Week 12: Anime and Remembrance Day

Good morning loved ones!! I love each and every one of you so much and hope you have had the best week whether you were working, parenting, schooling, or doing nothing at all. You all rock!

Getting into missionary life this week, it was pretty good! Elder Lopiano and I are still hard at work and while we aren't seeing massive visible results, we know that the work we are doing is laying a groundwork for the future as well. remembrance 

You've already seen the reason for the first part of my subject line but I'll get on to the second. The branch President (congregation leader) in Holsworthy has a really interesting and amazing family. First interesting thing: they own and operate an archery range. Super cool right? Second, they are really into anime. The whole family likes it, but his wife, Sister Smith, absolutely loves anime. It's pretty much her whole life. Anyways, I haven't seen many animes but I have seen a couple. A few weeks ago, having dinner at their house, we got talking about anime and I mentioned the few I had seen and, of course, she had seen them too! She said it was nice to finally have a missionary who she could relate to about anime, even if it was just a little bit. So we (and the rest of the family) bonded over these few shows and that was that. Or so I thought. This past week, we had dinner at their house and afterwards, she pulls out this really cool coaster to show me that depicts one of the animes we both really like. It was really cool and I tried to give if back but SHE WOULDN'T ACCEPT IT AND SAID SHE WANTED ME TO HAVE IT. A picture is attached. I absolutely love it and the Smith family. They are so kind and truly are trying (and succeeding in many ways) to be true disciples of Christ. They also gave me a Ramune, a Japanese soda, that was Sawyer's favorite. As many times as I get rejected by people or have people threaten to report me to the cops (yes that happened this week, and I was not doing anything illegal, she was just mad because we said hello and had apparently tried to talk to her before and she wasn't having it anymore), there are people out there who are genuinely kind and loving and make everything I do worth it. All of you are those kinds of people too :-) 

In England, on the Sunday after the 11th of November, they observe Rememberance day. This is where they honor all of the soldiers who have fallen in wars defending the liberties and freedoms the British people now have. Everyone wears poppies to remember the soldiers who died fighting for causes they believed in. People also just reflect on the past and how they want to move towards the future. At 11 o'clock in the morning, they have a moment of silence all across Britain. It was right in the middle of our testimony meeting. I reflected on the past year and how I got to where I am today. I remember all those who have sacrificed, not just soldiers, but any individual who sacrificed to help me along on my path. I'm truly grateful for each and every one of them. The list is too long to type, but odds, are if you're reading this, then you're one of those people. I also remembered who sacrificed the most for me: Jesus Christ. He truly gave His life for me, and for each and every one of you. He did so because I'm not perfect and I make mistakes and Christ didn't want my imperfections to keep me from returning to live with God because He loves me. He loves each and every one of you and is waiting to run to you if you call to Him. I know this to be true because He's always been there for me. 

British word of the week: estate - neighborhood (sorry if it's a repeat)

British food of the week: so the crisps here are all flavored like meat (chicken, steak, prawn) and I just want so normal crisp flavors

Companion Comic: so Elder Lopiano and I got a call in a middle of a lesson last night. It was a member. We called him afterwards. Somehow, we didn't have written down that we were supposed to go to dinner at his house...and we were 40 minutes late...and 45 minutes away. We swore we typed it into our planner but apparently it didn't save and we both forgot about it. So yeah we missed dinner. But it's okay because I made apology cupcakes today and we're going by to drop them off later. The southern person in me only knows how to solve problems with food and it's never failed me so we'll see how it goes.

Scripture for the Week: Alma 33: 8-11 God hears our prayers. I know this to be true. He's always waiting to hear from you and loves to hear from you whenever and wherever. 

I'm writing on a Tuesday this week because we have zone conference. Sorry I didn't let you know last week. Next week it'll be a Wednesday when I write. Also, I get all my mail this week, so hopefully I'll be responding to your letters if you've sent them. Your emails make my day and if I don't respond, know that I still Love you and just have limited time. Love you all and have a great week!