August 2, 2011 - (Yes this is an old letter - I am getting myself caught up)
Dearest momma, papa, family, and friends!
Dearest momma, papa, family, and friends!
So this week has been a great one. Mahdi got the priesthood on Sunday! That was amazing! But yesterday is really the day worth writing out now. Because it's all I can even remember.
Yesterday morning I got a phone call from the Sisters in Heads of the Valleys, where I was before I came to Harborne, and they told me that one of my close friends in Wales, Philippa Evans, died in a car crash Tuesday morning. I’m heart broken. I got it at the beginning of study, and I just cried through the whole study. I wrote the Evans a letter, and hope to be going to the funeral next week sometime. But let me just tell you about Philippa. She is so amazing. She was one of my best friends in Wales, always happy and fun and just amazing. She is the perfect person, and maybe that's why she could be taken, because she'd proved herself enough. She was on her way home to meet her new born niece, and got in a car crash. I am so so so so so so sad. And cry often right now. So prayers please for the Evans family. I hope they are ok. I’m sad. It’s all I can even think about. After I got the news, I had to call President Ogden to ask if we could still go to transfers, and take the elders too, and he said yes, and then I told him about Philippa, and broke down. He gave me John 11 to read, about when Lazarus died, and how Christ wept, even though he knew he'd be raised again. So that started the day off not in the happiest of ways to say the least. But the day got better. Heavenly father really blessed us yesterday.
So we left the flat, and went to a lesson with a recent convert. Who wasn't there? So we went to the Millers as a backup. I had a talk I wanted to share with her, because she's going through a REALLY hard time. The Millers have just split up after 16 years of marriage. 4 kids involved, and Sister Miller is disabled, and has a really hard time doing work. So anyway, when we stopped by, apparently she was having a meltdown. We went in, rolled up our sleeves, and went to work. We worked hard for about twenty minutes, and turned the house right side up again. We got everything vacuumed, and cleaned up. We put the kids to work. And really cleaned up the whole place. She was so grateful. We are so glad that the spirit led us to help her. We love being led by the spirit! It’s the best.
So then from there, we picked up the elders, and we went to another investigators house, Janet. Now, Janet has had a REALLY hard life. And has done everything there is to do, and now wants to leave it all behind and have a happier life. Her son Azad is a drug addict and is waiting to go into detox, and has been waiting for so long. Anyway, last time we taught Janet, Sister baker and I both felt prompted that Janet should get a blessing, and Azad should have a Book of Mormon. We proposed it to her, and she was thrilled. So yesterday, the elders came with us and gave her a blessing. It was awesome. About half way through, a weird sound came out of Janet. Like a growl. I didn't know a human could make a sound. I opened my eyes, because I was so surprised because she was making these noises, and she didn't even seem fazed. I don't know if she heard them. After, when we were on our way home, we really felt that there was something bad, like a demon, in Janet, and that the blessing cast it out. What an amazing experience. Afterward, she told us she felt the spirit so strong, and will come to church this Sunday, and will read the Book of Mormon every day. And she also told us that Azad has been reading her Book of Mormon, and that when somebody asked what he believed, he said that he reads the Book of Mormon, and that Mormons come to his house. So obviously we were making a difference. Clearly a miracle!
Then. We dropped off the elders. Elder Clark is getting transferred, and Elder Kunz is getting two new companions, Elder Von Brughan, and Elder Hinckle, and they are awesome. There are so many missionaries in our ward! It’s going to be great. But we'll miss Elder Clark. He was great.
From there, we went to teach Mahdi. We went on mormon.org, and watched Mormon messages, and one set me off again, thinking about Philippa, and Mahdi was so weirded out that I was crying. Man.
