Best News Ever!

I forgot my journal this week, which I usually reference for the things that I did this week. But I do have my daily planner which schedules every single second of every day, so we will just try to make do.

First and best news of the week: After I finished e-mailing on Monday, we played frisbee in the park with our elders and then we went to Azda grocery shopping. And guess what I found? Just take a guess. Okay. Now I'm going to tell you. RHUBARB CRUMBLE!!!!! At least I think so. They could not understand why I was almost crying because I was so happy. I'm pretty sure it's the real deal. So I bought 10 carrtons of it and finished them all. It is delicious. It is superb. My life is complete.

Later on Monday, we went to visit G--, the less active with 5 autistic boys, to do FHE but she had to cancel. We had a lot to do so it was okay that she did. We went over to a different family, the McM--’s, but as we were on our way a member of the branch, Jayne Kirk, came out and flagged us down and had us pop in to chat! She was so nice! We had no idea who she was when she invited us in, but we figured it out pretty quickly as you can imagine. It was so nice to have someone run out and open their door to us, since that never really happens. Okay, let's face it; it only happened that one time. We went to the McM--'s later though, and they are awesome. C-- McM-- was in the Branch Presidency and has such a strong testimony. I think he was bummed when he got released so they haven't been back. Anyway, they are a great family and when we visited them again in the week, M-- (the wife) invited us over for tea this week! She said that her lasagna is world famous, so I'm excited. And then C-- came to church yesterday, which we were very excited about. It's lovely to see people come to church that haven't been there for awhile. And maybe it had nothing to do with us. But maybe it did.

On Tuesday morning, we had District Meeting. Those meetings are fun, and it's funny to talk to other missionaries about their investigators. All seem to have the same problems over here--Word of Wisdom issues and depression. It's almost a universal thing. And their investigators do weird things just like ours do. None of us are teaching a whole bunch of people, but we're all working our hardest! In our district it's the elders in our ward and then the Alloa elders--Elder Sewell and Elder Stewart. They are both jokesters and are awesome.

After District Meeting, we had exchanges. And for some reason, the Zone Leaders decided that I would lead the exchange. So Sister Rindlisbacher--who is going home in about 6 weeks--came into Falkirk and I had to plan and lead her around. I have felt like giving up until this. It was pretty tough, but I knew that I could do it and that God could help me. And He did. God is so, so good.

We did some finding in City Center, which is 5 minutes from our flat. I was so glad we did finding, because Sister Rindlisbacher is a champion finder. She talks to EVERYONE. She says good things. She is the best missionary I've ever seen. I was so privileged to work with her. At City Center, a guy told me that I have a cheeky face. I'm not sure what that means, but I'm going to take it as a compliment.

We went to T--'s, the Less Active we work with, and got to meet her daughter, S--! She is a ball of spunk. She seriously is. She loves to squeeze between us on the couch and will hug me and tell me that she is never letting me go. She gave us rocks from her rock collection. She let me have a picture. We drew her some pictures and gave them at a later lesson. She is having a hard time being bullied at school. She said to me, "No offense, but girls like you are the ones who bully me. The blonde hair, the blue eyes, the skinny, pretty girls." Ha. What a stereotype. Anyway, she has had a pretty hard time and she doesn't feel like God answers her prayers. We are trying to show her otherwise, that He may be strengthening her, even though He isn't taking away the bullying. It's tough though. Kids can be so mean. And it doesn't help that her parents tell her that she just needs to hit them back to stand up for herself. No es bueno.

On our way to T--'s, we were passing this man because we were about to be late. Anyway, he flagged us down and shouted for us to talk to him! Ha! He basically just loves Americans, and has visited America, so he gave us his dog's card of all of their canine adventures, and we gave him a mormon.org card. He was pretty solid but I didn't think was interested. But a few days later he gave us a call and we are meeting with him this week!!! That is my favorite kind of missionary work: when somebody calls you down and stops you and asks to learn about the gospel.

A few weeks ago, we met V-- on the street and he said he'd met with the missionaries a few times. Anyway, we got his number and texted him but he didn't respond until yesterday.  He asked something about cosmic energy controlling us, and I told him that God watches out for us but we make our own decisions. He responded with "I have some mates that want to learn. Will you teach them?" Ha! Obviously! So stoked. I hope it's a real thing instead of some drunk friends or something, but we did set up an appointment and hope it will go through.

