Make cookies... easy right? NOT IN ASIA

December 3, 2012

 

I don't have much time today, but as usual the last week was great! It had its hardships, but what fun would it be if it were easy all the time? First, my companion and I got the Christmas calendar finished and gave it to everyone in the ward. THere is a scirpture about Christ/missionary work or quote from Preach my Gospel every day, FHE topic every monday, and little small activities every Saturday to prep us all for Christmas! We are so excited and had the first activity on Saturday. We decided we would frost cookies and then play some Christmas games. Make cookies... easy right? NOT IN ASIA. Oh my gosh. It was unreal. We headed off to the store, no cookie mix. No google so can't look up a recipe. We settled for these weird looking pre-made "cookies" that looked enough like sugar cookies and called it good. Frosting: yeah just pick it up right? nope. Nobody even knew what frosting was. We called our mission president's wife, Sister Bishop and asked for a recipe. Looking for powdered sugar when you can't understand those characters is realllyyyy hard haha. Food coloring? Also took forever to find. Butter and milk were pretty easy, but all in all, we went through a LOT to make those cookies and make the frosting. I sure miss your kitchen mom. Nobody has stoves here except the church, mixing stuff- nope, big bowls- nope, haha. I can't remember all the weird things I felt like we should have but take for granted, but just know that it was a really fun and interesting experience hahahah. It was all worth it though, a lot of people came and it ended up a success!!! We're excited for the rest of this month too!

 

Since I'm almost out of time, I'll end with a really great story about one of our friends named Tina. She was baptized a little over a year ago but stopped coming to church right after she was baptized. Everytime we meet with her she says she doesn't really know why she was baptized and doesn't really feel anything about the church, especially towards the Book of Mormon. We decided this week we would just sit and read with her, because through the Book of Mormon we can all receive strength and answers. We started reading Alma 32 with her. A few parts really stuck out to her, but when we got to verse 21, she stopped us and said, "I feel something. I can't really explain this feeling. I absolutely know this verse is true. I can't really describe what I'm feeling." (starts getting a cute smile on her face and really excited) "What am I feeling? I haven't felt this in a really long time, if ever. It's like I know something good is going to happen, I just don't know when." I was so touched by what she said and we explained that she was feeling the Holy Ghost, which testifies of truth and lets us feel God's love for us. We all talked about how daily reading will help her feel that feeling more often, and eventually every day. She was really excited and we feel like she made leaps and bounds of improvement this week. YAYYYYY!!! I love these people so much and get so excited when I see the Lord's hand in our work daily. We are so blessed. I'll write more next week, but our time is dwawing to a close.

 

I love you all and miss you tons! I'm sending a package, could you send me everyone in the family's real address please? Thanks so much! LOVE YOUUUU

 

Love, SIster Smart