Our tie-dye hands!
Activity Days Cupcakes!
Sister Marley helping Camryn with her rose.
The senior missionary's skit--they are all so great.
A great group of gals.
Sister Barrett (who got me a dental kit for my birthday) and Sister Torgerson.
Elder Boyes, Sister Lowry, and me (er, I).
A super awesome family in our Ward who are always sharing the Gospel.
Another super awesome family in our Ward! The kids made us a fancy cake with roses on it yesterday as a thank you for teaching them how to decorate cakes--so sweet!
Hey Family!
Happy Birthday to the newest dimpled dumpling in the clan, little Arlo! I'm excited to meet that one!
This week has been...hot. And oh so humid (or umid, as I like to say). It's also been rainy. But hot and humid mid rain. I can't give you any updates on the people we're teaching because we have dropped everyone. I love them all so much, but none of them are willing to progress and we need to find the ones who are prepared now. This makes for lots of walking and talking. Which is good, because I feel like my communication skills are lacking and need sprucing up. We have met some very nice people. Some even gave us water bottles, which was kind. At one door the lady told us she wasn't interested but looked at Sister Marley, who had a "Be Nice to Me--I Donated Blood Today" sticker (tell you about that later, and Sister Marley wrote in "tried" because they wouldn't take her blood), and me who's face was shining with perspiration and actually dripping onto the lady's porch. What a sad pair--so she brought us water and gave me some paper towels to dab the sweat.
Last Monday, we had a tie-dye bonanza with our zone in preparation for our All Mission Activity. We dyed shirts so we'd all match. It was lots of fun. On Wednesday, we taught the Activity Days girls how to cake decorate. Their leaders asked us if we'd teach them that and we were happy to. Though, I found out I can kind of teach the Gospel, but I am terrible at teaching how to squeeze frosting out of a bag. "No, no. You hold it like this so it doesn't all come out the top." "Ok teacher!" And then, in the next 3 minutes, it's all out of the bag again. We had lots of fun though, and Sister Marley taught them how to do Wilton roses and they did very well, I must say!
One other neat thing that happened was we met with a sister in our Ward who is trying to go to the Temple, had obstacles, but overcame them, and is so happy she is living the Gospel. Before in her life she would've just done whatever, but she has this Gospel and now knows what she needs to do to be happy. So great!
Also, We donated blood for one of the Young Woman's service projects. Sister Marley can't because she lived in Turkey at one point, but I was able to, and all the ladies helping were really nice. One member, who is about 6'5" came. He is deathly afraid of needles. He only came because he was promised truffles from Felicia, the young woman in charge of the project, and a fancy cake from his wife. He's in his thirties and he was close to tears in there and was kicking around throughout it. Normally he is the most calm and collected, easy going person, but this really did a number on him.
We also had the privilege of having an all mission conference/activity day! First, we gathered in our casual clothes (tie-dye for our zone) in the chapel and listened to Chester Elton. He's a member who has written a whole bunch of business books. I think 6 of them have been on the New York Times Bestseller list. He taught us about how we can best work as a team to accomplish our goals, whether it be in zones, districts, or companionships. Most of what I got out of it was to have open, honest communication all the time, and do things to increase motivation and love, like giving praise and compliments and doing nice things for each other. It was really great. Then we went to the gym and had lunch while watching skits that each zone put on. Our skit was amazing, and we had so much fun in our practices for it. It included news briefings like HARRY POTTER CLAIMS TO HAVE FOUND GOLDEN PLATES BY SAYING ACCIO, and A new Broadway play has just been announced: It's called the NEW WORLD TRANSLATION OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES, etc.
Then we went "live" to the Spirit World for Michael Jackson's baptism and we all danced and ended with him doing a mormon.org video. It was lots of fun! Then we went to a park and played games (and we were all very, very sweaty--ewwww).
So, that was a nice break. Now it's back to work! Please pray that we find people this week. Our teaching skills need honing, and New Jersey really needs to know the Gospel, so yes. I love you kids and I miss you!
I love you,
sister mister