On Wednesday, we visited an older lady in our ward, Sister D--. She has pretty bad depression and is so lonely. Anyway, we went and she made us lunch and everything. But probably two of the funniest things ever happened. She is really hard of hearing. So after we finished the prayer and said Amen, she was still bowed and closing her eyes for about 10 or 15 seconds until she realized we were done. I was dying. That happened at every prayer. So funny! Then we were sharing our favorite scriptures and Sister Rindlisbacher asked her to read the verse but she got mixed up and read a verse that said, "Repent ye, repent ye, and be baptized". Ha. What a funny favorite scripture Sister Rindlisbacher has! Kidding, but I was seriously having to contain my laughter. It was so funny.

 We went into Camelon, the most beautiful city in the world, and were stopped by David S--. The missionaries have written that he is friendly but uninterested. His wife, L--, isn't a member. Anyway, we stopped by and they are sure chatty so we stayed for a long time. She brought us freshly squeezed orange juice and biscuits. It was lovely. He just had his hip replaced and told us his journey with the church with a lot of detours in the conversation. They had kind of a weird experience at his baptism with the branch, and he didn't get along well with the members and stuff. They love missionaries and have had them for the last two Christmases. They are going to take us out on a P-Day to some cool historical stuff. Anyway, at the end of our visit, I just said, "David, can I ask you a question and have you be honest with me? Are you interested in coming back to the church at all or do you feel like the church has had its chance with you and missed it?" He said that he was interested in coming back to church! I was so glad I'd asked so now we can know what the goal is and know he is willing to work towards coming back. After, Sister Rindlisbacher said, "Sister Ricks, that was not a greenie question! I'm impressed!" So that was nice.

We exchanged back on Thursday morning, and it was good to get Sister Nicoll back. I genuinely missed her. She is an awesome trainer and exactly what I need. I am so grateful that God knows what He is doing. I keep thinking how crazy His schedules must be, trying to get certain people to meet each other and placing each other in our paths. His weekly planning session must be intense, that's all I've got to say.

We got to have dinner with J. K. because she invited us over! Her husband was a bishop and he cheated on her with an 18-year-old girl and left her. So sad. She is the most optimistic person I've ever met, though. She was lovely and is so chatty and nice. We are eating again with her this week and are just so grateful. She is so cute. She wants to get remarried to an American. I think she should come to Centerville and we can set her up with some people. She's 38 and is the cutest thing ever. She has a sweet baby girl, E--, who is 1.

We went into West Quarter on Saturday, and nobody was really home. But we did get a return appointment at a less active member's home. It was cool though, because Sister Nicoll really needed to use the bathroom and a former investigator that we were going to try and see was working in the gas station! So we got to talk to M--, who is no longer interested in the church, but still. Tender mercy.

W-- continues to do well. He is wonderful and digests all the information we give him without question. He was so close to coming to church but then wasn't ready in time. I know that he wants to come, though, and that is half the battle! I keep promising him that we will pray and he can pray for strength to come, but it just hasn't happened yet. I was pretty glad though because then the meeting was all about temples and we haven't talked about ordinance work for the dead or anything yet, since we just finished the Plan of Salvation. So maybe it was a good thing. He says some funny things like he's brought up chastity and abortion already out of nowhere. What a silly old man. I love him so much. I think I could be a more effective teacher if I didn't care so much. I just want him to make his covenants and join the church! So when he said he'd come I was so giddy and then when he didn't show, I was devastated! I wish I didn't care so much, but it's just how I am, I guess.

At church, a couple of awesome things happened. So since it's the end of the month, we are totally out of money. I'm not sure how that happened, but we did have to buy a bunch of stuff for our flat since it was a brand new missionary one, and we didn't get reimbursed for everything. Anyway, we don't really have enough money to buy much food this week. But the members of our branch are awesome and even though we didn't tell them we didn't have many groceries, we got so many lunch and dinner appointments this week! Seriously, God is everywhere.

We got to go into Young Women's and the girls are super rambunctious but nice. So that's cool. One of the young women, Colby, and I bonded over Justin Bieber.  And High School Musical. Match made in heaven.

