Tuesday, May 20, 2014

The One with the Woman from Pakistan Who’s Name I Don’t Even Know

May 19, 2014 

What a great week! I didn’t have a voice for all of it. It made being a missionary very interesting, but hey, I loved it.  

I have a confession.  I have fallen in love on my mission—with Canyon Lakes! This area is just so great. The ward is absolutely amazing and unlike any ward I have yet been in on my mission. I kinda feel like I am in an English ward.....it is weird and I don’t really know how to do work with the ward because I have never had to work in a ward like this before! All of my wards have been so wonderful, but this ward is like SUPER EFFICIENT.  Like WOW.  

The title of my week comes from a little thing that happened about 15 minutes ago:  We came into the computer room of our apt complex to email and one of the computers was occupied. I told Hna Jensen she could go ahead and start her emailing on the other computer and I sat down to wait for the other. The woman using the other computer was listening to a video in a language that I didn’t understand. When the video was over I said: "Where are you from?" (As missionaries it is the goal to talk with everyone, right?  So, I took advantage of the opportunity, haha).  She said she was from Pakistan, and I said:   "AH! Really!?  Shucria!  Sib!  Pani!" (aka all the things I learned from G and S).  She started laughing and asked where I had learned those words (which by the way mean “thank you”, “apple”, and “water” . . . so it isn’t like I said a logical sentence or anything).   

I told her that I am a missionary and about our relationship with S and G, how we couldn’t communicate, but how we just all loved each other so much.  We then proceeded to talk about life for a good 20 minutes.  She was great.  Well, she got off the computer and she left. I commenced my emailing on the computer.  After she had been gone for about 10 minutes, she walks back in the computer room carrying a container. She walks up to me and says:  "I made this yesterday. When you said that that family would feed you I thought maybe to give it to you. But, I thought, maybe I shouldn’t offer it right away; but then you said you are a missionary, but I still didn’t offer it.  But then I left and I felt like God told me to come and give it to you . . . because you are a missionary,  and I have been away from my home for a long time and it is hard to do that.  And you come to this strange place and have to meet all kinds of people and . . . and so I thought, maybe this could help."   I stood up and hugged her.  

How wonderful is this human race?  Yes, there is so much bad--people who do terrible things; but, sometimes I think we forget to look for all of the good.  

Love,

Hna B

 

Monday, May 12, 2014

The One from Canyon Lakes


May 12, 2014


Hna Jensen and Hna Burnham
 

Canyon Lakes is now my home. Here is my address:

15503 FM529 #423
Houston, TX 77095
 
Write me stuff :) 

Let me give you a run down on Canyon Lakes and my first few days in this area: 

Great place. Back in the city. Big ward. Solid members. The area is 85% Hispanic. Everyone speaks English though. The most Hispanic diversity that I have seen (I met someone from the D.R! [Dominican Republic]). Not as much poverty as I have seen in my last 3 areas (which is strange because Woodlands was such a rich area; but, there was a GREAT divide).   

People here are pretty established. There is a LOT of work to be done. A man kissed me this week.  Hna Jensen, my new comp, is just wonderful!! She graduated HS the year AFTER me, so I feel very, very old.  I have never had a companion that isn't from CA (5) or UT (3). She is from Utah.  

It is hot. The dreaded summer is upon us. Everything and anything you would ever need is found in this area. I live within 2 miles of a Target, Walmart, Walgreens, CVS, Kroger, every restaurant known to man, Home Depot, banks . . . I mean EVERYTHING.  

Here is a funny little story from last night: 

We ate last night with the T family. They have 4 children under the age of 5. E is 4 and we were talking with him while sitting at the dinner table.  He says:  "A (his 3 year-old brother) doesn't believe in Jesus Christ."  *stifled laughter*  "Why is that E?"  "Because he doesn't pray every night." 

What prophetic words from a 4 year-old. Do you believe in Jesus Christ?  Or,  in other words . . . are you praying every night?
Food for thought, eh? :)

Much Love,
Hna B 

 

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Random Photos

Random photographs received this week.  Some are older, but I love them nonetheless!


The Baichs (my bishop,) minus Brian


"J" and his car....his beloved car


English class


Churros with "I"

Mission companions and friends


M!!!!

With "C" at my one year mark
(Yes, an old picture.)

"J"


Those elders = two of my favorites.
Best district ever.



The bros. Aaron and Brian.
Could this picture get any more awkward?

The One with Hermana Ballerina


May 5, 2014 

My favorite family here in the Woodlands has now coined me with the nickname "Hermana Ballerina." They were the family we were with when E made that comment about me dancing behind our car. Since that point they all start dancing every time I dance--didn't realize how often that was. So Hna Ballerina it is. 

In other news: I am getting transferred.  

I LOVE the Woodlands. I love it. I love the people here. I love the area. I am sad to be leaving. Some of my dearest lifelong friends reside here. My Ward Mission Leader called me this morning and asked if I was leaving and then said some nice things to me  (he was speaking in Spanish of course).  At the very end he says, in his broken English, "Hija, I love you a lot."  So that broke my heart a little bit. And these past two weeks I have become like super close with my bishop--which makes leaving hard. But the hardest of all is leaving J. J and I are BEST friends. Like, E round two.  I don't know what it is about me and those recently-released-from-jail, but seriously, we bond like none other and LEAVING HIM BREAKS MY HEART.  

I always know when I am getting transferred because I have moments where I am sitting in church and I look out at everyone and just start to cry because I love them all so much. As soon as my love is that deep they rip me away!  I love the people here so much. I just wrote a very long paragraph trying to describe that love and those feelings, but then deleted it because it just wasn't adequate. They are just part of my heart. I love them.  I hope those words can stand alone and describe to you what I mean.  

And I love each of YOU.  I’m so excited to talk with my dear family this Sunday!!!!!!! It’s the last time I’ll talk to you, on the mission, before returning to your arms! When did that happen? I feel like a week ago I was calling from the airport or standing outside the church building calling the house, then mom’s cell phone, then dad, then Kirstin, than the house again, then mom again—trying to let you guys know what time I was going to call LAST Mother's Day. Oh how time flies.