When it Rains, it Pours

And when it pours in Florida, you are instantly drenched. Well with all that has happened with losing a phone and getting in a car wreck this transfer you think God would give us a break. We did too. 

Well last Monday after biking to the church to email, Claudio took us to lunch after at Flanigans. We have gone before and it was going to be great. But I was instantly stuffed just after the appetizers. And then I started to really not feel good. So the bike home was pretty awful and I didn't even eat my food. Just took it to go. We got home and I took a nap and it was worse when I got up. But we had friends to go see. We saw Martyn and he had us write a song with him. It was pretty funny but the whole time I felt like dying. So we went home after that and as I was laying on the ground we came to the conclusion that I got food poisoning. 

 

So Tuesday morning I called the nurse and confirmed it and we took a sick day on Tuesday while I tried really hard to not die and just slept until I couldn't sleep any more.

 

Wednesday morning I woke up fresh and ready to go. We had District Training at the chapel that morning at the chapel. We talked about how important it is to leave commitments with people. They aren't just a favor we ask of them. It is a call to repentance. When the Prophet commits us to read more or pray more, it's not only an invitation. It's a call to repentance. A change of heart. That night Sister Dees got sick so they gave us a ride to Book of Mormon class so we didn't have to ride our bikes all the way there again. It was a fun time. But the Bug continued.

 

Thursday was a pretty normal day. They have switched out a chapter in Preach my Gospel to help us plan more effectively. So that has been cool to use and see it work. That night after dinner, Sister Dees and Sister Tyrrell called us saying they had eaten something weird for dinner and Sister Tyrrell wasn't feeling well so Sister Reidhead went out with Sister Dees and I stayed home with sick Sister Tyrrell. Fun times over here.

 

We got a lot done on Friday. We had service at the food bank and spilled rice literally everywhere. We had to clean it up really fast so no one saw haha. Good times. Then we hopped on our bikes and set off for an awesome day. Our first stop was with our friends Edgar and Clarence. We were able to teach them about the Restoration. They are from Jamaica and always ask us questions that they don't like about other churches but then like it about our church. I love being able to talk to them. Then our next stop was our friend Janice. She is so cool. She loves her handwriting so she rewrote, word for word, the Bible and the Book of Mormon. It has been a lot of fun explaining the church to her and being able to practice using scriptures so we can be on the same playing field as each other. 

 

Saturday was pretty normal. We have a canal right behind our chapel so we went and had lunch there. It was a great time. Then our day was full of biking and visiting friends. Nothing too crazy happened. On our way home that night we were literally 5 minutes from the house and it started to sprinkle a little. But in Florida, when it rains it pours. So 30 seconds later there were just buckets coming down on top of us. We booked it to the house as fast as we could but we were still soaking wet when we got home. Great end to an awesome day haha. I really love the rain here. 

 

Sunday was awesome. We had an Easter program. My favorite part was when all 7 of our primary kids went up and sang the song Gethsemane. They did so great and it was so powerful and really helped to feel the Spirit. Oh! And our friend Martyn came so that was super awesome. He gets really deep in his questions and our little branch knew exactly how to take care of it. That night we went to our little neighborhood we have been working in and we found a mom named Bianca who almost died 3 months ago and is just so ready for the gospel. We are excited to keep teaching here. That night we biked 2 miles home in 7 minutes. New record. Mostly because we were trying to outrun the rain.

 

That's about it from the Sunshine State this week. I hope you are all having a great time at home! Keep reading the scriptures and talking to your Father in Heaven. He wants to hear from you. And don't be scared to make that sacrifice of time to go to the temple. 

 

I love you all and hope your week is awesome!!

All my love,

Sister Beckstrand

 

Florida Sunshine: turtles!! We see them all over here and I finally got a picture. They are cute little black things and I love them.

Result of biking in the rain and our pic on a bridge

Our chapel canal and lunch 

Something on that table gave me good poisoning. I think it was the jalapenos. 

Our mission biking day!

 Penny's side note - Sophie sent the picture above and Claudio sent me the picture's below.  It's no wonder she got sick.  He said that she was popping Jalapenos. 

 What a great group!