Week 13 - August 24, 2020

Hey, y'all!

Habari? 

Hope y'all are doin' well!  I am still lovin' it out here and love doin' the Lord's work.  Life is good and so is God!

I feel like the language is actually going super well.  I have been able to have conversations and talk with people and I feel like I'm really getting the grammar down.  It's just building my vocab down!  The hardest part is not being immersed in the language being in Idaho.  haha.  But, I'm lovin' it!

This week was kinda weird!  There are a lot of fires going on in California, Colorado, etc., so we've had a LOT of smoke in the air.  It's weird because it looks super foggy and weird even though there were no clouds.  So the sun was out but it was foggy?  It's eerie looking.  The only bad part is its giving me headaches.  Hopefully it starts clearing up soon!

This week was one of our friends, Fausta's, birthday!!  Her actual birthday was a couple weeks ago, but no one did anything for her.  So, me and sister Hyde decided to throw her a birthday party.  We made pizza and cake and gave her a journal so she could write down the times when she feels the Spirit.  She was so excited!

Because school started this week for all of the kids, the primary decided to do this thing so we could help the kids feel the love from the ward. They created an ice cream truck out of a suburban and we went around and delivered free ice cream to a bunch of kids.  They were all so excited and we had such a good time!

 

Here's my spiritual thought for the week:

I was reading about the birth of Jesus Christ in the book, "Jesus the Christ," which, by the way, is an amazing book.  It is on gospel library if you want to read it.  It talks about when Mary found out about the miracle of Jesus Christ's birth.  One of the things that is said to Mary is, "With God, nothing shall be impossible."  

That is one of my favorite lessons and one of the most simple lessons that we are taught.  God truly is so powerful.  He is ready and willing to help us as soon as we reach out.  As a missionary, it makes me feel so much comfort.  Knowing that I can do things that may seem really hard, as long I rely on the Lord. 

Najua kwamba Yesu Kristo ni Mwokozi wetu na Mkombozi wetu. Na anataka sisi kurudi kwake na Baba yake. Najua kwamba kupita kwa Yesu Kristo tunaweza kuwa watu bora. Upatanisho ya Yesu Kristo unatukupa amani na faraja ni ulimwengu huu. 

Nakupenda KABISA!

-Sister Copeland <3

Week 12 - August 17, 2020

Ice ice (fake) baby (eyebrows)❄

If you're thrown off by the subject of my email, don't worry, I was, too.  But I'll get to that. 

This week was great!  We had lots of fun times, mixed in with some stressful times, but overall it was another AMAZING week of being the Lord's servant. 

Here's some highlights:

1. Area 70 Tour!- So, this week Elder Cornish of the Quorum of the 70 spoke to us at our Zone Conference!  He was amazing and really opened my eyes to things I didn't even think about. He told us the power of repentance and how it's a joyous process, not a punishment.  So I've been thinking about that a lot this week and how repentance is something where we literally get closer to and become more like God as we do it.  Anyway, he also helped us a lot with the appointment we had that night!

2. Fausta- Speaking of that appointment, we went and saw one of my favorite people, Fausta!  She has been thinking about baptism for a couple weeks now, and we finally brought it up again.  She normally doesn't love it when we talk about it because her mom says she can't get baptized. But this time, the mom sat in on the conversation and it was so powerful!!  Fausta even said, "I feel a burning in my heart like its excited!  I know its true!"  We are so excited for her and hope to get her on date for baptism this week.

3. THE BABY EYEBROW STORY- So, one of the people we teach brought her baby home from the hospital this week. We finally got to go visit them.  The baby is SO CUTE, but when I looked at his face, it looked slightly unnatural.  I finally noticed why.  The parents had taken a sharpie and DRAWN THE BABY'S EYEBROWS ON HIS FACE.  They thought he didn't have good eyebrows, so they drew some on for him.  I honestly thought it was so funny.  So now you know why my subject is, "Fake baby eyebrows."

 

4. English class- I became an English teacher this week.  I got to teach English to Swahili, Arabic, Spanish, etc. speakers this week.  I loved it so freaking much.  I felt so cool and loved the people even more than I already do.  They're so sweet!

5. Ice Caves- This morning we drove down to Shoshone to go see this cave that was filled with ice on the bottom--almost like a skating rink!  It was so cool. 

