Sept 15, 2014

Hello Family!

Okay I didn't mean to make anyone worry. I promise I am safe, especially on a Packers Game day because they weren't kidding when they said no one will be outside, because literally everyone is inside watching the game. Even our sweet elderly couple who is investigating the church whom we call to read their scriptures every night told us they would read after the game was over. Thus is life. Go Pack Go! I guess. The Lord is with me, I promise. I feel it every day and I know that we have angels around us keeping watch so I appreciate all the prayers on my behalf.

So now I am repentant about the things I said about humidity. I still think humidity is of the devil, but the actual heat, not so much. The temperature has dropped drastically and we spent a good chunk of time outside catching busses. I had my first day of splits with our Sister Training Leader from utah named Sister Hansen who knew the Peckhams from Fountain Green and went to EFY with Matt. Small world. Anyways, it was quite the adventure as I was now in charge of bus routes and finding everyone. Mind you this is me we are talking about and I've only been out three weeks....yea we prayed a lot. But the good news is it turned out great! We made it to all of our appointments and I handed out my first Book of Mormon all by myself. It sounds silly but I was so excited! It was interesting because it had been raining the entire day so we got to talk to lots of people huddled under bus stops. I also learned the importance of layering because oh Hannah it gets chilly when you are outside for a long time. But again, we are safe and warm and buying lots of sweaters.

So one of my favorite less actives we meet with is a lady named Patricia. She speaks very little English and I speak like, 6 whole words of Spanish, and we all know how great I am with accents to begin with. It makes for some comical conversations as we mostly do service and then she will make us supper. She runs a day care and has us help her prepare crafts for the kids so I am currently cutting out wigs and clothes from felt paper for some dolls. I was having a really hard time making a men's hair style when I found two round pieces of gray felt that I arranged on the doll to make him like a bald old man....she didn't think it was funny... but then I pulled out some sweet knot tying skills (thank you girls camp) and made some little girl hair peices she loved so the gospel is still true and we can come back. We love Patricia. Her husband is named David and he isn't a member and doesn't care for religion but he offered to take us out for ice cream after supper and Sister Reese says that's a great sign. Plus I love me some ice cream. I really do love teaching and the people of Tosa.

In my studies today I have been reading in Jacob and honestly, it makes me so grateful for the family you are to me. Our family, especially you Mom and Dad, are what makes it easy to be out here. Of course I miss you like crazy but you taught me that the message we are teaching matters. These people out here are dealing with things that I can't help them with, but the Atonement can. This gospel is for everyone. I love in Jacob 4: 3-4, and vs 7 how we know we know but we can't hide that knowledge. So many people need this gospel in ways I never imagined. They need to know they have a Father and a Brother. I've been joking that I needed to develop anxiety so I could get the courage to teach on the buses and as I studied today that anxiety is developing at triple action yeast rising speed. I love you and I am so happy that you are who I get to come home to after this.

I love you! Can't wait to hear from you. I've added a few pictures if I can get it to load.