I've moved out of my apartment today. It's funny how much baggage one person can have. Imagine having five years worth. I moved out my stuff, my sister's stuff, and an assortment of JUNK from about 5 solid years of roommates living in this apartment. We had a TV that no one claimed as well as: a journal whose last entry was sometime in 2008 (with NO full names), 14 assorted pots and pans, a bag of frozen lima beans, a block of ice covered peas that actually had expired, an entire cabinet of plates, cups, and assorted tupperware. That was only in the kitchen, I had so much stuff around the apartment that I thought I wouldn't be finished before the cleaning checks happened.
This reminds me of the Atonement, Jesus Christ didn't just have to deal with the baggage of his own things (sinwise he packed incredibly light) he had the entire world's baggage of pain and suffering on top of his own suffering. I definitely do not envy his experience, but I am very grateful for it. Hopefully I have a light bit of baggage when I get to the MTC.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Sister Pielstick Vs the finals of DOOM
Call me strange, but I've always enjoyed finals week. I finally have time to read a book for fun (what? I like reading my textbooks, and I never have time to do so. I collect them from my favorite classes.) I love learning and going through my notes for the semester make me feel like I've actually accomplished something. I also like running through my journals of the semester as well... a lot has happened.
However, this finals week was different. First problem? I have three scheduled finals on the first day of finals... and unfortunately there are no easy classes in the lineup: try astrophysics, bacterial pathogenesis, AND Organic Chemistry lab. I am going to be fried this exam week, no joking. Fried cranium with a side of no sleep.
I promise myself that I will never take 15 credits of science classes AND date someone AND help orchestrate a Malaria fundraiser AND audit physics classes just for fun all in the same semester. (Like a kamakazi like myself is EVER going to take that advise, it would be a nice dream though...) If I manage to keep my scholarship after this semester I will be eternally grateful (ok, more like fiscally grateful, but you know what I mean)
Wish me luck.
However, this finals week was different. First problem? I have three scheduled finals on the first day of finals... and unfortunately there are no easy classes in the lineup: try astrophysics, bacterial pathogenesis, AND Organic Chemistry lab. I am going to be fried this exam week, no joking. Fried cranium with a side of no sleep.
I promise myself that I will never take 15 credits of science classes AND date someone AND help orchestrate a Malaria fundraiser AND audit physics classes just for fun all in the same semester. (Like a kamakazi like myself is EVER going to take that advise, it would be a nice dream though...) If I manage to keep my scholarship after this semester I will be eternally grateful (ok, more like fiscally grateful, but you know what I mean)
Wish me luck.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Sister Pielstick and Karma
You know you have to be doing something right when you get a 100 on an Astrophysics test that you didn't study for because you were worried about opening your mission call. I was expecting a really low grade... talk about bracing one's self for the implosion of her academic achievement, but somehow the notes I took in class and the homework I did beforehand helped me know the answers... and for the ones I didn't know? Let's just say I am grateful for my eclectic song collection and my recent obsession with the 'Galaxy song' by Monty Python... that song saved my grade, and I still want to go back to my itunes collection and listen to it again and again and again.
Oh, and my Bacterial Pathogenesis professor actually liked my final project. Which is a miracle in and of itself because he has hated every idea I've come up with since the beginning of the semester. Also I got a 100 on my swim final, which isn't surprising... but still nice to hear.
I still may not like my mission place, but I am rather enjoying the blessings coming from it.
Oh, and my Bacterial Pathogenesis professor actually liked my final project. Which is a miracle in and of itself because he has hated every idea I've come up with since the beginning of the semester. Also I got a 100 on my swim final, which isn't surprising... but still nice to hear.
I still may not like my mission place, but I am rather enjoying the blessings coming from it.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Sister Piestick and the Priesthood Session
Every year after general conference I wait eagerly for the moment when I can read/ listen to the general conference priesthood session. I may not be a priesthood holder (although if we count hugging as holding, then I do it on a regular basis) but there is always the one talk.
This time it was about the mission call process. I have always heard of it as an 'apostolic calling,' because of this I have always thought that the apostles get together in a room and look at the missions that need to be filled and the missionaries available and then make their best guess as to where the missionaries need to go, because God can fix their fallacies. In the talk they explained about how several of the apostles get together some mornings and choose the places where the perspective missionaries are going to serve. It was fascinating for me to learn the process (and one of the examples sounded like on of my friends that got called to Japan earlier). It was nice to realize that the Spirit inspired the brethren to give me my call.
It gives me some hope for myself. Because if a fallible man gave me my assignment it is possible that I would never come to accept it. However, because I was called of God that means that before I leave my mission I will realize that it is the perfect place for a goofball like me. It is nice to have some hope about the adjustment process.