Our gas went out and our washing machine is broken. Since we can't take hot showers, the last two nights we have alternated. We boil water in our kettle and on our stove, mix it with cold water, and put it in the little dishes tub and shower our bodies. Then we do the same and wash each other's hair in the sink. Companion bonding, baby!

The work is moving forward so well. I am so grateful to be out serving! The gospel is true. God knows His children. We are all beloved sons and daughters of God. I can feel it as I testify to people. I know this church is true! I know God lives! And I'm so grateful to know that we can be with our family and those we love for forever. :)

The church is true! I promise! I guess I'll head off to a castle with a member now. It's whatever.

Sister Ricks

“I talk about these mattresses the way the Scots talk about the weather”

Hey there,

This week has been quite good, I would say! We've been visiting W--- a lot, with one of our members, Sister McGowan. He is awesome and Sister McGowan is great for coming with us. W--- is just a funny ol' chap. I think the main reason that he wants to meet with us is because he is lonely and wants friends, which we are willing to be. He randomly has really strong opinions about gospel principles. But he also really does seem to want to learn, and he's always telling us how smart we are to know all of these things. He digests what we tell him like he would at school. He also has been listening to the Book of Mormon, since he has double vision and can't read very well. He thinks praying is weird, and so we hope to help him with that soon. He didn't come to church yesterday because he was too tired, probably because he goes out and does karaoke on Saturday nights. :) Bah ha! But he did tell us that he went out on Sunday. He sent a letter at the Post and he lubricated his car hood because he just bought a car since it was such a good deal. He's not even sure that he can drive it yet. Haha. We call him or see him every day, and when we call it takes about 15 minutes to confirm an appointment. Scots seem to be like that. They are a chatty bunch once you get them going. I love W-- though. I love to go and teach him the gospel. He is lonely and needs the gospel to fill his life with friends who desire his salvation. We are two of those friends, and I'm so lucky to be able to be that friend for him!

Funny story: Do you remember that cute yellow sweater that I went into the MTC with? Well in our flat, the washer is awful. It's so bad and sometimes our clothes come out smelling worse than when they went in. But, back to the yellow sweater--it is a cute shade of puke green now. Beauty. Mmm.

My companion let me go running one time this week. I was so happy. I have never been so happy to run around a muddy football field a million times. It seriously felt so good--way better than situps and squats on the bed. Well, situps on the bed. Squats on the floor, though perhaps I should try them on the bed. :)

Funny story about our beds: They are terrible. I have never had a worse bed. :) BUT we got duvets from the mission home and put them on our beds last night! And I tell you what, they are delightful! We also had our heating and electricity go out this week, but after a few days of no heat we got it taken care of! And a nice lady in our branch brought us over a portable fireplace! Who knew such a thing existed? We're going to make her a treat today and take it to her. She has been very kind.

We talked to a guy in City Centre this week. Initially, he was way annoyed that we were there and said religious people are so annoying. But then he started chatting with us and telling us all about his beliefs, which were kind of psycho. He said that Noah's ark didn't really happen and that it only happened inside us. Same with Jesus' birth. Anyway, we were just chatting with him and saying that it was interesting even though we believe very different things. In the process, he looked at me and said, "You are very nice. I bet you could convert anybody. You could convert them to paganism if you wanted." Not exactly the message we wanted to send, but at least he was very nice!

Later that same evening, we met a man named D--- who had a crazy scar on his face from a prison fight. We were talking about religion and asked him about God when he started talking about the bus schedule and how dumb it was that the time was off for him to get to Glasgow. Anyway, we asked if we could get his number to give to the Glasgow elders, and he said he would rather visit us at our flat. He was kind of creepy and so we just told him to have a good night and walked away! But we did pray with him so we got to count it as a lesson. KA CHOW!

Sister McN--- is doing great. She had a really hard week since her son stole money from her to keep doing drugs. She had to call the police and it was this big mess. Anyway, she is a stress smoker but she didn't turn for cigarettes--she turned to her Book of Mormon for comfort! How awesome is that! Then she fed us. :) She gave us soup (which is always filling and should really be the main meal, but then they just keep piling up more food), potatoes and minced meat with vegetables. I was trying to eat like the Scots, with the fork in my left hand and using my right hand to always be pushing stuff onto my fork with my knife. It's difficult and I sort of look like an idiot. Then she brought us apple pie with ice cream and then more ice cream to have iron brew floats! They were so yummy! But I was also so full. Talk about a food baby.

