answers and thoughts

Questions from mom:

1.  What kind of foods are you eating?

....nothing out of the ordinary. :) There are markets right where we live. I love the feeling of going to a market instead of a store. :) Again, I'm in a fairytale :)

2.  Who are you teaching right now? 

We are teaching Daina. Her daughter is baptized but we are kinda waiting for her to decide on a couple things before she can get married. We are going to teach her tonight in Karoasta. Most of the Russians live there. Before the lesson we are going to go play in the old forts there. Look at the pictures on the internet.  

3.  Any bed bugs yet?

Ashley and Kelcie got attacked by them.  They had to fumigate their room. 

4.  Have you been doing service projects for the people? 

We did the Farm last week for Daina and then english class counts as well. 

5.  How are the English classes going? 

They stopped for a bit but then we will start up again here soon

6.  Did you do the talent show yet?  How did the singing and dancing go? How did your cowboy sweetheart song go?

Nope, not yet!

7.  Do Latvian kids fall in love with you as easily as American kids?

.....................................I'm not answering this question....... :)

8.  Are you walking a ton? 

Every day! But we do ride the trams 

9.  How do you make contacts?

We do street contacting but Europe will probably be the first to do fb and so forth, that's what pres. said.

10.  Are you getting exposed to traditions and other religions?

Hm. Everyday, I learn more about the Latvian people but not really about other religions. 

11.  Did you stay out of the woods during the Summer Solstice celebration?:)

hahaha of course I did. But next time I come here? No way. 

Random thoughts:

• Last week I went to Kuldiga...I have never felt so happy in one place before. I said outloud, "I'm home." I felt like a princess, passing her guards house on the left, while the remains from the castle are to the right... I am def. going back there. 
• I think i've finally learned how to cook cracked wheat. def. not as good as Grandpa's though.
• It's so humid here! I love it, although clothing wise, I wasn't really prepared for summer, just cold winters.
• my comp sleep walks and turns on the light at 1:00am and then sleeptalks and asks what time it is everynight...I love her. 
• loved the conference thing about member missionaries. I'm going to be the best ward member when I get home!

Love, Sister Woodland

Riga and Russians

well the members here...are just converts. So on the list here in liepaja there are I think 200 members...but that regurarly go to church....like 10? it's pretty sad. there are those 10 that sometimes have time to help us. we usually plan and help with the activities because they don't really know how to. teaching has been....well. I'm not gonna lie, the language is obviously hard. and I usually don°t speak much in the lessons. I understand most of the time, but speaking is an entirely different matter. but I'm still trying.

The Scerbinins

"I hope my skirt doesn't fly up!" I thought as I twirled around in the tiny living room of the Scerbinins house. They asked to see me turn cause their cute lil girl is dancing for the talent show. I'm also going to dance with one of the other member's lil girl for the talent show....and they want to hear me yodel...It's gonna be an interesting one...I yodeled for my English class when we had show and tell and then Vladamir (Russian. you could have guessed cause of his name) He is awesome. like 60 years old. Think I sing like in the alps.

Riga

The cobblestone streets, the tall statues, guitar music playing in the background...I am in a fairytale. Last P-day we spent the day in Riga because we had zone conference on Monday and then we had to do another set of exchanges there as well. I have been traveling every single week to different cities. I love traveling. God knows me soo well. He is giving me soo many opportunities with teaching, with my talents, with basically all of my desires...just listen to the spirit and the Lord will bless you :)

Drunk Russians

After Riga, we got on the bus and as I said, "Labdien!" to the lady who sat by me, she then started talking back to me in Russian..."Ah, another one?! I always talk to the Russians!...grr." She then pulled out some liquor and then...it was the funniest 4 hour bus ride. Let's just say the Latvian people didn't want to just drop her off so they tied her feet with a zip tie...and she might have peed on the floor. The other time, always on buses it seems like, was also trying to speak with me in Russian.

The Lauki

A lot of the Latvians go to their summer homes, lauki, and farm and just live there to be happy. So we traveled to one of our investigators farm and we pulled weeds! oh how my family knows I love to pull weeds. :) But really though, I loved it. Everyone barefoot and having a good ole time gardening. The strawberries were soo good. I loved getting dirty.

