Fall is in the Air and it is CHILLY!

Fall is in the air and it is chilly!  Sister Pierce and I started out this week with adding a jacket to our outfits.  The jacket soon turned into a coat; then into a jacket and a coat; then into a jacket, coat, and a hat; and then into under armor base layer, sweater, jacket, coat, hat, scarf, and tights.  We are going shopping today so that we can add gloves, thicker scarves, boots, and more tights to the combination! It's great!  We love it! Especially when we don't have the car and there is a wonderful fall/winter breeze that penetrates through some of our layers!  Anyways we aren't the first sister missionaries that have ever dealt with the cold, so no big deal.  We are tough, and the cold makes us work even harder to find people to teach so that we don't have to spend as much time outside.

 

Well on Monday after emailing our district went and rode the 4th street elevator, which was built either late 1800's or early 1900's as a way to get from one street to another because there are some steep hills here in Dubuque.  We also went to the Saito's for FHE.  They were also celebrating three Marshallese Birthdays and the baby blessing that took place last Sunday.  Tuesday was a long cold day that not a whole lot ended up happening, but on Wednesday we were able to visit with Sister Jodon and that evening we were supposed to meet with Aline and James, but when we arrived at their house they were getting in the car to head to the church for activities night.  So Sister Pierce and I decided to go and drop by Thora's place.  Thora was home and we found out that she was able to find another job and will be able to get every other weekend off starting next month!  We were able to teach her more about the Prophet Joseph Smith and the 1st Vision.  We also found out that her mom had been a member of the church in the Marshall Islands, but passed away in 2008.  

Sister Pierce & Sister Call

Dubuque District

Thursday was Sister Pierce's Birthday so we had waffles for breakfast.  Then we went and taught Aline and she is wonderful.  She comes to church each week, always completes the reading assignments and we are just waiting for her and James' marriage in December so that she can then be baptized!  After the lesson with Aline we were walking home and the Clinton Sisters stopped and picked us up since they were driving by because we were having zone training meeting here in Dubuque. For Sister Pierce's birthday we went to Red Robin for lunch, since that is a favorite place of hers.  We then had our zone training meeting which was great, but it ended up running late, thus making Sister Pierce and I late for an appointment we had.  And anyone who knows me, knows that I really don't like being late, if I can help it at all.  Anyways it all worked out and we had a great lesson with the Zirkers, who then gave us a ride and we swung by our place long enough to drop off a few of the things in our bag, since we hadn't been home since 10 that morning, they then drove us to our next appointment with a less active family.  

Friday we were able to spend quite a bit of time finding, and we met Carol, who is so prepared for the gospel, she doesn't even know it! We were able to talk quite a bit just on her doorstep and give her a Book of Mormon which she was way excited for, so we hope and pray that we may be able to teach her.  Saturday we have kind of a standing appointment with Yolanda and Edmond and so we invited a member to come with us because she has come multiple times with us and we have been stood up, so we thought that this would be a perfect one to bring her with us since they are always there.  Umm this was the one time that they weren't there :(  I always feel so bad when things like this happen especially when we bring members along with us.  

My Marshallese nametag

Anyways, I love Dubuque and am grateful to be serving among the people that I am!

Love you all!

Sister Call

From a hand-written letter received Saturday 19 October 2013:

Mom, here is the French Bread recipe from Grandma Beatse.  It is so delicious and easy.  You should try it some time!

French Bread
1/2 cup warm water

2 Tbsp. yeast
2 cups hot water
1 Tbsp. salt
3 Tbsp. sugar
1/3 cup vegetable oil
6 cups flour

*Dissolve yeast in warm water and set aside.
*In a large mixing bowl, combine hot water, sugar, salt and oil.  Allow to stand until lukewarm.
*Add dissolved yeast and 3 cups flour.  Beat until well blended.  Add remaining flour to make soft dough that can be mixed with a spoon.
*Leave spoon in batter and let dough rest 10 minutes.
*Punch down dough and let it rest 10 minutes.  Repeat five times.
*Turn dough out on floured board and knead only until dough is lightly covered in flour and easy to handle.
*Divide dough into two portions.  Roll or stretch with hands each portion into a rectangle and roll it up.
*Arrange each lengthwise on greased cookie sheet.  Brush top with beaten egg white, sprinkle with poppy or sesame seeds, opt.
*With sharp knife, slash top diagonally about 3 or so times.  Let rise until double in size.
*Bake at 375 degree for 25-30 minutes.  Brush tops with butter and serve.

The fresh French bread in stores won't even tempt you once you've had this French bread!