Week 57

This week was really good. It was full of meetings, but we still managed to get a lot done. I have never been so tired in my entire life. I honestly can't really believe how I am functioning right now. Sister Garcia and I just laugh ALL day and it uses up so much energy that I crash at night. Every day we wake up and say, ok I am way too tired to laugh all day. And then we just start laughing all over again. It’s kind of a problem. Luckily it is so worth it to have a busy schedule and be happy all day. There is so much joy in this work, and being able to laugh about awkward or bad moments makes life SO much better. 

Mom, you asked about a "dinner story." We have dinner with four elders and us two almost every day. Yesterday we were at this cute little Hispanic lady’s house and she was taking our plates to go get us seconds. When she took mine she also took my fork and knife and when she brought the plate back she didn't give me a fork. I don't know why it didn't cross my mind to just ask her for it - I just grabbed my companion’s because she was done. So then the lady took my companion’s plate to get her more food and then my companion had to ask for a new fork and said she lost hers. Well then the lady found mine and asked if it was hers and she said no. I guess this is really just a “had to be there” moment, but the lady was so confused and we were all laughing so hard. Then she realized what happened and started laughing too. The good thing about having so many people at dinner is that when you really don't like something you can normally get someone else to eat it. Yesterday there was a drink that I really don't like so after an elder finished his he just switched cups with me (although I have never been so thirsty during a meal). 

So this week we had interviews with our new mission president, President Robinson. It was really nice to talk to him for a little bit although it was pretty uneventful. Before I even sat down he asked me to share a scripture that has been on my mind with him. Then we just talked about my area and what it needs to be better. I told him I’ve been here for eight months and he said, "oh that's not that long," so I have hope to stay here for another transfer! I am hoping to get at least one more transfer with Sister Garcia. We also had a district meeting with our new district and it was really good. Our new district leader formats the meetings way differently and I really liked the change. It was much more of a discussion, which was nice. 

With our mini missionary!

A funny contacting story from this week…we were talking to this woman when a man walked by and super quietly says hi in passing. We were not sure if he was talking to us or the woman, so we didn't say hi back. Then we went to talk to him and he gets all loud and was like "oh, you Mormons are so stuck up you don't even want to say hi to me" and goes off on us about how horrible of people we are. We were just trying to salvage the contact so at least he didn't think Mormons are horrible people, and he just wasn't having it. So after a solid minute of him saying mean things I just said "you’re hurting my feelings!" and then he stops and he apologizes and shakes my hand. It totally changed how he was reacting to us. Then (ok he was probably on drugs if I am being honest) he calls me a fragile bird and tells us how he writes spiritual poems. So he makes up this poem for me about how I need to learn how to trust. Then he looks at my companion and says "Oh! And you! Aren't you just a full course meal!" We died. Then he made up a poem for her about forgiveness. He then gave us a necklace that he said he found in a vent. Then we walked away and Sister Garica looks at me and goes "was that a fat joke?" It was soooo funny. Again, nothing is as funny as it is in person. Just take my word for it. We have quite a few contacts like that, I just never remember them long enough to write them down. We have been talking to a lot more people per week now so I guess that raises the probability of talking to...less than normal people. We told our recent convert that story, and after we said he called me a fragile bird our convert says, "boy he couldn't be more off!" Hahaha.

When we were contacting we ran into a member from another ward and she asked us to come over and teach a women she takes care of that lives in our area. We happily agreed. When we showed up the women was lying in one of those hospice beds. She is like 1048 years old and couldn't hear or see us that well. We were trying to share a message and she just kept saying "WHAT?!" (the voice makes all the difference, sadly I can't describe it). So we ended up just showing a video that had words and then singing a song (we were asked to by the member, if she heard me before she asked I don't think she would have asked us to sing). Ok so basically this is a really lame story and the end result that I am trying to get at is that I was just very uncomfortable and now we yell "what?!" in that voice at each other all the time.

Last miracle. I got to go on another exchange with Sister Fukushima this week. She is just so good I can't even describe it. But it was amazing because last transfer we went on an exchange and I introduced her to a teenager I had met in my first area who really loves all things Japanese. Well now she is getting baptized this Saturday. It was so cool to hear about her conversion story and I feel so blessed to have been a tiny piece of the puzzle. I cannot wait for Saturday!

So yeah this week was interesting but it was good. I am just so happy to still be in this area and I feel so blessed to be with Sister Garcia. I hope you are all having a great week!

Sister Doxey