WO I NI‏

"wo I ni" pronounced ' woah - I - knee"   I LOVE YOU!

HELLO! my Chinese is really coming along over here in this neck of the woods. can I tell you how much I love Asians? and that's not a joke. Blake, how did you ever leave them!? I am so happy. I hope you all feel an extra love for people, for life, and most importantly your heavenly father and savior as you read this email. I say that now, because I never know how long they'll be. but this week-- deserves a long vent to ya'll about the lords mercy.

it's starting to be real to me. you'd think I was converted by now- but it keeps coming. letsn work our way up to the greatest miracle of this week. 1, sister Ritchie and I pray for specific things throughout our day. one day, we decided to pray that we would meet a man with a red beard. not just a normal beard, but a real good beard. we were walking back to our car to go to an appointment when a man with a red BEARD pops out. sister Ritchie hits my shoulder and we both flock to him! "MAN! YOUR BEARD IS AWESOME!" we most definitely were in his life for a reason that day. we ended up meeting again. he is atheist. but its amusing to me why he still met up with us again. "well, you girls seem really happy. and something is different about your outlook on life." you know, my friend, that is because I believe in something I can't see. but I know its real. because I see him through others. including yourself! so thank you red beard man, you're a miracle.

we've been meeting a hand full and a foot full of YSA. hey YSA, did you know that this will actually get you to where you need to be? promise, because I woulda never been here if you saw me at home :D IM LIVING PROOF PEEPS! after district meeting, I thought to myself "God called me on a mission, what would I be doing with my personality right now, something I love?" SALLYS. that's what came to my head. I said, sister Ritchie, we gotta go to sallys. we have to MINISTER in sallys right now. ...........there we went. the first girl we saw we talked to. yes, we probably talked about hair and nails for 5 min but EVERYTHING is spiritual, right? I told her how I believed in god. the story goes on. we got her number and met up the next day. we met up at starbucks!! we told her a little bit about us, a little bit about her, and really just gained trust and a friendship. (it all starts with love!) by the end she said, "you know, last week I went to a median and they told me that I would meet people that would enlighten me. so I told my mom after you girls left and she said its probably you. so im really excited to hear your message and come to FHE with you on Monday!" you know, the lord called me on a mission. and he knew me. and her, would bond. god is all of powers. don't you think for a second you don't matter to him! our little YSA groupie here was astonished whey they came to FHE last week. we had 8 people there and they couldn't control themselves. lol, here's to building up a branch? :-)

and if you didn't know, we are poor. we are so poor. we live off nothing. why is that? preparing me for LIFE. so thanks mission, you did it to me. we have ran out of money for the past two weeks. we don't know why. its never happened to us. our relief society president Sister Moyah, literally bought us groceries and we have dinners all week at members homes. (she is an RM so she knows whats up) sister Ritchie and I bawled in her arms like a baby. people are so kind, im so overwhelmed with joy. all over food. and kind people. that's a huge miracle BTW so don't think it isn't ;)

most importantly, our best friends. Tony, Kiko, and Steven. our Asian family that has changed my life. Tony was baptized on Saturday. there was not a dry eye in the building!! we had a sister come up to translate. he bore his testimony and said something along the lines of "I can't wait to speak with all of you. im so thankful we are brothers and sisters. I feel so happy" family, I want to tell you something. this family came from China 3 months ago. they had NO belief in anything. they didn't even know god was out there. he believes, he knows, and he cant deny it. his wife, Kiko, has been learning as well. its hard to meet with her because of her work schedule. but she now believes in god. and prays each time we are there. yesterday, she prayed and looked up and said "I love you god" what an experience. I love that family. I love them so much. they've changed my life.

I feel so grateful for these experiences. these are just a handful of what I see each week. everyone knows of jesus Christ, everyone knows of our heavenly father, that is why there names sound familiar when each of us say them. its our job to introduce them again to our family here on earth. I love my family. I love you guys so much. "god gave us families to help us become who he wants us to be." I wouldn't be who I am without YOU! and I mean that. im so grateful to know my savior. I know him. and I know he knows my heart. he knows us. its not a fairy tale.

sister Ritchie and I are staying PS. so cheers to another transfer with the one and only. we may have to much fun. but we praise the man who communed with Jehovah. and it brings us great joy. "eat drink and be merry" it's all we do. I love her.

CHOOSE to have the best week!

 

xo, sister ovard

the cutest family. the most amazing day!

  

making pirogues (that's what Asians do)