Simin's Spirit

...Except for Simin, here's a miracle about her:

 

She is so thirsty for the gospel. 

 

 We taught her the word of wisdom and when we mentioned tea she said, "I drink tea all the time!" But after a moment she simply said, "Ok, if it's what God wants I'll stop." 

 

 We couldn't even explain in great detail the benefits/harms of this, but she knows it's true so she accepted it. It really goes to show that it's not the flowery language that converts, it's a simple receptiveness to the spirit

 The baptism was so incredible.  Simin is amazing.  I was so happy to be there.  I really really miss it, and Sister Hansen.  It was small and Simin was ill but all went smoothly. 

 

After she was baptised and changed she sat down next to me and looked in my eyes and just said, "wow."  

 

She'll never forget that day.  She's so devoted. She loves that gospel enough to sacrifice for it.  

 

 



Mind Your Manchester Manners

 

Want to Hear a Funny Story? 

 

 

We had a tea appointment at the home of member yesterday and some of their grandchildren (Primary age) were there as well. 

 

During pudding (dessert) the grandma said, to the 6 year old grandson, in a very sharp (British style) reprimand,

 

 "Take your elbows off the table this instant!"  

 

Well, I noticed my elbows were ALSO on the table so I tried to subtley remove them as well but the grandpa sitting next to me noticed and started to crack up.  I was a touch embarrassed. 

 

I should've listened to you more about table manners!

 

 

The Transfer Back Story

 

How it happened:

Here's the transfer news:  I'm being transferred!  I'm absolutely stunned.  I thought if anyone would leave it'd be Sister Hansen.  nope she's staying to train a brand new missionary.

 

I'm leaving to...... Crewe!  Also to train a new missionary.  We were supposed to get those calls on Thursday but they never came until Saturday morning, 10 minutes before everyone else found out.  So we were pretty surprised to say the least. 

 

Haha the assistants called while Sister Hansen was in the shower and asked for her, so I asked if she could call them back.  Then I screamed, "SISTERHANSENGETOUTOFTHESHOWERRIGHTNOWYOUJUSTGOTATRANSFERCALLYOUNEEDTOCALLTHEMBACKRIGHTNOW"

 

She didn't believe but came flying out of the shower in her towel anyway. 

 

She didn't believe me till I showed her the phone record of calls, then she put on clothes and called them back.

 

 

 

 

I guess if I have to end without Sister Hansen, I would want to end training.  It will be a great way to grow and grow and just go hard till the end.  (the end is so tangible now.  I don't like it.) 

 

... picture of the g\Griffiths family whom I really love.  They have a 5 year old son and every time I see him I say,

 

"Ben, kiss my cheek" and he does it.  (Then I reward him with chocolate.)  I love that little boy. 

 

 

 

 

CREWE - ZING

Transferred and Training! Leaving Liverpool!

This week I will be moving to Crewe and begin an assignment of training a new missionary.

I have loved Liverpool and leave longingly.

However, this will be a great way to grow and grow and just GO hard until the end...

which is in:

SIX WEEKS!

*aaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!

(insert more than mild anxiety attack here)


p.s. Hey want to hear something ironic?  Crewe is home to a massive train station....  haha my companion better keep a close eye on me while i'm boarding trains. (see previous post)

When One Door Closes... Another Opens...


The activity was fun. We did "Minute-to-Win It" games. Remember doing that with the fam?  I'll attach some pictures.  We moved Skittles with straws, ran around the room with eggs in a spoon, ate donuts off the string, wrapped in toilet paper, and shook ping pong balls out of Kleenex boxes.  I think everyone had a pretty good time, I hope so at least!  My computer works today so I'll send pics. 

Liverpool is still good! Today I located the Beatles museum and determined that it's actually worth paying for, if I have the money. 

  On Saturday I got stuck between train doors. 
 That was almost the level of poop/plunger embarrassment. 

 I jumped on last second, after the bells, leaving my companion standing astonished on the platform behind me. 
 I tried to get back out, panicking that I was leaving Sister Hansen which only lodged me more thoroughly in the doors. 

 They opened after a minute and I released myself and Sister Hansen boarded and everyone in the train stared and I turned bright red.  They made an announcement to

"Please don't attempt boarding while the doors are closing" at which point I covered my name badge and turned to face the corner to avoid all the stares.

