Baby, it's COLD out there!

Dec. 5, 2016

Greetings, Family!

My name is Sister Pullan. I am a teacher, sister, daughter, and Harry Potter nut; I am a full-time missionary; and I'm a Mormon. I am also freezing my tail end off.

The whole state of North Dakota--nay, the whole Midwestern region--is covered in white right now. It stormed hard until Wednesday, with the snow blowing sideways and piling into huge drifts on the sides of the road, some up to five or six feet high. You walk out into that kind of weather and your face gets windburn instantly, the wind whipping around little pieces of snow and ice that chafe your cheeks and sting your eyes. It "stings the toes and bites the nose" like nothing I've ever experienced. The freeway was closed from here to Fargo and the government declared a state of emergency because the snow was drifting on the road up to people's windows. A whole truck was buried in snow on the road outside our apartment. The zone leaders sent out a text telling us to stay in if we didn't have specific appointments, and also announcing a new key indicator goal for the week--people shoveled out. We dug out a few driveways and helped a few people with spinning tires push their cars out of the snow.

Also, as it turns out, the city of Dickinson is pretty lousy about plowing. They didn't make it to our subdivision until Wednesday afternoon. Fortunately, Sister Harrington and I have a Nissan Rogue with four wheel drive, so we were able to get in and out to appointments without too much trouble and/or mortal peril. On Tuesday we basically stayed in all evening just to be safe. We went on a split with the STLs, with Sisters Harrington and Luker tracting the building while Sister Sever and I taught a lesson over the phone to an investigator named Nick who is from--of all places--May Pen, Jamaica.

It continues to snow off and on, though nothing as bad as last week. Sister Harrington and I usually leave home bundled in three to five layers of clothing and our big down coats and snow boots. As long as no skin is exposed, the cold is bearable. It makes me look like a marshmallow, but I try to stay cute.

​

Snow day selfie:

​

The forecast says that the temperature is going to drop well below zero this week. If you haven't heard from me by sundown next Monday, you may need to send someone to find me in this North Dakota freezer and thaw me out with a hair dryer. In case I get swallowed by a snow drift somewhere, my will is as follows: Matthew can turn my room into a theatre and Lydia can have my books. Nathan should name a dinosaur find after me as well, if that's possible. :)

In other weather-related news, Sister Harrington got stuck while trying to climb a snow drift outside our apartment. It was very entertaining. I took this picture and a video (which I will send) before I went and helped her out.

​

With all this white on the ground, it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. The city of Dickinson has put out some cute Christmas decor on their light posts somewhat like Heber City's, and there is a tree on the main square. We have a tree at our place, too:

​

Friday night was the ward Christmas party. The theme was "A Night in Bethlehem." The whole thingw as coordinated by our very own primary counselor Sister Tippets, party planner extraordinaire. The decorations were quite impressive, with marquees set up like vendors and seating on blankets on the floor. We had delicious meat and cucumber yogurt dip and hummus on pitas for dinner, and the kids did a sweet little nativity pageant. Our investigator Frank and his family came, as well as several less actives we weren't expecting at all.

This is Sister Banks (the queen of fellowshipping and member missionary work) with her kids, Ophie (short for Ophelia) and Virgil.

​

Me with Ronda, one of my favorite members:

​

Sister Harrington and me with Bishop Hill, the Roman guard, photo bombed by one of the Hughs daughters:

​

​The crowning event of the week, though, was a baptism on Saturday for Tom Robidoux (pronounced roe-bi-dough). He and his wife Ambyre (variant on Amber) were found by some tracting elders 11 weeks ago and started taking the discussions. What those Elders didn't know until later was that four days before they knocked, Ambyre had been depressed and contemplating suicide. Her marriage with Tom was falling apart and she didn't know what to do for herself or him or her kids. She prayed that day that God would give her a sign, and four days later the missionaries came and she let them in. Tom was baptized Saturday, and she will be baptized by him on the 31st. The service was beautiful. Ambyre gave the most moving prayer I've ever heard to close, thanking God for saving her family and saving her marriage and for giving them the blessings of the gospel. Their family was in the 1st ward but recently moved across the boundary into ours, and we have adopted them as our own. Truly, as I watched Tom make that step, I was as overjoyed as if he had been my own convert. When I asked him how he felt, he simply beamed at me. It was incredible to see the joy and peace he felt at being washed clean. President and Sister Hess came, stopping in on their way to a zone conference in Glenndive, Montana. I had the privilege of leading the music. Elder Samplina was assigned to lead, and when she heard that, Sister Hess leaned over and whispered to me, "Do you think he knows how?" She got his attention and whispered that I could do it if he wanted, and he gratefully accepted. :)

Sunday was our open house, and it was a great success. We had a lot of people come (considering that they all had the option of watching it at home in their pajamas). We didn't have any investigators come, sadly, but the other missionaries did. The Robidouxs were there, though, and when I walked in, Ambyre walked up and hugged me and said, "I am so happy to see your face." The broadcast was just beautiful. I sat there, listening to the speakers, and felt the happiest I have felt in a long time. Sister Harrington was beside me, the Robidouxs in front of me, and the Farnsworths behind me, with some of the little Robidoux and Farnsworth daugthers braiding my hair over the bench, and the choir was singing... It was like I was surrounded by family. I felt such joy in that moment.

