Feb 21

Hey What up!!!!

Dearest family and friends the mish is so intense right now, I think Dr. Liang was correct mom when he told me, "you have a mind of a monkey!" I can't even think straight I'm so tired everyday and I literally am having amnesia hahaha. I cant remember things. Days seem like min and then I'm back again in my apartment planning and then before I know it I'm writing this email. Aka time is flying by really really fast.

This week has been filled with funny stories/ language barriers haha. But also the miracles that creep in and humble you on the days you want to take a nap in the tabernacle!

Who knew Pakistan was so crazy....

So Sister pervaiz tells me about her culture all of the time and I think its really interesting. I honestly had no idea it was that bad in her country. She teaches me to be humble and get over my little problems when I think of hers. So this week we met a man and it was so weird. He was from Iran and he was really nice he was here with his wife and their friend. Well the nice man had to go park the car so that left me, sister pervaiz, his wife and friend. We were all talking together and the friend (we will call bob) stepped away to take a call. So we are talking to the women and she told sister Pervaiz that they were muslim and that Bob was really religious aka don't talk to him about anything. See when we meet people from her country we cant really talk to them because they are muslium and will be killed if we teach them. Well Bob comes back and starts talking to me and I know not to say anything, right? Well sister Pervaiz during the conversation starts to cut off my sentences and was acting really weird. I asked the man if it was dangerous if a women or guest were to come without their traditional dress? And he said no we understand they are guests you can wear what you want, we welcome all. And I didn't see anything wrong with that answer... Well after he left sister pervaiz told me what was really happening in the conversation cause sometimes she would speak her language with him. He was trying to trick me... she told me that he prob works for the government or something sketchy and was trying to lure American girls to Iran. Because he said that I could wear anything..... Not true! If I went there i would be taken and raped and killed ha... She said she didn't want to talk to this man cause she could sense he was bad. And then yesterday we met a man from Pakistan but he was from a different part and he as working for interfaith things. I was really nice to him and he wouldn't look at me or Sister Pervaiz. She walked away from him mid conversation hahaha and I of coarse didn't know what was going on. She said he was a Paton... Which means they are really old and they kidnap children and no one really can say anything! Uh yeah I wasn't nervous or anything being around these people I kinda wanted to cry for a second but I was safe it was just weird. She said "Sister Mettra careful because your a pretty american"..... Yikes!!! She has taught me a lot now and I can read them a little better.

Swearing brings the spirit right?

Haha unfortunately due to chat and the really vulgar and horrible things people say, Sister Pervaiz has picked up a couple phrases that we had to have a little meeting about. With one of the men i explained in the previous story she pretty much said Go to hell hahaha.... And you can imagine how big my eyes got! She also said that in a sentence to the zone leaders last night... hmm haha thankfully they have a sense of humor so they just laughed. I had to explain that we NEVER use the f word, ever! Because that slipped to another sister this week hahaha. I love her she is so tender she has no idea what she is saying! But you better believe I did teach her "babe".... so she said oh Sister Mettra your looking like such a babe today:) haha and oh "thats chill, NBD". Her english is getting a lot better and I love her!

Power of Prayer

Travis is our new investigator and he is such an angel. We met him on chat and after we talked about music and snowboarding and everything else... I was able to bridge to the gospel. He started asking me questions like Jenna, "why did you join the church?" I started to testify of the power of prayer to him. We had been talking about how wicked this world has really become and that as followers of Christ we can help change the world. I said you know Travis I'm 22 years old sure I could be going out drinking and partying and all different things, but why do that? He thought about it cause he is 21 that's the time in his life right now. I said in the morning its all over and you have to start again. Why not center your life around something that will last forever not just a moment. He said

T:You are the most genuine, sincere person I've ever talked to

J: That's just cause I mean what i say and I really believe it Travis cause I know God loves us so much that he restored his church through a prophet

T: When I read the book of Mormon I feel like it makes sense

J: The book of Mormon will help us draw closer to our Savior in all we do if we will open our hearts, Let me share a scripture with you I was reading this morning, 2 Nephi 4:20

" My God hath been my support, he hath led me through mine afflictions in the wilderness; and he hath preserved me upon the waters of the great deep."

"Travis, God will always be there for us I know that 'cause I have prayed and received an answer to my prayers. I know that when we talk to him he is listening and cares for us. When we draw closer to the savior we can stay afloat upon the waters of life wither it be addictions, trials, temptations, death, debt... he will be our life boat and never leave us. Sometimes I think when the Savior cried in the garden of Gethsemane, Abba, father... But more preciously, "daddy"... I have found myself at times crying daddy I can't do this alone and I know that I'm his little girl and he loves me."

T: Jenna do you mind me asking how you pray? ( the spirit was so strong at this point I knew what I needed to do)

I taught him how we pray...

T: i really respect you and I admire how you pray it sounds like it must be real......

Spirit: Jenna pray with him

J: Travis I would love to pray with you, would that be ok?

T: If you say it, next time I'll man up and do it ok haha

J: Ok yeah I'll pray Out of respect I'm kneeling on my knees and folding my arms and bowing my head your welcome to join me....... then I prayed and honestly I don't know what I said, i tried to be simple but the spirit took over I think I even said thank you for the trees? But then I talked about the atonement

T: Silence........ Wow that was the most beautiful thing I have ever heard. I just feel complete peace when you pray I know that God is listening and that your really praying with your heart. Thank you so much, honestly before we talked i was having a really bad week... but now its almost like I feel peace and comfort.

I promised him that as he prayed more earnestly that the lord would bless him and he would continue to feel that peace.....We will be teaching him till missionaries come

I know that God needed me here. In that one moment I knew that I was called to this mission to pray with Travis. To help him feel a peace he has never felt. No other mission in the world would I be able to help so many people feel the spirit. And who would have thought, over the phone. I've never even met most of my investigators.

I love all of you so much and know that God really is our loving Heavenly Father... Fear not Doubt not... he is there! That's how I've made it this far and what keeps me going!

LOVE

Sister Mettra

2/21/2011