My housemate, Sister J is home from the hospital
but has been at home for the whole week. She had amoebiasis. I stayed home with her a few times. Sometimes
I get really tired and I just think "dang, I wish I could just rest for a
couple hours." So I was looking forward to staying with her. It wasn't fun
though. Sooo boring! I was very antsy and ended up reading all of The Pearl of Great
Price and cleaning the whole house. Then yesterday we were about to go out to
proselyte and Sister J’s companion just flops on the table and sighs and looks
like she's about to cry because she's stuck there. I said jokingly, “You can go
work in my area with my companion and I’ll stay here." So she jumped on
that and I stayed home yesterday. Sister J and I ended up just talking about
the 2nd coming and the gathering of Israel and the establishment of Zion for
about 6 hours. We’ve also started a no English policy. Pretty
hard! I can say what I need, but I’m much better at telling stories in English.
This week I went
with Sister C in her area while my companion stayed with Sister J. I was having
culture shock all over again. Their area is so gross. I’m so thankful for my
area. Their area is pretty much slums. I saw so many kids just pull down their
pants and go to the bathroom right there in the path where people walk (#1 AND
#2). Also, everyone in their area hangs skulls of animals (pig, caribou) by
their door. Also sometimes they hang a slab of pig fat that just collects flies
and smells awful. And the whole area is only stairs. I was gasping for air
because of all the stairs and when I inhaled, air that reeked of sewage and
piggeries just filled my lungs. So gross! I was relieved when finally I smelled
some dried fish (which smells awful).
The food Sister J was given in the hospital was
disgusting. I brought her some American jello. She loved it. I took my other
thing of jello to an FHE with the Alcantara family. They loved it too. They
were very surprised because they thought it was the Filipino version (which is
flavorless and hard in my opinion).
Our investigators are doing ok. The H family is
still progressing. We taught the D family a great lesson on Thursday. The
lesson was on temples and family history work. Sister D was really interested,
but she was still trying to hide it. She was very surprised that hope isn't
lost for people who didn't hear the gospel and about how we can be together
with our families and all that. It was a really good lesson. I was very happy
with it. We just have to find a way to get her to read the Book of Mormon but
she doesn't want to because she keeps telling us "I'm catholic." Also,
Brother D got the Aaronic Priesthood yesterday.
We have an elder in our ward that just got done
being an assistant to the president. He is whipping those elders (including the
zone leaders) into shape. It's pretty funny to watch. He didn't approve of the
backpacks two elders were using so he bought them new bags. Also, here's just a
funny thing. It says in the missionary handbook to only fast for 24 hours. Two
sisters I know didn't have time to close their fast because they had appointments
and meetings. So they fasted for like 28 hours or something. They lived with a
Sister Training Leader. When she found out she just said, "You two are so
disobedient." haha, reminds me of that comment when that lady told that
elder "Jesus is disappointed in your haircut."
I wish I would have studied the gospel more before
my mission. Good thing I realize how important it is now! I keep seeing how
important those little things are on my mission. When I get home I'm going to
make myself continue to study the gospel and have family prayer and FHE and
whatnot.
Love you and have a great week.
Our fourth of July pancake feast.
Some of the Services offered at the hospital.
Hospital food
[Thanks to Sister Jackson for the pictures]



