Blue Island Letter #1

EDITOR'S NOTE: While we wait to hear from Leshelle about her new house address, you can send mail to her at the mission home. I've updated her "Current Mailing Address" located on the right side of the blog under her photo. The missionaries receive mail sent to the mission home just a day or two later than if it were mailed to them directly.



Hermana Hoer and SuperBike go their Separate Ways...

There was a tearful (oh, wait, that was rain...) good-bye via one last ride the evening of the 30th. SuperBike sqealed in agony at the upcoming separation. (Okay, so the brakes got wet and they just make that noise). As Hermana Hoer walked away from her beloved SuperBike, she took one last glance to see it propped against the wall of the basement, and memories flooded back...oh, what a good ride we've had.

But, the good news is I've moved onto Air Conditioning!!!!! How cool is that!?! I am in a car, with AC, heat, a CD player (I don't have to sing, attracting crazy drunks anymore), and a trunk! I don't have to carry everything on my back at all times. Wow. My wardrobe just doubled, and now includes all the things that just didn't work on a bike. I miss SuperBike already; but, I've also reveled in the joys of driving once again. It's been since February - about 6 months - since I really drove.

My new area is in the south side of Chicago. The word everyone uses to describe Blue Island is "ghetto". Perfect, let's send the short, white girl. It's so different from the city where I was. It's spread out more than the city. I am excited to experience something new. I'll miss the city, certainly. However, I think a change was due.

In the past week I have had such a roller coaster of experiences. Through it all, I've come away with such a sure knowledge that God is in control (even, and especially, when I am not). No matter what gets thrown my way, I know that Heavenly Father is on my side. I may feel like I am drowning, but He is there, and He will not let me drown. Never. Sometimes it may feel I'm drowning; but, from His perspective, He sees that I'm moving in the right direction through all the struggling. At times we struggle for just a moment; others, for a while. As I struggle, trusting that He won't let me drown, I always end up somewhere beautiful that only He could have known I was headed for.

One of the most valuable things I did this week was count my blessings. It changed everything. It changed my attitude, my heart, my views, and my circumstance. Somehow, by counting my blessings, I was surrounded by them. I couldn't count them all. From the little things, like sunshine and a six year old's smile, to the great blessings of miraculous protection and more than coincidental help from people, I have so many blessings to count. I always do. I just forget to count them at times.

Thank you for your prayers and letters. I'll get my new address soon. But, for now, the mission address will get to me. I LOVE the Gospel of Jesus Christ. That's the greatest blessing ever possible. That and my family go hand in hand as the first blessing that comes to mind every day. That's why I'm here - so that other people can have the same blessings I do.

Chicago Letter #17

SuperBike and I have a new gig. The Pedalling Performers are taking over the streets of Chicago! The other night, on our way home, I began to sing the strange and random rhymes that came to my mind. Put them to song, right? Makes sense. As I'm singing, I hear backup. In spanish. With a slur. Maybe it's not my companion. Nope. Definitely a drunk man. on a bike. Beer in hand. This is a show we should take on the road (literally). Except, that's not really my priority right now. Maybe someday after the mission.

It worked for a moment, though. I've never heard my companion laugh so genuinely. Or for so long. I seem to make the greatest friends.

I was asked out by a SOBER man the other day - the first time that's happened here. He was quite persistent. However, he (obviously) wasn't the greatest listener - meaning, it would be a bad date even if it happened. Don't worry, it won't.

Yesterday marked six months for Hermana Hoer!!! Can you believe that? Time has flown by. It is such a blessing to be able to look back and see the things I've learned and the ways in which I've grown in these past months. So many wonderful experiences have marked this time. Thank you all for your prayers and your letters. They keep me going. I am sure of it. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

In Church this past Sunday, I heard something that I thought was one of the best pieces of advice ever:

Learn to love your parents. Love them more everyday.

We all have so much to learn from one another. Our parents in particular. They have stories we've never heard. Just think of what you are doing right now - regardless of age or stage in life - and think of how neat it would be to share what you're learning and experiencing with generations to come! Well, if you have the opportunity, ask your parents to share their experiences. Ask them to share their stories. Learn from them. I think we would all be surprised at how much more we can love and learn from our parents and grandparents.

