Christmas in July and waaay too much food!

Sister Fine leaves tomorrow!! That means Sister Hicks and I will be by ourselves to teach! I'm super excited to see how our language skills will grow being forced into it like this! Yesterday we were saying goodbye to people and literally had 4 dinners in a row. 4 feasts, in 4 hours! I wouldn't wish that upon anyone. I thought I was going to die after two huge meals, then we got two more. It was not good. 

Since Sister Fine and I became companions 4 and a half months ago, she has talked about Christmas in July sooo many times. So I have been wanting to surprise her, and we had the perfect opportunity to do it last week because her best friend and companion of 8 months came on exchanges to our area and Sister Fine went to her area. We took this opportunity and ran with it. We even got the elders to participate. See the results in the videos below. Merry Christmas in July everybody!

*Disclaimer: We didn't use proselyting time for this activity*

On Saturday we went to a lesson with Sue and Eh Hser. I can't remember how much I've said about them before, but Sue is 14 and is so solid. She has been coming to church and every activity consistently for almost a year, she hasn't been baptized because her parents say she's too young. Eh Hser is her 17 year old sister. She is super solid too, but has never been able to come to church because she volunteers at a hospital every Sunday. She has taken the day off a couple times, but something always gets in the way. A couple weeks ago we had a lesson where we committed her to pray for a way for her to be able to come to church at least once. When we got there on Saturday we asked if she had volunteering the next day and she said she didn't have it this week!!! Miracle! She was able to come to church yesterday! I think she had a really good time. We had 15 investigators at church yesterday. It was super awesome! 

This week I want to encourage everyone to take some time for personal reflection. Think about how you are doing spiritually and choose something you want to do to improve your relationship with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. I know that having a personal relationship with our Heavenly Father and His son Jesus Christ is very important. We can build our relationship with them as we pray, study the scriptures, learn more about them, and then probably most importantly, live by their teachings. 

Love you all!

Since Brooklyn put videos in her emails, I'm adding pictures for the blog.

Here's a couple of the "Christmas in July"--looks like it took a long time!

Sister Fine right after she walked in and saw everything! A couple more Elders knocked on the door and when she opened it they sang, "We wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new life!" After the Elders left they found 7 dead frogs around the apartment--that was NOT part of the plan. The girls found 7 of them and made the Elders come back to pick them up. The Elders had bought them at the Karen store, so at least they were frozen and weren't just roadkill. Brooklyn thought it was funny, Sister Fine not so much! hahaha

 Sister Hicks with some hot cocoa

Sister Heath with Christmas cookies

Brooklyn also told us how she woke up in the middle of the night and heard a strange buzzing noise, opened the door and it was the fire alarm. There were 5 trucks at their apartment building. Someone had a fire while cooking something. Glad it wasn't them and also very glad they were safe!

She sent more pictures of the homemade rootbeer. She said they had a lot left over, but they saved it somehow. 

Praaaanked!

Hello! It's been a busy week and it's only getting busier! Sister Fine goes home in just over a week so things are getting crazy! I'm pretty scared for Sister Hicks and I to take over the area because we still have a lot to learn to be able to teach everything in Karen, but I'm excited for the challenge! (We are so proud of her!!!)

This week we had an awesome lesson with our investigator Paw Wah. She's the 14 year old daughter of a lady who got baptized about 3 months ago. At the last lesson we had with her we committed her to pray about baptism. When we saw her this past week we asked her how that was going. She said when she prayed she had feelings that she didn't understand. We talked about prayer for a little bit and then talked about Joseph Smith and his amazing experience with prayer. Paw Wah was happier and more engaged in the lesson than we've ever seen her. We literally saw her whole attitude change. Then she asked a lot of really cool questions about baptism. We were able to bear our testimonies of the Gift of the Holy Ghost and how it has blessed us throughout our lives, and how repentance has blessed us as well. The spirit there was so strong. I was able to say everything in Karen that I wanted to and it felt comfortable and easy. This experience helped me not be so scared for when Sister Fine leaves because I know that if we have the spirit with us when we're teaching, we will be able to say everything we need to and our investigators will learn what they need as well. 

Some members in our ward have a bunch of family visiting here from Sweden. (Some of the family got sent here from the refugee camp, and some got sent to Sweden) On Wednesday they had all of the missionaries over for lunch to meet their family and stuff. Then later on in the day we had to go back to our apartment to grab something and when we got home, our apartment building key and our actual apartment key were gone. Sister Hicks and I were pretty convinced that the elders had to have taken them to prank us because we've been in a prank war with the elders for a long time, but Sister Fine was pretty sure they wouldn't have stolen our keys. We called our apartment manager to let us in because we couldn't find the keys, and he told us that "some boys had been in our apartment" and we knew instantly. We got up to our apartment and the elders had filled our bathtub and all of our cupboards with packing peanuts. So many packing peanuts. Before they knew that we knew about the prank, they texted us and told us they found our keys at the members house we ate at. So if anyone has any good prank ideas, send them my way!

