What a week! So many exciting things happened.
First off, our Monday adventure. There is a woman in our congregation here that is a beekeeper. We ran into her the other week as we were walking through the city and she was taking down her booth at a market. She gave us a jar of honey, and then asked if we would like to come out one day and collect honey with her. Our answer was a clear, YES! So on Monday, we went to her place, hopped in her bright yellow car, and drove out to one of the fields where she keeps her bees. We got all dressed up in our suits (she didn't feel the need to use one, because she said the bees were very calm), and climbed into the trailer. She proceeded to pull out the different frames of bees and show us the work they have been doing. When she found a full frame, she just started shaking it until most of the bees flew off. We were able to stick our fingers in the frames and try some fresh honey right there and even hold a few drone bees (they are the ones that don't sting). But I would have to say that the best part is when we were back up in the car, ready to go and she comes back over to us, opens her mouth, and a bee flies out!! We took the frames back, prepared them, and extracted the honey.
But wait, the fun doesn't stop there. That evening, we had a lesson with Fay, one of our amazing members. The day was nice, so we decided to meet outside in a park. However, just as we were about to start our lesson, a few people walked up and started asking us questions about our church. We were able to have a 30 minute discussion with them about the Book of Mormon, and explain the Prophet Joseph Smith!
Now on to Thursday. This would have to be one of the most perfectly timed splits of my mission. Why? Because I got to be with the lovely Sister Williams(one of my companions from the MTC) and it happened to be our year mark! Can you believe it?! I sure can't. We celebrated in perfect missionary style: one of our appointments fell out, our train was delayed, we had to run through the pouring rain, we met some tourists from Utah, and we ate curry wurst. We know how to celebrate in style :)
Miracle of the week time!
The other week, I was sitting in a street car and met this wonderful woman. We had a great talk, and she told me all about her trip to Salt Lake City a few years ago. She said that she would love a visit from us, but we had to get off at the next stop and she was only able to write down her last name and half of her street name. I was sad because she was such a wonderful woman and I wanted to see her again. So this week, we decided to go find her. She had explained a little to me that she takes the street car to the last stop, and then walks through the graveyard to get to her house. So we tried! As we were looking at the names on the first house, a man came down and asked if he could help us. I described the woman and told him her name. He said that he did not know her and that she didn't live on this street. But I'm not one to be discouraged so easily. We went to the next house down the street, and sure enough, there was her name right above the doorbell. Even better, she was home!!
Now, lessons learned are great, but they only help when we apply them. So I'd like to share a few quotes/thoughts from an address by an apostle of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, that was buzzing around in my head all day Monday...
"Honeybees are driven to pollinate, gather nectar, and condense the nectar into honey. It is their magnificent obsession imprinted into their genetic makeup by our Creator. It is estimated that to produce just one pound (0.45 kg) of honey, the average hive of 20,000 to 60,000 bees must collectively visit millions of flowers and travel the equivalent of two times around the world. Over its short lifetime of just a few weeks to four months, a single honeybee’s contribution of honey to its hive is a mere one-twelfth of one teaspoon.
Though seemingly insignificant when compared to the total, each bee’s one-twelfth of a teaspoon of honey is vital to the life of the hive. The bees depend on each other. Work that would be overwhelming for a few bees to do becomes lighter because all of the bees faithfully do their part."
Sometimes it may feel like the part that we have to play is small, even unnoticeable. But I promise you that it is important. We all need each other, and each persons role is just as important as the next. I thank you all for the roles you have played in my life. Even if you haven't noticed it, I have, thank you.
I love you all. Have a great week!
Sister Wahlquist
Ps. If you want to see the whole address, go to this website :)
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2012/10/be-anxiously-engaged?lang=eng
First off, our Monday adventure. There is a woman in our congregation here that is a beekeeper. We ran into her the other week as we were walking through the city and she was taking down her booth at a market. She gave us a jar of honey, and then asked if we would like to come out one day and collect honey with her. Our answer was a clear, YES! So on Monday, we went to her place, hopped in her bright yellow car, and drove out to one of the fields where she keeps her bees. We got all dressed up in our suits (she didn't feel the need to use one, because she said the bees were very calm), and climbed into the trailer. She proceeded to pull out the different frames of bees and show us the work they have been doing. When she found a full frame, she just started shaking it until most of the bees flew off. We were able to stick our fingers in the frames and try some fresh honey right there and even hold a few drone bees (they are the ones that don't sting). But I would have to say that the best part is when we were back up in the car, ready to go and she comes back over to us, opens her mouth, and a bee flies out!! We took the frames back, prepared them, and extracted the honey.
But wait, the fun doesn't stop there. That evening, we had a lesson with Fay, one of our amazing members. The day was nice, so we decided to meet outside in a park. However, just as we were about to start our lesson, a few people walked up and started asking us questions about our church. We were able to have a 30 minute discussion with them about the Book of Mormon, and explain the Prophet Joseph Smith!
Now on to Thursday. This would have to be one of the most perfectly timed splits of my mission. Why? Because I got to be with the lovely Sister Williams(one of my companions from the MTC) and it happened to be our year mark! Can you believe it?! I sure can't. We celebrated in perfect missionary style: one of our appointments fell out, our train was delayed, we had to run through the pouring rain, we met some tourists from Utah, and we ate curry wurst. We know how to celebrate in style :)
Miracle of the week time!
The other week, I was sitting in a street car and met this wonderful woman. We had a great talk, and she told me all about her trip to Salt Lake City a few years ago. She said that she would love a visit from us, but we had to get off at the next stop and she was only able to write down her last name and half of her street name. I was sad because she was such a wonderful woman and I wanted to see her again. So this week, we decided to go find her. She had explained a little to me that she takes the street car to the last stop, and then walks through the graveyard to get to her house. So we tried! As we were looking at the names on the first house, a man came down and asked if he could help us. I described the woman and told him her name. He said that he did not know her and that she didn't live on this street. But I'm not one to be discouraged so easily. We went to the next house down the street, and sure enough, there was her name right above the doorbell. Even better, she was home!!
Now, lessons learned are great, but they only help when we apply them. So I'd like to share a few quotes/thoughts from an address by an apostle of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, that was buzzing around in my head all day Monday...
"Honeybees are driven to pollinate, gather nectar, and condense the nectar into honey. It is their magnificent obsession imprinted into their genetic makeup by our Creator. It is estimated that to produce just one pound (0.45 kg) of honey, the average hive of 20,000 to 60,000 bees must collectively visit millions of flowers and travel the equivalent of two times around the world. Over its short lifetime of just a few weeks to four months, a single honeybee’s contribution of honey to its hive is a mere one-twelfth of one teaspoon.
Though seemingly insignificant when compared to the total, each bee’s one-twelfth of a teaspoon of honey is vital to the life of the hive. The bees depend on each other. Work that would be overwhelming for a few bees to do becomes lighter because all of the bees faithfully do their part."
Sometimes it may feel like the part that we have to play is small, even unnoticeable. But I promise you that it is important. We all need each other, and each persons role is just as important as the next. I thank you all for the roles you have played in my life. Even if you haven't noticed it, I have, thank you.
I love you all. Have a great week!
Sister Wahlquist
Ps. If you want to see the whole address, go to this website :)
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2012/10/be-anxiously-engaged?lang=eng