Week 46: BURKINA FASO 2023 BABY

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 Howdy howdy amigos

It's another great week here in Eugene and things are going swell! I have another transfer under the belt and I am staying another transfer here in the Santa Clara area with my companion Sister Ngatuvai! Things are really starting to line up over here and a lot of the seeds we planted last transfer are starting to grow! It's the best. 

Since we are on the bus, we are getting the ultimate Eugene experience and I wouldn't have it any other way! We are getting homeless people with knives, cat calls, and bashed left and right but it is all part of the grind haha! A few weeks ago I almost fought a basher at the bus station that was speaking in tongues to us and being really food and I told him several times we were done and then he accused me of threatening him which was hilarious since I came nowhere near him but enough of that haha. Just rest assured knowing I have no shame and when that backfires I carry pepper spray lol. 

One of the coolest miracles of my mission has been our friend Ibrahim. He is a very inactive and from Burkina Faso which is a country in Africa. We have tried really hard to minister and let him know we are here for him and it really has worked. We don't teach lessons to him but we are trying to show him that we are truly genuine since he has expressed that he ultimately left the church due to the lack of diversity and sincerity in the congregation. That was a huge eye opener for us missionaries because I think so often we make people feel projects or we treat them like a checkmark on our list. Because of that, we have just settled on meeting him where he is at and it has paid off. My companion and another one of the sisters in my quad are Tongan and they wanted to make Tongan food for Ibrahim since he always feeds us delicious african food. So we show up and he has a ton of friends and family that are also African there and we had so much fun! We helped them make goat and beef heart and we had some awesome conversations about the gospel and our standards. Later that night though, these two girls showed up that had mutual friends and we were talking to one named Allison. She was asking about our roles as missionaries and had a lot of questions since she grew up in an athiest home and she expressed the loneliness and confusion she feels because of it, especially since she lost her brother. Well we taught her the plan of salvation and she began to cry and you could see the relief on her face and it was truly amazing. I'll never forget it. We ended up meeting with her and her friend this week and began teaching them and I feel so blessed to have met them. The look on someone's face when they begin to understand that they have a loving Heavenly Father is priceless!

Another quick miracle is that my friend Kat back in Eagle Point is getting baptized on September 30th! Keep her in your prayers because this has not been an easy road for her!

If you ever have the privilege of coming to Eugene, just know that this place is wack. Portland is weird and Eugene is wack and I'm having a blast. We have been able to really connect with the people here and get to know the vendors at the markets and at the food trucks we go to and it feels really good knowing that we are able to leave an impression on people that we are fun and approachable. I feel like Johnny Appleseed with all the seeds we are planting lol. That was awful but I don't feel compelled to delete it so enjoy haha. 

Anyways... I miss you all! I'm on the other side of my hump and I can't believe it. I only have 6ish months left which is crazy but I am going to make the most of it and try my best to enjoy the most of it ;) 

love you all!
Emma


Pics
1. Eugene Saturday market!!! 
2. Saying goodbye to our homie Jonesy 
3.Our Tongan friend rachel!
4. Eric and Ibrahim!!
5. Sweet sweet sister snyder 
6. lol
7. Our burkina faso crew!
8. Saying goodbye to our elders going to their OG assignments in Mexico
9. The best gifts a missionary can get
10. I made Tres Leches!
11. Cool street!
12. Me in front of said street not looking at the camera but just ignore because the background is cool and my outfit is cute 















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