This
week's shout out goes out to my apartment. By far one of the most ridiculous things I've ever walked in on.
It's been a crazy 2 weeks. I'm going to fill in the last couple weeks, as (mostly) uneventful as they were.
Nov 3-9
-Really got to know a family in the ward and they are the sweetest. We tried to help them move, but they declined, and instead had us set up shelves and racks and gave me some essential oils to heal my foot. She told me it was frankincense! And I was like, "No way, isn't this the stuff they gave Jesus?" And I felt pretty good about myself until Sister Seegmiller told me that frankincense is actually very common. As is myrrh. So I think my whole perception of the 3 wise men has been shot.
-Played soccer for exercise one morning. I think I worked my abs more than my legs watching Sister Astilla and Sister Seegmiller play.
-We went over and taught Christien, and it was interesting because she had a lot of commentary. She was able to understand what we were saying and respond. She had a lot of clarifying questions, and you could tell she is still sincere about learning. Her dad told us he's going to a church on Clayton Rd. Still looking for a job.
-There's a recent convert here, Michelle, who is the funniest person ever. Sis Seegmiller speaks sign language, and so she was spelling out Michelle's name and Michelle goes, "My name has 2 L's" because it looked like she only did one, but it was a very subtle L I guess. Anyways, Sister Seegmiller's closing us out with a prayer later, and she says, "It's Michelle, right?" And Michelle goes, "Yes. With 2 L's." I died. I was laughing so hard.
Nov 10-16
-We were trying to meet with a member and the lights were on but no one answered the door. So we were leaving a note, when a car pulls into the driveway. Some members were coming by because it was her birthday! They knocked and this time she heard, and it was rather amazing. We had no idea it was her birthday, but talk about impeccable timing.
-Laymon called us! We thought he was going to be in LA until Christmas, but he came back because he couldn't find work and he asked if we would come over! He's so cool. We took him to a baptism and it's kind of random, but in the middle of it he started bleeding. No idea what happened but I haven't ran that quickly in a long time.
-Met with Akira and his family and man. He does a really good Gollem impression. And he can recite movies from memory, which is amazing. I can't even do that with anything. Their family is so sweet. And they fed us cheese and apples. Which was an odd concept, but very delicious. -Laymon called us! We thought he was going to be in LA until Christmas, but he came back because he couldn't find work and he asked if we would come over! He's so cool. We took him to a baptism and it's kind of random, but in the middle of it he started bleeding. No idea what happened but I haven't ran that quickly in a long time.
-Met with Akira and his family and man. He does a really good Gollem impression. And he can recite movies from memory, which is amazing. I can't even do that with anything. Their family is so sweet. And they fed us cheese and apples. Which was an odd concept, but very delicious.
-ELDER BEDNAR CAME TO
THE MISSION!!! It was to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Oakland temple.
He is so cool. I really like the way he speaks and how he captures the audience
and breaks the ice.
Given that
introduction, of course I will be sharing some insights from Elder Bednar. It
was really funny because so much of it was on staying converted and staying
active after the mission. I imagine with so many missionaries going home at the
same time, that's a valid concern. The main thing I got out of it was to be
good, and not worry about it. The first part, to be good, is just to do the
things we know we should be doing. That includes a lot of things. So do them.
One of the things I really liked that he said was, "There is no temptation
if you know what the consequences are." The second part, not worrying
about it, is mostly in relation to where we stand and what we are doing. If we
are being good, then we really don't have a lot to worry about. The Lord is
with us and He will carry us.
Love you all!
Sister Kwan
PS- I didn't realize
that taking a picture a day would give me so many to choose from to send home!
So here's a couple. Well. I'll just send out more because I can't decide.
This
week's shout out goes out to my scriptures. I don't know where you are and I'm
so bummed out. I had them at church yesterday and I left them in the sacrament
room and I accidentally forgot them there but I went back and they were gone!
My name tag and my name is on them too. So whoever it was, stole scriptures in
God's house from a servant of the Lord. What's funny, is I got a prompting
before church not to take my scriptures. I thought that wasn't a prompting
because it sounded really strange but now I know why. Bummer :(
It's been real guys. This week has been really strange because I
guess I'm coping with this whole idea of going home. For 18 months, home has
been from apartment to apartment, ward to ward, and my real home with my
biological family has been like a dream. Just doesn't seem real. Or possible.
It's so bittersweet. It feels like I just left yesterday for my mission, but it
also feels like I've been here forever. But luckily, I can go home after 18
months with no regrets. It still amazes me that I made it this long hahaha but
it's. I'm really just lacking the words to express myself. I've learned so much
and I know I'm not going to return the same person as when I left. And I'm 99%
sure it's for the better. I know God loves all of us. He has made me aware of all
the tender mercies we receive each day, things we take fore granted, but things
that are so intricately woven into the fabric of our lives. It's incredible.
The doctrine taught in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is
Christ's gospel that was taught when He was on the earth, and the Book of
Mormon testifies of it. There is no greater work this His. And this is
it. 
