Week 1- Wow...lots has happened

We went on our first field trip on Monday. I was actually pretty sick for the first half of the day, I'd thrown up a bit the night before, but everyone helped me to be as comfortable as possible, sit in the front of the bus and asked how I was feeling. I am in charge of the music on the field trips and love that. We sing hymns at a lot of the places we visit and my favorite was singing in the Protestant Lutheran Church of the Ascension. It is on the Mount of Olives, which is believed to be the place that Christ ascended into heaven.

I really enjoyed my Old Testament class today and wanted to tell you about a few parts of it. The readings that we did were from Gen 29-36. The Old Testament is coming alive to me as Bro. Judd shows me how it applies to my deepest needs. I really love that he continues to show us how Rachel, Jacob, Isaac, Rebekah etc. are good people who are covenant worthy and can obtain the celestial kingdom but they aren't perfect. Rachel's flaws seem to shine as she struggles with her fertility problems. She feels envious and tries to force the Lord's will by gathering mandrakes. Mandrakes were believed to have helped barren women get pregnant. She also takes some of her father's idols and hides them from him. She is a human, an imperfect yet beautiful who has the potential of exaltation. God knows her weakness, lack of faith at times and wants her to be so happy. He still makes covenants with her because she is trying. I love that. Someone in class also pointed out that Jacob loved to serve Rachel. That made me smile. Service for those we love can be so pleasurable and exciting.

We attend church with the local branch here and I was asked to teach the 3 Sunbeams in primary on Sunday. My favorite was when we talked about "feasting upon the words of Christ." The Sister in charge of sharing time asked the kids, "How do we do that since we don't eat scriptures?" There were a few ideas and then one little kid in the back was thinking really hard and rose his hand and said, "Well, maybe we cold put the words in a chicken and then eat the chicken." "Well....good answer but not really what we looking for...." ha ha. We showed them that God has a body and our bodies are like His. It was so cute. We taught the Sunbeams...and it was their 2nd week ever in Primary. So funny!

I've made a lot of great friends here and felt so blessed to be around such quality people. I'm still quite tired because of Jetlag and staying up late studying but really happy. I miss home but know I'll be back soon.

I can't facebook or Skype here and so email is the easiest way to reach me.

-Synth