Week of May 20th

Hello to my family and friends,

I am not really sure what is going on in the rest of the world as far as weather.  I have heard of snow in Missouri, 90 degree weather in Utah and some pretty heavy fog near a volcano in Costa Rica- thank you Kamber and Trevor, enjoy your time there! Lots of rice and beans I am happy you are getting a taste of the culture. This week was actually really nice. Spring has sprung! Though I think sometimes it forgets and it goes back to a chili day.

Karee's sister Kamber and her husband, Trevor are in Costa Rica for a vacation. This is the volcano she is talking of.

Monday was super nice weather. We played Frisbee and soccer at the park again. As well as some spring cleaning at the house and some shopping for our bellies. We taught a fun lesson at Noche de Hogar (FHE) with a couple families in the ward (the Gomez, Matos, Hno. Mandoza, Martica and her three kids, Hna. Guzman and Hna. Ganzalez. We used an analogy to keep their attention (thank you to the little helpful book from sister Wallentine! I will be using that a lot more!). We talked about the priesthood authority that Jesus established on the earth when He was here. Then we talked about how it was taken from the earth after the people rejected him and his disciples. At this point all the lights were off and the candles representing the priesthood authority were blown out. There was no light. We talked about the restoration of this priesthood and what it means to us now. It was actually really neat and the kids payed attention. PLUS no one got burned! A little wax on the table and my skirt, but no harm! 

Tuesday was a pretty good day as well. We found where to go to not have to walk a lot! When we don't have appointments with people we are teaching or members we do a lot of finding. We are trying to find out if they have moved or where they have gone. We want to let them know that we haven't forgotten them and that we still love them. We were able to connect... at least it connected in my mind, how the cities connect and how I can get from place to place more effectively. We were able to meet the parents of some of the members in our ward and set up a return appointment to meet with Hna. Gomez's daughter and granddaughter. Then we went to the Montero's for dinner. Hna. Montero is from Peru and has been a member for a while, but for one reason or another she has been inactive for a few years. I was able to have Peruvian food for the first time on my mission. Delicious. Rice based, with some meat and vegetable sauce to go over top. We had a very special lesson with them. We shared chapter  10 from Daughters in my Kingdom with Hna. Montero and her three daughters. They were touched by the message of the Relief Society. My testimony too was strengthened as we talked about our different responsibilities and privileges that are ours as women in the Relief Society. 

Wednesday we stopped by the Monteros' once again to drop off copies of Daughters in my Kingdom for each of them. We also shared a message about prayer and the power of prayer. They were very appreciative that we would give them part of our time to share with them and help answer the questions that they have. Then we traveled (oh the joys of living in a city... that we don't have to go too far, but public transportation can take a while sometimes). We met up with a woman the elders have been teaching (who is actually going to get baptized soon) to have her come on a visit with us. We went to the Anleu's house and shared a similar message as the night before about the purpose and responsibilities of the Relief Society sisters. Sister Anleu talked about her experiences with how the Relief Society sisters helped them after the death of their daughter (10 years ago). It was really sweet and tender, something I don't think that they share very often. After that lesson we said goodbye to Mercedes and went to grab something at subway then off to a lesson with the Diaz family. They are recent converts of a few months. It is just the mom and the 16 yr. daughter that were baptized, but they are solid and are wanting to be examples to the rest of their family and they are doing great! We then WALKED some more and went to Osvaldo's to set up an appointment because his phone wasn't working. That's what we do! When we can't get ahold by phone, we walk and find them.