Have a good week! 

We had fun with it!

Sister Hicks hahaha

Us with a few of the family members from Sweden. 

Mom notes: It's been getting hot and humid in Minnesota. (She might actually start looking forward to the freezing winter temperatures soon) Brooklyn thought it would be fun to make homemade root beer for P-day. After they looked for the extract in stores and couldn't find it, I sent them some. I asked her if it got there safely with the heat and all, and she said "Yes, I'll show you when we make it!" First time I've seen root beer made in a kiddie pool! They made 8 gallons in it. I told her I hope the Elders were thirsty! She said they were and it turned out great!

Picture of all the thirsty Elders during their zone P-day!

Sometimes they get to watch a family movie on P-day. Brooklyn watched "Moana" for the first time last week. She sent this picture while watching it again this week, telling us she loves it so much and it is her new favorite movie! I told her it's because it's about our people! Her New Zealand ancestors! hahaha I love it too!

A week full of miracles!

On Saturday we had a temple trip to do baptisms for the dead with all of the people who have been baptized in the last few months. It was such a neat experience! The spirit was so strong. It was such an amazing sight to see all of these people who have recently been baptized, doing proxy baptisms for other people who didn't have the chance to be baptized by someone holding the Priesthood power and authority of God while they were on the Earth. How cool is it that we are able to be baptized for people who have already died? This helps me know how much God loves each and every one of His children. He knew that not everyone would have the chance to accept or even hear about the Gospel while they were on the earth, so he provided a way for us to give them the opportunity to make covenants with God so they too will be able to live with Him again. 

Remember Moo Eh Wah? The one we just recently got back in contact with since her husband wasn't letting her do the things she wants to do? We saw her again this week, and just over the course of one week, her husband has gotten sooo much better! They have stopped fighting constantly, he is now supportive of her going to school, going to church, and told her that he will give her a ride to church sometimes! Which he has always told her he wouldn't do! His heart is changing! It's a miracle how much progress he has made. He even told her that she can get baptized if she wants to, but she wants to wait until she feels like he supports that decision a little bit more! We are so happy for them! I know that God is helping soften his heart! 

Last week we had a lesson with Moo Ru. She is amazing! We were talking to her about her family situation and about baptism and everything and she told us, "I'm going to fast and pray this weekend for guidance." Then we talked to her about Priesthood blessings because she's dealing with a lot of mental and physical health issues right now and she said she would like one. So yesterday we brought the elders over and they gave her a Priesthood blessing. The spirit was so strong in the room. Her crazy three year old son was even super calm and quiet during the blessing, then right as the elders said amen, he went back to his crazy self. That was a miracle in itself! After the blessing Moo Ru was crying and thanking us so much. She told us she felt the spirit really strong. She also told us that before the blessing, she had a really bad headache, but right after the blessing, it instantly went away! I know that God's power and authority, the Priesthood, was restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith almost 200 years ago. I'm so grateful for the knowledge that I have of Jesus Christ's true church being restored to the earth. I feel so blessed to be a part of this amazing gospel! 

Recent convert temple trip!

Sister Hicks and I with super cute kids!

Moo Eh Wah, Karen Moo, Dah Wah, and Baby John! (They are so tiny--Brooklyn is not that tall!)

Mom Notes: Brooklyn has always hated the smell and idea of eating fish. She wouldn't even taste it growing up. She went on exchanges this week and guess what their dinner was? She said she tried it all and the sushi wasn't too bad, but the raw fish and octopus was awful! She told me she only gagged on the octopus. I feel like if you can eat Goat Poop Soup, raw fish shouldn't bother you at all! haha

Remember how Brooklyn bought what she thought was a MN Twins hat and wore it to a game a few months ago?  Elder Nelson (from Texas) pointed out her mistake and she thought it was pretty dumb they sold Texas hats in Minnesota. Well, Elder Nelson (the one on the far right) finished his mission a little while ago and sent Brooklyn this picture of him and some friends. They all went to a Texas Rangers game and he wore his Minnesota Twins hat there, on purpose though! hahaha I like his sense of humor!

This picture is from last week. On the Fourth of July they combined a few zones and had a softball tournament. It's hard to see their faces, but they all look like they had a good time!

Only one injury....Elder Brklacich did an accidental somersault and this happened. 

I'll bet they are a fun bunch while riding public transportation.

Easter in July?

