"Pole kwa jua!" or "Sorry for the sun!"

 Jambo!

     It's almost my birthday, so I got a shoutout in the mission president's letter to the missionaries along with everyone else who has birthdays in June lol.

    The people here are so cool. I know enough Swahili now that I know generally what they're saying, and they're so amazing. We met a new friend the other day, Yuumba. We were just knocking on doors in an apartment complex. And we get to her door and we talk to her at her doorstep for a little but, she is obviously very surprised that there are two white girls that are speaking Swahili. Then she notices that we're both squinting because of the sun, and she's like "Pole kwa jua! Kuja ndani!" which is "Sorry for the sun, come inside!" This is one example of many many Africans who have been so hospitable to us.

      90 Percent of the Africans who we meet while tracting immediately are like "Karibu!" (Welcome!) and invite us into their home.

     There was this one Bibi (grandma) who kept muttering the word for "lies!" during a lesson about Joseph Smith, and then after, she was like "nakushukuru sana, karibu tena!" (I am so grateful to you, you are welcome to come here again!) Again, they are so cool!! I am learning so much about hospitality!!!

     When we were doing more English work at the start of my mission, EITHER people would say that they have already have a church they attend, say they are way too busy to talk right now, or just slam the door when we introduce ourselves. NO ONE invited us inside their home. It's unheard of with English speakers.

     Anyways, also I just love the phrase "Pole kwa jua" it's so funny. In Swahili there are 2 words for Sorry. There's samahani (which your would use if you bumped into someone). And then there's "pole" (pronounced po-lay) which is a word we need in English. You would use it if someone tells you their parent passed away. You would use it if someone told you they just lost their house. Or if they were sick. I just think it's a cool word. It's a "sorry" for things that aren't your fault.

Anyways, here is a picture of Sister Millard and I after a long day. Idaho is very very sunny. I miss the Midwest spring tornado season.

There's a magical member from our roommate's English ward who brought over a bunch of stuff for us!  She's so cool. So excited to eat the chocolate covered almonds!!!

Spiritual thought:

     I've always loved the verse in Luke 15 verses 7 and 10 where it talks about how all of heaven will sing and rejoice when one sinner repents.

      In the mission field, I love it even more because it basically describes us. My companion and I literally screamed with joy when we heard a voice message (at 10:45pm btw) from one of our friends that we're teaching who hasn't ever come to church say that he would be happy to drive others to church who don't have cars, then stay for the sacrament! Same when a friend that we haven't taught in a while reaches out to us with her favorite scripture!

YAY! Missionary work is so tiresome, but for those moments, it's so worth it