We had zone meetings this week. It was funny having to go back to the mission home and have interviews with the president since I am just barely out, but it really was good. When we went down to the station, we ended up meeting a member, Rosa, who didn't know where church was but is still interested in the church and everything. She had this really cute son with the biggest eyes I've ever seen. So sweet! Anyway, we're going to try to stop by and visit her sometime when she isn't working.

Fun fact: All Scots seem to text using abbreviations. And since they speak differently, their abbreviations are off. Like they will say "us guys canny cum" for like you guys can come! It is pretty funny. Another lady texted us telling us her "m8" had asked her to help them out. Luckily we get texting in Scotland. They don't have it in Ireland, and it's a nice way to confirm appointments without having to call people.

We went to zone conference and it was just great. We talked all about obedience, which is basically what every talk is on in the mission field. I'm starting to wonder in what ways people are disobedient, since we talk about it so much. President Brown says that we have to be extra obedient as a protection because Satan hates his missionaries. I totally believe that. I went to the doctor after the meetings and everything went fine.  I'm not worried about it at all. They do have One Touch Strips and the kind of insulins that I need.

They gave me a curling iron, straightener, and a blow dryer at the mission home! Yay for not having to buy any!

I have exchanges this week from Tuesday to Thursday, so that should be nice.

Cool experience from this week: We were going to visit this lady and we ended up on the wrong side of where we were supposed to be. Sister Nicoll had just gotten confused. So we figured that we had been led there for a reason (there was a less active there as well that we tried to visit, but she wasn't home) and started chapping. Nobody was interested. We had a lot of slammed doors. So when it was time, we headed back, wondering why we were sent there when it wasn't successful. On our way back, we met a boy who was going to band rehearsal. He'd never tried religion and so we were able to give him a pamphlet! We also do a Who, What, Where, and When investigator that we want to meet every day and he was exactly what we had been looking for. That was really awesome. He is going to be a famous Mormon someday.

On Saturday we walked for 4 hours straight and for probably 14 miles. I have a blister because of it. :)

Yesterday, we went and visited M---, a less active. I asked if, since I was new in the field, I could teach her about the Plan of Salvation. Turns out she really wants to live with her dead “gran” again someday and wants to make it to the temple. We want to help. We're going to read the Book of Mormon with her. :) She's kind of a big lady and she told me that she thinks she has diabetes because all she wants recently is candy, and she has been drinking 4 iron brews and tons of water. I told her I know exactly how that is :) She also told me that I have "bra" hair (roll the R). Apparently that means beautiful. How nice.

I love personal and companionship study time. Seriously, I love to be able to study as often as we do. It really helps bring the Spirit when we implement the things we learn through PMG and through the Twelve-Week Training program. I can tell that it enhances our work. 

Funny thing: The second day in the field I was all about chapping. I wanted to chap everywhere. Then, this week, I've just dreaded it! I hate tracting! One night I was particularly discouraged because nobody was listening. I got to thinking, “We get to be more like the Savior when we chap doors! When people reject us, we understand a little bit more about the Savior! When he stands there and knocks, and knows someone is inside but isn't coming out, that must be really annoying. We have the privilege of doing the same thing!” So these days every time someone rejects us, I just think "Wow, I'm so lucky that I get to be more like the Savior today." Pretty awesome. Aren't we lucky to belong to His church?

I think about you and pray for you all the time!

Love,

Sister Ricks

I am Ammon

No, no, no. I know. I'm not Ammon. I'm Amanda! I haven't been chopping off anybody's arms or working as a servant under the Queen of England (I wish!). But I do feel like I've seen many miracles this last week. The Lord has really blessed me. So, for the week, I am Ammon.

Flying from Provo to Scotland was quite the experience. Although we got to the airport on time (even though it took forever since there were 20 of us, 14 sisters and 6 elders), we made it. I got to chat with a few of you, and that was so much fun. It was great to hear your voices. I also got to chat with a lady while we waited for our delayed flight to Chicago. She ended up being from Scotland and had come to Utah for the skiing! She also got to see folks at conference and she loved the "vibrant atmosphere." So that was sure fun. Tender mercy.

Sister Ricks saw Pam Ipson at the airport!

