Mexican foods with S. Togerson and Wright (and Mexican foods are hard to come by here--they've got Columbian, Puerto Rican, and Dominican foods like crazy, but not much from Mexico).
The sisters of Parsippany--S. Coley, Wright, and Cox, plus me and S. Torgerson.
Enjoying a F'real at the QuikChek during the monster storm.
A really lovely cornfield we pass on our way to the library.
A sad cucumber that looked at me when I first opened my sandwidge--what are the odds it would have a face?!
And more of the dazzling scenery of Sparta.
Family Dearest!
I surely hope all is well! All is wet round this side of the states! We have had many storms and much rain. On Thursday, our walking day (we're not allowed to use cars that day), a massive storm came through. We sought shelter at a Quik Check (like a 711, without a gas station). The power went out a couple times, but we stayed there a little over an hour until a member came to pick us up for the Bible study class at the Church. It was a lot of fun!
I surely hope all is well! All is wet round this side of the states! We have had many storms and much rain. On Thursday, our walking day (we're not allowed to use cars that day), a massive storm came through. We sought shelter at a Quik Check (like a 711, without a gas station). The power went out a couple times, but we stayed there a little over an hour until a member came to pick us up for the Bible study class at the Church. It was a lot of fun!
Other fun news, we have some really neat people we're teaching! Dawn and her mother-in-law Judy came to Church for the first time last week and loved it! Judy said as soon as she sat in the bench she felt she was home. We visited them again this week and taught the Word of Wisdom. They both are avid smokers and need their morning, afternoon and evening coffee (I think coffee is the biggest thing for people to give up, and EVERYONE out here drinks coffee, it's like people in Russia drinking vodka, it's crazy). But they know that to be baptized they need to put God's commands first so they have quit smoking and coffee cold turkey. To replace the coffee, Dawn has been drinking cranberry juice and she says it's very energizing and helps her kidney situation. Smoking hasn't been easy, they've been struggling, but they have wanted to quit for the longest time and they know that they can do it with His help. They pray and turn to the scriptures every time they get a craving. This Sunday they both got blessings to help them overcome and to help Judy with an upcoming surgery. Dawn was bawling after hers, because the man who gave her a blessing, who'd only met her 5 minutes before, said things he couldn't have known about that she was also struggling with. They both needed to hear that God loves them and will be by their side throughout this. They love the Book of Mormon and the Gospel Principles book, which has cleared up a lot of stuff they were confused about when they attended other churches. They feel the spirit so much, and their family has noticed a good change in them. That's the thing about the gospel, it takes either really hurt, sad people or happy, already at ease with life people, and makes them even better and makes them feel the potential Heavenly Father sees in them. It's so amazing! I love it! Dawn is going to be baptized on August 12! And this week we asked Judy if she'd follow Christ's example by being baptized and she immediately said yes. I didn't know what to do. Usually they have a concern that we have to help them with, but she just said a very confident yes! I was just being my weird self by saying, "Eugh, ng, eh!" And then promising her the blessings of feeling the cleansing power of baptism and the Atonement. She's going to be baptized on August 26!
I also went on exchange with Sister Torgerson to Parsippany to be companions with Sister Wright. We had a blast, and there are 2 other sisters (Spanish speaking) living at their apartment. We had quite a fun comp study, it felt more like a Bible study since we had so many people there. But the neat thing is, Bible study sounds so boring, but it's not. We can so easily relate everything from the scriptures to our lives and the lives of people we teach. Thanks Heavenly Father for giving us scriptures that make sense!
We did service helping a lady clean her basement, and taught a number of really neat people. It was a good exchange, and Sister Wright is amazing (very laid back, Californian, etc.).
Also, I reached my one year mark on Friday! That's insane! I can't believe I've been gone a whole year?! Goons!
I love you kidz, be safe and happy and give each other big hugs and saucy winks!
sister mister