Today's P-day

We are emailing earlier because we are traveling to Kuldiga. I don't know much about it but I heard that it has the longest waterfall in Europe...? well....Atta!

first week in Latvia

The Pirate House

The smell was awful. I didn't dare touch anything. All four of us stood outside the door of what looked like something from a ship. And then white handprints from children were on the door. We all said a prayer and someone knocked (It was a passoff lesson from elders to sisters). Valija opened the door. I smiled. A real smile. I am really doing this. We all shuffeld in, passed a sink, 5 kitties in a box, and then stepped over something into a small little room, (smaller than any hotel room I've ever stayed in, about half the size of my bedroom in yellowstone). I sat down on one of the beds. There were about 3 small ones and a couch. She started talking to her son who had a cigarette in his mouth...one of the elders turned to me and said, "They are speaking in their language." ? oh, ya. I remembered. She is a gypsy. They asked her if she wanted to pray after she told us that she had quite smoking a while ago. Her prayer lasted....15 mintues? With some of grand children coming in and interupting. Then her moving to pray on her knees. Some of it was real quite, then loud, then in a different language, then part of the memorized prayer, then in her own words. An Elder then began to teach part of the plan of salvation. I ended with a small, simple, latvian prayer. We asked her to come to church. She came :)

Riga

After talking to a man from Germany on the plane about why I was going to Riga (in his little english) and exchanging cards (I'm a mormon card and his architek/sculpture card :), I grabbed my luggage and shook President Boswell's hand with a big smile. I stepped out of the airport and wow....so hot! I didn't expect that. They put us in a taxi and told him to drive to the mission house. "Great, we are going to die." haha it was just like New York. I miss new york. All these old buildings. There is a place right by the mission home that is abandoned. They said that it was where they interrogated them and tortured them. They were going to make it a museum but it is pretty sad and it's just a reminder.

Contacting: I said Labdien to like everyone I saw haha. and one man stopped and started talking to us. I gave him a BOM and he gave us his number (with chalk on the sidewalk). I couldn't wipe off the smile on my face. I loved Riga. Dinner came and I entered this resturant. It was like a midevil dungeon. words, axes, I was in a fairytale. 

Jetlag was no where until after we ate. We all fell asleep during the prayer. it was funny. 

Liepaja

After being in Riga for a couple of days, I left with my companion Sister Gallacher on a bus and traveled for...2,3 hours to Liepaja. I am also with Sister Pliha, who is a native latvian, she's 28 and went to her mission in Ukraine and then taught at the mtc there. I prayed for a native. I got it! But she will be coming and going. She is doing a mini mission. 

Got in a taxi with all of our luggage, don't know how we did it. And what song do I hear? "House of the rising sun" I almost started crying, felt like I was back at zions with my best friend. Our place is pretty nice. Didn't expect that. My window right next to where I study in the morning, is right by a beautiful old church. The bells go off at 7:45. So beautiful.  

The steets are coublestone and interesting fact:no dirt or rocks here. We are built upon Sand! So if there are rocks, it's imported. I can't drink any water except what's in my water bottle. We do have a filter at home, that is what we brush our teeth with. Some streets are really smelly, pee, blood, etc. I am taking doterra every day :) So my first couple days in Riga were the happiest because People actually were alive. But not here. I haven't seen anyone smile. haha I think that's why they act so supprised when I smile at them. 

To be happy is a choice. And I have been trying really really hard to stay happy. It kinda wears on you (the no happiness here), but I pray every morning to be happy. I asked Pres in our first meeting if there was anything he wanted me to do specifically. and he said. "SMile." So, here I am, smiling. :) I love this. Going out in the streets, trying to speak latvian, getting on the tram every hour, I love it here. Alot of people go camping. They have their backpacks with them all the time. 

Church

I got to church and Valija came! So I have realized, since going to church yesterday, that we are really started new here. There were I think...15 people there yesterday. Everyone is a convert. Excpet for the Branch presidents children. OH, he speaks russian. In Liepaja we have 2 elders speaking russina and four elders speaking Latvian and us 2 sisters. Me and my companion are doing what they call white wash? We both and new to this area. She started here, and was trained here, but then they took the sisters out. And now we are back! 

Well have to go. I didn't have time to take pictures. I will soon. Love you all. Sister Woodland.