Hello everyone! Wow has it been an exciting week. I can hardly contain myself. It was pretty great.
The week started off pretty normal. Zone activity was Monday. On Tuesday we went for our normal volunteer time and happened to come at the same time as a huge group that was renovating the landscaping. We got recruited into digging holes for new shrubs. The first row was easy, but the second row was up on a slick, steep hill. We couldn't even stand within a few feet of each hole, so we were kind of just jabbing at it over and over hoping the clay would break. Eventually though a couple of guys came out with a pickaxe and made quick work of it that way. It was pretty fun and we got to talk to some new people to, which was great!
We had our last district meeting of the transfer on Wednesday, and we had brownies and ice cream for Sister Laney and Elder Herring, who will both be leaving us 
Sad day. But the brownies were pretty good anyway. Sister Laney is finishing her time in the Carolinas this week (!) and will be going home at transfers! Crazy!
On Friday the sister training leaders came and spent the day with us. We went to a couple appointments and found someone who was interested in the Book of Mormon, all while trying to set Sister Laney's affairs in order so we don't have to stress so much next week. They spent the night with us, and we all went to Charlotte the next day for the GLADYS KNIGHT FIRESIDE!
Yes that's right! We had Gladys Knight with her choir, Saints United Voices, come to Charlotte for a very spiritual performance! It was AMAZING! We drove up with M and the York sisters. It turned out to be a good idea to carpool, because parking was pretty limited and they had to shuttle us from a parking lot down the road. We had an investigator who was going to come, but got sick last minute and couldn't make it. It was PACKED there, and the line was around more than half the building (luckily tickets were all free). We were seated in the back half of the church, but they had a screen up so we could see. The choir was just phenomenal, and even though their songs were a little different than most of us missionaries knew you could really feel the Spirit. The crowd was at least half non-members, so things went a little differently than I was familiar with. Some people raised their hands or stood up or shouted amens as they felt the Spirit, which is really the culture in the South but not something I had seen a lot. It was really neat to see everyone come together in worship and praise! Everyone was loosened up a little by the end, even the missionaries. And yes, Gladys Knight sang a few solos. It was amazing.
One of the main things emphasized by Gladys Knight was the fact that we are all brothers and sisters. Because we are all children of Heavenly Father, we all share the same divine heritage. If we recognize this, there's no room for hatred or intolerance. As Sister Knight said in the devotional, "Who are we to tell Him how to paint?"
That about sums it up for the week. Hope y'all had as much fun as I did. Transfers are coming up next week, so stay tuned as I find out who will be my new companion!
Love ,
Sister Reay
Us, M and the York sisters having dinner after the performance!
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