This time it was about the mission call process. I have always heard of it as an 'apostolic calling,' because of this I have always thought that the apostles get together in a room and look at the missions that need to be filled and the missionaries available and then make their best guess as to where the missionaries need to go, because God can fix their fallacies. In the talk they explained about how several of the apostles get together some mornings and choose the places where the perspective missionaries are going to serve. It was fascinating for me to learn the process (and one of the examples sounded like on of my friends that got called to Japan earlier). It was nice to realize that the Spirit inspired the brethren to give me my call.
It gives me some hope for myself. Because if a fallible man gave me my assignment it is possible that I would never come to accept it. However, because I was called of God that means that before I leave my mission I will realize that it is the perfect place for a goofball like me. It is nice to have some hope about the adjustment process.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Sister Pielstick and the Mission Visit
So I went and visited the mission. And I've decided that if I am supposed to go there, then I should find at least three things that I am looking forward to when I go on my mission. I thought I'd share them with you.
1. The tabernacle.
It's so small, and so big at the same time. I didn't get into the morning session of conference so I ended up sitting in the tabernacle. I forgot how much I loved that building--and that glorious organ. I remember when I visited the temple when I was little and I thought that they could reach the sky they were so big... they still hold some magic for me, either that or I am just a geek. I may or may not have spent the all of the musical numbers of the session trying to visualize the oscillations that the sound waves would have been making if that organ was the one playing the music, and trying to calculate the intensity that the sound would have if the tabernacle choir would put out if they were in the same room as me.
2. The people
There were so many people there; more than I could ever imagine with any of my trips to temple square in the past. All those people and they were practically lining up to hear messages from the sister missionaries there, including the other missionaries visiting there to go to conference. I imagine that in a given day I'll get to talk to more people reasonably interested in the gospel than most other missionaries will get in a month. that could be rather useful, even if I don't get to teach them all the way to baptism. I think that the people are what I am looking forward to most.
3. The awesome nametag.
Come on, I get a nametag complete with a flag of the United States. What other mission allows me to keep a totally unique nametag? It'll be like the Philmont hiking scouting patch that my dad loved so much. Not many are asked to wear that nametag, and out of the 30 odd sisters that I saw working today I only saw two sisters from the United States.
1. The tabernacle.
It's so small, and so big at the same time. I didn't get into the morning session of conference so I ended up sitting in the tabernacle. I forgot how much I loved that building--and that glorious organ. I remember when I visited the temple when I was little and I thought that they could reach the sky they were so big... they still hold some magic for me, either that or I am just a geek. I may or may not have spent the all of the musical numbers of the session trying to visualize the oscillations that the sound waves would have been making if that organ was the one playing the music, and trying to calculate the intensity that the sound would have if the tabernacle choir would put out if they were in the same room as me.
2. The people
There were so many people there; more than I could ever imagine with any of my trips to temple square in the past. All those people and they were practically lining up to hear messages from the sister missionaries there, including the other missionaries visiting there to go to conference. I imagine that in a given day I'll get to talk to more people reasonably interested in the gospel than most other missionaries will get in a month. that could be rather useful, even if I don't get to teach them all the way to baptism. I think that the people are what I am looking forward to most.
3. The awesome nametag.
Come on, I get a nametag complete with a flag of the United States. What other mission allows me to keep a totally unique nametag? It'll be like the Philmont hiking scouting patch that my dad loved so much. Not many are asked to wear that nametag, and out of the 30 odd sisters that I saw working today I only saw two sisters from the United States.
Friday, April 2, 2010
Sister Pielstick and the call
Some things are better left unopened, and it seems for me that the mission call was one of them. My call had so much potential, and it decide to converge on one reality: Salt Lake Temple Square. I could have been sent anywhere in the world and I get the ‘honor’ of serving in the center of Mormonsville USA… a glorified tour guide. Lovely, there goes all my tracting with the sisters in my ward and the practicing teaching the lessons from Preach My Gospel.
It was hard enough to receive the call, it was harder still to have to convince people that it was actually my mission call. Reminder to self—never open a mission call on April fools day and expect people to actually believe you (especially since you’ve cried engagement the year before).
Before people get irritated at me and say that I am profaning the inspired process that constitutes the mission call—I do not question the call. But one can have a call and not be at all pleased with the results. And considering I think it happens more often than most would like to admit, I think it is good to have other people know that they’re not the only ones who questioned their mission calls before they went but still followed the Lords command a little swifter than Jonah did.
It was hard enough to receive the call, it was harder still to have to convince people that it was actually my mission call. Reminder to self—never open a mission call on April fools day and expect people to actually believe you (especially since you’ve cried engagement the year before).
Before people get irritated at me and say that I am profaning the inspired process that constitutes the mission call—I do not question the call. But one can have a call and not be at all pleased with the results. And considering I think it happens more often than most would like to admit, I think it is good to have other people know that they’re not the only ones who questioned their mission calls before they went but still followed the Lords command a little swifter than Jonah did.
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