When we got to Chicago, since our flight had been delayed, they rushed us over in a shuttle to get on the London plane. When we were running to the plane, they were on their walkie talkies saying, "The group of 20 is here! The group of 20 is here!" So maybe this week I am also James Bond. Haha. But really. It was pretty awesome. There was no break between our 2 ½ hour flight to Chicago and our 7 hour flight to London. So long. But I didn't have anyone sitting next to me, so Sister Ashdown came over and we chatted and slept. Tender mercy.

When we got into London, passport control was packed. The travel lady called it "absolute carnage." But then they delayed our Scotland flight so that the group of 20 could make it. Tender mercy.

We finally made it to the mission home, which was great. It is in such a pretty area. When I traveled to Scotland before, I only saw Princes Street (which they all say like Princess Street and I don't really know what to call it). Now that I've been outside, I can truly appreciate how gorgeous it is here.

Since we'd all been up for a long time without much sleep, they wanted to keep us going so that we would get on the schedule of Scotland. Since they were keeping us up, they took us to the Edinburgh Castle! I went there before with the group from London, but this time was a million times better! Some of the missionaries got so tired that they just went into the restaurant and took naps. But a few of us (probably fewer than 4) didn't fall asleep. We ran and danced and skipped and kept ourselves awake. We went inside all of the buildings. There were torture chambers (at least I think that's what they were) and birthing rooms and a Tomb to the Unknown Soldier and all sorts of cool stuff. It really was awesome, and it was fun to hang out with Sister Ashdown. I got a lot of really cool pictures, and I will have to send them when I get the chance. I can't find the cord to my camera.

They fed us dinner and then let us go to bed, which was good because I was so tired! The mission home is nice and Sister Steed and I got to share a room with a HOT SHOWER! Mmmm. It was great and nice to spend one last night with my MTC Companion. I really hope I get to work with her again. We work well together.

The next day, we all studied and I went with Sister Brown (who is probably 4 feet tall) to the doctor's to try and get me set up in the NHS. We walked over and chatted. It was nice to hear how overwhelmed she was with her calling. They've only been here for nine months, and so I get them the whole mission. I'm excited about that. She is amazing. They couldn't get me an appointment, but hopefully I will be able to get one soon.

Fun fact about Scottish people: They always say things like, "Oh, it's just across the street!" or "It's about 10 minutes away or a half mile" and then it turns out to be way further. Their perception of geography is lacking, I would say. It's just across the street......and 5 miles later you find their home. So classic.

After studying, we all hiked up Pratt's Hill. (Only missionaries call it that. I think it's called Arthur’s Seat.) We all got to the top and heard the story of Orson Pratt. He went up the hill and promised God that he would baptize 200 souls. And he did! We hiked up the hill. Sister Ashdown and I were the first sisters up the mountain! Yay! We were all supposed to make goals and tell God what we would do to meet those goals. I honestly had no idea.  But I just kept thinking the number 5. So that is my goal, and I realize that it is low. But I just hope to have 5 people be baptized and continue in faithfulness. I think a lot of work is with less-actives as well, so I wouldn't get baptisms but would get blessings. :) Joke. But I do hear that a normal mission here (after I made that goal) is between 4-6 baptisms. Yup, the work is slow. But it's moving. And times can change. And people can change.

After we made our goals, we all sang "High on the Mountain Top" which was cool and some tourists around videoed us doing it. There was a guy on the top of the hill who was going to use a homemade zip line to the other hill. Now that is crazy. And it would hurt if you fell. I wanted to watch him use his zip line, but our group left.)

When we went down the mountain and ate, I had my interview with President Brown. I cannot tell you what an inspired man he is. We talked for a long time. I told him why I'd decided to come on a mission. He testified to me that I was sent both to the specific mission AND to him. He has a real testimony of mission presidents helping out their missionaries. We are going to get along wonderfully, and I have a zone conference this weekend and will be able to see him again. He is really incredible. And he does have the Elder Eyring disease, but I like it.

Sister Ricks with President and Sister Brown.

We had some trainings after we had all been interviewed and President Brown was deciding who went where. We did role plays and other things. In my first role play, I was with Sister Nicoll and realized that she was awesome. She told me how nervous she'd been to come on a mission and we just chatted and it was nice. Luckily I got Sister Nicoll as my first companion.