Thursday We went early in the day to Osvaldos house. He tried to get his 4 yr. niece to dance a traditional dance for us, but she was too shy. Talked to him about the Plan of Salvation and what that means to us. Then we went to copley square to meet up with Wilmer (an investigator who came here by himself from Guatemala) He is taking lessons to learn english. We talked about the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He has been reading the Book of Mormon! YAY! and he had some really good questions. Then we went to the Anleu's (again!) for dinner. They helped us out quite a bit with a few names of people we had never met. They are such a great couple who have studied and learned for themselves that the gospel is true. Hno. Anleu had me order a book from Deseret book ( the power of an everyday missionary) over the phone. It was pretty entertaining for them to watch me try to translate their zip code... for some reason, even when he said it in English, I could not get it right. Then we went WALKING to go find a member and found she had moved. Then we WALKED some more to Martica's house were we helped Julio with his homework. He has been here only for 4 or 6 months and so he hasn't quite picked up on the English. I am sure it has to be really hard for him. They also got a new little kitten and we had some fun playing with that cute little thing. They gave us some sandwiches to take home, ice cream and some Gatorade. These people are so loving and giving!

Friday we had district meeting and then (because we had a surprise visit from sister packard) we had some delicious snacks on the way to the train station to meet up with sister Anleu (fourth time if you were wondering, we stopped by on Monday night briefly) to help her with her visiting teaching. She is such a cute lady. She is pretty short (yes, shorter than Hannah R. and all of my companions. I would say about Kelcey's height.... maybe Klarie's)(these are Karee's sisters) She goes to about my elbows... maybe a little taller. We had a wonderful visit and were offered soda and a pastel thing. On the way to our next appointment I was told that I have a funny accent. Then he asked "Are you from Ireland?" I am not sure what it is but I have had a few people ask that..  I know I don't have an Irish accent but I didn't think I sounded foreign? Then we went to a less active family, the Peloso family. They talked quite a bit about their culture and their background. They are from Argentina and so they were more than happy to talk about their country and sister smith was super excited. We are going to be going back over there twice next week. Once to compare dinner recipes and then again for dinner. YUM!

Saturday was lunch with Patricia and her daughter Trinity. They are quite the entertainers. Trinity sure likes to talk. Then we did a bunch of stop by's....WALKING! Not very many people were home. We ended the day at a wonderful place.... ICE CREAM SHOP! If you ever need a good place take me and I will show you!

Sunday was regional conference, which was a broadcast. Sister Linda K. Burton spoke as well as Elder Perry, Elder Packer and another member of the seventy. We listened to it in Spanish... which was fun. I took notes in English though... not sure how that all worked out. Then we went out with the Relief Society president to visit a few women in the ward. Only two of which were actually home. Lovely when that happens. Sister Allen brought dinner for the missionaries at the church and then we had  a fireside by Hno. Paredes. He is so wonderful! It was about true conversion. I love it when the members of the ward are motivated to help the missionaries. Those notes I took in Spanish. I am making progress!

Well that's about it for me... i think this week is going to bring some rain and thunderstorms.... who know's maybe it is because we need to have the members realize how fun it is to go out with us. Or we are needing to shower more... or learn how to be prepared for all weather and know where to find some new umbrellas. Either way... I love spring weather. I love Boston. I love the people here! i love being a missionary!

Remember Mormon 5:23- You are in His hands, He is taking care of you, don't try to hop out. 

I love you all!

Love always, 

Hna. K. Brown

Ps a few funny things that happened this week:

I was asked if I was single by a random man passing by... that's always a fun one. Don't worry, he was just joking...  I think. 

I saw a man holding a plastic bag with a nice natural snack bar smooshed up against a doughnut. 

We were told it wasn't going to ran until 8 that night then we left that member's house around 3 and it was raining.

Karee with Sis Garcia and Sis Wagner on their way to the Boston Globe tour

 

Karee and some of the other sister missionaries took a tour of the Boston Globe one Monday(P-Day)

This is a mold made out of lead used to do the newspaper

This press goes about 25mph

These are robots that are very self sufficient. They even plug themselves in when their batteries are low.

Old printing press

Ate at some members home and were fed so much. Karee wrapped 2 fried plantains in a napkin and realized no pockets! Thank goodness for scarves!

She shared with the sister missionaries in her apartment!