Blessing the Rains Down in Africa: Gripe Got You Down

11/26/2018

And another week passes in a flash. I know you're thinking I must've been transferred because I didn't write last week, buuuut, surprise! I'm staying in Covo Figueira! The power was just out in the entire city for some reason so we couldn't exactly email. I'm so excited to spend Christmas here and another transfer with Sister Ashby. I'm the first companion she's ever got to spend two transfers with, isn't that crazy! Unfortunately Covo Figueira is the COLDEST PLACE IN ALL OF AFRICA! Don't get me wrong, it doesn't snow or anything here but it gets pretty darn cold, and literally only in Covo, the rest of the island is still hot so that's a little bit of a rip off. But don't worry, this means I'll just have the rest of my mission to melt.

This week was a good week for teaching by the spirit and finally hunting down some of those eternal plan b's. I feel like I've gotten pretty in tune with the spirit these days, which is good because I'm imperfect and lessons run way smoother when my words aren't really my own if that makes sense. Anyways, I did have one rather humbling experience this week when I kind of wrote off a prompting, but Sister Ashby felt the same thing and actually did something about it (this is just another reason why we need companions). Out on the brightside, it got me on my prompting following A-game, to the extent that after receiving a pretty clear prompting, I asked someone a very bold question during a lesson this week and even though I was a little afraid, it turned out being exactly what I needed to say to get them to open up and what they needed to hear. We also taught like three people who we've been trying to find and teach for weeks, so that was a miracle!

Also, I'm sick a again. Both Sister Ashby and I have had a cold for the past 2 weeks, so that's been fun. I lost my voice for a little while and now I just sound like a heavy smoker. We got Priesthood Blessings and we're both starting to feel a lot better, but you see, in Cape Verde they don't call them colds, it's called "gripe" but pronounced gree-pee, which is convenient because I feel like that just accurately describes how I feel. Haha, but sometimes you just need a little gripe to remind you of how grateful you are for life without gripe.

Two more quick notes before I go. WE MISSED THANKSGIVING!!! Sister Ashby and I thought Thanksgiving was this Thursday and obviously no one here celebrates it soooooo, yeah, that was a little triste. Never thought I could just forget a holiday like Thanksgiving but apparently it happens. Also, there are two new Elders in our district and one of them is new new and my world was changed today when he told us that Stan Lee died! Honestly more traumatizing than forgetting Thanksgiving. So if anything else big happens, let me know. I love you all and hope you have a wonderful week!

-Sister Bradley