Now, some words about Sister Nicoll. She is awesome, she really is. She's from Arizona and has an older brother, Chris, and an older sister, Amanda. She misses her nephew a whole lot (join the club) and loves her family (join another club). That is great. She has sort of a funky sense of humor.  She's awesome and I've learned a ton from her because she's a great missionary. 

Sister Ricks and Sister Nicoll

Sister Ricks and Sister Nicoll. (Taken from Sister Nicoll's blog.)

Okay, anyway. Once I got my companion we headed out by train. It was really hard to say good-bye to Sister Ashdown.

We got to the train station and realized there was a giant staircase that we had to go up, over the bridge, and down another set of stairs with our huge suitcases. Luckily, we both thought it was the funniest thing ever and laughed up and down. Also, it doesn't hurt that my biceps are the size of small mountains. But you know, it's whatever.

When we got to the other side, Elder Howie (our district leader) and Elder Compain-Shaw met us and took our suitcases to the car. We had a member, Sister Johnson, who drove us to our flat. We waited for a bit though, because our branch president had gone to meet us at the wrong train station. President Patterson and his wife were so sweet. And there was another member and her daughter, Kelly and Lauren. They were all at the train station, just to meet us.

When we got to our flat and told them how excited we were and how grateful for the support, President Patterson told us that he had tried to get a bagpiper to welcome us to the area. How crazy would that have been? He told us he'd get it before we left. That is how welcoming they were. The owner of our flat showed us around and then left. President Patterson dedicated our flat for us, since it's the first time missionaries have been there. He told us he has been praying for sister missionaries in their branch, since they haven't had them in 19 years, and that we were an answer to prayer. That is pretty overwhelming, but we want to work hard and live up to his expectations. Sister Johnson bought us a bunch of stuff to keep in our apartment because we didn't have anything. She gave us cereal, milk, potatoes, pasta, tomato basil sauce, salad, chicken, waters, toilet paper, and some facial wipes. How nice is that? She was seriously awesome. They all were.

We were able to go to bed after unpacking, and it was 11:15. It had taken a long time for everybody to leave and planning took awhile since I had no idea what we were doing.

I was so nervous my first day in the field. I wrote in my journal: "I am so nervous. These are real people, real people who need the gospel and whose salvation is in my hands! Ah! I'm scared to talk to people and I'm scared to be here! I know the Lord can bless me and that He will, I'm just nervous that I can't do it!" I was really nervous. Luckily, it was okay. We had weekly planning in the morning and then I made us lunch. We went to try to find a map and got hopelessly lost. Our zone leaders were going bring material (Book of Mormons, cards, pamphlets) to our flat and we were going to miss them! Luckily they just happened to drive right by us while we were lost and so we hopped in with Elder Nelson and Elder Smithson. We went and got out district leaders as well.

Elder Howie and Elder Compain-Shaw walked us to our first appointment because theirs was just across the street (and it actually was) so we got to meet Sister McN--. She hates sister missionaries because one of them was really pushy towards her husband and it made her mad. So we got there and said, "Where are the two horrors? They know I don't like sister missionaries!" We didn't really say much and just let her talk for a long time. Her son is a drug addict. Her husband has passed away. She is less active, I think maybe just to get attention. We just listened to her and didn't push. She even gave us Iron-Brew, which is perhaps one of the best drinks I've ever had. It's like cream soda to the max and sort of is liquid bubble gum. Delicious! Anyway, she was really nice and when we left, she said she was convinced that she wouldn't like us but that we had changed her mind. And then she gave us hugs! She also told me that I was beautiful and that my eyes were beautiful and looked like her husband's. Then she said, "I was never pretty. But it doesn't matter whether you're beautiful or plain, it's what's inside that counts." True that, Sister McN--, True That.

After our appointment, we had to do our first finding. Finding is funny. I sort of hate it in a lot of ways. Anybody that we talk to is super friendly until you mention God or Jesus. That's okay, though. When we were finding, I knocked one door and said, "We are missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints--" and the lady didn't say anything and just smacked the door. How funny is that? I remember when Adam said, "When someone slams a door in your face, just remember, ‘I was told that was going to happen to me and it just did!’ How funny is that?" Love it.

