They Say the Toilets Flush Backwards Here

I hadn't noticed. Anyone care to check which way they flush back home? Seriously, though -- who notices that, anyway?

It has been a rough week, what with Thanksgiving away from family and problems with our investigators, but I have definitely learned a lot! Thanksgiving was good, though. We did service in the morning. The bishop of our L-ville ward has six young kids and was having some ward members over for dinner. We didn't know that at the time, but we felt like we should go to their house and help. We ended up staying a while -- right up until it was time to go to dinner with the R. family. We didn't do anything too big, just a lot of little things, but we could tell that it really helped and that felt good!

Dinner with the R. family was great! Their family is awesome and we actually taught a lesson in their home later that week. We love them. It was a little intimidating, though, because President N. and his family were also there. Everyone was very willing to participate so it wasn't too hard.

After the R. family we went to two more houses -- dinner at one and dessert at the other. Then we visited some less-active families and came home to do our Book of Mormon reading. We do five pages every night. It was sad not to be with my family, but I loved spending time with and serving my ward family.

The dog bite is doing very well. Sister L.'s is taking a longer time because it's on her heel, and it keeps opening back up when she walks. Mine is on my shin and is healing quite nicely.

The guy below us sings opera

Seriously, though. He does. So loud that the walls of our apartment vibrate! I think it's hilarious but Sister L. hates it. Yesterday he was singing an operatic version of "The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow."

My sleep-talking has become a bit of a problem. Sister L. is a very light sleeper. And I mean VERY light sleeper. I have started praying that I won't sleep-talk. It worked for the first few days, but apparently Heavenly Father thinks it's important that I talk.

It was a rough week of canceled appointments and one of our investigators stood us up. It's all part of the experience, I suppose. K. and A. are doing well, though. We taught their cousin M. on Wednesday and they both sat in with us. I think it was a good review for them. We have another appointment with them on Wednesday. I think it will go well! K. is ready to be baptized; he just doesn't want to do it without A.

First P-Day in the "Field"

Hello everyone! It's been a crazy week since I last wrote! The flight was good; all the other missionaries slept but I couldn't. I talked to quite a few people so that was good. The president, his wife and the two assistants were waiting for us at the airport. It had been a long day; I'm sure we were a sorry sight! But we loaded up the luggage and headed to the mission home, which is quite a place. The sisters slept in upstairs rooms and the whole basement is beds for the elders. There are literally 18 beds down there! We had dinner with the president and his family, and shared some of our MTC experiences. We had a testimony meeting while the president interviewed us all individually. We had a good chat! He has a very impressive aura . . . I don't really know how to explain it. He speaks for the Lord!

President N. has a life-sized Yoda statue in his house. It's to illustrate his motto: "Do or do not. There is no try." I have learned quickly that I never say "I will try" to the President!

The next day I met my new companion, Sister L. We have two areas, L-ville and P-ville. Our first assignment was to deliver a Book of Mormon to a lady who had requested one from Church headquarters. She was surprised that we had delivered it in person (she had expected to receive it in the mail), but she was excited and invited us in. Her husband was also there. We taught them about the Restoration and gave them each a Book of Mormon; then I challenged them both to baptism and they said YES! I was pretty excited as you can imagine! They (A. & K.) invited us back for the next lesson and dinner on Saturday night. President N. shared this story in stake conference yesterday! How embarrassing! Sister L. says that he does that kind of thing all the time; we are in his ward so he knows our stories best.

We had to drop a couple of investigators who weren't keeping commitments. That was hard! Time is precious, especially when it's the Lord's time. And when there are people like A. & K. out there waiting for the truth, we need the time to go out and find them.

The dog story . . . we were on our way to dinner with the W. family on Sunday and had some extra time so we went tracting. My first time! No success at the doors and at the last one we got attacked by a big dog. I was turning as it bit me and was wearing tights, so my wound isn't too much to worry about. Although it does hurt, especially in the cold weather. But poor Sister L. got it pretty bad. After it bit me it ran at her, grabbed her heel and pulled her to the ground. I was in shock -- mostly at seeing my companion pulled to the ground by a dog -- but also because I never really believed this could happen. But it did! We went to the W.'s house; Brother W. gave us a blessing and Sister W. drove us to the Dublin Hospital. We went to the ER and stayed there the rest of the evening. We had to cancel and appointment which was sad, and we didn't get home until around 10:30. Sister W. stayed with us the whole time and was an angel!

