Family and Friends!!! It feels like I wrote you so long ago!!! Haha I am so grateful to have heard from all of you, I just love you all so much. It has been quite the adventure so far!! It has been so awesome though. Wow. I just wish I could wear a Go-Pro then just send that to you so it's like you can see everything we have done so far! hahaha That would be way cool :) Anyway, I have no idea where to start... Sooo...
Once upon a time, :) haha
I got off the phone with you at the airport, which it was so awesome to talk to you guys, I loved it so much! I couldn't help but cry!! Then we went and checked our bags, and yes I had to pay the fee. Im sorry... But hey, I would say it's worth it! Which by the way, everyone else had carry ons!!! Like, uhh okay. (Syd's mission paperwork told her to only bring two pieces of luggage so she left her carry on at home.) It's all good! Then we got on our flights, nothing really exciting happened there. I slept on the first one then talked with the missionaries that were around me.
We got to DC and got our bags, and met our mission President Huntsman and his wife, which they are so awesome! Sweetest people ever, and their family is beautiful!! We went to DC after that and had a grand ol' time.
P.S. DC/Virginia is GORGEOUS. Ma, you would love it here! I'm telling ya, you wouldn't want to leave. Anyway, then we went back to their house and had dinner. We played a get to know you game, and wrote letters to home. Did you get the letter? I had my interview with President and that went really well. He is so nice! And so supportive and loving. He told me that it might be really hard in the beginning, but just to be patient with myself and keep on trying. I was so dead tired that day. I could not keep my eyes open!! We then went to a hotel and stayed the night.
P.S. DC/Virginia is GORGEOUS. Ma, you would love it here! I'm telling ya, you wouldn't want to leave. Anyway, then we went back to their house and had dinner. We played a get to know you game, and wrote letters to home. Did you get the letter? I had my interview with President and that went really well. He is so nice! And so supportive and loving. He told me that it might be really hard in the beginning, but just to be patient with myself and keep on trying. I was so dead tired that day. I could not keep my eyes open!! We then went to a hotel and stayed the night.
We got up, had breakfast and then went to the meeting where we would meet our trainers. I was super nervous! I just didn't know what to expect. But the minute he called me up and then called my trainer up, hahah it was awesome! Her name is Sister Langford! She like came up with the biggest smile on her face and she yelled yay I'm pretty sure, and she ran up and gave me a hug. It was so great! I wasn't even nervous after that. Oh! And the area I'm in is Fort Belvoir. IT'S AWESOME! People say it's the best area in the mission, so I feel super blessed!!
Then we had lunch, and president came up to me and told me I was going to be driving. UHH WHAT?! Haha My trainer can't drive because she was in a car accident. SO yep I'm driving!! It's been really fun! The roads can be a little crazy sometimes, no one here believes in signaling and there are a ton of jaywalkers but hey! It's all good! :)
So after lunch we were taking my luggage to our car, when all of a sudden I see Sister Frei like full on running for her life towards me! It made me so happy to see her!!! It was a wondrous reunion! I LOVE HER!!!! Then we went and dropped off my stuff at our apartment, then went to work! We had a quick zone meeting then started contacting. I was nervous but it turned out totally okay. I watched my trainer talk and I started to warm up to it. I realized you just talk to people! Hahah It's nothing scary! And the people I have met so far are SO NICE! Seriously, they are so respectful and genuine. I love them! Then that evening we went and met some of our new converts and investigators. MY LANDS I LOVE THEM! Our area is so diverse, we have so many investigators/members from Africa and Ethiopia. Half our area is made up of military families. We have the Fort Belvoir Post in our area, so that's where only military families can stay and so forth. It's so cool! We had dinner with a member family, then we went home for the evening. It was an awesome day.
Sister Frei! |
So after lunch we were taking my luggage to our car, when all of a sudden I see Sister Frei like full on running for her life towards me! It made me so happy to see her!!! It was a wondrous reunion! I LOVE HER!!!! Then we went and dropped off my stuff at our apartment, then went to work! We had a quick zone meeting then started contacting. I was nervous but it turned out totally okay. I watched my trainer talk and I started to warm up to it. I realized you just talk to people! Hahah It's nothing scary! And the people I have met so far are SO NICE! Seriously, they are so respectful and genuine. I love them! Then that evening we went and met some of our new converts and investigators. MY LANDS I LOVE THEM! Our area is so diverse, we have so many investigators/members from Africa and Ethiopia. Half our area is made up of military families. We have the Fort Belvoir Post in our area, so that's where only military families can stay and so forth. It's so cool! We had dinner with a member family, then we went home for the evening. It was an awesome day.