Happy Independence Day! The past couple of days I have been reflecting on how lucky I am to live in America. Working with refugees that have literally had to run through the jungle from people trying to kill them, been taken out of their own country, and seen loved ones killed, I am so grateful for the safety and opportunities we have here. We are blessed to have the freedoms and rights we do. Sometimes we take it for granted, but we are so lucky! 

It has been a pretty cool week! One night we got out of a lesson and had a little bit of time before we had to be home, so we decided to try to see Moo Eh Wah. I was a little bit worried about it because her husband doesn't like us and all, but on the way there I said a prayer in my heart that someone from the family would be outside so we could talk to them. When we got there and started walking toward their building, I looked over at the park across the street and saw Moo Eh Wah's little brother! Then Karen Moo! Then Moo Eh Wah! They had been on a walk and were walking home! If we would have come any earlier or later, we probably wouldn't have seen them! It was so good to finally see them and talk to them. They were able to come to church on Sunday as well! Her husband is still being difficult though, we will just have to keep praying!

Yesterday I was reading the Book of Mormon during personal study and read some really cool verses. In this part, the Lord is talking to the Nephites about all of the bad people that were destroyed because of their wickedness. As I read this I felt the spirit so strong and felt of the true character of Christ. He is basically pleading with these people to let Him help them. Christ has already suffered and died for us, He wants us to come unto Him. It is only through Christ that we can receive forgiveness and peace from our sins and receive eternal life.

3 Nephi 9:13-15 

13 O all ye that are spared because ye were more righteous than they, will ye not now return unto me, and repent of your sins, and be converted, that I may heal you?

14 Yea, verily I say unto you, if ye will come unto me ye shall have eternal life. Behold, mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I receive; and blessed are those who come unto me.

15 Behold, I am Jesus Christ the Son of God. I created the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are. I was with the Father from the beginning. I am in the Father, and the Father in me; and in me hath the Father glorified his name.

Have a good week! Watch the video at the end of this email!

One of our investigators moved a couple of hours away. We're super sad! 

I think this is their investigator that moved away, Lay Paw. Brooklyn didn't send details with this picture. Lay Paw gave them all a new Shaka! She is a very sweet lady!

Beautiful sunset

Brooklyn and her new companion, Sister Hicks

Sister Hick's mother sent me a few extra pictures of them--love when that happens!

With one of her favorite past companions, Sister Ching at Zone Conference.

Last picture with Sister Forbes. She and her husband were released this week.

A few pictures of their Easter in July! hahaha

Teeny Tiny Frogs!

This has been a pretty cool week! Yesterday we had a really cool sacrament meeting. We had a special musical testimony meeting. Anyone in the congregation could get up and talk about their favorite hymn and why, then the whole congregation would sing one verse of the song. The spirit was so strong during the meeting and I realized how powerful music really is. Good music has the power to bring the spirit so quickly. It was a very cool meeting! 

A couple of days ago I was feeling very discouraged with the language. That night I told Heavenly Father how I was feeling and asked Him for help, then decided to read my scriptures a little bit. I opened up to a chapter that had a verse in it that talked about how God will strengthen us in our weak times. I felt God's love for me and felt comforted. The next day we taught Sunday School with a member. I bore my testimony at the end and the words came easy to me and felt so natural. I know it was God strengthening me and providing me with the help I needed. It was a cool experience for me to help me remember that God answers our prayers. 

We haven't been able to see or talk to our investigator Moo Eh Wah or her sister Karen Moo that was recently baptized because Moo Eh Wah's husband is being super controlling. He doesn't want her going to school, getting her driver's license, or going to church or even talking to us. Since Karen Moo lives with them, she's being affected by him as well. At this point we aren't really sure what to do except pray for them. We hope his heart will be softened soon. 

I hope you all have a great week!

Last P-Day we biked around St Paul and saw some cool landmarks. This is us in front of the capital.

We did weekly planning in our hammocks! I caught Sister Hicks about to fall out of hers. hahahaha

 See anything unusual? (Look past the guy with the yellow saddlebags....)

We came out of a lesson and it was raining. There were hundreds of these tiny frogs just hopping around! I caught about 15 of them!

Mom notes:  This week our really good friends, Mike and Rae Fermanis came here from New Zealand to spend a few days with us before they went into the Provo MTC. Mike has been called as the new Philippines, Manila Missionary President. His service starts July 1st. We spent several days shopping, sightseeing and enjoying their company. We dropped them off at the MTC for their training and guess who they ran into? Brooklyn's new mission president, Carey Barney and his wife. They sent us this picture of them together and shortly after I got a private message. It gave me such a thrill to be connected in this small and simple way. I thanked them and asked them to give our special missionary our love! Can't wait to hear what she thinks about this change. She will have served with President Forbes the first 9 months and now President Barney the last 9.