Life Across the Pond: I Dare You

Family and friends! Hello!

This week has been crazy and amazing! I didn't get transferred, which is great because I just got settled! before I forget, can you save all the pictures posted on the mission blog that have me in them?

I haven't seen the missionary broadcast yet, because it wasn't broadcast, but we should hopefully be watching it in the next month. I haven't heard anything yet about how it is going to affect our mission, but it will be exciting to see!

I ATE A BONE. Like a chicken bone. Craziest thing I've ever done! I only ate half of it because I couldn't take any more without throwing up, but I ate it! I never knew you could eat bones! Apparently they're high in iron so they're healthy. I DARE you all to eat a chicken bone and then send me a picture of it! :) This week I also discovered lemon curd. It is amazing. Its like a concentrated lemon jam, but not really? Its way good though.

Last P-day was fun! We went with the other sisters and played a game in the woods and then ate burritos. It was a nice break to be out in nature (which was actually a park! haha) This week we have met some really interesting people. I love that Birmingham is SO diverse. Sometimes we're riding on buses and we are in the minority. Its pretty cool!

This week we were able to meet with almost all of our investigators which was pretty lucky. Unfortunately, we haven't talked to M all week, we have tried everyday and she hasn't been around. Its heartbreaking, but all hope is not lost! We will keep on trying.

We now have 2 more people with baptismal dates, which is so exciting! It is pretty stressful though. I'm learning that getting them to commit to the date is the easy part. Actually getting them to that date is a lot harder. It takes perseverance, love, and a lot of inspiration! Its amazing though. I don't know exactly what these people need, what time frame they need and exactly what their concerns are, but Heavenly Father does!

Miracle: This week we found T when we were out finding. He just moved from Swansea (Wales) and has only been here for a week. 3 years ago, he met with the missionaries twice and came to church but didn't progress further because his English was struggling and he was just starting. He has now improved in his English speaking and was excited to meet with us. He recognized the name tags. We found him on Thursday, taught him the first lesson on Friday and he came to church Sunday and loved it! He is amazing! He is going to the YSA home evening tonight and will meet with us again tomorrow. Finding T made it more bearable that things with M are rocky.

The past couple of weeks have really made me appreciate good ward members. We can't do missionary work without their help. They are the ones who take over after the missionaries have played their part. I have really learned how important home and visiting teaching are. We meet with so many inactive and part-member families who have fallen away from the church because they hit a rocky patch and there was no one there to show they cared. A good home or visiting teacher could have really changed things. As members of this church we have to help build each other up. We all have to same end goal. Anyways, enough of that rant :)

The weather has been fairly nice. I have only had to wear a jacket about half the time.

Also, I guess I have a package stuck in customs (I am assuming it's the Cd's) which I intend to pay to get out. I'm not really sure why its stuck there, either there was something illegal in it, or it was deemed valuable. idk. So. They have VAP taxes here and anything that is shipped into the country is taxed. They like to detain packages which they know are valuable and new. To avoid any more issues, still list what's in the package, but class it as missionary supplies not gifts. If there is anything new, tear tags off and make it look slightly used (probably just tearing the tags off is fine), and lastly when it asks you for the value of the package don't put anything over 50 dollars (even if it is, which I hope not! haha) That should hopefully prevent any problems.

Oh, and we made TACOS this week! I literally died and went to heaven :)

Now for some pictures!