This week's update: -
Last Monday was so much fun! We got to hang out with Sister Carter and Sister Riggs. We went to the Big Basin Redwoods State Park. We saw the Mother Tree and Father Tree of the forest. And wow those trees are HUUUUUUUUGE! Sister Fitz, a secretary at the institute building was kind enough to drive us. We included her in our pictures and made sure she had fun too. We went to the original Pizza my Heart and then to a bakery filled with lots of goodies that probably would've made me sick if I had partaken of such a feast, but they looked ooohhhh so good!
We went on exchanges this week. I went with Sister Péna to the Spanish program. It was so different for me because we go to houses where they just speak Spanish (imagine that!). And sometimes they look at me as if I'm going to say something but all I can say is: Aloa, coma estas? And: Lo siento, no ablo Espaniol... It's kind of frustrating. I'm starting to recognize some Samoan and Tongan though.:)
I got sick during exchanges because I probably ate something "wheaty" and didn't know it and my stomach was hurting bad. My companion, Sister Uelese, who tends to worry about me decided I should go home early the next day. :)
For dinner, we went to Amanda's house. She's a member in the YSA ward and is living with her Uncle and Aunt. Her uncle is from Finland, and we talked about Finish Folklore. It's very different from Swedish and Norwegian Folklore. I felt good that I got him to talk about himself and his background. He was in his glory! I don't know why I'm so fascinated by those cultures. Maybe I have some Scandinavian blood in me somewhere. I should do family history for that. :) Family history is important because you can help your ancestors with their temple ordinances. But we can also find out where our ancestors came from, what brought them to America, all about their hardships and accomplishments, and just realize that they are so real to us. I love researching things!
I am reminded of the great and magnificent Redwoods, whose roots are planted deep in healthy soil. They have grown for centuries and have withstood the test of time and all that nature has thrown at them. Liken this to our ancestors whose roots are sown deep within each one of us, reaching through decades of time and making us the people who we are today. Those ancestral roots have also stood the test of time and we must continue to honor them who have gone before, and those who have yet to come, keeping our family planted in good soil for time and all eternity.
My scripture study has improved so much! I love it! It's so fun! I'm such a nerd- I think studying is fun! ^_^ Sister Uelese had to take the ACT test this week at the local high school. She's applying for BYU Idaho and BYU Hawaii. But now that she's in the United States, she had to take the ACT. I went with her of course because we are not supposed to be separated, but the teacher wouldn't let me sit in the class. And here's something new that I learned. Because California doesn't get snow, they have made the schools very outdoors-ish. The classrooms are set in different buildings. And there's no hallways. They're all outside. So I was expected to either sit outside in the cold for four hours, or sit in the car for four hours - by myself. Haha! NO!
I have to admit that I was freaking out a little bit because I didn't have my companion with me. I called President, (and yes I was crying), because I felt like I was breaking a rule. But thank goodness President Mella is patient and understanding. He was probably laughing. He said: "It's been a while since you've been somewhere without having someone there with you, eh Sister Brown?" So I got to hang out with Sister Mella for the rest of that morning. She took me to the Ward Christmas Party. It was Polar Express themed. Then I took a nap at their house. Afterwards I picked up Sister Uelese and she took a nap as well, as Sister Mella suggested.
In Ward Council yesterday, they all talked about how they need to help us more by planning lessons and finding people who need us. I keep finding so many awesome scriptures!
2 Corinthians 5:7 "For we walk by faith, not by sight."
This scripture made me think of a quote from The Polar Express:
"Sometimes seeing is believing, and most times, the most real things in the world are the things we can't see."
Here's some more scriptures!
Mosiah 15:25 "And little children also have eternal life."
Mosiah 14: 3-5 "And with his stripes, we are healed."
Oh how I love being a missionary
Always -Sister Brown
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