June 8 2014

Family and Friends!

This past week has been a whirlwind...I take that back this transfer has been a whirlwind! I can't believe it is half done. It really is true what they say after training ever transfer goes by faster.

So I've tried to keep track of all the interesting things to tell you in my planner in an attempt to be better at writing letters. Now I just need to write a reminder for myself to write in my planner....Haha

I did get a few things written down though! Here goes nothing:

Sister Hales Broken Bike: Haha this is a good one. So P-Days are always the most stressful days, mostly because all the missionaries are trying to squeeze so much out of them and do it all together. Which is cool I like them. But last Monday we went to waterfront which is the super touristy part of Kuching, it's literally a forever long bike ride. We hung out for an hour but then had to hop back on the bike to go grocery shopping, which is another 30 minutes, this time it was even longer though because Sister Hansen got lost for a hot second. (she cut me some slack though...I mean I've only been living in Kuching for 2 weeks....) So after this huge ordeal all day of biking around basically all of Kuching we park our bikes, go grocery shopping, and have to rush so we can get to our appointment on time . Haha. We unchain our bikes and go to pull them out of the rack to go home, and someone had completely detached Sister Hales' tire. Haha literally the most hilarious thing ever! Luckily a very sweet security guard came and fixed it. We had a whole crowd watching the "White People and their broken bikes." We got lots of photos with all the locals. We were celebrities for a hot second. Everything worked out and we made to our appointment. It was a good and much needed laugh! 

Almost Dying all week: So i've been having these super weird dreams of dying here in Kuching. (super morbid I know.) I always laugh them off and everything works out, but man this week something was out to get me. On Monday I narrowly escaped 6 cars almost hitting me. Then Tuesday night my light ran out of juice and I had to ride a bike in the dark with no lights....It was super scary. Then on Wednesday it happened. I was hit by my first car! Haha I am 100% ok and all is well. But I finally made it as a biking missionary! I have been extra cautious and safe lately, but the traffic is intense here. I am going to be a pro when I go home though! :)

Unknown Investigator: So remember how last week I contacted a Nigerian man in the mall, well this week was the appointment and I litterally have no clue what this guy's name is. He wrote it in my planner but I can't decipher actual letters. So the whole appointment I avoided addressing him directly and surprisingly it was fine, there was no need for names. He accepted a return appointment and is now an official investigator.....I don't get why I do these things to myself. Luckily we will most likely be passing him to the Elders, because he keeps telling me I was in his dreams...So that's that. Haha the things that happen as a missionary...It's a good thing this is the Lord's Work! 

Stella's Birthday Party: On Saturday we were invited to our new investigators Granddaughters birthday party, which is perfect since we needed to pass her to Batu Kawa Sisters, it turned out to be not so perfect. Haha. So we get to the party a little early to give a lesson like Stella asked...we didn't give a lesson...haha we asked to bless the baby, like a legitimate Catholic blessing with Holy Water. We were caught a little off guard but said that we'd be happy to offer a prayer in her behalf instead. As we are preparing to say a prayer all 60ish of the house guests gather around in a big circle and the great grandma starts to bless the baby in Bahasa, then she picks up their water bottle of "Holly" Water, (yes it was mispelt) and sprinkles all of us with it! I legitimately got sprinkled with Holy water.....Then we offer a prayer, in Bahasa and a poor new missionary who was still learning Malay was asked to offer it. Luckily they seemed pleased with it and we went on to eating...and eating...and eating....The whole time we were eating the great grandmother sat by me hugging me and speaking malay, even though I kept telling her I don't speak it. Hahah it was definitely a good memory I'll have here.

This week there were so many fun things that had happened. But more importantly we were able to meet with numerous of our investigators and gauge exactly who is ready to progress and make covenants and who isn't. I've been learning and growing a lot as a missionary here in Kuching and I am very excited to see what weird adventures and lessons Heavenly Father has for me this week. You guys this gospel is amazing. This is the Lord's work and I expect nothing but miracles because of it! 

I love all of you!

Sister Emma Lynne Hansen