I would pose the same question Ammon asked his brethren: "Have we not great reason to rejoice?" Yes! We have the most reason to rejoice that anyone can possibly have. We have the Savior and the gospel and the plan of salvation. We have God and we have each other. We have so much reason to rejoice, this season and always.

I love you all so much. Enjoy the holidays and pray that I will stay warm. Thank you for all your love and prayers on my behalf. It means the world.

Love always,

Sister Pullan

It's a Marshmallow World in the NoDak

Nov. 28, 2016

Greetings, everyone!

So this happened:

​The Sisters woke us up at 5:30 this morning to show us that North Dakota had dumped on us in the night, and was dumping still. It's still going now. Hell hath no fury like a North Dakota blizzard. I know you can't tell very well from this picture, but the snow literally falls sideways because the wind is blowing it so hard. Every time you walk near a house, it's like an extra little blizzard right there because the wind is blowing the snow off the roof.

This was Sister Harrington's response:

And this was mine:

We spent the whole morning shoveling people's driveways, then went home to clean up and have some hot cocoa and lunch. When we left the apartment this afternoon, there was already a snow drift a foot and a half high on  our balcony and getting deeper all the time.

​

​This concludes our Dickinson, North Dakota weather report.

Thanksgiving was amazing. The Hollis were so good to us. Sister Holli had made a gorgeous Thanksgiving spread and had set out her beautiful china. Two of the Holli children were there as well--Peter and Elaine. They are such a smart and funny family. I spent a long time comparing favorite books and poems with both of them, which made me miss reading. We played Scum with Skip Bo cards (at which I excelled) and the game of Life (at which I didn't. It was too close to reality for me--I was a teacher with a $30,000 salary and no husband for about a third of the game). We enjoyed food and pie and each other's company all afternoon. It felt like home. I know Brother Holli sent some pictures, but here's one of the whole group:

We spent the weekend showing the #LighttheWorld video to anyone who would listen and handing out #LighttheWorld pass along cards to anyone who would keep the door open long enough for us the get it through the crack. We are really excited about it. Also, we are having an open house for the 1st Presidency broadcast on Sunday night. We (that is, us and the ward mission people) printed invitations and have handed them out to any member we could talk to, encouraging them to give them to their friends and ask them to come. The members are bringing treats, and there will hot chocolate and a nativity display and a church tour. We are really excited about it.

In other good news, we had an investigator come to church Sunday! His name is Frank. He recently married one of our less actives, Lori. One of Lori's older sons was kicked out on the street in Washington last month and was homeless for a few days. She called us frantically, and we called the right people who got in touch with the transient welfare bishop out there who got her son here. She's had some warmer feelings toward the church as a result, and is eager for her new husband to take the discussions and for her 7 year old twins to be baptized. Frank enjoyed church. He really listened intently and asked great questions. We are going to extend a baptismal invitation to him this weekend. Fingers crossed!

I am now a backup ward pianist as well as district and mission pianist. I played as a sub for Primary last minute yesterday. Thanks, Mom, for keeping me in piano lessons.

I am doing well. The mission is not easy, but I am OK. Sister Harrington struggles sometimes with her depression, and we found out that one of the medicines she has been on for her headaches and neck pain has been making that worse. We are hoping to find some better solutions for her. It just kills me sometimes to see her having such a hard time and not be able to help. I am doing my best, though. It really is a blessing to be her companion. She told me the other day that I have helped her more than any companion she has ever had.

I love you all so much. Thank you so much for all your love and support. I could do this without you. I know I say that every week, but it's as true this Monday as it was last. I love you and miss you with all my heart.

Love always,

Sister Pullan

Attached are two pictures I thought you'd like--my Thanksgiving decor. :) The wreath I made for a Relief Society activity. The turkeys are not finished.  I didn't have time, so I am pretending that they donated their feathers for the wreath. Feathers not pictured should include leggings, boots, down coats, and hot chocolate.​

You know you're in North Dakota when...

Nov. 21, 2016

Hi, everyone!

This week's email will be (at least partially) in list format.

When you're in North Dakota...

