So, this week has had a couple of weird and challenging moments, but there's been fun times too and overall it's great! Last week on the 11th it was some sort of holiday here. I'm still not sure what exactly they were celebrating, but everyone was dressed up in crazy costumes and there were people everywhere in the centrum of the city! We tried to avoid huge groups of people but it was still very interesting.
We had some adventures with food this week! So the elders that serve in our ward had half a pumpkin that they gave to us, so we tried to make pumpkin chocolate chip cookies out of it. However, we didn't have a recipe so we just guessed at the ingredients and amounts, and the batter doesn't really bake into cookies. However, we discovered that it does make pretty good pancakes, so that was a fun accidental surprise! Also, on Friday some members in the ward took us to this little diner place for a "surprise." Turns out, they sell hamburgers there that are bigger than my head! I had no idea what to do with it. It had like 3 meat patties on it, as well as a bunch of onions, boiled eggs, and some sort of sauce. It was pretty good, but I could only eat able 2/3 of it. :P
Some sad news - last night our bikes were stolen from the train station. :( However, luckily there are a couple of bikes in the apartment that previous missionaries have left which we can fix up and use. It's interesting how something like that makes so much less of a difference while on a mission! We were disappointed of course, but the work goes on. Something like this makes me realize just how important my purpose as a missionary is, and how material things matter so much less somehow when we're working every day for the spiritual welfare of other people. It is such a blessing to be able to feel that difference in my attitude and to be a part of this work!
Speaking of attitude, while I love this gospel and sharing it, most of you probably know that I am not much of a "people person." Contacting is kind of hard for me because we have to initiate conversations with complete strangers and somehow try to figure out how we can help them through sharing what we know in the short couple of minutes or even seconds that we have to talk with them. As my companion and I were talking about this and about having confidence in talking to other people, I said, "so basically we just have to fake it til we make it- but always be genuine." Haha I didn't realize until after I said it what a paradox that is, but it's so true! I genuinely care about the people we are working for and about the message I'm sharing, even when I'm totally faking the confidence or outgoing attitude I have when I'm talking with other people. I think that as I continue with the work those things will become less different, but in the meantime I think that this can totally apply to what I'm doing, and to anything we have to face in life! You can fake any attitude you need - confidence, happiness, etc. - until it becomes real, as long as you always genuinely care about what you're trying to do and the reasons for doing it. Sorry if that was a bit of a confusing thought, but I hope it helps!
Well, I'm out of time for this week but I love you all and am so grateful for you! Have a wonderful week!
-Zuster Jensen
We had some adventures with food this week! So the elders that serve in our ward had half a pumpkin that they gave to us, so we tried to make pumpkin chocolate chip cookies out of it. However, we didn't have a recipe so we just guessed at the ingredients and amounts, and the batter doesn't really bake into cookies. However, we discovered that it does make pretty good pancakes, so that was a fun accidental surprise! Also, on Friday some members in the ward took us to this little diner place for a "surprise." Turns out, they sell hamburgers there that are bigger than my head! I had no idea what to do with it. It had like 3 meat patties on it, as well as a bunch of onions, boiled eggs, and some sort of sauce. It was pretty good, but I could only eat able 2/3 of it. :P
Some sad news - last night our bikes were stolen from the train station. :( However, luckily there are a couple of bikes in the apartment that previous missionaries have left which we can fix up and use. It's interesting how something like that makes so much less of a difference while on a mission! We were disappointed of course, but the work goes on. Something like this makes me realize just how important my purpose as a missionary is, and how material things matter so much less somehow when we're working every day for the spiritual welfare of other people. It is such a blessing to be able to feel that difference in my attitude and to be a part of this work!
Speaking of attitude, while I love this gospel and sharing it, most of you probably know that I am not much of a "people person." Contacting is kind of hard for me because we have to initiate conversations with complete strangers and somehow try to figure out how we can help them through sharing what we know in the short couple of minutes or even seconds that we have to talk with them. As my companion and I were talking about this and about having confidence in talking to other people, I said, "so basically we just have to fake it til we make it- but always be genuine." Haha I didn't realize until after I said it what a paradox that is, but it's so true! I genuinely care about the people we are working for and about the message I'm sharing, even when I'm totally faking the confidence or outgoing attitude I have when I'm talking with other people. I think that as I continue with the work those things will become less different, but in the meantime I think that this can totally apply to what I'm doing, and to anything we have to face in life! You can fake any attitude you need - confidence, happiness, etc. - until it becomes real, as long as you always genuinely care about what you're trying to do and the reasons for doing it. Sorry if that was a bit of a confusing thought, but I hope it helps!
Well, I'm out of time for this week but I love you all and am so grateful for you! Have a wonderful week!
-Zuster Jensen
No comments:
Post a Comment