November 17, 2013

So, although it may be getting cold in America... we are beginning to experience SUMMER here!! Finally!! It feels like I have winter non-stop for the last year. What does that mean? It means our clothes dry on the line quite quickly, instead of getting an extra "rinse" or two when the rain inevitably comes (electricity is very expensive here - so we line dry 97.2% of the time). The towels dried in an hour today - whaaaah?! Yay!

Remember that group of teens I mentioned last week? Turns out they all live in this one house together and now we are teaching them and all their friends. Whenever we go over to visit or teach, there is always someone new there that is excited to learn more. At our lesson Tuesday night, we invited all of them to our youth night on Thursday. This may or may not have been the first youth night EVER in Westport. The Elders came and Elder Danner came up with the most awesome activity - human battleship using water balloons!! We divided into two teams, and layed down on either side of a volleyball net on the ground. Each team had a thrower and they blindly tried to hit people on the other team. SO FUN!!! It also may or may not have turned into a massive water balloon fight. The girls are now coming up with ideas for upcoming youth nights! This week they want to do a barbeque. We said, "We can only do that if you help recruit people." They said, "Of course!! We'll get everyone to come and bring some food. So just do whatever you had planned at the beginning and we'll end with a barbeque." Um, could this get any better?! I think not!!! Can't wait for Thursday night :D

Also, church was amazing on Sunday. There were 6 active members there, 2 investigators, and 4 missionaries. Such a tiny room, but the spirit was particularly strong that sunday morning. I just felt so incredibly lucky to be with people so devoted to their God that they would come to church when barely anyone else was there. I felt so humbled to be among the chosen few to worship with those amazing souls. And for some reason watching the Elders prepare the sacrament on Sunday was just so powerful. I wish I could describe the way I felt, but I don't think I can. I am just so grateful for what Jesus Christ did for us, that we never have to feel "stuck." We never have to feel like there is nowhere else to turn, or that we are out of options because God is there. I am so grateful that we can repent and change course. I can't express this with words, Hopefully God understands the way I feel at least.

I love you all heaps :) 

Sister Rose

PS here's a picture of where we went during last p-day. Tuaranga bay :) So pretty!!