Once I was a snowman, but in Saipan I melted

While ya'll are enjoying the snow over there in Utah (heard it snowed), it's still hot as ever here in Saipan. Maybe a little more rainy, but not too much. =p

This week has been crazy, but really good. I love all the families we've been teaching! So cool . Last week Jojo and her family, Walter and Xingjin, came to church for the first time. This Sunday was the primary program, and Jojo wanted to be a part of it. So Sister Lisa, the primary president, came over to their house with us this week and gave them a CD and lyrics so Jojo could practice. She did so good!! She sung with her whole heart, and even had a part in the program. She's so cute and full of energy. Her family is thinking of moving to Utah after Walter is done with work here... Hopefully they'd be members and I could go to her baptism there =) They've invited us over for dinner twice. So good! Never had tofu that tasted soo good! Also, turns out shrimp dumplings are way good. 

This week we also had dinner with the Bensons, the Conners, and Anbby's family. It was lots of fun! Brother Benson taught us how he makes dumplings. Super delicious. Then the Conners and Anbby's family came over and we all had a great time. Maning, Anbby's husband, mentioned how different American culture is from Chinese. He said even the way we eat is free. In China, he'd be in charge of making sure his dad, uncle, and grandpa all had drinks and food, and if they got drunk, it was his fault. But in America, you dish yourself up and just chit chat and... I dunno, it's just free. So crazy to think about. The coolest thing is how the church unites people of all different cultures though. I love it. I love the ward too!! They've been sooo good at fellowshipping, especially recently. 

I'm learning a lot about charity on my mission, especially recently I think. In District Meeting Elder Ieru said Moroni 7:45 was a good scripture to evaluate yourself on charity. I did that, and learned a ton. With each attribute, I asked my self a question, like for "easily provoked": "What does it take to make me angry?" or for "beareth all things": "Am I bearing others burdens with charity?". 

Here are some pics of our new apartment, a little cleaner this time. Good news! Found a spot to hang up my hammock again! Sweet! Thanks, Papa!

I better go. I hope ya'll have a great week! Enjoy conference!! Oh PS! Got to watch Womens conference live cuz it lined right up with church. It was super good!

Love you all!

Sister Springer

Chinatown

Ni hao!

This week was soooo crazy!! But it was really good. We are all moved in to a new place. The Elders ended up moving up to Tanapag, and we moved into their apartment. Their apartment has a super beautiful view!!! We are slowly finishing unpacking. It's our goal to be all unpacked by the end of this week. I think we can do it by Wednesday, since we keep skipping dinner and using that hour to unpack.... haha. 

Let's see.... Last Tuesday we went over to the Croft's (the 2nd counselor in the Bishopric's family) place and did a service project. We used machetes to hack down the jungle so they could see the ocean. It was so fun! And it rained a bit, so it was nice to cool down. Elder Ieru stepped on a stick at the very end and it stabbed through is croc and into his shoe... He's ok though. But we called it quits after that. 

Tuesday night we found this super cute couple, Joey and Yujin. Joey is Chinese (but his English is wanmei(perfect)), and Yujin is Korean. They are in their 20s and own an apartment complex. Joey has some Christian friends, but he really wants to learn more about the church. He's really excited to learn. His wife is a little less excited, but also wants to learn. 

Anbby is doing pretty good! She's really tired lately cuz her crazy Aunt-in-law is here. Long story short, Maning's uncle is not the best guy and hasn't paid them in 3 months so they quit... but now his sister is here and wants Anbby to help do a bunch of office work. It's been rough, cuz Anbby is trying to take care of Miaomiao. Her whole family is sick, so she missed church sunday... But we gave her a copy of the Liahona to read, so she can learn English and read Gospel stuff at the same time. She's staying strong and is super helpful with our Chinese. We are going to start telling her Bible stories, and she's going to help us learn to tell them better in Chinese. 

Gonna skip ahead to Sunday cuz I'm about out of time... But Sunday was super cool! Walter and Xingjin came with their daughter Jojo! They were only able to stay for two hours, but Jojo LOVED primary! They were practicing for the primary program next week. She loves singing, and was following along, and even said something for the practice. Sister Lisa, the Primary President is going to go with us on Tuesday to give them a CD with all the primary songs so she can practice. She's really excited, and her parents are too. During Sacrament, Jojo turned to Sister Jenkins and asked "Who is God?" "He created everything, the world, you..." "Oh, okay". She's so cute. Love their family!!

So we've found lots of families recently. I'm so grateful for the family I have, and for the knowledge I have that families can be together forever. I am also grateful for the healing power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, that can mend any wound and heal all broken bonds. I know this Gospel changes people, and heals families in a way that makes us want to be together forever. Satan is concentrating his attack on our families, because he knows families can bring us the greatest joy. Keep him out. Don't let him distract you from the most important things. Please. Study the scriptures as a family. Pray as a family. Work together, serve together, play together, learn together. I testify that the family is ordained of God. I love my family, immediate, extended, and those I've come to love as family. 

Thank you for all your prayers and support. Have a great week, and remember to enjoy every day! Time flies so fast. 

Lots of love from Saipan, 

Sister Springer

PS 

Here's a bunch of pics from the service project, going to the lighthouse with the zone today, and the view from our new apartment, and a couple others. Also, the ocean was sooo blue today! It's like that often, when it's not stormy too bad. I'll send more pics of the apartment when it's all cleaned up.

Picture

Hike with the Youth and stuff.... Great week!

Hey all!!

This week flew by! Half the zone was sick... no good. I didn't catch it, but hopefully it stays that way! Flew to Guam this week. President mixed it up a little... instead of flying out Saturday and returning Monday, we flew out Wednesday and came back Friday. It was pretty cool. It was nice to be at the Saipan Ward for fast and testimony meeting! I love the members here so much. We have such a crazy mix of cultures! Chamorro, Chuukese, Chinese, Korean (those are Korean girls in the picture from the Culture night. Thought you'd enjoy that, Dad ^^), American, Filipino, Palauan, Pohnpeian... so many! It's really cool how the Gospel unites people though. Love this church!!! 

MLC was really good. I love President. The whole mission struggled on baptisms this month.... So we got some chastisement, but also lots of loving encouragement. It was really cool. He is a really good teacher and leader. Basically, I learned I need to have more faith and be more consecrated. I always love the Spirit there! Also, Sister Kaleopa is now a Sister Training Leader too, so she got to come with me! 

So the culture night was really fun. Sorry I didn't get pics out last time. There were tables representing stuff from different cultures. There was tons of food from different cultures too, so that was fun. Then people danced/sang dances and songs from their cultures. I love the island cultures!! So cool. The missionaries sang I am a Child of God in like 6 different languages, couple lines each. Chinese included!!

Let's see... This week, Anbby moved out of her house. This morning we went on a hike with the youth to Bonzai Cliff. That was super fun! Found a huge spider that Lee, one of the youth, held like it was his pet. Crazy. All the missionaries had brunch at the Conners after. That family is soooo cool!! I love them =)

Anyway, I think that's all for this week. Keep pressing forward. I know times get tough, but God is very aware of our individual circumstances. Stay faithful. He blesses us in so many ways, in ways we can't even see right now. Hard times may come, but they pass! Love you all so much!

Sister Springer