Catch the wave!

Hey family!

I love that I get to write every week. You are all so great! Love you! Don't forget-- next week I will have P-day on Wednesday instead of Monday because we are going to the temple! I'M SO EXCITED TO GO TO THE TEMPLE! EEEK! Moral of the story is that it will take a little longer to hear from me.

This week was mostly just full of a lot of meetings so no big stories or anything. I loved conference though. I love that there are so many missionaries and the the family is still super important. And the role of woman! HOLLA! 

Something I forgot to mention last week that was hilarious. We have an investigator who is really special and forgets everything. We met with her last Sunday and in discussing the spirit I asked her how she feels when she reads the Book of Mormon. She says she feels a "good good feeling." Then I asked what that "good good feeling" was called. She said excitedly "Sister Daye!" So cute. I gently reminded her that Sister Daye helps us to feel that good feeling but it's actually called the spirit. She is so precious. I adore her.

I went on exchanges with Sister Thomsen on Thursday. It was the craziest experience because she is still so new. She relied on me to understand what people were saying a lot and more often than not she would rely on me to speak to people (because she is still so new in learning Chinese). She is doing an amazing job. She is so hard working and really has a desire to serve the Lord and follow the spirit. That was a big learning experience for me because for the first time I was the companion who was ahead in the language. Not because I'm amazing at it, but because I've been here a transfer longer. We had a busy day. It was rainy. And busy. In all of our interactions I knew that she was depending on me to understand everything. So if I didn't understand I had to speak up and clarify. And if she didn't understand I had to translate. It was the weirdest thing. We had a lesson that evening that had a LOT of Chinese in it. I mean most lessons do, but the peike and the investigator both spoke a lot. It really tested my listening skills. I understood the entire lesson and felt like I knew when and how to respond appropriately. I thought Sister Thomsen understood too because she always said the right thing at the right time. It wasn't until after that I found out she really didn't. I was happy to assure her that it had gone smoothly and that things will work out-- a fact I only knew because of the Spirit and the gift of interpretation of tongues which He has given me. It was a really really neat experience where I learned that I can do hard things. I don't need to lean on Sister Daye as much anymore. Although I'm not perfect and if she suddenly disappeared I'd cry, I learned that I'll be okay when I get a new companion next transfer regardless of her language ability.

Also while I was on exchanges, Sister Daye was here... and crashed. Now she is tender. Like an old person... which makes sense because if every transfer is the equivalent of 10 years of our life, she's ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHT YEARS OLD RIGHT NOW! What a trooper!

WE HAVE A SOLID BAPTISM COMING UP NEXT SATURDAY! I'm so excited. Of all the baptisms we've had this is the first one that I've been with every step of the way. I've watched her grow and progress. I've heard her prayers change from thanking God that she could meet with us and hear new stories to thanking Him for letting her receive personal revelation. I've seen this quite girl find strength in the Lord and open her shell. I've seen someone who was tired and wanted to sleep when she wasn't at work wake up and have a light in her eyes that you can't deny. She truly has changed and she has been a joy to teach. The last lesson we taught her about was tithing. She has such faith. We told her all the blessings of tithing and how it works and where the money goes (including to help missionary work go forward). She said she would pay it. When we asked why she felt she wanted to, she said because I want other people to hear the gospel. Her tithing is going to missionary work in her eyes. How great is she?! We're VERY excited for her (:

Oh not all yet. Last week during English class, we had the doors open for new comers (typical)... well A DOG RAN INTO CLASS AND JUMPED ON ONE OF OUR STUDENTS. Then they all got up and left before we finished the spiritual message that we share at the end. It was REALLY hilarious. And super frustrating too because I was going to invite them all to come watch conference. Satan has many tactics. Anyway-- dogs. I love dogs. But I'm a missionary. So by default the hate me... and I'm not their biggest fan right now either.

Love you all! 

Cae