Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

HAPPY SAINT PATRICK'S DAY! So this week has been a little bit rough. For the past week I have had benign positional vertigo. Monday morning, I woke up with a huge roaring and ringing in my ears that caused me to be super dizzy and sicker than a dog. I was so, so sick on Monday and literally couldn't do anything. We tried to go shopping when I was feeling a little better, but ended up breaking a TON of rules. I could not walk around and was trying not to throw up and/or fall over, so I sat at a booth in a Subway that is in the Walmart, gave my list to Sister C and she did all the shopping. She was mostly in the produce section which I could see, so it wasn't technically breaking rules, but I also was basically asleep on the table trying not to be so dizzy. So the poor girl did everything for me that day. I luckily never threw up, so that was nice. I had to call the mission president’s wife and the mission nurse and so forth and they ended up sending me to the doctor on Tuesday. However, Sister R, one of our ward members called me to see how I was doing! She didn't know I was sick and immediately they got things in order to come give me a blessing and to also bring me chicken noodle soup, saltines, and a banana. Members aren't allowed to come into our apartment, so we had to meet them at the church to give me a blessing. THEN, I forgot our key doesn't work to the church on Monday nights since they don't want people in the building on Monday evenings, so we ended up doing the blessing in the back of Brother R pickup! haha that was funny. It was super nice of them to do all that for me. They seriously take such good care of us and are always doing things for us. Sister R was also the member who took us to the doctor the next day. The doctor told me what I had and said it should clear itself up in a few days. Well it didn't really, so I now am on a prescription that makes me super tired, but it gets the job done. But before I get ahead of myself, let me tell you some highlights about last week since I didn't have a chance to write an email. (Then I'll tell you about this week).

Funny story about Monday though. We were all in our room talking since I was sick and Sister A was also sick (she had a kidney stone..ouch!) While we were visiting, the zone leaders called us and asked for our address. We were confused but just gave it to them. A few minutes later there was a huge knock at the door. So Sister B ran to the door and looked out the peephole. She didn't see anyone so she came screaming into the room (in a southern accent) "No one is there! I looked through the peephole!" So then Sister C runs to the door and opens it to find little origami shapes on the door mat. They said, "Get well soon" and stuff like that. So there was a heart (colored pink), a swan, and also a little box thing (colored blue). Anyway so they didn't even ask if we needed anything, yet they drove out to our apartment, dropped off little origamis, and ended up watching Sister B and C run around because our blinds were open in the living room. Haha Sister B was saying some hilarious things, but it isn't really funny unless you can hear her accent :) Just know it was super funny. Silly Elders. I guess that's how they show compassion...origami. :)

So last week we met with an Indian lady. She really just wanted to cook for us so we let her. It was interesting food. It wasn't gross; it was just super bland because she says she can't have spice because her stomach can't handle it. So I forced that stuff down even though I had already eaten lunch. She is so crazy though. She says she loves us like a daughter but that she already knows about Jesus. We can't get a word in edgewise! She talks and talks and talks! She is constantly talking about how her religion doesn't try to make anyone else change their religion. She says that God is inside each one of us and he doesn't have a body. Despite our best efforts, we can't even testify because she talks so much and once we start saying something, she cuts us off. But I love her and she is super sweet. We had lunch with her again this week. We wanted to try to teach her more and help her understand, but we are definitely going to have to drop her :( She takes up way too much time and she definitely isn't open to our message.

Last week we also had one of the best days ever! We felt so successful and we were just pumping lessons out and meeting lots of new people who looked promising. We ran into a family right when we were about to go home one night. The father was just randomly walking out their door and one of his daughters followed. She was probably about 10? Anyway we just started talking to them and the young girl was SO excited. We talked about her favorite books and then also talked to the father about religion. His sister is actually a member and he said he would be willing to have us come back! Meanwhile, the other daughter came out who I think is 8. She got super excited too and they wanted us to come over the next day. We then gave them a Book of Mormon because they both like to read. We told them it was our favorite book ever and that we would love to have them read it and then we could talk about it next time we came over. They were SO happy. However, with me being sick, and the fact that it was spring break here, we haven't been able to meet with them again yet. But hopefully things work out with them!

We also knocked on a man's door. We have talked to him on the street many times. He is super nice and says that he will never shut his door on a Mormon because they are human just like everyone else. So we wanted to try to share a message with him formally instead of just on the side of the street. So we knocked on his door and his son came out. He then told us that his father had just had a stroke and was now in the hospital. The son looked super tired and he said the rest of his family was with his dad and he had just got home from work. So we started telling him that we have a message all about Jesus Christ and that it can bless his life and help his family through this hard trial and that no matter what happens, we can be with our families forever again someday. He said that his family would be fine with having us come back and share more of this message with them. Then two of his little sisters came home, so we gathered them all together on the porch and said a prayer for their father. The little girls (age 10) were so happy and gave us huge hugs. We also went back there this week and shared a message about trials. The mom was super nice but didn't seem too interested in the message, but the daughters loved it and one of them was even crying. So maybe there is some potential there!