Sister Chew Toy

Sister Bham and her companion were bitten by a dog today, less than a week after J. arrived in Columbus. Some kind ward members gave them each a blessing and drove them to the hospital. They said the wound was superficial, thankfully. They also emailed us this picture via iphone. I hope Sister Bham's guardian angel is a big, buff dude with lots of endurance and stamina!

Airport phone call

We got a phone call from Sister B. this morning at about 9:30 our time. She was calling during her layover in Phoenix. The MTC travel office neglected to tell her that their departure time and airline had changed, but luckily they were at the SLC airport early enough to sort it all out and made their flight by the skin of their teeth! She should be in Columbus by now!

I leave tomorrow! Craaaazy!

Hey all! Since we leave for Ohio tomorrow, I'm taking a few minutes to send out an email. I have no idea when my new preparation day will be. I will keep you posted. I'm crazy nervous but also super excited! We leave tomorrow at 4:00 a.m. I'm the travel leader so I have to get us there! It should be simple . . . but some of the people in my group are pretty boisterous!

Lauren asked if MTC Media has been harassing me. The answer is a resounding YES! They have been harassing me at every moment possible. There is always at least one camera on me during large meetings, if not more. In the new sisters' slide presentation they usually show a guy with steam coming out of his head (indicating that he's stressed out). Well, Media changed it to be a slide of me with steam coming out of my head! So last week I'm sitting there in new sisters' meeting and suddenly there I am, on the screen. I was soooo embarrassed! It's now hilarious, but at the time everyone looked at me and I just leaned over and tried to hide. Oh and don't worry -- they were recording my reaction! Now all the sisters call me Sister Steamhead. Tonight's devotional is the last big meeting I will have to endure! Hooray!

Another funny story: I apparently teach in my sleep. Many lessons . . . in my sleep. My roommates are really good about it! [As long as she stays IN her bed while she's teaching in her sleep. Mom.]

The other day our teacher was telling us about our first day in the field; he said we would be tracting. He said they would designate a rendez-vous time and place, then just turn us loose. I thought to myself, "So I could just go hide and then come back at the appointed time?" Small problem . . . I accidentally said it out loud. Yep, the whole class looked at me and busted up laughing. Oh well . . . they're going to find out how chicken I am sooner or later.

Companion story: Sister R. has this thing about defying everyone. She's as stubborn as heck! (We LOVE her!) However, we're trying to teach the elders in our district that they should do nice things for us, like hold the door and return our lunch trays in the cafeteria. But Sister R. likes to hold the doors & collect lunch trays before anyone else can do it. It's become a battle of wills! On Monday my will won; I held her tray to the table and asked the elders to subdue her. They just looked at me and I realized that obviously they couldn't grab her. So I quickly solved the problem. How, you might ask? I took a leaf out of Mom's book and sat on her. Then I asked Elder N. to take her tray. It was magic! Ironically Sister R. loves me even more now ... go figure!

The last hurrah

The day I went to breakfast in my slippers

I know none of you will be surprised when I tell you that Sister R. and I were half way to breakfast on Monday when I realized how warm and comfortable my feet felt. I looked down and saw that I was still wearing my pink slippers! We didn't go back to our room to change them, though, because I figured that no one would notice at breakfast. FALSE! Everyone noticed. All of the elders were laughing it up when I got to the table. I was so embarrassed -- I have been trying to be more dignified here so that only people who really know me, know how ridiculous I truly am!

Sister R. and I have had our room all to ourselves since last Wednesday. It has been splendid! We both spread our stuff out a lot. We had to clean up a bit this morning because we have four new sisters coming in.

Side note: The Harry Potter references haven't stopped, although I reserve them for P-day and the cafeteria. I have also impressed a few elders with my extensive LOTR knowledge. Your doing, of course, Mom and Dad. I give you all the credit!