It is 11:35 a.m. on January 6, 2014 in little Reston Virginia. I sit on computer 15 in the Reston Regional library amongst all my library friends - the boy who wastes his life away playing computer games, the man with dreadlocks that always sits on the same computer and miraculously never gets kicked off (we have a 45 min time limit), the young man who speaks little English and who watches Spanish soap operas, and the older man who spends his time at the library, catching up on celebrity gossip, and the man who sits next to me, mumbling to himself and making hand gestures at the computer. I feel at home :) I love my life and I love being here. I love these people I get to be amongst and I just love all of it. The Lord is so good to us.
This week was a glorious week!!! Here are the highlights:
Monday - Car accident! We just got rear ended and it was really minor. We had to get it taken in for them to do an estimate, and found out that we desperately needed new tires. It felt like we spent all day doing car stuff and getting everything figured out, but we got to meet some great people in the process!
Tuesday - Temple Day and the last day of 2013!!! We had dinner at a member's home and then had a Russian new year with Ilana. She fed us cabbage rolls, a carrot, garlic and mayo salad, and apples. I never wanted to see food again after this night. It was such a good night though and the perfect way to end the year!
Wednesday - Happy 2014!! I am so excited for this year! I just feel like it is going to be fantastic! We started by having a lesson with Ilana, a lesson with a member family, and a then a lesson with Tanya. It really was wonderful. Heavenly Father changed my outlook and attitude this day, and I suddenly felt truly happy again. I am so grateful for this!
Thursday - Ilana's baptism day!!!! It was the perfect day and her baptism was perfect. It snowed quite a bit (for this area) that day, and we were a little worried about everyone getting to the baptism. It all worked out though, and the snow was perfect for her baptismal day and very symbolic. I can't describe how incredible it is to see the Atonement work in people's lives. The Atonement is real and it truly changes people. It works miracles in people's lives, if they let it. I am so grateful that I get to see this transformation happen.
Friday - I just felt so overwhelmed with Heavenly Father's love on this day. It hit me again that I know there is a God, and I know He is our Heavenly Father. This is something I cannot deny. I love this knowledge and I love Him with all my heart. I want everyone to know and feel this. It truly is the sweetest thing you can ever experience.
We went out to eat at a rotisserie chicken and tex-mex restaurant with Ilana which was great! We then had a lesson with Bettina, who is on date for baptism on the 25th. She is so ready and so faithful. She is giving up coffee, tea and wine, willingly for she says she knows and feels it is true.
Saturday - We had lessons with Tanya, Bettina and Ilana and they were all wonderful. They are just fantastic people!
We then had dinner with a member family and it was very interesting. The husband dropped some food on the floor at one point, and the wife started yelling at him and she wouldn't stop. It was so awkward!!! I was relieved to leave the dinner when the time came.
Sunday - We now have church at 2 in the afternoon and we are still trying to figure out how to make Sunday mornings productive, because not many people want to talk to you at 10 on a Sunday morning. We saw Bettina and when we first got there, she instantly said, "Where is your makeup?" Apparently she doesn't think we wear enough makeup, so she put blush, lip liner and lipstick on us. She also fixed our hair and gave us really high ponytails.It was kind of fun and it made her happy which was good! She is a lonely woman who suffered from a stroke 13 years ago, and we think she really liked helping us get dolled up!
And that is a quick summary of the week! Tanya is getting baptized this Saturday so we get to plan another baptism!!! The work is truly hastening!!! It is just amazing!!!
I hope you are all doing well!! I love you all!!!
Love,
Sister Akin
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