Still Alive

Last night we received an email with the subject line: "Still alive!"  She thinks she's funny.  Just wait until she's a mommy.  It's one thing to hear from the mission that she's safe; it's another thing entirely to hear directly from her.

After talking with her for over an hour it was apparent that the entire time of the storm she felt safe and never in any grave danger.  She said, "I know it was a cyclone, but that wasn't my concern.  My concern was taking care of people, that's what I'm out here to do."  Wow.  When you fully trust on the Lord, He provides peace and comfort.


Then later last night we received the email copied below with her weekly update:

"As the subject says, you can all remove your black clothing and stop
planning my funeral. I am alive! We had a great time staying indoors,
making cookies, making bread at our neighbors apartment with her and
organizing our area book this past Saturday, and now it's back to
business like normal!

Okay, so last week...

Elder Haleck of the 70 came to visit! We had a conference with him
with all the missionaries that lasted most of the day, and Sister
Mason and I translated for it. It was so great, and I learned so much!

Also, Mamie P. came to church again! This time, she made me a
pretty blue traditional dress and told me to wear it to church. It was
a hit! Everyone seemed to like seeing a missionary dress like them for
a day (and not in "white-person clothing", as Mamie P. calls what
I usually wear).

And this week:

This week, we had the COOLEST lesson ever with M. and S.! Last
week, we planned on teaching about the Word of Wisdom, but since S.
wasn't there, we ended up talking about something else with M. and
we gave her the brochure about the Word of Wisdom to read for the next
time. When we got there this past Friday, they had read the brochure
as a couple, read in the scriptures together, and had started to live
the Word of Wisdom! M. is still trying to stop smoking and S. to
drink coffee, but they are well on their way! Even more so, they
talked to their two sons about talking to us, and they both joined in with enthusiasm on Friday! 
It was so cute, especially little H. who wanted to read with us so badly,
but can't read yet. So we're officially teaching all of them, as we
also started teaching their 14-year-old daughter J. this last
Wednesday. They are seeing so many blessings as well! S., who has
been so nervous about praying in front of his family, started saying
family prayers and even praying at work when he feels too tired to
continue, and says that he received strength every time. They didn't
know how they were going to pay for their kids' lunch money, as they
don't qualify for any scholarships, and last week they received a
notice in the mail that the lunch money is covered for all three kids
for the entire school year (the school year just started here, since
summer here is America's winter). I am just blown away every single
lesson, they are amazing! M. was pretty sick this last Friday, but
she told us that it was just Satan trying to get her to cancel her
lesson. I can't wait to see what kind of progress and crazy blessings
they've seen this week!

Well, I love you all so much! Have an awesome week!"