I'm A Turtle XD

Alright! Here's the summary for this week!

Also, just gotta say that last week there were a ton of typos because I composed the email mostly on my phone and didn't proofread it. Hopefully there will be less errors this time! XD

- Crazy dreams

- Walking to church; me leading the way :o

- Nephite money system 

- Lesson with new members; sketchy hailstorm that happened in the middle of the lesson :0

- Drawing more stuff for Facebook

- Food drive

- Exchange day! 

- - Sister Tustian

- - Ice cream!

- - Boston pizza

- Picking up for food drive

- Sister LaFrace leaving too soon :(  Our trio's down to two  (Points for the movie reference :')

- Goodbyes with members

- Sister LaFrance says I'm a turtle, haha

Longer version: 

I have had the most BIZARRE dreams! One of them made me super angry when I woke up, haha. There were these three ladies that my companions and I were teaching. They stole our car, and also stole my wallet, then bought themselves a bunch of overpriced pizza with my money. It's a funny dream to look back on, but in the moment, I was super ticked off. XD

When we walked to the church this Tuesday, my companions told me to lead the way. I was super nervous I'd end up getting lost. It turned into a rigged sort of hot and cold game, because my companions both knew the way and were well aware that I wasn't too confident. They wouldn't tell me flat-out which direction was correct, but they would question me when I wanted to choose the wrong path. Then they turned it into a lesson by saying that the spirit is like that sometimes. He doesn't always tell us the correct path to take, but he'll warn us before we make the wrong decision. It was actually kind of interesting, but also stressful because my sense of direction is awful.

For personal study the other day, I read the chapters in Alma (in the Book of Mormon) about Alma the younger and Amulek. They were such awesome companions and always had each others' backs. When Zeezrom tempted them with several onties of silver, it made me curious. Just for fun, I reread the verses pertaining to the Nephite money system and sort of made a chart of all the different coins and things to see how much they were worth. It was all estimations and just for fun, of course, but it helped me to appreciate how much money Alma and Amulek turned down because they would never deny Christ.

We had the opportunity to teach a couple of new members this week, including the amazing woman that was baptized last Saturday! It was great! We talked about temples and family history, because the two of them are interested in doing baptisms for the dead. One of them already has her temple recommend! :D  During the middle of the lesson, we spoke of opposition and how the adversary will try to stop people from doing good things. All of a sudden, the wind started howling outside and hail began striking the roof. It was so loud we could barely hear each other for a minute! :0  Sister LaFrance shared Helaman 5:12, the scripture that talks about building a foundation on Christ so that the devil's 'mighty whirlwinds' and 'hailstorms' won't be able to shake our faith. It was SO neat but also a little trippy, because as soon as the new members finished reading the scripture out loud, the sudden hailstorm stopped. Coincidence? I think NOT! (Kudos if you get the movie reference. XD) 

I've been drawing a bit more this week. My STLs (Sister Training Leaders) figured out I wanted to draw things for Facebook, so they said I could draw when my companions work on creating Facebook content. As long as I can relate my art to the gospel and come up with invitations, it's alright! :D So happy I can use one of my talents on the mission!

We got the opportunity to help with a food drive. It was super interesting! Sister Spackman mostly stayed in the car because she's the designated driver now. She followed behind Sister LaFrance and I as we ran door to door and hung up food drive bags. Some doors had signs that said things like, "No soliciting" or "No charities", but we put bags on the doors anyway. XD One door in particular had a large, hand-made, cardboard sign that read, "I'm not interested in what you're selling, preaching, or begging for unless you're here to give ME food or money. So go away! No soliciting!" I put a bag on the door handle, then booked it back to the car and hoped the owner of the house wasn't home. My companions later told me that I probably could have skipped that house, but... no regrets, haha.

I had a super crazy and awesome exchange day! It wasn't a full 24 hour exchange because the other sisters lived a while away, but it was still great! Sister LaFrance was with Sister Runquist, but Sister Spackman and I were with Sister Tustian.

Sister Tustian is such a bold, amazing missionary! She spoke to literally every person we met that day, even if it was just saying hi. She gave out a Book of Mormon and found two people for us after making making daily goal to find people. 

Somehow in that day, we got ice cream at the old train station in Fort Saskatchewan,  ate at a restaurant called Boston Pizza, found people, and got in all our member lessons! It was amazing! Boston Pizza has a thing on all the menus that says, "A Canadian company with an American name founded by a Greek sailor serving Italian food." XD I love it. I also got 'naked' chicken wings, meaning they had no sauce because I'm a wimp and don't like any sauces or spicy things.

Sister LaFrance is actually heading to her original assignment tomorrow, so she's going to spend this evening at the mission home. I only have a few hours left with her as my companion. I'm really sad, but I'm also so excited for her! I know she'll be able to teach so many people and touch so many lives in Temple Square!

For the last couple of days, we've just been driving around to all the members Sister LaFrance knows so she can say goodbye and we can share a final message. We're doing our best to get everyone all hyped for conference. :D  It was bittersweet because a lot of the members really love Sister LaFrance, and she loves them. I hope Sister Spackman and I are here long enough to make an impact like that. I already care for so many of the amazing people here that we have the privilege of teaching and working alongside. :)

Also, according to Sister LaFrance, I'm a turtle. XD  I was confused until she explained. A lot of turtles are green, and I'm the Greenie. I like warm weather, and turtles are cold-blooded. She says that I'm a little slow to get things that are happening around me, but she doesn't mean it in a rude way. I always feel like I'm one step behind everyone else, constantly asking, "Wait, what?" and stuff. XD She says it's because I'm in my own little shell (my own world) and then I suddenly poke my head out and notice something that she didn't, or share something with a person we're teaching that she didn't expect. Also, she says that when I really get into my element, I'm super speedy, like a turtle swimming. :D  I think it's a great analogy. 

I hope everyone's doing well! Take some pictures! :)

1-5: Some pretty trees that are changing color! 

6-10: Pictures from transfers! Sister Tustian is wearing the blue dress, Sister Spackman is wearing pink, Sister LaFrance is wearing a blue top and a gray skirt with a gray coat, and Sister Runquist is wearing a gray top and a patterned skirt.

11: A funny menu from Boston Pizza.

12: Another tag pic with a giant water beetle found. :D