving a mission. Also its super weird to hear people speaking in English. My mind hasn't switched back yet because I'm still automatically responding to people saying "Obrigada" and "Com licença" and it makes them confused kkk.

I just wanted to say that I am so grateful for my mission. I have learned so much about the gospel and about Gods plan for us, and how much He really loves us. With every person I met I could just feel how much God cares about them, and how much He is involved in their lives, whether they know it or not. I think the thing that makes missions so magical is that we forget ourselves and focus on others. The most happiness I have ever felt in my life has come from serving and loving those around me. I've learned that as we focus on ourselves and our own needs and wants, our world gets smaller and darker. But when we focus on others, our world expands, and is filled with more love, more experiences, and more joy! And if you think about it, that's what Gods life is. He is fully invested in us, our needs, our desires and our joys, and in return He is the one who has the most joy. 

I love this scripture from Matthew 10:39

"He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it." 

As I've forgotten about myself and fully dedicated my time to helping others, I really have found myself. I have developed SO much in these last 18 months. I've learned how to be more humble, patient, I've developed good habits of studying, planning and using technology wisely, and I've become a lot more outgoing too! I'm still more on the reserved side, but I've learned how to talk to everyone, and not be such a perfectionist when it comes to sharing my thoughts. 

I just want to bear my testimony to each of you that I know that this is the true Church of Jesus Christ! I know that He lives, I know that Gods plan is real, and I know that He loves you!

And I love all of you too!! Shout-out to Grandma who is probably the only one still reading these emails. 

Also I'm coming home with a half of a suitcase full of tapioca and Bis chocolates, so email me if you want some. 

Love you guys!! See you in a few hours ;)

<3 Sister Wride