Scripture Bandit!

The first thing I have to tell you about this week is the "Scripture Bandit." Yep, there is a Scripture Bandit in our building and I am going to find him! A few weeks ago, President Miller got his scriptures stolen while he was at our building doing an interview.  Then I found out that another missionary had the same thing happen to him.

Yesterday after our services, we had correlation, and we were saying goodbye to Sister Hoopes. She is an amazing senior missionary who just finished her mission. All four of us hermanas put our stuff down in the hallway and went outside to take a quick picture. When we came back inside all four of our bags were still there. But, since Hermana Gubeli's and my scriptures were outside of our bags, the Scripture Bandit decided to go for ours! We thought it was a prank, because only our scriptures were gone...and WHO STEALS SCRIPTURES?!?! What the heck!

I am not too sad because I only had my Book of Mormon in there, but I am sad because I had my FAVORITE picture of Kimi and I in it. I am pretty heart-broken about that, but other than that it can be replaced.  Maybe the Scripture Bandit is reading the scriptures now.  So hah, scripture bandit!

 

 My favorite Sister Hoopes!

 

I just love Veronica.  I'm so sad she is moving, but thank goodness for FB and email!

 

Another funny thing is that we write most of our stuff in the area book in colored pens...well I do! I always use hot pink or bright blue. It is definitely readable (not like the really faint colored pens). Anyway, for some reason, all the missionaries were talking about area books and one of the zone leaders says, "Please don't tell me you write in pink....elders HATE that!" Well sorry to say, but I definitely write in fun colors! :) Little things really make happy like that.

 

 

Some of my favorite women in the ward!   They are fantastic help in lessons and have amazing conversion stories and just life stories in general. Hermana Martinez just came out with us last night after having been gone awhile.  Oh, how I had missed her!

 

Speaking of little things that make me happy, this week I decided to speak in a very faint southern accent on the bus and see what kind of response I would get. The people LOVED it! Well, no one turned me down anyway...I was thinking about you (Miss Lauren Parkhurst) the whole time! I also have been thinking about my sweet roomie Chelsey.  You were in my dream last night!  I miss all my Rexburg buddies as well as my friends at home! I just hope all of you are doing so well. It is definitely bitter sweet to miss out on your adventures, but I love hearing them and love hearing from you. Thank you so much for all of the letters, emails, and prayers.

 

 

We got stuck in some pretty heavy rain! We actually had tons of fun in it at first...it only was hard later when it got cold. We didn't have umbrellas with us and I didn't have a jacket...not too good! :)

Later in the day on Monday, I decided to cut my own hair! I cut off a couple inches and then had Hermana Wilcoxson fix it a bit. I am glad though. It really isn't short, but much more manageable in the heat, which there actually hasn't been TOO much of lately. It has been a lot cooler thank goodness. We decided to get sweatshirts made for our mission. We were going to have them put, "Catch the wave" in Spanish which is, "subunse a la ola" or something. Anyway, the t-shirt company lost the paper and ended up putting, "capturar la ola." I think it is hilarious. It doesn't make any sense, but I like my new sweatshirt!

The most exciting thing this week was the baptism of Jorge. He is the little brother of Ana and he was so cute about everything. This week we had a lesson with him and prepared him for his interview.  Then we watched Finding Faith in Christ and practiced what the baptism would be like. I ended up "baptizing" Veronica to show them how it would be. The baptism was beautiful. He was so nervous, but his sister Isabel gave the sweetest talk about baptism and his mom ended up coming too. She still isn't baptized, but soon their whole family will be!  :)

 

The Hernandez Family



 

Jorge at his baptism by his brother in law who joined the church a year ago.

 

Our sweet recent convert Ana got in a car wreck.  She is ok, but we were so worried for her. The cute thing is that she told us, "I am so sorry sisters...now I can't take you out on visits." We thought it was so cute that that was her concern. Man, I love her, and will definitely be coming back in a year to go through the temple with her.

 

Thursday night was a very scary and hilarious night.  We teach a Bible class every Thursday. Each companionship takes turns teaching it every week and we were so determined to get investigators there. Sandra needs rides though, so we were frantically searching for a ride for her. We literally called EVERYONE, but sweet Sister Agnes Sanchez. She is really old and super skinny. She leads the music every week and wears a TON of perfume. Her hair is unreal- it really is beautiful for how old she is. Anyway, I don't know WHAT we were thinking, but we decided to call her and she was able to do it. We were waiting at the church forever and worrying because there was a storm. All of the sudden Ruby, (Sandra's daughter) came RUNNING in and crying into my shoulder, “We almost died!” I guess Agnes could not see very well and was opening up her van door as she was driving to try and "see" better. She was also saying things like, "Merciful God.  Thank you for keeping us alive." I don't think that was helping the situation. Thank goodness they made it there ok, but they were NOT going to get a ride home with her. We found another ride.

 

 

This is where I live!

On Monday night we had an FHE with Ana and her family. Her brother in law, Oscar, is super shy but was super funny. After our lesson we played a quick game. He is now called the "Oleador", (Too long of a story to explain).  Raul keeps coming to church and is always making comments! We are hoping to get him on a baptismal date this week.

 

 

New missionaries in our ward. 

 

One last funny story. We were walking home and this bigger guy in overalls was sitting on the curb. We go up and introduce ourselves and ask him his name.  He says in a southern accent, "I'm not givin’ no one my name." Then he continued to explain that we worked for the government and that he had chips in his spine, brain and eyeballs so the government could see everything he did. So weird but funny! :) He also wouldn't shake our hands.

 

 Twinners!

 

 

Hilarious picture with our ward mission leader. He is hilarious...mainly because he doesn't know he is so funny and takes everything we say so seriously! :)

In honor of Miss America week, "It's not a beauty pageant, it is a scholarship program." I have definitely informed my companions on the difference between Miss USA and Miss America. They better know the difference by now! :)

 

In honor of Miss America week!

 

Last night was super exciting because by the end of the night we had five people with baptismal dates! We are so excited for the upcoming weeks!  All I know is that I still love being here. I feel so close with the ward now and I know the Lord is hastening his work. Thank you so much for all the love and support!