It got me to thinking about my parents. I don't even know where to start. Being away has made me feel closer to them somehow. I have more respect for my dad, having also been a missionary. I recognize with more clarity the impact of my mom's service. I remember both of their stories and lessons in a different light now, as I'm living many of them.

I think part of what I loved about that statement is that love doesn't end. We never stop loving people. Love can always grow. It can always increase. It's a choice to love someone, and to feed that love.

I love you, Mom and Dad!!!!

Chicago Letter #16

Stats:
Most meals in one day: 3 (in only 6 hours)
Number of times we came out of a meeting to find half of my companion's bike gone: 1 - once was enough.

A member of our Bishopric told me at church on Sunday that I am his favorite missionary because I am his height. Though, if we're being honest I think I am taller than him...believe it or not!

Sometimes it is really quite difficult to stay motivated. It's hard to get on a bike every day, ride miles to try to find someone who isn't home...or someone who doesn't want to be found. Not just missions are hard, though. Life is.

I see a pattern in the tough times. They are only tough when I make them tough. There will always be difficult situations. But, that doesn't mean we have to have tough times in life. If we take the difficult situations and learn to laugh, they won't become tough times. If we learn to trust Heavenly Father - really let go and trust Him - we'll see the beauty in even the difficult. That's when we can grow. That's when He can bless us.

My goal for this week is to laugh. Enjoy every day. Look for the good. Laugh at the awkward. Smile at the unkind. When the difficult situations arise, I'm going to keep trying to do my best rather than focus on how hard it is. Make the same goal. Let me know how it goes!

Have a great week!
~Hermana Hoer

Chicago Letter #15

Downtown Chicago



Stats:

- Flat tires: ZERO!!!!! WOO HOO
- Block Parties within ten blocks of our house: 3. Apparently, that's the thing to do in Chicago. Our street is having one this Saturday. Bounce houses, music, tons of food, all sorts of fun. They last all day long.

Of all the enemies I have developed over the last few months, I have one that has become my arch nemesis: HumidHeat. It literally sucks the life out of me! Physically and emotionally. Day after day, HumidHeat tries to get me down. It's awful. SuperBike does everything possible to keep me cool, but SuperBike and HumidHeat are a near even match up...I keep reminding myself that I'm over half way through the summer time. I think.

I have a new idea. I could make great money marketing an exercise program here in Chicago. It's centered on bike riding. However, this is no ordinary bike riding. It's somewhat like those resistance pools that you can swim in place: it provides the resistance to get a workout. The wind here in Chicago is like the water resistance in the opposite direction (somehow it is always working against me...how is that??? It's the same as the story "I walked up hill both ways"). Anyway...there are some differences. For instance, you won't swim in refreshing water, but in your own sweat. Oh! and, I didn't want another workout. That's a key difference.

I learned something really neat this week about trusting Heavenly Father. Both my companion and I felt really strongly that we should go to a certain area one day. We did. We were there for a few hours, and worked hard. We had a lot of nothing going on for the entire time. Literally - hours of going and feeling as though we were accomplishing absolutely nothing. As far as I could see at the moment, we didn't accomplish anything.

However, now I know that we did accomplish something. I don't know what it was. I don't know for whom, or in what way. As we biked away, I thought to myself: "I know we did what we went to do. I don't have any proof of that, because I didn't see any good in our time there. Yet, I know that we did something worthwhile."

I think a lot of our lives are that way. We go, do, act...and we see no results. Days, weeks, months or years later, we may see results. Later, we may still be clueless as to why we felt we should go somewhere or do something. Regardless of whether or not we know why, Heavenly Father does know why. I've always known that God knows more than I do. But, this experience was a bit different. I also knew that I had done something good that day, in that time, in that place - yet I saw no evidence of it. The key is faith. The faith that I was of use to Heavenly Father - regardless of what I saw - changed my attitude before, during, and after.

Have faith, regardless of what you see or do not see, that you are an instrument in God's hands. It gives life a little more meaning in the times that we think are lulls.