"I think I'm gonna like it here!"

Monday, October 9, 2017

Alexandria, Virginia

Guess what? 3 months! Ah!

Also, the fire alarm is going off in our building again. This is the seventh time since I got here. We may have to evacuate, so this could be a short one! 

We were walking on Tuesday, and it turns out there is a huge prison right down the street from where we live. It's hidden behind a plethora of trees. Invisible to the naked eye, but Sister Morin and I saw it. We're so glad that we have that knowledge. Also, we went to dinner with C*! We were supposed to go with Sister C*, but she ended up being too busy, so she asked if C* could feed us, and she said yes! We were so excited.  We got to share the First Vision with her over our delicious Chipotle dinner, and she was really responsive. Also, she is simply the coolest person ever. That's all. After dinner, we had a lesson with C*.  And it went so, so well!! We love teaching C*, and we are so excited for his decision to be baptized. His baptism date is November 11th, and we are working hard to be able to teach him everything within our timeframe! He has the most amazing questions ever. He told us that he facetimes his girlfriend in Ohio, and they read The Book of Mormon every night, and he writes down questions that he has every time they read. It's the best. A few weeks ago, I was able to explain the symbolism in Lehi's Dream, and I could just feel the Spirit in everything that I said. And then that night, we were on our way back to the apartment when the District Leader called us and asked us to pick them up and drive them home. They had gotten to the other side of their area and would have had to walk for two hours before getting to their apartment. So we went to "safe" them. 

With C*, who will be baptized November 11th.

We had District Meeting on Wednesday, and I forgot my name tag again. I just need to get enough to put on all of my shirts and dresses when they come out of the dryer so it already has it on there. I've forgotten my name tag way more times than the normal missionary does. It's concerning. What if I forget who I am? I don't just have a name tag that I can look at and think "Hm. I'm Sister Kleven". Plus, Sister Morin refuses to let me write on her forehead to remember my name tag before leaving the apartment. *sigh* But that night, we went to the B*'s house for dinner, and taught them a lesson. It was nice. And guess what happened?? We got new Area Books!! (That is not excitement, by the way. I've been very cranky-poopy since the switch. Seriously, though. One of my weekly goals is to learn to love the new change. A goal that I am trying very, very hard to accomplish.) 

With the B* family.

We found three new investigators on Thursday! We were being led by the Spirit, apparently....that's all. 

A* agreed to be the first speaker at the New and Returning Member Fireside!!! We are flippin' excited for it! It's this Sunday, so Sister Morin and I are going to meet with A* this week and help him write his talk for it. He's planning on going back to Ghana to be with his family by the end of this year, though. He hasn't seen his family for ten years, and he's always, always asking us to pray for them. Also, we had to try to plan on our new Area Book app today. We ended up laying down towels on our balcony and bringing provisions outside with us so that we wouldn't perish or go crazy from being inside all day. 

We got to meet a new promising investigator that some Elders reassigned to us! Her name is N*, and she is the sweetest. She has two young kids, and her mom is a member. She said that she needs to take her time before she takes the step of getting baptized, so we're working with her slowly. Then that night, we went to the church building because an investigator was supposed to meet us there for a lesson. We walked in , and there were tons of people in costumes, and there was loud music, and people were grooving on the dance floor. When I walked in, I just said "It's a crazy, dancing bear!", and then I laughed because I'm funny, but then I was sad because it reminded me of my childhood when Lucy wants to learn the Jitterbug. Turns out, it was just a wedding reception with the theme of "Adventure is Out There!" The groom was dressed as the Mad Hatter, and the bride was Peter Pan. Also, our investigator didn't end up coming, but we got cake, so it was okay. 

The delightfully lovely Sister Morin.

Yesterday, C* was at church. And guess who else came??? M* and the girls came to church!! We've been trying to get them there for months now! They haven't been to church in over 7 months. We were so, so excited. I think I disrupted Sacrament Meeting because I glanced behind me and saw them and shouted "M*'s here!", and then Sister Morin looked back and shouted "M*'s here!". We weren't very good examples to all of the children in the congregation, but we were excited. Then that night we had dinner with the P*s.  They remind me of Becky and Michael and their kids. It was awesome being in their home because it was like being with family!  

The P*s, who remind me of the Hanks.

Being a missionary is slowly but surely growing on me. Like the lil' orphan Annie says, "I think I'm gonna like it here." 

I love you guys. 

Love,

Me