Happy 8 months to me!
On Monday, Brother Taylor invited us over to his house for FHE with his family, and also invited Luis and Val. It was amazing. We got there and we started by making personal pizzas. After we ate, we taught about tithing. Then it was time for the activities. We got to play "Don't eat Pete" and it was so much fun! Then we grabbed a blanket and started swinging the little girls around. Then it was my turn. I tried to convince them otherwise, but they insisted. We all died. That has not happened to me in years. At least a decade. Anyhow, the Spirit was really strong, and it was so amazing to see the importance of families, and for Luis and Val to see it, too!
One of my companions, got lice from an investigator's daughter...so that's a whole other adventure on it's own.
On Wednesday, we had a surprise birthday party for Rufino! Sister Cobb, Cendreda and I made a delicious cake from a box, and then I made home-made frosting! It looked pretty nice! The Taylors, the Wisers, and a couple of the Filipino members came, as well as Kate* and Simone. Val came with her dad, and we all surprised him as he walked in the door of the church. He was so surprised and overwhelmed with all the people there for him, and was holding back some tears. We ate food that different members had brought. Then we played "Trip to Jerusalem", or musical chairs, as well as a relay with spoons and grapes. Everyone was laughing and having fun. Then we did cake and presents. Kate bought Luis a little ham. I love people. Then it was time for Val's present. We got a box and put a baptismal dress in the bottom, with a picture of the temple on top, and then a not from Val. It talked about how proud she was of him for the changes he made in his life. As he was reading it, some members saw what was in the box and started to figure out what was happening. We got it on video and you can just hear gasps. On the next piece of paper, it said, "Will you baptised me?". Luis was caught so off guard. It was so sweet. They hugged across the table and everyone was touched. When we got home later that night, they both texted us for the special night. They are so special!
I went on exchanges with Sister McKee this week and we had a great time! And I got to go contacting at UBC and ran into a lot of students form China. My 3 phrases in Mandarin are down:)
We got to meet Val's mom this week! We were really excited, but also wanted to make a super good impression because we had to get permission for her to be baptised. We walked in and met her, and she said hi, but didn't seem too interested. We sat down and had a lesson with Val and Simone. Then her mom came out a little later and we were just talking. She opened up near the end and showed us pictures of her family from when they were all kids and was so proud. It was so sweet. I had the strongest feeling that she is ready to learn about the gospel.
The next day, Val's mom, Lucy*, invited us over for dinner! We were so excited! We got there and ate the most amazing food! We had fried milk fish that we dipped in vinegar and garlic, rice, a vegetable soup type sauce. I would tell you their real names, but I forgot to write them down. Then we had ube for dessert. It was so good. All of it. Then we taught Lucy, Val, Gertrude*, and Lucy's friend, Amanda. It was a really cool lesson. Lucy told us that Val has changed so much and she is so grateful for what we have been teaching her. She said that Val now spends more time with her siblings and with her and that she's happier. She also said she would come to Val's baptism! One of the coolest things, though, is that she said that Val has come home and talked about the different member families (the Wisers, the Gassers, and the Taylors) and talked about how happy their families are and how strong the Spirit is in their homes.
Sunday was crazy! Testimony meeting in the English ward turned out to be some sort of free-for-all in all sense of the term. And we had so many investigators and recent converts there to witness it all... We were so worried. Ask for the story when I get home.
But Jeanette was confirmed! She was beaming!
Christina came to Sacrament meeting, as well as Hermana Puschel's sister, visiting from Chile. Hermano Puschel (our ward mission leader in the spanish ward) taught an amazing lesson in Gopsel Principles! He's so good!
After church, we got invited to a Filipino party. Which means a Filipino member of the ward invited us over for dinner to break our fasts, and there were a couple other families there as well, all in a two room basement apartment. There were about 20 of us there. We ate delicious foods, and then we had cake and ice cream to celebrate one of their birthdays (Blanche). We shared a message with them, and they shared their faith with us. It was so sweet.
I'm on exchanges with my sister training leaders the rest of the transfer. Transfer news is this weekend! I can't believe how fast this transfer went by!
Sorry, but no pictures this week! I'm in a library in Richmond and I think it's missionary proof. I'll try my best!
Love you all!
Hermana Lewis
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