The Penultimate Week - November 5th, 2011

So.
The concert is today. I just know it will be so, so good. I'm so excited. We have displays set up about the Book of Mormon, and families, and prophets, and service that the Church does, and about our English classes. And all these wonderful people are inviting everyone they know--pray for us to find people who are interested in learning more! Life will be a little different without this thing to prepare for, but it may be somewhat of a relief. Earlier this week it started to seem like things were falling apart, however...

Sister Bean got sick. Yes, the star of our show caught bronchitis. We had an interesting trip to the doctor's office. Let me tell you a thing or two I've learned about socialized health care since I've been here--it's no good. Vubec(that means not at all). When I talked to the nurse on the phone she told us to come in at 9:30, but that the doctor we had requested wouldn't be in the office at all. When we arrive, there's this life of people waiting. After a few minutes we catch on, and Sis Bean joins the end of it and eventually gives the nurse at the desk her information. Then she comes to sit with us while she waits. A few people go in and out, and then the doctor comes and says, 'Miss Bean'. So Sis Bean starts to stand up, but a random woman sitting on the other side of me jumps to her feet first and jets into the doctor's room and he doesn't even bat an eye. We all looked around at each other in amazement for a bit and kind of laughed because we didn't know what else to do. A short while later she came out and left without paying or anything. I don't know, perhaps they will bill her or something. Then the doctor came out again and Sister Bean stood again, but another woman from who-knows-where ran into the room before she could get there. This time we just burst into laughter because there wasn't anything else to do. After this, Sis Bean got into a pretty impressive ready position and carefully watched the door, ready to sacrifice her poor little lungs in order to be next. When the doctor came out, she jumped to her feet--but the doctor told us that it was now time for patients with an appointment, and that he'd try to squeeze her in some other time. And all this time we saw the very doctor that wasn't supposed to be in the office at all, walking in and out of rooms. Ha.

But Sister Bean's better and everything will be okay.

Actually, no one here celebrates Halloween, just the people to know Americans.

Other than that, our week's been a little rough. So many people cancelling on us. One of our 'golden' investigators has taken a 180 and continues to blow us off for his work. Very few people wanted to talk with us, even though we didn't waste a second and approached everyone we could. Satan's working hard. But usually the hardships come just before the breaking of the dawn, and I believe the sun will shine brightly tonight.

We have been using the Book of Mormon Ensigns like crazy for our investigators. They're so wonderful. Gotta love the Church.

Li hang's amazing. So focused, and excited to go on a mission. He wrote all of the missionaries a letter about his conversion, and had someone translate it recently. I've never met a recent convert that understands the gospel so well. He's just so cool, I'm obsessed.

Cool story: this is how much influence one person/family can have (Dad, feel free to share this). This wonderful old couple in our branch is so great about missionary work. He's the former branch president and counselor to the mission president, she's suffering from cancer, and he just had a hernia removed. But they invited us over and this completely inactive young man, who hasn't been to church for maybe 10 years. Really, honestly 10 years. They knew him from when Brother Canek was branch president. He is about my age and his name is Lukas. Well, we missed our bus connection to get out there, so we were pretty late. And Lukas, the young man, was even later. By the time we got there and he got there, we had about 6 minutes to share a spiritual thought. Fastest lesson of my life. But afterwards we invited him to sports day with us and he promised he would come. That was all, probably 2 minutes of direct conversation. He came. Then he came to FHE. Then we had a meeting with him. Then he came to Sports Day again. Tomorrow he's coming to church for the first time in 10 years. That's all it takes, people--2 MINUTES is enough. There are people who are just waiting to be invited to do something, to change something in their lives. Don't miss a single opportunity.

Transfers next week--I'll find out tomorrow. I'd love to stay, I know something exciting will happen if I go, it'll all be wonderful no matter what. Love you all so much!

s laskou,

Sestra Dean

Sister Laws--there is a big scandal about you having a bridal shower going around the mission! What the--??