Since we were concerned that we couldn't find our flat, we went to Burger King for dinner. We ended up meeting JW there, who was a member and is 16. He has a learning disability he said, but just said a lot of funny and a few innappropriate things. He was kind of crazy. We told him that we couldn't read the comic he was showing us, so he just read it to us. He showed us where our next appointment, Sister M---, was. She wasn't there so we went chapping. One of the men we found, J--, only spoke Polish and didn't really know what we were saying. We are going back with some Polish materials. We did have a little lesson with him, though, but when we asked if we could pray to wish him well he told us that he had to go to the bathroom! Ha! That was hilarious.

The next day, our appointment fell through and so we were finding ALL DAY. My feet were so tired by the end of the day. We had a few cool moments though. Because our appointment was cancelled, Sister Nicoll said we should go and drop a note by Sister McN---'s to tell her we were thinking about her. I thought that was weird but we did it anyway. On the way, I stopped and talked to a man who was named G--. Turns out he's a less active for 30 years whose sister lives in Utah! He's totally been baptized but now he smokes and drinks. He was way funny and told us we could come back. We walked him to his door and I carried in his groceries (not realizing they were alcohol and cigarettes, oops). He was really cool and said he hopes he sees us again. We will make sure that happens.

Now, this is my favorite moment from the week, so get excited. After we met G--, we were walking and lost again and we stopped a man who helped us with directions. (Side note: At the training, we all committed to ask someone to be baptized by Sunday. This was Saturday night, and I hadn't done it yet. I just couldn't figure out how!) After we'd walked away from him, I decided to go back and talk to him. I think I was prompted, because the fruit suggests that. I walked with him and he told me all about himself. He is so lonely and said that he doesn't have any friends. He was so sweet. He is a TYPE 1 DIABETIC! Connection made. And I worked baptism into the conversation and asked him if he'd be baptized. He told me he doesn't swim. But still. It was so awesome! And God helped me keep the promise I had made. He also gave us his number and said we could stop by. So we will take another sister and do that. Anyway, it was really special. He needs the gospel so bad. He needs the friends and the knowledge.

We had church on Sunday and the branch members are awesome. They were very welcoming and all. I bore my testimony. I talked to a lot of different people, and most of the time when you get somebody here talking they never stop. So that's funny. We had a little meeting with the President after and that was nice. He is really incredible. He wants two baptisms by the end of the month. We will work hard to do that. Our zone fast was trying to get four baptisms and have each companionship with a baptismal date investigator. Whew!

I talked to Sister W---, J---'s mom, at church this week. She is a Type-2 diabetic and I told her I'm diabetic and she said, "Yeah, but you got it cuz of genetics. I got it cuz I stuffed myself until I got it!" Haha. But the really funny part was that J--- came to church and she said, "We haven't been able to get him for weeks and he's had interviews with all sorts of people. Then the sister missionaries meet him, and on Sunday Morning he's in a suit ready to go to church!" Haha. Anyway. I just thought that was funny. 

We had a dinner appointment with Sister McFeet and Sister Simon. They fed us carrot and coriander soup, breaded chicken and pasta, and these cheese crisps that were amazing. They also gave us little lollies/popsicles to go. They were so sweet. They are both widows and they were brought together through the church, basically. They've been friends for so long, and they really should just be on a TV show together.

We met with the elders and divided up our zone, since we are in the same branch. It's exciting now to have papers of people, since we are whitewashing the area. Now hopefully we can visit people on our own without the elders having to make appointments for us. We are excited about the work! I really do want people to know the gospel, because it's true!

I am still very nervous and scared to talk to people. But then I hate it when I don't say the right thing or when I don't talk to them, because I think, "That person needs the gospel, and I was too scared to talk to them! I'm such a baby!" but then I do the exact same thing the next time. Ugh. I frustrate myself, but I do have quite awhile to work on it.

I'm sad I missed Hazel's blessing, but everybody said that it was lovely! I'm glad you are all happy and healthy. I'm glad we all have the gospel. I'm so grateful to be with you all for forever. I couldn't be here if I didn't know that were true. I have a testimony of the gospel and I know of its power. We are so privileged to be Latter-day Saints, and I am so honored and humbled to be a missionary.

And sorry the e-mail was so long. "I just have a lot of feelings." Name the movie, anyone?

Love you all!

Sister Amanda Ann Ricks