It's been a good week. We are teaching a woman from Iran and I'm learning bits of Farsi, I can count to 10!

I'm going to learn how to pray in Farsi and next time we visit Javad I'll offer a blessing on the food in his language. 

She prays, "My Darling Heavenly Father". 

It is

 really sweet. 

That's the news!

Liverpudlians


We get to go to Costco today!  Elder Nesbesnii has a Costco card for some reason. 

I am so excited.

 

We're going to buy pumpkins to carve and all sorts of other American things.  God bless America.

Weekly Things:

I learned that hummus has an expiration date about ten days shorter than I thought it was.

We were talking to a woman on her doorstep and she took hold of my hand, she pulled me closer and put her other hand on my forehead and said, "Bless you my child."  Then she cracked up laughing.

There are posters up all over City Centre advertising Wicked.  YOU NEVER TOLD ME ABOUT IT.  WAS IT AMAZING?  I WANT TO SEEEEE IT.

We went contacting at the University.  At first I had an anxiety attack looking at all the students but after we got going it was really good.  We went of splits with the other sisters to learn from them because they Uni contact often (lots of Chinese students there.) 

All you have to is make eye contact with a Chinese student and say, "Neehow, Neehow!"  And they'll come over and talk for awhile (especially if the person speaking Chinese is white, haha.) 

They're hungry for knowledge about God.  Feeling the spirit teaching them went a long way to replenish my own spiritual drought.

Cara came to visit last Monday - it was her birthday this week so we celebrated here.  I'll send some pictures and you'll crack up at our hysterical height difference. 

I am dreaming of a White Christmas just like the one Elder Nebsnii knows!

  

 

Love From Liverpool... Sis Gish

ps... who names their child..Gurpreet?

What Happens in Liverpool Stays in Liverpool...


The week was pretty good, not my best.  YSA was a different vibe than last time.  All the new students are more anxious and uppity about getting to places on time and more closed off.  However, there were some good things, I think.

 

My favourite part of the week was the talent show the ward held on Saturday.  Of course the missionaries were involved.  sister Lau had a brilliant idea she'd done in high school :

The Bellagio Fountains... Live!
 

 

So we all tied white sheets around us, toga-style, and walked in holding large jugs of water in our hands.  We taped some plastic on the gymnasium floor and played music in the background.  Then in coordination with the music and choreography we toodk big slurps of water and spit them out.  It was hysterical.  The ward was surprised to say the least but I think they liked it.  We certainly had a lot of fun.


Toga Time

 

 

 

 

 

Fishing for A Compliment?

 

With a last name like Gish, I'm always susceptible to people making "clever" rhymes about it, usually involving small animals that swim in the sea. 

This began in junior high, happened in the temple once when the man called me "Sister Fish," and continued in university when 

Papa Jim told me he wanted to set me up with one of his students.

"I have a student I want to set you up with.  He's great.  You'll love him.  He's almost out of the hospital!"...

and if that didn't do enough to beat romance into my soul, he continued with, "Oh but his last name is Fish."

I'd be Sister Gish Fish for the rest of my life.  No thank you.  Needless to say, we didn't work out.

Well the trend has followed me to England.  Last week Liverpool had a large commemorative event for World War One.  There were different stalls set up in the town center and the missionaries were involved in a family history stall, talking to people about their families and helping them set up their own familysearch.org accounts. 

Well one of the members from the Crosby ward asked if I was related to Lillian Gish.  I replied yes (I love it when people know her, I feel soooo important and I usually follow up a bit smugly by asking if they want my autograph.) and she continued the conversation by telling me a story about street hawkers long ago with cockney accents.

Apparently the big thing to do in that *time was to get people's attention by making a rhyme.  Example: Hey I like your whistle translates into, Hey I like your suit.  Because a whistle goes with whistle and flute and flute rhymes with suit.  Well guess how you'd order fish from a chippy shop?  You'd order a Lillian Gish. 

And just like that every missionary within earshot permanently formed a connection between me and fish.  My link to fame has been permanently stained.

humbly,

Sister Gish  (Fish)

*This must have been the time before television and around the prohibition because it's possibly the lamest pastime I've heard of. 

I don't think it would have worked on me. 

"hey nice whistle"  "hey nice... shut up.  It rhymes with ... don't ever speak to me again.  you're tacky and i hate you."