OKAY next day, we wake up and go to the gym in our apartment complex (it's so nice!). We came back and tried to open our door and guess what. We got locked out! HA First day and we're locked out. My comp just busts up laughing. Yep, I felt so bad because I forgot the keys. But we didn't even lock it either, I had forgot to! So, we go to one of the senior missionaries' house for like 20 min and decided to come back to see how we could try to get in. This whole time I was just praying that somehow the door would open. So we go back and try opening the door again, my companion like shakes the door a little bit and voila, it opens! Can you say MIRACLEEE?! I think our door is messed up. Hahahah It was a complete miracle it was so awesome. And then the rest of that day we had weekly planning so we were in our apartment all day long.
But then we had dinner with the Torgersens, which are the Senior missionary couple that live across the way from us. They are so cute.
Bro. and Sis. Torgersen |
Athena |
That night we went to visit a less active. Her name is Athena and she is from Greece. And oh my lanta I have never laughed so hard in my whole life, she is so funny. She like yells this phrase in greek I'm pretty sure? "CUTIE-Mo!!!" That's what it sounds like, don't ask me what it means, I have no idea. hahah. She made us eat BBQ chips as well, it was pretty great haha. I totally felt like a Greek after that visit! Totally reminded me of My Big Fat Greek Wedding ha!!
The next day we went to go visit a man named Sylvester but he never answered the door. BUT, as we were leaving we ran into a woman and her daughter and started talking to them. They told us they were muslim but they didn't mind if we went to their house and share a message. SO we did! We had a member with us, she is from Africa as well. AND MAN, we started the lesson, and a few seconds in, she just started TESTIFYIN! She laid it down. It was kind of intense in the beginning, but it turned out really well :) It was awesome, the mom is interested in learning more so we are going back next Saturday!! MIRACLES!! Then Sister Langford took me out to lunch at a place called Sapoyas Chicken. It was way good! We prayed over our food, and then when we were almost done, two guys who were sitting at the table next to us asked if we were Christian. And so we started talking to him, we totally gave him a Book of Mormon and a card with our info on it. He started to read the Book of Mormon right there! He was translating it back to Spanish explaining it to his friend. It was so cool!!! Talk about another Miracle! We then had dinner with a member. We went and visited a few people and had a grand ol' time! It was awesome.
Yesterday was my first Sunday in the field!! And it was Sister Langford's birthday! She is just the cutest person ever and she is an awesome missionary!! She is a rockstar and so willing to help me become a better missionary! We went to church and that was awesome meeting all the members. The church house is adorable! Ma, you would die it's so cute, and our church is right next to the Potomac River, it is gorgeous! Seriously, Virginia looks like a fairytale land it's so beautiful. And the weather is so nice right now! Its perfect! Anyway, we had church, which they almost asked me to bear my testimony in sacrament, but then they didn't. So, I'm pretty sure that will happen next time haha.
Grandma |
The rest of the day we went and visited members and investigators. I met this old African lady, she tells everyone to call her Grandma and if you don't she gets so angry. It's pretty funny! We sang some songs with her and we're going back tomorrow to make corn bread with her for Sister Langford's birthday. She is hilarious! I'll have to send you a picture of her! And then we went and saw another family, the Kamara family and they are from Africa as well. The mom found out that it was my comp's birthday so she started singing this Happy Birthday remix-african style song, it was awesome! I was dying it was so good. We then came home!
This week we placed so many Books of Mormon, people were so willing to learn about the gospel. I'm getting used to talking to people and sharing the gospel with them. The Lord is helping me become a better teacher and missionary everyday and I am so grateful for that :) I love this gospel and this place so much! These people are the best people ever. I challenge all of you to go share the gospel with someone this week! It will bring you so much happiness. I know the Savior is always there for us, He loves us so much. Rely on Him and He will never let you down.
I love you all so very much!! I can't even begin to express how grateful I am for all of you. I couldn't do this without all your love and support. Now get out there and go serve someone!!
I love you all!!!!
Love,
Sister Hymas :)
P.S. No I don't have my iPad yet!