I am in Germany now beginning my mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It has been interesting, culturally shocking, overwhelming . . . and filled with awkward moments which cause me to wonder if they have a "senior missionary social skills group" available. Possibly the Missionary Training Center was just that but I'm not certain I learned what I needed to learn to prepare me for this! Last week I was glued to Facebook in an attempt to find some normalcy in this very new situation I am facing. I saw the picture to the right posted on someone's page (can't remember who - sorry) and thought, okay, done! Now what?
Oh, yeah, now I get to meet lots and lots of new people. Some show up at my door with smiles and cookies... some with invitations to join them for social events... some with chicken soup because I am so sick... and as the week progressed some with pity on their faces suggesting that I really ought to comb my hair, smile, leave the apartment (you know, those socially appropriate things) - So when I answered the door on Saturday evening I imagined it would be another of the "social" visits that make me cringe just a little when I feel this out of sync. Not so!
Imagine my surprise:
A very attractive couple was standing at the door with large suitcases beside them. I immediately knew these were the H's (I know this because I have looked at their huge family picture all week). I had been moved into their apartment last Saturday when I arrived. I had been sleeping in their bed, using their pots and pans and sinks and shower, even sneaking one of their miniature Snickers bars in a moment of weakness. I had unplugged their technology in an unsuccessful attempt to get my own to connect to their wi fi. I was no longer living out of my suitcases because everything I had brought to Germany was strewn throughout their apartment (immaculate upon my arrival). My first words: You must be Elder & Sister H - are you back? Will you be staying here? Ugh!
However, I think my face said: Oh my gosh Elder & Sister H are back - are they staying here? Will I be sleeping on the couch? The apartment is a mess. Why is this happening to me? They are just as beautiful as their pictures - really? How old are these people - 30? Senior Missionaries - really???? I truly wanted to start screaming - or crying - or yelling - or something equally WRONG! And then I remembered Carolyn Wells and her motto to "Keep Smiling" and I found this cute picture (again on FB) ....
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| Carolyn, Lucille, Mavis |
The couple at the door said they will be traveling and staying in hotels for the next week and that I will be staying in their apartment until mine becomes available around January 6th. They then ASKED if they could come in and gather some of their things since they left Utah the day before (having been traveling for many, many hours) and needed to prepare for a busy week ahead of them. So in between our apologies to each other, they packed and I chattered in my socially, awkward, ADHD way! And they left......And I decided to laugh and not cry at another awkward situation in which I find myself as I remind myself:
