Christmas....

SO this was the worst Christmas in the history of the world….well at least my life…..Christmas eve was nice even though we had to cook all of the food….that only insured that it was good food that we would eat….but Christmas Day that is another story….so when we got back from dinner, Christmas Eve, we found that our bathroom was flooded….that was fun, but being too tired we decided to take care of it in the morning and went to bed….I woke up to the sound of running water….and I found the reason the bathroom was flooded…the tap had been left on….so I turned it off and got the broom and started to sweep out all of the water, there was about two inches….then I took a bath, made breakfast….the morning went on like any other day….So Jabez, our Project Leader, had invited us for church…the taxi came and picked us up around 10 and we proceeded to Jabez’s house and then to church….so we get to the church and I am a little wary but also a little excited to see what the service will be like….the choir is singing and dancing and we get front row seats…..they have a guy playing the key board, mixing and what not….a little weird and super loud but ok….the preacher gets up and says he is going to talk about the origin of Christmas and he asks three members of the congregation to come and tell what Christmas means to them….it is all really gospel-ie, with all of the Amen’s, Praise: God, Savior Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and Halleluiah’s you can imagine, or more. So the Preacher, Father, Pastor….whatever he is called goes on and on about where Christmas came from and all of the legends….getting more and more animated….then the choir comes back up and starts to sing again….they start to wail and crying to holy Jesus to save them…waving their hands and covering their faces….and I take a good look around and it is like they are all pretending….it reminded me of some scriptures…I have no ideas where they are but to ones about “weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth” also “making a mockery of God” ….and the pastor takes the mic and starts call up people who have problems in the home so he can pray with them….so a few people come up and he grabs hold of them and starts shaking them and screaming….them people who feel unloved came up….and the pastor and woman did the same thing….shook them and screamed…and one woman was bawling and another woman “fainted”…..It was all so fake and all so horrible….it made me feel so dark and dirty, but also so happy that I have the truth! Later Mich and I were talking and crying…and she, who does not believe in religion, but believes in God, commented that she thought it was rude to God, what they were doing….Awful, Awful…..Jabez asked how we liked it and all I could say was….it was loud. He also invited me to go with him if I couldn’t make it to Lusaka to go to Church on Sundays….I politely told him no. After Church we went to Jabez’s house for Linner….Lunch/Dinner……it was….not so good….and there were a million flies everywhere! But after we ate he put on CNN so that I could be informed about what was going on in the US….but instead of the News there was an award show….CNN’s Heroes of the Year. I sat there watching these amazing people do incredible things to help others, and I felt so horrible….like a failure. I am here, wanting to do something good but I have felt like I have done nothing, Nothing! I want to help, I want to serve….but I feel like a failure. One the drive to church there was this tiny boy half naked standing in a heap of garbage….and no one cared….how can I help him? What can I do? I am a failure and I am letting everyone one down…..so Mich and I went back to our house and sat and cried for hours…resolved to start something outside of the project, our own program, teaching children….then ate peanut butter sandwiches….so that was my African Christmas! I hope yours was amazing and you got everything you wanted! I love you all so much!

The place where I reside.....

So I was talking to my amazing Aunt the other day and she said that the guy I described in my last post would be translated and I would never be able to meet him....so I guess he can have a few flaws....and she also reminded me that all I really need is a guy who is ga-ga over me and I over him....so that is what I will go for! So sorry I haven't posted for a bit, life has been really really boring....I don't know why but December the entire country like shuts down, I mean I understand shutting down for Christmas, but it has been all of December...so we haven't really been able to do a whole lot, sigh.....But I have been trying to up load the video I made of the house where I am staying....for like two weeks, but it hasn't been working, which I am really sad about because it was really funny although it sounded like I had a lisp, so I decided to work with what I could do....here are some pictures of the house with commentary added.....



So this is my closet...on the bottom (not in the picture) are shoes, then some food and trash, then you have my six months supply of shampoo, body wash, face wash....and what not (really this has saved me!) Then is my supply of vitamins that my mommy sent me, so I can stay healthy...Then there is my tooth brushes and mirror and things.....

Here is my bed, protected by my wonderful mosquito net! can you believe it...my bed is made! I know it is a miracle....

So on the other side of the closet is where we hide our food...we have to keep it here or it disappears....

So here is our table....it is quite nice to have....

It is really four cinder blocks and a rug....and holy cow! It was hard getting then in there...heavy!

This is the one chair in the entire house.....

As you can see it is broken.....

But by my genius we can use it without it collapsing.....

This is Mich's bed......

This is the hole in the ceiling right outside our door....every time Mich leave the room she checks to see if anything is there, because one day a good sized lizard fell out and was about an inch away from landing on either on of us....

This is the toilet...I am very lucky, it is inside and it flushes! But the seat is broken, so you don't pinch your butt you kinda have to squat or just not use the seat...and then you still have you squat......

Oh look, look.....And this is the gaping hole above the toilet....you have to be careful that nothing falls on your head while you are peeing....

This is the bathroom....

This is the bucket that I use to bathe with.....

And this is the cup I use to take my bath.......

This is the boy who cleans the house...his name is Eric...he is really nice, but I feel so bad for him because Petronella is such a mess, well I should say pig. She just throws her trash on the floor of her room. I asked her once what she was doing and she said, "it is ok, it will get cleaned up"....

The kitchen sink....as you can see the right faucet is covered because it doesn't work....and the left on leaks.....and this is Eric cleaning the pots...we don't let him wash our dishes, the house is such a mess from Pertonella that he doesn't need to clean up after us too...so

This is the Kitchen...really there is nothing in here, just a sink and cabinets.....oh and flys! Tons and tons of flys all over.....

So this is the "Stove" where I cook every meal....only the right burner works so it makes it kinda annoying when I have to wait till one thing is done (like rice) so I can finish cooking the meal....But at least it is not coals!

So I hope you liked the tour of the place where I reside....The movie was better, but oh well.... So I thought I was getting kinda tan....but nope I am still albino....Although I do have some funny tan lines...hmmm, oh well! I love you all! And Merry Christmas!

Hmmm....that would be perfect

So I had a revelation, ok not really but…..so I was reading on of the Ensigns my mommy sent me before I left, the October 2008, and there is an article in it entitled “Preparing Yourself for Marriage” by Elder Eric Shumway. Some of the things it says to do to prepare are….Love the Lord, Become productive, Be happy, Develop friendship, create order, serve, maintain moral purity, and attend the temple…..and I was thinking about that and also something I heard or read, that said to pray for our future companions….So I have been praying that I can develop and “acquire the personal attributes that will sustain a happy marriage.” I have also been praying for my future husband that he too is work on those things….and as I was thinking about it I asked myself the question “What do I want in a husband” Well really the questions was, “If I could have the perfect guy, what would he be like?” So here is my answer….He has to

Love the Lord
Be Humble like Ammon, Alma 26:12
Be Obedient like Nephi, 1 Nephi 3:7, 19:1
Have amazing Strength like Moroni, Alma 48:11 &17
Be diligent like Jacob, Genesis 29
Have Faith like the Brother of Jared, Ether 3:9, 12:20, 21
Have Charity, Moroni 7:45
Be Wise like Solomon, 1 Kings 4:29-30
Be Patient like Job, James 5:11
Be Grateful, D&C 78:19
Be vitreous like Joseph, Genesis 39:9
Have Knowledge like the Sons of Mosiah, Alma 17: 2-3
Be Forgiving, like Nephi, 1 Nephi 7:21
Endure all things, like Joseph Smith (no explanation needed)
And most importantly he has to be Honest like the people of Ammon, Alma 27:27


He also should be……Kind, hilarious, fun, healthy, romantic, thoughtful, curious, adventurous, spontaneous, intuitive, determined, motivated, playful, clean, good, loving, open, happy, sincere, silly, hard working, even tempered, assertive, courageous, giving, and observant. He should also love to serve and he has to be will to admit when he is wrong…..I know I am reaching for the impossible, but I don’t expect him to have all of these qualities right now but he should be striving to acquire them….just like I am, so we can work together and grow closer, to each other and the Lord.

Week 6...i think....

So guess what!.....Nothing happened this week when I went to Church! No crazy car experiences, or traumatic events.....No I just had a wonderful day at church! It was so nice. So I have been having a dilemma this past week because of the money it takes to go to church....about K100,000 every week, that is the equivalent of about $25 and half of my allowance for the week, but I made a choice, and budgeted....I know strange word for me....and I will be able to go to church often and still eat food and buy things I need.....it makes me very happy! So this week has been very....hmmm, what is the right word?......educational, i guess.....so Michi and I have made a budget and a menu so we know what we are spending so we don't over spend....and little did I know the effect that would take on the woman we are staying with....I think she got really offended, because we put the food in our room and she could not eat it when ever she wanted like she did before.....so she started hiding the dishes and pots and pans.....and then when I asked her about it she said she had no idea where they were....of course I knew she was lying...the next day I found in her room all of the pots and pans and dishes....it just made me laugh! So we went and bought some little plastic bowls we could use....it reminded me of when i was a nanny and Cannon would try to hide something he did....and that is how most of the Zambians are that I have met....sure they completed grade 12 but the education levels are so different and just everything is so different, but education is the big one....It is like I am dealing with children all of the time.....so I am learning patience....Also I learned something else about my self this week....I guess I talk in my sleep a lot! Michi says I talk to her and say lots of random things....ha, ha, ha, ha...so that is funny! I mean people have told me that I do, but it was every once and a while....Mich says it is like every night! It thought that was way funny, I really wonder what I say! I also made a video show my house....I will see if I can post it! I will try, but as you might have guessed the Internet here is not the greatest....but I will try!

Why?

So no amazing life changing, nerve wracking story this week....I wasn't able to go to church this week so that is why, I was so miserable yesterday because I couldn't go, but I kinda needed to have food, so church this week was out, sadly....but don't worry I do have enough money for food, this week was just weird.....But because I didn't get to go to church I had a lot of time to read and study....and I was trying to decide what I was going to write today.....and I thought I would answer a question so many people have asked me....."Why did you want to do something like this?" or "why did you want to go to Africa?" and It is a very good question and I will see if I can answer it. I have always wanted to travel, ever since I was little. I wanted to experience and see, new exciting things....Utah was boring to me. I would watch documentaries on KBYU and stuff like that and I longed to see those places. There was this one night I was home alone and I was watching one of these programs and it was about starving children in Africa. For three weeks strait I had the same dream....me driving a huge truck full of food, and giving it to those kids in need...I had to do something to help.....so that is one reason. The second reason for doing something like this, now, is while I was in Utah, I was watching friends and people my age all getting married and I knew I wanted to too, but I felt that I wouldn't make a very good wife and mother.....I needed to experience more and go through more trials that would teach me patience, reliance on the Lord, understanding, charity, and other qualities need to make a wonderful wife and mother.....That is what I want more than anything in the world....that is all I have ever wanted. To be the best mother ever. So I hope from this experience that I will gain the qualities need to become one some day......I hope that makes sense, and answers the question........

Blessings and answered prayers

So Yesterday was Sunday and I was very very determined to go to church again....so I prepared everything Saturday and woke up really early Sunday morning to go....This week the woman I live with (Pretonella) was going to Lusaka as well so I had someone to travel with and help me get a bus....so we go out around 6:30 and there happens to be a bus, an empty bus, that is returning to Lusaka, so we get on...and set off shortly after. However, the bus is so so so incredibly slow and has some problem, and is making the worst noise I have ever heard....It was taking for ever and I didn't want to miss church, so I prayed and prayed that I might be able to make it before the sacrament.....the bus stopped a short while later and we had to get off and get onto another bus, a mini bus....really it is like a normal van size but they cram about twenty people into it and as soon as there is any space they stop and cram more people onto it....so we stopped every few minutes to let people on or off.....by this time it was 8:30 and church starts at 9...I was panicking! I prayed and prayed to make it before they took the sacrament....we finally made it into Lusaka at 8:56.....we got a taxi and I gave the driver the address....and wouldn't you know it, he didn't know where that was, but he started driving anyway, and some how he all of the sudden knew where it was :)...so we get there about 15 after and I am running in, changing my shoes, and they are just singing the opening song! I found out after church that the first counselor was running late, he had car troubles, so that is why they started late! I was so happy! The Lord made sure I was there so I could take the sacrament! So after church I got a ride to the bus station with Luwani, the guy who helped me last week, and his younger brother. We got a bus and they decided to stay with me until it left, because it they don't leave until they are crammed full, and that could take all day. So we were sitting in the car at the station just talking and talking about everything....Luwani kept going and checking to see how much longer the bus would be and had asked about three guys who were working on the bus to tell us when it was about to leave, so about two hours after we bought the ticket the bus decided to leave, but I had left without me! Luwani had just gone to check, and the funny thing was that we were just talking about what would happen if it left me, so he came back with one of the guys from the bus company, the bus had just barely left and we were going to try to catch it before it got too far....so we rushed off to catch the bus....can I just say drivers here are all crazy! Any way we come to a traffic jam. There are people running everywhere screaming. As we move closer we see the cause of all of the commotion....a bus, my should have been bus, was in a horrible accident. The entire front of the bus completely demolished...the drive had been drunk and he ended up being completely impaled and died, I don't know what happened to the passengers, but there were injured people all over. There really was no reason why I should have missed the bus, but some how I did. Oh my Heavenly Father is watching over me! I am so grateful! I know I missed it because he needed me to miss it....

So I am really sad

I am really sad that I take the time to update my blog, but no one cares to comment on anything....I don't even know if anyone is reading it! So please if you are reading it feel free to make a comment! I would love to hear from all of you! I love you so, please show that you care by making even the smallest comment!!! Ok now I am done :)

A Few Photos....

See, See! I am really here! This is Andrew, his niece and me. Jackson took the photo.....I will get some more soon!

This is the little girl I was watching play in the trash, with to broken umbrella...is was way cute I just had to take a picture!

Waiting for the tire to be fixed...sigh! It was so hot and crazy!

My First Real African Experience

So I was determined to go to church on Sunday no matter what! So on Saturday we had a supper, long meeting where all I did was sit and doodle in my note pad, while everyone else bickered at each other, but at the end they were saying that we need to have a meeting and work the next day (Sunday)...and I thought no way are they going to make me sit through a meaningless meeting when I could go to church, so I told them that....ok no really in those words, but I did say that I would be traveling to Lusaka the next day for church, they were upset and said that we needed to talk about it, but I said no way! I was going! So I made plans to travel to Lusaka to find the church. Because of this meeting Petronella, the woman i am staying with and who also works in TCE and whos family lives in Lusaka, couldn't go to Lusaka with me...so I geared up to go by myself...and I know what you are thinking, I promised to go no where by myself but I had to or I was stuck another Sunday feeling awful...so the next morning I packed my backpack with all of my books and all of my money...Petronella found a car that was going to Lusaka and that would help me find the church, So I jumped in the back seat with two other men, it was quite cozy....Flying at over one hundred miles an hour we made it to Lusaka in just under two hours....my driver dropped off everyone else and then turned to me and asked, "where is it you would like to go Madam?" I pulled out my paper that had the address of the Branches on it and pointed to one and said, "there!" Sadly he had no idea where "there" was but luckily I had some phone numbers of taxi drivers in Lusaka that Pretonella had given me, so we (well really he) call him up and asked directions....we go to the road and searched for the building...slow we drove down the street looking, I was looking left, and just happened to look right and Ahhh! There was the sigh "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Visitors Welcome"! I was so happy...I paid my driver and jumped out of the car. Running to the doors, with my back pack on I felt like one of those kids I always would make fun of in high school who run around the halls rushing to class....any way, I ran to the doors so excited, I got to the doors and found the missionaries greeting the members....I had the biggest smile on my face I think they thought I was crazy! Sacerment meeting was so good and completely wonderful and uplifting! I have never felt so good! The rest of the meetings proceeded and I meet the sister missionaries and a bunch of members....by the end I felt right at home. But there was the problem of getting back to Mazabuka...Ha, ha, ha...I had no idea what I was going to do, but the good members didn't let me worry, a really sweet guy named Luwani and his brother took me to the bus station and found a bus that was going to Livingston and would stop in Mazabuka. They made sure I was safely on the bus and that all was well....so I go a place on the bus, cramped and extremely hot, I had to climb over boxes and bags to get to my seat, but I had a window so it was perfect! I sat waiting for the bus to leave for over an hour and a half, finally we were off...I enjoyed looking at the landscape...the trees here are amazing! I know I am going to miss them when I leave....but then in my enjoyment a horrible noise came from the bus....We had blown a tire...ha ha ha! That was so funny. And we had only been traveling for about a half hour....So we pulled over to the side of the rode, and we were swarmed by young girls selling fruit and water, yelling, shouting, putting it through the windows, I have never experienced anything like that before! It was crazy, so a bunch of people got off the bus, but I didn't want to, remember I had to climb over a ton of stuff and I was in a dress, so I sat watching everyone. I watched people eat their things and throw their trash onto the side of the rode and then I watched a two year old little girl happily play in that trash, she found a broke umbrella and was completely over joyed flipping it around. It was amazing to just watch all of the activities going on. But the bus got super hot and a boy came to my window and advised me to get off the bus while they change the tire....so I struggle over all of the boxes and made my way out of the bus. That same boy then introduce himself as Jackson and his friend as Andrew...we had a great conversation, they tried to guess what state I was from from my accent, I didn't know I had one, but they were way wrong. I know I do not sound like I am from Texas, Florida or Missouri! Hee, hee...so about two and a half hours later the tire was changed and we were ready to go again....so I didn't get back to Mazabuka until about eight that night, but it was the best day I have had here! It was so much fun and I completely loved it! And I felt like it was my first real Afican experience!

A Conversation with my Mother

So my Internet is working for the most part! Yeppie! and I got to have a good long talk with my mother....and I thought I would post it for all to read...I hope you don't mind mommy! I has some good stuff in it.....
GINA says:
good morning for me hello and how are you
Leah says:
hey! how are you
GINA says:
what time is it
GINA says:
good with a little cold
Leah says:
it is 6:30pm...really it is super super hot
Leah says:
I just walked about two miles....i'm wiped out
GINA says:
I'm glad you got the computer to work
GINA says:
where did you walk
Leah says:
me too! it just happened today...and the wireless is not working yet
Leah says:
I have to plug it in
Leah says:
I went and visited some of the field officers while they were working
GINA says:
what have you been doing?
Leah says:
well not so much actually...the culture here is so lax it is driving me crazy...but I have been doing some office work, and I have visited some of the field officers and went with them as they have gone to talk to people about HIV
GINA says:
hello are you still there... I got the job
Leah says:
today I went with one girl as she visited some prostitutes and asked them to be tested and gave them condoms

GINA says:
tell me about your House
Leah says:
humph...that is funny..well you haven't spoken forever1
Leah says:
!
GINA says:
yea
Leah says:
So it is a pretty big house, it has concrete floors and bars on all of the windows, It has running water, although i still have to treat it, it has a flush toilet and a bathtub I can stand in to take a shower with a cup...the kitchen dosent have a stove, just a two little burners that are on cinder blocks.....
Leah says:
what else do you want to know?....I just updated my blog....
GINA says:
oh I looked at that last night so what so you get to eat
Leah says:
well for breakfast either hard boiled eggs or oatmeal....lunch is Nshima which is like hard cream of wheat paste thing and usually some spinach and dinner....
Leah says:
dinner if I didn't have eggs then eggs or bread, I haven't really taken to the meat here...when the fish still has eyes and the chicken still has feathers....
GINA says:
oooowwwww yeah do you have a place to plant a garden?
Leah says:
yeah they have some things planted and the boy who takes care of the house tends to it, but I haven't looked what is in it....but we do have a ton of mango trees although they are not quite ripe yet

GINA says:
ok...do you have more people coming to help now
Leah says:
what do you mean?
GINA says:
more volunteers
Leah says:
no I am the only one that will be in this project for the whole six months
GINA says:
wow ok so you go out with the people from around there not any one from any other projects
Leah says:
yep...today I rode on the back of a motorcycle, well a dirt bike... to one of fields and worked with the people there and then walked back with one of the guys who works as a Field Officer...
GINA says:
so that was your long walk home... ok so what else do you get to do....
Leah says:
I don't really know yet...they are still working on my plan...I mean they didn''t know I was coming or anything...so they couldn't do it before I got here, but I hope to visit all of the fields and all of the field officers...there are 55 and they are hiring 50 more...I have been helping with the hiring process...that has been interesting
GINA says:
yeah that should keep you busy
Leah says:
I hope so! So it is so funny...I have already been asked 7 times if I am married and 5 of those by guys...they then ask if I have a boy friend and such and such....it is crazy. And today I was asked if I would marry a Zambian...and take him to America
GINA says:
Dad says hi and I love you
Leah says:
Tell him I love him too and have a good day at work!
GINA says:
ok
GINA says:
that is funny ... have you met any LDS or have you found out about church?
Leah says:
I haven't met anyone who is mormon, and no I haven't but the woman who is living with me, family is in Lusaka and she goes there about every weekend so I am going to talk to her, she was gone today though
GINA says:
April looked to see if they had a branch she said there was two. So made you can find one. that would be great
Leah says:
Yeah I have a list of the Branches with me that Elder and Sister Smith printed out for me
GINA says:
oh good
Leah says:
Yeah! I really am excited to be able to go!

A Place called Mazabuka

Hmmm....so may of you have asked, "What is it like?" Well let me see if I can paint a picture for you....picture St. George, now make it completely flat and add heaps of trash everywhere and a whole buch of black people staring at you where ever you go....and there you go. That is exactly what it is like, red sand, hotter than hades, with staring people...hee, hee...I will get some pictures posted as soon as i can. But it is not so bad, besides it being hot...the place I an living is pretty nice, a whole lot nicer than I expected...there is an inside toilet that kinda flushes and a bath tub, a kitchen and such....but the water doesn't always work and you have to treat it before you use it....I am living with one lady named Pretanella, she is in her mid-thirties and like to walk around not wearing anything and has coveted my comb....ha, ha, ha....The people here are nice but it is so frustrating because they speak mostly in their local langues so I never have any idea what is going on and when they ask me....ok let me repharse that, they don't ask, they tell...to do something I have a hard time understand what exactly they are telling me to do....and they tell me to do everything like bring your bag, go eat, drink this...it kinda feel like a child, like I can't take care of myself....Ah, frustration.....but I am learning! And I really am liking it here for the most part...and my constent pray is that i will learn to love the rest of it! Thank you all who are praying for me and have prayed for my bags...I know they got here on those prayers

Talent Show and less than one week to go! (Hey I'm a poet!)

On Friday we had to throw an "Unforgetable Evening" so we decided to put on a Talent Show...here are some fun pictures

Me and Mao Performing Moulin Rouge

Me and the Spice Girls

Winner of Best Performance

My Whole Team

Three Weeks to Africa!

So I'm back from Pittsburgh...finally, we were gone for 18 days this time and we only had one day off...We got back yesterday after a nice long would be 10 hour drive, but it turned out to only be nine with my expert driving, hee, hee...and it was a very very long drive with the girl in the passenger seat changing the radio station every 2.45 seconds, between bites of chips....it was quite annoying to say the least! So I found out some news, I talked to my project leader, his name is Jabez...so I guess I'm the only one in my project. I mean there are other people there working but I will be the only non-African...so that will be fun! I'm just a little apprehensive ;) But he did mention that they had wireless Internet, so that is good and that also means that they have electricity! But that is at the office, I'm not sure about the place I'll be sleeping...so we will see...exciting stuff! So while I was in Pittsburgh I met a guy, the guys we were staying with friend, who lived in Zambia for about a year and he told me some pretty crazy stories about the bugs there! Huge ants that can kill you and spiders and snakes...all of those fun thing! SO only three more weeks and I'm off! It is a good thing that I'm not they only one going to Zambia, two Japanese from my team are going too, and we decided that for New Years we are going to meet and go to Victoria Falls and go Bungee Jumping! Well the guy will go with me, but the girl refuses, that is OK though, we need some one to take pictures! I'm way way excited!

Oh Pittsburgh

So I'm having a good time in Pittsburgh....really it is true! Besides the freezing rain and our inability to raise funds everyday, it really has been a fun experience so far...I have met some really nice people and made some friends. For example, on Tuesday I dropped off everyone and was left to find a place to park the car and walk to a place to fund raise...I easily found a place to leave the car without getting a ticket, but the problem was walking to a place to fund raise...so I wandered around the city for about an hour all by my self and ended up in a Black neighborhood...I met some really nice people, like one guy who stopped me and to talked to me about religion and Africa...he was really sweet and really spiritual, although some of our views differed. Another guy stopped in the middle of the street and asked my name, and then talked to me for about five minutes....he was a little creepy, but nice. He was fascinated with my eyes and kept telling me they were the most beautiful he had ever seen and got about an inch away from my face...it was really funny and that was when I decided I needed to find a different place to go. And then I met a woman who couldn't give money but gave cookies instead...I love just watching people and the goodness I see in them! One thing I feel so bad about is that they don't know the truth, they don't have the Gospel...and I can see how they have strayed but are trying their hardest to do good...I just want to reach out to all of my brothers and sisters and give them a hug and tell them that it will be OK and that their Father in Heaven loves them. I am so grateful I have the knowledge of the true gospel of Christ!

Good People

I had a really good experience yesterday and today that really affirmed my faith in good people...We are on our last trip and we planned to go to Buffalo, NY. So we got there and nothing is working out. But we found good people. Complete strangers that opened their hearts and homes to us....and it was sad that we had to leave there, but we traveled to Pittsburgh and call on, well now friends, more strangers for help. There is no limit to their kindness and generosity. It makes me so happy...they may not have the same standards and beliefs that I do but they are still my wonderful brothers and sisters!

Holy Cow...Food!

Oh my goodness...so last night we went to a food convention, well we went after it was over and horded all of the leftover samples and merchandise...it was crazy! There was so much stuff! It was like the game show Supermarket sweep! There were about five other NGO's that were there...it was all very serious, with game plans and teams...I was on the junk food and personal hygiene stuff....so before we were allowed to go in I scouted out the area and got a map, worked it out with the others on my "Team", we decided it was best to divide and conquer! So when the gates were open everyone went crazy! Running and grabbing everything...I went strait for the soaps, shampoos, deodorant, face wash...all that stuff....it was the wildest thing I have ever been to...and holy cow we got so so so so much stuff! Three huge boxes of Oreo's! Wahoo! Tons of Lindt chocolate, Orange juice...so much food you can't imagine....sigh!

Building Weekend

So we had a "building weekend" where we remodeled our classroom and my team was in charge of getting very thing organized and what not...so guess what I got put doing? Hmmmm....lets think. Oh right Leah cooks! Bingo! I was in the kitchen all weekend! I planned the menu, went shopping, picked the worst cooks to work with me (so that they wouldn't be the worst cooks anymore) and cooked four meal each day for 35 people, and cleaned up after! Oh it was fun! (in a serious tone) I did get pretty tired at the end of it all but hey we had edible delish food! And I got to teach others how to cook! That was one of the best parts, besides all of the yummy food noises people make...those truly are the most gratifying sounds in the world! Only one down side was on friday i got really, really, really sick. So I had to go lay down and i felt bad that i had to leave Bia and HeeJin to make the snack them selves. But I couldn't stand...so what can you do...sigh! Then we had a game night...we watched a movie Mao made from the 'Olympic Games' they had (missed them, but I was at home with my family so no complaints there!) and then we played games...I had to come up with two, Tako,Michi, and Mariko came up with three, and Livia and Junior came up with two...all from our countries...so I, being completely wiped out had everyone play Red light, Green light, and Simon Says...it actually was really funny! Then we played Butt sumo wrestling....way way way way, so many ways funny!!! Defiantly have to play that with everyone! All in all it was a good weekend!

The Law of Chasity

So last week I went to some seminars on HIV/AIDS and STDs and it made me so very thankful for the Law of Chasity and the protection it grants us...we will pretty much be free from getting these disgusting and life threatening diseases if we live it...and that is such a blessing! Heavenly Father really knows his stuff! And it is just another example of how obeying sets us free. I met this man who had AIDs and he is probably going to die soon, and that is not because he is not fighting, oh believe me he is, it is because the stain of HIV he has is resistant to all of the drugs available to him....when you take these drugs they are very demanding...you have to take them exactly right or the virus becomes resistant...and that is what happened to him...he missed one time taking it or it wasn't right on time and now it can't be stopped...it is like how Satan works...you leave one little window open and he will find your weakness and then you it is harder to get rid of him....and I feel so blessed to have the gospel and have been brought up knowing the truth, and I'm so thankful for the commandments that my Heavenly Father has given us to protect us!

So this is a Blog.....

So my best friend told me I needed to get a Blog and about a month (or 4) ago I signed up for one and....never posted, Hee, hee and I know what good is it if you don't use it.....my situation has changed a bit, I now am not writing someone faithfully every week so I thought, "Why not use that blog you set up?" So now I will try to faithfully write on my blog everyweek! Oh fun stuff! So...life...I'm in a volunteer program in Williamstown, MA...a tinny tiny town that consits of one street and I don't even live in town...I live in the outskirts about 15 mins away, up a (well what they call a mountian) hill, in the middle of nowhere....where it rains all of the time and is pretty cold all of the time too...it is not the most amazing place in the whole world...like most non-profits it has no money, so it is pretty run down, it is like living in the lodge at The Dell, up AF canyon, for you who know what that is....and I live with people from all over the world...it has been highly interesting...My Team, the May Team 2008, has 12 people on it....6 Brazilians, 4 Japanese, and 1 other American....and most of them don't really speak english. And that fact alone has made for some funny times! So why am I here? You know that is a really good question! Hee, hee...i just joshing....I'm here to go to Africa! We "Train" for six months, learn about Africa, fundraise, learn about the problems in Africa, fundraise, learn about the projects in Africa, fundraise, study about our projects, and do a ton more fundraising! Hooray! Right now i'm in the study about your project stage, which is TCE or Total Control of the Epidemic. This project deals with the devistating pandemic of HIV/AIDS...and NO i'm not going to get it!! Anyway, i will be doing mostly education and outreach...I'll be going from house to house talking to people about: what it is, what it does, and how to avoid it....Oh my goodness I haven't even said where I'll be going in Africa! Drum roll.....Zambia....I hope you know where that is because I am not telling you! Ha! You will just have to look it up on a map! :) Well that is the background......