YW, the Sequel

Well it has now been three Sundays since the Corry Branch was closed. My heart hurt for a few days after the closing but I knew it was for the best. We have now attended the Meadville ward three times and I am glad to report that things are going well. They are very happy to have my family and the others that came from Corry. They have been struggling as well. But these days the chapel is pretty full and RS is full too, it's great. It's really a miracle.

We are working on getting to know people and remember their names and they're working on that with us too. Everyone is very nice though there really aren't many women for me to be actual friends with. What else is new. We went to a ward dinner this weekend and I felt a little lonesome. I do have to say that we sure lucked out with this unit that we have been assigned to- the potluck was one of the best I'd ever been to! They had big grilled steaks for everyone and there were other wonderful sides. Yum!

That night I got interviewed by the bishop and asked if I would be the first counselor in their YW program and I gladly accepted. I love being in YW! I was bummed to be released from my duty in Corry. It was pretty funny being interviewed by a bishop wearing a Hawaiian shirt, I had to laugh. Today I was sustained and set apart and it was great to be in YW. They also put in a senior missionary as the second counselor, she's very nice and so I'm excited to work with both her and the president. I think we will work well together.

Bishop and I talked about how the branch had closed and I told him it was sad but a relief in a sense. The fact that we could go to a potluck and not have to do everything was huge.

It's nice being a part of YW without having to do everything- I made some comments during the lesson instead of having to do the entire lesson and I'll admit it's a weight taken off my shoulders to have someone else in charge. The thing is that Meadville has no active girls, except for the 2 that came from Corry. We had to import some to Meadville! So that will be our big challenge, trying to get some girls to come.

So I'm the first from the Corry group to get a calling in Meadville. I had the opportunity to attend a YSA conference in Gettysburg (it looked really fun) or to attend a huge Youth Conference (Sis Dalton was in attendance!) in Pittsburgh this weekend and I turned them both down- I didn't know why, but it just didn't feel right to attend either. And then I'd think "What is wrong with attending a church function?", as I love attending things like that. I didn't know why until this weekend. If I had attended either, I wouldn't have been at that picnic to be interviewed and my being in YW would have been delayed. And I feel that it is timely that I be there.

In other Elizabeth news, I received word that I did not get a teaching position that I had interviewed on the phone for and thought that I would probably get. That was hard, because I'm trying so hard to get a job and be independent and that was a big blow. I wanted that job and I had researched it out and it felt right. But you pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and move on. And keep filling out those job applications.

The Lord works in mysterious ways, that I know.

Stay tuned for Birthday fun, art museum and finally, Girls Camp!

Changes

Today we found out that our branch that we have attended for the past five years is to be no more. As of this afternoon, the Corry Branch is no longer in existence. So as you might guess, today was not an easy day. 

We received a phone call earlier in the week saying that today's scheduled branch council meeting was canceled and also that our meetings were to be in reverse order- I'd teach YW during first hour and then we'd have the Sacrament during third hour. All of which made my family rather suspicious that something would happen. I figured we'd either be getting a real branch president (we've been without one for a few months, with a member of the stake presidency filling in) or the branch would be closed. I guess I got my answer today.

After the Sacrament, President Miller made the announcement. I'm sure it was not an easy decision or an easy statement to have to say- he used to attend the branch and loved it. He said that like seven years ago, a visiting general authority had said that our stake couldn't support so many (9 at the time) units. I guess I should be thankful that we lasted this long, and weren't disbanded years ago. Another branch was disbanded right before we moved out here, so we always knew it was a possibility. Today, the only other branch besides us was disbanded as well.

After the announcement, we were asked to raise our right hands to sustain the decision, and I tell you that that was probably one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. But I did it. After that, he answered questions and we sang "Because I Have Been Given Much" (with me leading the music) and after the meeting was over, we hugged and cried and then cleaned out personal items from the building. Tomorrow the building will be re-keyed, so it was urgent to get our things. I had added quite a lot of things to the YW room over the years, and what with Mom and my sister also being RS and Primary presidents, there was a lot of stuff to take home. It would have been easy to be dishonest and take things that didn't really belong to me, but I resisted. It was sad having to clean out the YW room. 

Our branch members have been divided between four wards. Everyone will have to drive quite aways to get to their new ward. We will now have to drive an hour to get to our new ward. Some of my friends, upon hearing the news, were excited that I'd now be attending a ward, but the truth is that our new place is also struggling very much, despite being a "ward." They have low attendance (not much larger than our branch), problems having enough Priesthood members and no active YW. I am sure they are excited for the handful of us now going to this ward.

