Sister Van Buskirk: HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Today is Sister Crane's Birthday! Yay! We are going to have a party as Sister Duemmel cuts out hair.

We had a fun week though. Last week we knocked a door and the lady said she was about to go to sleep because she has to work the night shift. We asked if we could come back and she said during the week. So Tuesday we went back and shared the Book of Mormon with her. I testified that the Book of Mormon and the Bible go together and without one you're missing something. She goes, "oh so I'm missing something. We'll I guess I better read it." We gave her a copy and we have a lesson tomorrow with her. She said she was going to read it and I really think she will.

Wednesday we had interviews with President so a great day. Then we had dinner with the Fuentes and Sister Fuentes made Pad Thai and it was the first time I had ever had it and it was the most delicious thing I have ever eaten. I love going there because who knows what we are going to eat for dinner. It's always good so I'm never worried.

Thursday did not start off the best. Arline passed away last week. I think I have talked about her in my emails before. I think the very first time I met her she told us we were hurting her because we were encouraging her to read her scriptures.... But she was funny and we loved her. We went to her funeral and it was so interesting. None of her family members were members and it was so sad to see them so upset. One of her sons got up to speak and could only say about 2 sentences because he was so upset. I am so grateful for the knowledge I have about the plan of Salvation and that I will be able to see Grumps again.

We did not get to meet with Pebody this week because his girlfriend's son got hurt and he was on lots of pain medication and I guess that makes him crazy. But this week we will teach him!

We taught Maureen and Steven a few times this week. We went over yesterday and tried to have a lesson. Key word for this story is tried. We called Maureen before we walked over (They live down the street from us) to see if we could come over. She said she was having a rough day but yeah we could. Well we get there and apparently they had been fighting most of the day. So we go inside with Maureen and start talking to her, wait sorry, she starts talking to us. The thing about East Coast people is they talk a lot A LOT! and you can never get a word in. Maureen is the same way except she's hard to follow. Like the dog from the movie Up when goes "squirrel!" That's Maureen except there's about 100 different squirrels and beavers and rabbits that she sees. Then Steven finally comes back inside ( I won't say what he was doing outside but it's something everyone in PA does) he was like, "I want you girls to pick out a drawing" Steven is an artist and he draws cute like barn scenes and stuff. So we picked one out and then we tried to start the lesson. We read a scripture and then asked Maureen a question and then who knows what happened. All of a sudden she opens to Alma 25:8 and reads it! (Look up the scripture. It's fantastic) We were like what the heck just happened. She wasn't even fazed by it. She just kept talking. We just gave up, said a prayer, and left. We love them so much though.

I love being a missionary. It is the hardest challenge I have ever faced but I love every minute of it. There are disappointments all the time but one constant is that the Savior is always there. I love the scriptures and the peace and comfort it brings me. I hope you all feel that too. I love and miss you all! Have a great week!

Lots of Love!
Sister Van Buskirk