We In The Hood

Whatzzz good everyone!?!? Another week out here and alive, just kidding, but for real sometimes idk how we don't get shot out here!! Some of the streets we go to I feel like I'm in the hood. No cap. But it's okay we are chilling, We fear no man.

This week nothing too crazy so like usual imma just give some highlights!!

- Did a TON of service this week. Spent 3 hours with our district building a cabinet and didn't even finish. The instructions were completely helpless and the first step was the cabinet complete. Bruh. I did build both drawers, kinda proud of myself ngl

- We had a very powerful lesson with one of our pbts! We were planning to teach Restoration but we actually ended up teaching Word of Wisdom which is totally the opposite direction but that's how it worked out! The miracle from this lesson is that we were there at the right time. This may be disturbing but to keep it short, after we finished up the lesson our friend told us that she was in the kitchen about to indulge into self harm. She said if we had not knocked she would have done it and instead, the Lord provided and we were able to teach her that our bodies are gifts and are temples. I'm so grateful we were able to follow the spirit even if we didn't even realize it yet!

- Had another lesson with our friend Michae,l who we threw snowballs at his window! We brought a member with us as well and he told us he wasn't gonna let us in because his apt is currently infested with bugs. We weren't gonna take no, so we went down to the laundry room that was basically a sauna. The spirit was so strong. He has a smoking problem and tells us he really wants to stop. Our member told us that when he served his mission the way they got people to stop smoking was this thing called cigarette tea. You crush up the cigarettes and put it in water then drink it. Once it hits your stomach it makes you throw up, then whenever you smell a cigarette it makes you want to throw up. He said it's dangerous so he wouldn't suggest it. We came up with a smoking chore chart instead and promised him if he follows it he will see the blessings. We all felt the spirit.

- We had a lesson with our friend Ronnie (who is getting baptized a week from saturday!!!) . We were going over the baptismal interview questions and realized the last thing she needed to be taught was tithing. Before we begin she tells us how she's really struggling financially. She tells us that she's selling her birds because she doesn't have enough money for food for her dogs. She offers the prayer and me and Sister Waite with eyes open hand signaling what the heck we are supposed to do because we are so worried this lesson is gonna go completely South. We opened up with like 4 miracle stories before even explaining what tithing was. but, she didn't even need the lesson she accepted immediately and was smiling the whole time. This is such a testimony builder to me that the elect will do anything to be baptized! This lady is so elect and I am SOOO lucky that I have been able to be a slight part of her conversion process. Please, please pray for her this week and next as she prepares for baptism! She said she can feel Satan working on her so she needs all the prayers she can get!!

-Sister waite and I eat out almost everyday because we gotta take advantage of when we in the city cuz in the boonies the best you get is McDonald's and Taco Bell.

- Sister Waite told me that for a solid couple weeks they would only get fed chili. We have now moved onto lasagna. We have gotten probs 5+ calls this week asking us to come pick up lasagna. Super grateful for the thoughtfulness and for thinking of us, but pray for me

- We went with the Hermana's and Spanish elders to help a member in their Spanish branch move in. Holy freaking crap, she made the most unreal food i have ever eaten. I don't know what it was called or what it was but man I could eat that for the rest of my life. pray that me and sister waite can figure out how to make this because it's absolutely insane haha.

- We're in a district with the swahili sisters and Spanish elders. to say our district council is full of languages is an understatement haha! Super dope!! We also found the promised land for the Spanish elders this week! We used google translate 3 times. now they can move on from their pbt who comes to the spanish branch with his girlfriend who is a member, and he knows absolutely zero spanish but he won't go to another ward

- Also idk why but literally everyone here has a zoo in their house. We teach people and mid lesson their birds and 6 animals are chirping and scratching the whole time. You can imagine how loud we have to talk. my loud talking skills are coming in clutch ahah

Tbh this past week I have reflected a lot on this past year, my mission and how I got here. I can't believe I'm out here, there were so many things that happened before my mission and this past year which really affected my decision making in whether or not I should go on my mission. I'm SO grateful for those moments because it taught me so much about myself and brought me closer to my savior. because I had to turn to him and rely on him wholeheartedly. my mission has not been easy whatsoever, I have a lot of really hard days. but I'm proud of how far I've come and I'm proud of myself for pushing through the good and the bad! and I know my savior is so proud of the person I am becoming!

My spiritual thought this week is a scripture my brother sent me last night

Ether 12:6

And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith.

Moroni is teaching that you don't receive your witness or testimony until after the trial of your faith. Before I came on my mission I thought I had pretty good faith. I mean I had the faith to come out here right? I can honestly say my faith has been completely tested, in every aspect. but it has taught me that we always have to be growing our faith. it doesn't stop. and like moroni says you don't receive your witness until after the trial of our faith. our faith has to be tested. That's how we grow and that's how we learn. It's hard, but it's always worth it!

Don't ever give up on your faith

I love you all so much!!! I'm always here

Peace!!!

Sister Liljenquist

https://photos.app.goo.gl/ttiujZwnzQ6TnGRL9

Things I miss:

- my cousin syd

- the flo rider

- in n out

- watching chuck dawg play basketball

Pics

1. look!