The aftermath has been interesting, seeing who was surprised, and who wasn't. I've been worrying about this for like the last year and a half, so today was disappointing but not unexpected, though I didn't think it would happen this soon. I figured it would happen when the several elderly people in our branch passed away. Some people didn't understand why, others who weren't there today asked me when exactly it was going to happen, as if it was scheduled on the calendar. Some were very shocked, even though they attend fairly regularly.

Today's experiences has made me think of Christ's Second Coming- we know he is coming and we know of the signs, but we don't know when it will happen. And we will all see the same signs and some will recognize the signs and some won't. Those of us who study and pay attention will be observant to the signs and it will not be a surprise. 

Life brings trials and this is no different. Being in a small branch had its challenges. Now we have different challenges. Will we still be obedient and faithful? Will we resist anger and judgement and disappointment? Will we choose to embrace our new path and be happy?

I'm reminded of an experience on my mission, many moons ago. Towards the end of my mission, we were losing sister missionaries and not getting replacements. Other sister areas had been handed over to elders as we got fewer and fewer in number. My companion and I were asked to add another companion, hers had gone home. For about two weeks, the three of us covered both her area and ours. And then we were told to leave our area and serve full time in the new area. We respectfully begged to continue to have both areas, but it was not to be. It was very hard to obey and to be cheerful about it, but we did as asked. Our area went to the elders and we stayed full time in the new area. It was a challenge, but I was glad to have met it. It was a lesson in having faith in God and in our leaders. 

It's hard not to feel bad. Did I give it my all? I especially feel bad for the elderly people in our branch, they were the pioneers of the area. They used to attend church in Erie and here and there in rented spaces, and then they finally got a building in Corry and now to see this happen. 

Well, Corry Branch, thank you for five good years. Thank you for showing us love and kindness. Thank you for good friends. Thank you for wonderful experiences. Thank you for growth. Thank you for 4 sweet years in YW. When Dad was scouting out places to live, he wanted to attend the branch. At first I resisted, but it turned out to be a good growth opportunity for me as well as my family. 

When the YW room was done being cleaned out, I shut the door and said a little prayer of thanks.

My YW room, several people told me it was their favorite room in the building. 

No more branch dinners in the chapel?

Our sweet little building, we'll miss you. 

We'll see what life has in store for us in our new unit. I'm sad to be released from YW and intrigued to see what new calling I receive. I'm glad I was able to bear my testimony a week ago on Fast Sunday- I didn't know that would be my last opportunity here.

Into each life a little rain must fall. Life goes on, I guess... 

Five

Can you believe that I've now lived in PA for five years? Pretty crazy. In some respects I feel like I've lived here a long time and in some respects I feel like I've just gotten here. I guess it's a sign when people think I've lived here a long time and I have to correct them, that I am not a native!

I started this blog after the move (and lucky for you or else you'd have been subjected to a lot of whining!) and I don't think I've shared these photos, so here goes. 

Let me sum up: moving was a long, difficult process. We were actively moving from March to July. And before that I dealt with people coming up to me at church and either crying that we were leaving or going "You're still here??". That went on for a good year. No joke. 

Here's how I spent my 4th in 2007....loading an ABF trailer of leftover stuff after the movers had come and gone twice. So much fun....we were so busy that we didn't even have time to stop for sparklers. 

July 5th, Dad and I flew to PA. 

Mom and Laura came a couple days later with the critters.

Hello Barbie suitcases!

Last photo of me at home.

I look so happy...err.....

I really wasn't happy to leave.

I walked up my driveway and got in the car.

I still regret not taking a good last look.

It's not the same anymore.

Dad and I at the airport:

Keep in mind I never got to scout out PA before moving. Blind faith!

All I could do was really hope that PA would be ok.

This is what awaited me:

Boxes and furniture randomly squished everywhere in our little house. 

My room:

Main room:

Like the mountain of boxes?

 It's really hard to put anything away in the kitchen when the cupboards are covered over:

There were even more boxes than what you see!

It was like a puzzle to get things unpacked!

It took a couple months to get things livable!

Sadly it's been 5 years and I'm still dealing with boxes!

My wall of packing paper:

We will never run out of paper for the woodstove!

You find new ways to entertain yourself- 

like creating a tunnel out of a huge box for the dog!

It's weird to see your cars on a big rig like this!

They got shipped over. 

It was all pretty overwhelming to start over in a new place. 

Then right after I moved, this butterfly came and posed for me in the driveway.

In a way he was saying, "It's gonna be ok Liz". 

I never had one pose for me up close like that before.

I always listen to what butterflies tell me. 

I look back on those days and I have grown so much since moving to PA.

It took a lot of strength to start all over with school and meet new people at church and YSA. 

I think my family has grown as a result too.

I feel a lot stronger and fulfilled these days.

Thank you PA.

I never thought I'd ever say that.