Spiritual thought:

I taught a lesson this week about the Spirit.  I learned a lot about what he can do for us.  There was a girl who was very nervous because her aunt was having a baby and both her and her baby weren't doing well.  But, that night she heard a voice tell her in her dream that the baby and her aunt would be okay.  The next day, the baby was delivered with zero complications!  At first I was a little confused at her story because it seemed unrealistic that she would hear someone talk to her in her dream, but I quickly stopped myself.  I realized how the Spirit can talk to us in what way makes most sense to each of our hearts.  For her, it may have been a dream.  For me, it's a floating feeling.  For someone else, it could be completely different.  I love how there isn't just one way he speaks to us and you either hear it or you don't.  But, God knows each of us personally, so the Holy Ghost is aware of how we need to receive revelation in order to understand it.  I love that!!

Anyway, it's been an amazing week and I cant wait for the next one!  NAKUPENDA KABISA MARAFIKI ZANGU! 

KWA HERI,

Sister Copeland <3

Pictures of the Week:

1. This crazy fish soup someone served us

2. My district on Elder Lundgren's birthday! 

3.  Baby Brenly

(Sister Copeland's Uncle Kent, Aunt Natalie, and cousins Ethan, Ella, and Baby Brenly stopped by to visit her on their way to Utah where they are moving.)

Week 11 - August 10, 2020

MASTER (African food) CHEF🔥

Dude, I'm so freakin' cool😉

Before I tell you why... if you do nothing else, read my spiritual thought.  It honestly blew my mind.  I love God and his plan.  Wow. 

Here's why I'm cool:

This week, I cooked 2 FULL AFRICAN MEALS!!  I had help (of course), but honestly it was the sickest thing I've ever done.  I seriously felt so cool!

 Me stirring the fufu with my special African spoon

4. More African food

  Makin' African food like straight ballers

 

 More African food

The first time I cooked a chicken thing, bugali (fufu), and chapati (African tortilla).  The second time we made 5 LBS of rice (a lot I know), a kidney bean red palm soup thingy. Chipatis again (they're really good), and cabbage tomato something.  We made the first one for fun, and the second one for a baptism! 

The baptism of MSAFIRI was this week!  It was super fun!  He is the sweetest old man and he is supppperrrrr smart.  He taught biology, chemistry, and physics in Africa.  He, also, speaks French, Swahili, Kibembe, and English.  He's amazing!!!  His testimony is so strong, and he really believes in Jesus Christ.  He asked us to teach him doctrine and covenants, which is so sweet:) 

The District

We, also, met a lady this week that was a referral from some other Elders.  She is SO AMAZING.  She is from Iran, and she invited us in immediately.  She said that she LOVES Jesus, but she's not Christian.  We sat down and she gave us grapes and water.  She told us that she felt like she lost God and that she, also, felt like she didn't know where to find Him.  We asked if she wanted help and she said yes and started crying.  We are so excited to see her this week. 

THE FUNNIEST THING HAPPENED THIS WEEK:  We were walking through an apartment complex and someone stopped us.  He said some iconic things.  Here's a few. 

1. I stopped doing meth on my own.  I'm pretty proud.  Now I only do phentynol. 

2. The burning bush was marijuana.  That's why Moses got the 10 commandments. 

3. I'm Catholic and my religion is older than yours. 

4. Marijuana is just fine because you can't overdose and no one's died from it.

Honestly, I could go on and on.  He was so funny. 

Here's my spiritual thought for this week!! 

It comes from a book called "Jesus the Christ" that I've been reading, which is AMAZING.  If any of you have the chance to read it, DO. 

I was thinking a lot about agency.  There was a chapter in this book that talked about part of God's plan for us, and how agency, or our ability to choose, is one of the biggest parts of that plan.  Then, the book asks the question, "If God knows how our lives will turn out, doesn't that take away our agency?"  The answer is a resounding NO.  He only knows how our lives should go and will go because he knows US. He knows us so perfectly.  Knows our mistakes, what we will decide to do, our likes, dislikes, everything.  And he STILL loves us.  And helps us.  And guides us.  And then you look at the Fall of Adam and Eve, which was an essential part of the plan.  I asked myself, if it was essential, why didn't it just start that way?  Why did they have to sin?  It all goes back to agency.  Agency is a crucial part of God's plan.  They had to decide to sin so that the fall would happen.  God can't force us to make decisions and will never force us.  Jesus Christ wasn't forced to sacrifice his life for us, he chose to.  We didn't come to earth on accident, we chose to.  We aren't forced to believe and follow Jesus Christ, we CHOOSE to. So my question to you is, "What are you going to CHOOSE this week?  How are you going to choose to live your life in accordance with God's plan?" 

