GOOD MORNING BALTIMORE!!
(or rather: Virginia, Brazil, and Australia)
Please note: the subject of this email has
nothing to do with anything. I just didn't know what to put.
This week has been good. I realized last week
that I totally forgot to tell you about the little Chilean woman who has stolen
the hearts of all of the members out here. Her name is Sister W. She is 65
years old and she's from Chile. I'm not sure how missionaries found her-- but
the Elders have been meeting with her and they just adore her. I mean who
wouldn't love a 65 year old spunky chilean woman who speaks spanish and
chinese. Holla! They teach her in Chinese and they tiny bits of Spanish that
they know. (which is next to none). But one of the senior couples-- the elder
served his mission spanish speaking so he comes to take part of her lessons
every once in a while. Her chinese is pretty good so between spanish scriptures
and simple explanations she has come to understand the gospel and have a very
strong testimony. She's getting baptized next Saturday. And the ward LOVES her.
We love her too. And everytime I talk to her I think "wow if only sarah
was here because she speaks spanish!" She talks to me a little in spanish
and I understand a little bit... but I'll be real. Chinese is way easier!
Also I have to tell you: I'M THE NEW CHILDRENS
ENGLISH CLASS TEACHER! The children here a little bit rotten. But I come up
with good lesson plans to keep them busy. And my companion is so great. I told
her that I felt like we should teach the children's class and she was so quick
to jump on board. And even though they are crazy we have a good time. Most of
them are members too so that's cool. But hilarious moment. We were doing the
spiritual thought at the end of english class and Heber passed som SERIOUS gas.
He cleared the room. We literally could not stay because it smelled SO
TERRIBLE. It was potentially one of the most hilarious things I've ever seen at
English class. Then after we got the smell out and calmed everyone back down we
talked about Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father. And one of the children-- who
forgot his name, but I call him Tiger because his older brother is named Lion--
raised his hand and "Joseph Smith is Jesus's dad." I just about died.
Kids are adorable. We corrected that small doctrinal mistake though. Then at
the end I taught them all the words "prayer bones." And we knelt down
together and Tiger helped us say a closing prayer. It was so sweet. They all
just closed their eyes and folded their arms so tenderly and waited patiently
for class to end. Although most of the time they were terrors-- it turned out
well and I really enjoyed it! I love using the things I've learned in college
out here. It makes me feel like I actually might be an okay teacher someday!
That same evening I was making phone calls when
we got home to find members to accompany our lessons. I called this woman
"sister z.." and she didn't answer so I called her husband in order to
get in touch with her. He said something that I didn't understand (all I got
from it is that she's not available-- i assumed she was not at home). So I
asked when she would be home and he was like "no she is home, she's in the
bathroom." I repeated what he said (because sometimes I have to do that to
understand what they say. Well when my companion heard me repeat "oh she's
on the toilet," she just started laughing so hard like 'why would he tell
you that?' Well in response to my companion's uncontrollable laughing I started
laughing and I could not stop. Meanwhile Brother Z.. was like "uh do you
think that's funny?" bahhahah. I just couldn't stop laughing. After what
felt like the longest laughing attack of my life I just told him what we needed
and he said they'd be out of town the next day. Great-- now Brother Z..'s
impression of me is just that I find the word "toilet" hilarious...
like a small child. I am officially the most immature missionary the church has
to offer.
Hahah
*side note: i think the part that I didn't
understand was that she was bathing her children... and since I obviously
didn't get it-- he used what I would understand, the word "toilet."
Anyway. We got a good solid laugh out of that.
Also the other night my companion got bit on
the eyelid by a mosquito her eye swelled up like a balloon. So the next day I
taped an eye patch to her and we went to work like that. It was hilarious-- and
because i'm the world's worst companion I kept cracking jokes about her eye...
it was just too easy. And I'm evil.
I've been having weird dreams recently. I had
another dream that I was home after my mission. (it was a long really detailed
dream-- but i'll share the easy to explain parts) I was an hour late to church
and about half the ward was wearing choir robes that were baby pink with white
collars and a pink tie that had white polka dots on it. It was bizarre! And mom
was one of them. When I showed up and sat down next to her she just looked at
me and was like "you haven't changed at all from your mission!"
Needless to say--- that question has still been
on my mind. Have I really been changed because of my mission? I'm still working
on answering that one because these dreams keep coming.
I had another dream that night that I got moved
for my last transfer to Philidelphia! :( And they just put me on a plane and
sent me there. And they said I wasn't allowed to talk to or say bye to anyone I
met here ever again. I woke up with tears in my eyes. That would be so sad!
Second to last thing: GARRETT HAPPY BIRTHDAY YA
CRAZY! I'm so proud of you for making it around the sun SIXTEEN times. What an
old dude! And I'm excited to hear you bless the sacrament when I get home!
Love you Pookie bear!!!
Lastly I want to tell you all about Sister
C. She's an investigator that Sister Bang and I found before Chinese new
year. I think I mentioned her last week. She is AMAZING! We make contact with
her almost daily and she showed up to church 15 minutes early because she
didn't want to be late. Right now her biggest struggle is smoking but she has
so much faith. We taught her the word of wisdom after church yesterday and then
stopped by her house last night again to see how she's doing. She said she had
smoked less yesterday and that she had prayed that God would help her have more
desire to do this and then just a few minutes later we knocked on her door. We
hadn't originally planned to visit her again yesterday but I know that God
knows what we need and so he sends answers to our prayers. We told her that we
would be at her house or in touch with her almost daily to help her quit. And
when she prayed with us last night she was so humble. She just said to God
"I know that if I can really quit smoking-- this isn't me-- this is you
and your glory that will help me do this." She is just so sweet and humble
and willing to learn. I know she can do it-- in order to make her baptismal
date she has to quit in 15 days. We are praying for her hard. I just love this
woman with all my heart and I want the best for her. I know God loves her. A
lot of my energy in prayers is on her behalf right now. I just know she can
make her baptismal date and she will be ready for it. The end.
Moral of the story: The church is true. I love
the gospel. I love being a missionary. And I will never forget this time of my
life.
I LOVE YOU ALL! Be safe. Make good choices.
Have a dance party. Laugh uncontrollably at something-- it'll be worth it!
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