Another fun thing that happened last week was when we went to dinner at one of the member’s homes! They seriously spoil us. Brother R had decided to find out what some of my favorite meals were. Dad told him I like breakfast for dinner; so I walk in thinking we were going to have grilled cheese and salad (cause that's what they told us earlier) and the first thing I hear is Brother R bellowing from the kitchen, "WHO LIKES BREAKFAST FOR DINNER!" He was SO excited :) Sister R said he found out what I like ten minutes before we were supposed to be there, and he booked it to the store so we could have it all that night! It was yummy:) Pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage, and toast. DELICIOUS! That was nice since I don't make breakfast food like that in the morning! They are just the sweetest people ever. They are like family away from home. So no worries! They take the best care of us.

We had a few other good lessons last week. We were visiting with one of our investigators and as we were walking in the front room to talk, I asked his son to join us. (Timeout, I don't know if I've told you. His son is 10 years old. He comes to church with his dad and he really likes us, but he is usually playing when we talk to his dad. I thought I was going to have to pester him to join us, but he got right up and came in! We ended up teaching him the restoration and his dad pretty much explained a lot of it to him! Woo! Then the boy even said the closing prayer! He didn't want to at first but we helped him have ideas on what he could say and he willingly did it! Anyway more stuff happened last week but those were the highlights!

So this week, we didn't go proselyte on Monday or most of the day Tuesday. On Tuesday I was still super dizzy but not sick to my stomach. I hadn't eaten anything on Monday so I was famished on Tuesday. I ate everything! Sister R also got me some sprite and ice pops to snack on that day after the doctor as well. So I ate a whole sleeve of saltines, my sprite, two things of chicken noodle soup, and a ton of ice pops, plus normal food here and there as well :) So I was feeling much, much better. I was just super tired and my ear was still plugged. However, we had planned to go to the visitor’s center with an investigator and his son so they could watch the Joseph Smith Restoration video! So I rested all day so we could go that night. I thought I would be good since we would just be sitting the whole time so I wouldn't get too dizzy. (We also drove everywhere for those few days since I couldn't ride a bike since I might fall off ;) However, there were a million obstacles we had to overcome in order to go! Our investigator had hurt his back and didn't want to move, then later he felt better but his son was gone, then his son came home but wanted to go to a friend’s house, then we finally convinced the dad to come even if his son didn't come; in the end the son also brought his friend. So this was a long session of trying to get them to come because we also had to coordinate with members to take us. We had planned this for a few days and we knew how good it would be for them so we HAD to go. We prayed alllll day that it would work out and it did! They loved the movie. The son and his friend were dead silent the whole time and even asked questions about it afterwards. The dad also said that he didn't really doubt any of "this" stuff and he wanted to come back to the visitor’s center to watch more videos and look at everything! Apparently Sam also told the member that he wants to be baptized, but we didn't hear him say that so I'm not sure. They were supposed to come to church yesterday but the dad’s back was acting up again so they couldn't make it. But yay! It was awesome for them to go to that and the spirit was SO strong! I think it really helped them.

Also another HUGE highlight! We have a baptism scheduled! She is so solid! Sister W and I found her at the beginning of our first transfer together, and now she is so solid! We had this awesome lesson prepared to help her want to be baptized and see that she is ready. She has been progressing but didn't think she had enough faith to be baptized yet. So we had an awesome lesson about faith, repentance, and baptism and then we told her we thought she was ready to be baptized. We had a few scriptures as back-up in case she was hesitant but she just looked at us and said, "Ya, It think so too." So she is on date for March 29th! She also told us that she had been studying the For the Strength of Youth Pamphlet on her own and had decided to start listening to better music! It took her a little bit of time to decide to do this for herself and then act on it so she could gain that faith, but now she is doing so good and she is so excited. Oh, she is 15 if I haven't mentioned that before. She has grown so much and I love that girl! :)

So we have had some super awesome miracles! Even though I was super sick when we taught our investigator, it was one of the best lessons ever :) So Sister C and I celebrated by making ourselves some yummy fruit pizza. We stocked up on fruit and we had both been craving fruit pizza so we made some :) It was fun and very delicious :) Lastly, we celebrated National Pi Day with some members. They invited us over for Pie Night and they had pizza and pie and then watched “The Life of Pi” on a projector outside. Of course we didn't stay for that part though. But the cool thing was that they had non members there and a young woman about 14 years old came up and asked what a person who was looking into the church would be called. We told her "investigator" and she said, "Oh, I guess that is what I am then :)" So we talked to her a little bit about it and apparently her family is super strong in their church but she doesn't really like it. She has been talking to her friends and she went to the temple open house and she wants to learn more about the church. She just doesn't know how her parents will feel. So we gave her our number and told her to let us know when she is ready! She isn't in our area, but she is in our stake so we will see what happens!

Anyway I also had to play the piano at the Mission Presidents Fireside last night. I hate that the AP's know that I play the piano now! I had slid under the radar for a few months but now I get asked to play quite frequently. Ridiculous! Anyway all in all it's been really good! A few minor bumps in the road, but we are all good now. I just love being a missionary and it makes me so happy! Also, how is everyone doing on that Book of Mormon challenge? I fell a little behind with being sick cause I couldn't read since it made me dizzy, but I'm getting back on track! :) I love the Book of Mormon so much! :) It is the key to happiness, I know it. I hope you all have a fabulous week! :) Thanks for all the love and support!

NATIONAL PI DAY!!!

Eating Indian Food