Then we went to Marcela. She’s doing well. On Sunday though, she was supposed to come to church, and we were meant to come and meet her, and she'd drive behind us to church. And we did, but when we got there, she wasn't ready at all, and told us she wasn't coming to church. We were truly heartbroken. So when she told us that, we were completely silent. And it was sad. And then we left. Well yesterday when we went to her house, without us even bringing it up, she said no matter what she'll be there this Sunday. Again, we didn’t' say anything. We’ll see if it happens. She has to come because she wants to, not because we force her. We don't want to baptize someone who has to be forced to church. But once she actually comes, for all three hours, she'll LOVE it. And then it will be great. But she's just not putting herself into it. Who knows?
After Marcela, we went to dinner with Rita. We go to Subway with her, and so we know the workers there pretty well. By name. And we always talk with them and give them cards for mormon.org. Anyway, one of our favorite workers - Sumit - was there, and we talked with him. And then when I was standing up to throw away our rubbish, there was nobody in line, so he started to talk to me. And he told me that he went to the website, and found where the church was, and he went there and nobody was there! Then he told me that he wants to come, and it was just awesome. We are going to get a Punjabi Book of Mormon for him, and he's coming to church next time he has work off. But he's so cool. And he's YSA age, so he'll be able to have loads of friends, we are thrilled!
From there, we went back to Mahdi, because Hadi wanted to have a lesson. We taught the law of chastity, and it was great. They are way into the law of chastity, and it's what they believe anyway. But it's wonderful to have Mahdi to teach with us, because he can explain everything in Kurdish, which is better for Hadi to understand everything. And it means that Mahdi learns it all even better.
From there, we went to a young mens fireside for a few minutes. Elder Beck, General YM president was giving the fireside. But we just talked to the Tufts for a second, and then left for another lesson. The Tufts also knew Philippa, and they are so sad. And they are hopefully going to the funeral, and will maybe be able to take us to it. I talked to president about it, and he said he'll decide when we know more details. But Sister Tufts is so sweet. She called me this morning, just to see if I’m ok. I’ve taken it really hard. On my mission, this is the fourth person I’ve known here that has died. And I’m just not ok with it. But this is the most startling, hardest one for me. I really loved her, and I can't wait to see her again. I know she is a missionary again, just now in the spirit world.
Anyways. We are happy about all the amazing miracles that are around us all the time. We are doing so well, and we LOVE the ward SOOOSOOSOSO much. It’s amazing here. And we are so blessed to be serving in this area.
Dear Sister Nadsady just went home today. I’ll miss her.
Today, I had to say goodbye to a few elders that I’ve been really close to. And it's so sad. I sometimes wish we could hug them, just when they were leaving. Because they are such good friends. But alas. Handshakes are all.
Today is SO hot. Goodness gracious.
OH! On Friday, one of the ladies I worked with in Evesham (Sally) is getting baptized, and we get to go! She is AMAZING. I love her, and apparently a long time ago she took her name off the records. And months ago, Sister Pope and I were street contacting, and we talked to her, and she was like "I served a mission too". We were like what!? She said, I don’t want to come back to church, but I know as missionaries you are always hungry, so come for dinner sometime. Well, we did. And we brought her back! And she's getting baptized! Fantastic! And she's a midget. It makes it even better. Right? Ha-ha. But anyways. That’s going to be great.
So, this week has been mixed, but great. And life is so good. I’m so grateful to be able to serve a mission. I’ve made lifelong friends here, and I really feel how the gospel has changed my life, and the people's lives around me. It’s wonderful.
Life is beautiful!
Love you HUPDARO!
Annie
Ps. mom, I can't wait to try all these new things that you are making.
Pss. there is an elder here, who is going home same transfer as me, who lives in Concord area, and he's so sad i'm not going to be on the plane ride with him. But we are apparently going to go black Friday shopping together. Hilarious. We’ll see if that actually happens. So funny.
pss. ,LOOOOVEEE YOU!
PSSSS. g and g Linford, thanks SO much for the letters! I love them
psssss. papa! I love the postcards, and the journals, and I’m glad you are using my music to sing in the ward choir with.
I want a CTR ring like Gladys Knight.....yes? ha-ha!
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