1) Even though there are blizzards in South Dakota, Montana, Minnesota, and half the rest of the United States, AND it's 10-20 degrees with windchill, it still looks like this outside:

​Sister Harrington is not happy about it, and neither am I. If it's going to be this cold, it might as well be white.

2) You meet all sorts, especially when talking religion. We taught a man this week--the husband of a part-member family--who is Pentacostal. We are going to need to talk to him about how to pray. Pentacostals are very loud and shouty and emotional in their prayers. We also met a father and son both called Juan who are working here while their families are in Arizona. AND a part-member family that we didn't know existed. That one was a miracle for me. We walked in and immediately I registered the presence of two cats, a dog, and a whole bunch of cigarette smoke and thought, "Great. I'm doomed." Incredibly, though, my asthma didn't react at all through the whole lesson. Either I'm getting used to the allergens, or the Lord was blessing me. Maybe both. We also met a man on the street who was doing some amazing martial arts type moves with a baton that was lit on fire on both ends. He did a special performance just for us, right there on the sidewalk. Definitely a highlight of the week.

3) Sometimes you get to hold baby bunnies during a lesson with a member. And it crawls up your shirt to snuggle on your shoulder. (This particular member owned four of these bunnies, plus two adult bunnies, two cats, a big dog, and a whole bunch of chickens and ducks. Welcome to farm country. :)

​

3) You go outside wearing tights, wool socks, fleece-lined leggings, a wool underskirt, normal dress clothes, mittens, a down overcoat, winter boots and a hat--and still the wind manages to get in there somewhere and make your legs cold. I am so incredibly grateful for winter clothing. Also hot chocolate.

4) Because you have no hills, you put your town name and logo on water towers.

5) Sometimes you try everyone you can think of and NO ONE IS HOME. I don't know how it is possible, but everyone seems to go to the grocery store or something right during our contacting time. Ah, well...

6) And sometimes you have pizza parties at the apartment during lunch hour. :)

​7) Santa comes to do charity appearances at your local shopping center (in this case, the Prairie Hills Mall--an oxymoron if I ever heard one) and has Mormon missionaries be his elves. 

​We had a ton of fun being Santa's helpers for a day. We didn't get to do as much contacting as we would have liked--Santa distracts a little from the gospel message, I suppose. Even so, the missionaries have done this for the last five or so years, and the volunteers think very highly of us and enjoy working with us. This is our Dickinson 2nd Ward family Christmas picture:

8) Sometimes you meet people who are not very kind. We got our first actual slammed door this week from a woman who did not look very happy that we rang her doorbell. Just an example.

9) And then sometimes you get to meet incredible people who make life a delight. For instance, Sister Pemberton. She was transferred this week to Detroit Lakes, the area Sister Harrington used to serve in. She has been such a good friend to me, and I miss her dearly. Taking her place in the 1st ward is Sister Luker, who used to be Sister Harrington's companion in Detroit Lakes, and she is just a blast. She makes me laugh every time we talk and is always ready to talk after a long day. Sister Severe as well--she has apparently decided that I am going to marry her brother. She decided this when I first arrived, it seems, but only told me this last week. I would not be opposed to this course of action. :) Sister Harrington continues to brighten and bless my every day. The more we talk, the more we have realized that we have had similar challenges in the past--though much worse on her part. Because she has experienced those things, though, she has been able to support and help me in a way no one else could. It's a lot like the Atonement in that sense. Because Christ suffered our pains He knows how to help us, and because Sister Harrington suffered what she did, she knows how to help me--and many others besides. In addition to these amazing sisters, there is also every member of the Dickinson 2nd Ward. They are incredible people, and I am so honored to be able to be one of them for a while.

That is my report for the week. The temperature is dropping. Every morning when I go out, there is a part of my brain thinking, "It's cold out there!" (Name the movie). I am bundling up and gaining more and more appreciation for my handcart pioneer ancestors. I will be spending Thanksgiving this week with the Hollis, the family that had us over for Halloween, and I can't wait. We are also having a ward Turkey bowl that morning, so I'll be right at home. I will make my Thankful Turkey this afternoon and send you pictures next week, along with documentation of the holiday festivities.

Also, a side note/shameless plug: Check out the 25 Days in 25 Ways challenge on lds.org. All I can say is DO IT. Every day has a different theme ("Jesus helped others bear their burdens, and so can you" or "Jesus prayed for others and so can you," etc.) and suggestions for acts of service you can do that day. Get started on December 1st, and please share with me those missionary and service experiences! I would love to hear all about it.

I love you all so much. Especially at this Thanksgiving time, I need to tell you all how grateful I am for you. I love you all so much. I couldn't do this without you. Your letters and emails and prayers have kept me going on my hardest days. I am going to miss you all this week especially, but I know that I am where I need to be. I will be with you in spirit. :)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Love always,

Sister Pullan, reporting live from the NoDak :)