Anyway, that's it.  I hope you all are doing amazing.  A lot of you have asked for my address, but I live with members so I don't just want to send that out in this mass email.  If you want it, ask my parents and I'd love for you to have it!!!

NAKUPENDA SANA MARAFIKI ZANGU!  Usisahau: Mungu anakupenda KABISA na nafanya pia.

Our album cover🔥🔥🔥

With love,

SISTER COPELAND<3

Week 10 - August 3, 2020

What's up, homies??

It's been a GOOD week!  I am so freakin' lucky to be serving the Lord here in Twin Falls with all these amazing refugees. 

I'd say the main thing we did this week was SERVICE!!  We helped two different families move! 

The first move was for Mchukiwa and Eca.  Mchukiwa is very pregnant haha but was still waddling around telling us what to do!  They lived on a second floor apartment with only a tiny staircase down to the ground, so carrying the furniture was difficult, but we did it!  The hardest part, I'll say, was the washer and dryer.... anyway, we got them into their new apartment, which was ground level, thank goodness!  

Also, yesterday, Mchukiwa went into labor.  Her husband called and told us that the baby was sick and they were sending it to Boise.  So, if you could keep them in your prayers, that would be great:)

The second move was something we helped with last minute. We got a call as soon as we got home from our morning hike that said they needed help.  So we got right back in our car and headed over!  This one was also a second floor apartment, and they had nothing packed.... and it was a bunch of glass stuff.  So that was fun!!  We got it done and it was great!

You may be wondering why my subject says party crashers.... and here's why!!!  On Saturday night, we went to visit a family, and as we pulled up we heard this loud African music playing and there were tons of cars.  We went up and knocked on the door, and then immediately got invited to the birthday party for a father and son!  We walked in and the mom stopped everyone and said, "The people of God are here"!  Hahah.  Anyway, we finally got to meet one of the dads of the kids we teach!  We sat down and introduced ourselves and he looked kind of confused.  He asked his daughter, "You know these guys?"  And looked kind of concerned.  Come to find out he is the PASTOR OF THE CHURCH that literally all the refugees go to.... awkward! Anyway, we partied, ate African food, played with the kids, danced, etc.  It was a great time.  

Apparently they partied till like 5 am.  We went by the next day and cleaned up the entire backyard for the people!  It was crazy dirty, but we had fun helping! 

My spiritual thought for the week is on the importance of fasting, and there's a story to go along with it.  Yesterday was Fast Sunday, and we decided we were going to do the FULL 24 hours.  We started at 8 pm the night before, so we were going until 8 pm on Sunday.  I was definitely hungry, but I know the power of fasting, so we did it!  That night, we visited a family that we absolutely love.  They haven't really been progressing because we don't have the opportunity to teach the dad because he is deaf.  I have been able to communicate with him a little but not to the point of teaching him.  Anyway, he showed me a picture that he took of our church building and through broken sign language told me he tried to go to church that day, but it was closed.  I told him that it was starting again and he got excited.  I asked him if he wanted to go to church with us and he lit up and got sooooo excited.  He truly is such a sweet spirit and I can not wait to bring him to church!  You guys have no idea how much of a miracle this is.  Fasting is a way we show God that we are turning it over to him.  We give up something for him, so that he can guide us and lead us how we need.  

Christ teaching that we must make sacrifices.

I know that when we show God we are willing to follow him, he will be right there to bless us and guide us in whatever way we need! I am so blessed to be able to fast, and I can't wait to keep teaching Akwela!!!

Anyway, it's been a great week!!!  I'm so excited to be here and honestly, I've never been happier in my entire life.  If you are debating a mission right now, do it.  It's hard, but its SOOOOO GOOD.  I get to feel God's love for these people everyday and it's amazing. 

Love you all!  Email me!!!!

Kwa Heri marafiki zangu!!

Sister Copeland <3

Picture of the Week:

 Our car saying it was 119 degrees...