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