my life. my loves. my ramblings.: More Photos of the Week!

Well family, it's Monday already! So much to say today. Sometimes (almost every Sunday night), I lie awake at night, thinking of what I'm going to say in the emails .. .and I take notes throughout the week so I don't forget. It must be a journalist thing, right? So, I hope you enjoy the following account of my very good, one-of-the-best weeks yet.

First of all, we picked up our new companion on Tuesday -- Sister Sandberg from San Jose, CA (where my MTC comp is serving) and she is going to ... SALVADOR, BRAZIL (one day), which means she COULD be companions with Hollie, which I think would be the coolest thing ever. So, I think that's awesome. She and I get along great! She loves to run, so we've been doing that in the mornings (YAY!) and reminds me a lot of Emily King in the way she talks/looks. And, she participated in the eating contest with me at our game night (more on that later). She already has a love for the people, wants to learn Spanish while she is here, and has a HUGE desire to learn. Her first day here was awesome. Sister Hale and I wanted to give her the experience that we wished we would have had ... so we brought her back to Riverhead, and went straight to some knocking. She has a fire for the work and isn't afraid to talk to anyone -- it's great fun having her here!

Second, while we were knocking, I started speaking to a woman named Allison. She seemed really hesitant about letting us pray with her, but I noticed her down syndrome son standing next to her. I said, "Can I ask you a question? Family is important to you, right?" Then I bore testimony that this prayer would strengthen her family. She agreed to let us come and pray with her. If nothing else, we are always planting seeds. And it was a neat experience to see the change in her eyes when I mentioned her family.

I suggested that we have a companion goal to always bear testimony, whether we are stopping to pick something up at a member's home or just passing a less active or wherever we may be. My companions said they loved that I knew how to "use" the scriptures and can always seem to find a fitting passage ... I am so grateful for the knowledge of the scriptures. I definitely love to use them anytime we can because they bear such truth of the restored gospel and Jesus Christ! I am learning so much in personal study. For example, I never really knew much about Zeezrom ... but you should read about him! And Abish (Alma 18). SHE was truly a converted woman of faith.

Our game night was a big success as well! The Blom family was an incredible help -- we had aske dmembers to bring snacks, but we didn't know how that would turn out since the branch is so small. We get to the church to set up and see Bro Blom in the kitchen ... cutting pineapple, strawberry, watermelon, making fruit dip, chip dip, salsa, not to mention his wife made multiple batches of delicious cinnabon popcorn and jello popcorn. Then, after we had to leave for curfew, they stayed well past the game night to help clean up the mess ... they are such a rock for this branch and I love them!

But, we did have an eating contest (we had pudding that had "worms" buried in it, covered in cool whip and oreo crumbs). With our hands behind our back, we had to dig face first to find as many as we could in a certain amount of time. Picture this ... 4 elders, 2 Spanish sisters, Bro. Blom and another ward member, and me and Sister Sandberg ... I won :) I said I was living up to my mom's name when she won the pie eating contest against all men at the fair. What can I say? Competition gets me :) But it was so much fun.

We also met a man at the game night named Matt. He is 24 and heard about the game night from the elders ... he is GOLDEN. He got a Book of Mormon that night, came to church yesterday, and then ... asked us questions for about an hour. We are trying to "team teach" him at the moment. He is awesome, has so many questions, and seems like he has a real desire to learn. We'll see how it goes :) Pray for him?

Also, our investigator Elizabeth (from Poland) came to church yesterday! She is VERY reserved, and sometimes hard to get to open up/ask questions. We think she is grasping the concepts, but very slowly. But, coming to church was a big step.

We also stopped by Mirna's house (she is a less active who has been to church every Sunday since we invited her 4 weeks ago, even if it means walking there) and she is so amazing. Her faith is incredible. She has a special place in my heart because we met her soon after I came here. She is now preparing for the temple!

Saturday we had the opportunity to help with a walk-a-thon for Cystic Fibrosis. It was a really cool thing because the people running it were so curious as to who we were and how there were so many of us and if we could help with other events. It was a great way to show them that missionaries get out and serve but have a good time too! Service makes me so happy!

Well, I thought I'd try to throw in some photos today. But, all is well here in Riverhead!