This was a week full of stories for the journal lol. Crazy, weird, gross, sweet, spiritual, all of it.
So here we go.
1. Cleaning crewww- So, on Thursday, we were asked to help the refugee center clean a house that some refugees had recently moved out of. Let me tell you, this house was not the nicest. We walked in, and were given the job of cleaning the bedrooms! I was ready to work no matter how disgusting it was haha. For the next hour or so, I proceeded to pick fish bones and rat feces out of the carpet. With my hands. So yeah. But we got it done!!! We then proceeded to bleach all the gross stuff off the walls and clean the bathroom for quite a while. I swept and then mopped, and then did both again because the floor was pretty gross. One lady helping us almost threw up because she was cleaning feces out of the carpet. lol.
Anyway, at one point, Sister John started feeling really sick. It was super hot in the house and there were lots of chemicals. So, she ended up going outside to get some air and almost passing out. Soooo I took care of her. While I was getting her into our air conditioned car, the 88-year-old lady that lives next door came and started talking to me over the fence. She was going OFF and was not saying the nicest things, especially about people of color.... so that was an awkward convo. She yelled, and I tried to calm her down, but she ended up just going on and on, lol. Anyway, eventually I got out of the conversation and went back inside. Just then, this lady falls. On her way back into her house. Long story short, the ambulance was called because she cut her leg. I felt bad for her, but we were glad she was ok haha. I just thought it was a funny coincidence that someone who was saying really mean things happened to fall right after that... Let's spread love not hate!
2. Apostle Andrew- so, on Saturday night, Sister John and I had the impression to visit someone who wasn't progressing super well. We were confused, but followed the thought! We ended up meeting the father of this family, who was visiting his kids. He tells us how he was baptized back in 2019 and loves the church! We told him about the Swahili Branch in SLC and he was hyped. Anyway, it was so cool to meet him! He talked to his family about how they needed to listen to us. So, that was cool. The funny part is that there was this pastor dude there. He was like praying over the children when we arrived and singing with them. After his prayer ritual thing, he came and said hello. We asked him where he was from and he said, "Heaven," with the straightest face. He then said, "and then I moved to the Congo." Anyways, we had a gospel conversation, which was cool, cause he had a really cool analogy. But then, he said, "You're missionaries of God. Prophecy something for me and for my life." We were a little shook, but it gave me a chance to teach about personal revelation, so that was cool lol. Apostle Andrew (as he calls himself), was crazy but a cool guy to talk to haha.
3. Refugee arrival- On Thursday night, we had a refugee arrive from Sudan. He is a funny guy. He moved into a house behind someone who the Elders are teaching, so the address for the houses are the same. So, we accidentally went to the wrong guy's house and kinda chilled with him, but this homie is one of the funniest people I've ever met. He just sits there and smiles at you. Anyway, he then told us where the right house was, and then joined us on the tour. This guy, Gad, only speaks Swahili and the tour was in Arabic and English. But Gad just kept on going like he knew exactly what they were talking about. Gad would just walk around and look clueless, and randomly started pointing at things, and saying the word in English. For example, he walked in the kitchen and said, "chicken," and then smiled really big. Or when they were talking about the air conditioning, he said "hot," and nodded like he was dropping knowledge on us. He is so funny. But yeah! Great refugee arrival.
4. Temple- We went over to Patricia's house and shared the video tour of the Rome Italy temple with them. The Spirit was so strong as we watched and then discussed the beauty of the temple. And then after the lesson, the little girl prayed for us, and said, "Thank you that we have temples. Thank you that we have people that will help us be together as a family forever. Thank you for people that come over to our house and get us closer to God." AH, SO SWEET. It was a really sweet lesson. (Click on the link below to see the video tour that Sister Copeland is talking about.)
5. Noel and the many questions- there's this guy we met this week who has lots of religious questions that are interesting. Like, "What were Moses' tablets made out of?" Anyway, he is so cool and really loves talking and learning about the church. We are excited to see what comes out of it!
6. Swahili District is no more- we had transfers happen, and two of the zones combined. I'm no longer an STL, which is ok, because I've got lots of time to focus on the branch now! But also, we no longer have just a Swahili district! Our district got combined with another one. Which is fun, and it'll be interesting to see how it goes!
Well, now that you've had some stories to read, here is a spiritual thought for ya:
I was reading in D&C 88 this week. One of my favorite verses in that section is,
"67 And if your eye be single to my glory, your whole bodies shall be filled with light, and there shall be no darkness in you; and that body which is filled with light comprehended all things.
68 Therefore, sanctify yourselves that your minds become single to God, and the days will come that you shall see him;"One of my goals for myself is to be "filled with light." I set this goal a few weeks ago because I saw how much light the gospel brought in my life, and how if I focus on that, I can fill myself with even more of that same light. The thing that this scripture talks about is that we need to have our eyes be "single to the glory of God." That means that we focus on God. When we focus our sights on God, everything else (doubts, fears, anger, sadness, etc.) can start to melt away. Our lives won't be perfect or easy, but we receive strength from an eternal perspective. So, if you want more light in your life, focus on God. It really does work.
Anyway, there was my week! I'm going hard core on my Swahili study, so expect some Swahili bars when I get home lol.
I love you all! If you made it this far, you're a real one. Have a good week, and reach out if you need anything.
-sister copeland:)
Pictures of the Week:
1. The sunflowers in the canyon:)
2. A monkey and baby monkey someone drew on the board for English class haha
3. Our Swahili PPC video haha
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