This is summer in St. Kitts.
That is hardly a fair statement since it always feels like Summer in St. Kitts; however, it is summer in Utah and we don't want to completely miss out on the fun so we try to make our own. It's easy when Eden and Austin are around. Those two play, play, play! Oh, and talk, talk, talk! I'll show you what I mean.
I call this, "Potty Talk." Eden never talks more than when she is sitting on the loo. We can have 30 minute conversations in the bathroom. Go figure. I guess she figures I can't go anywhere. We are starting to learn lots of new sounds. It's a given that we have 'hi,' 'bye,' 'dad,' and 'mom' down. (YES! Eden actually calls me mom now!!) And you know Eden's first word-ish was "thank you," but I am now happy to say that she can muster a half-understood "I love you" and "ice cream." That kiddo doesn't even know what ice-cream is, but without fail, every Sunday when we are taking naps and making dinner, the obnoxious ice-cream truck comes driving through our neighborhood. Stupid thing sounds like it's stuck on rewind and always seems to run out of gas right in front of our house. At least, it parts there for a good 15 minutes or long enough to drive us crazy. But Eden likes it.
Back to Eden's accomplishments... she also says "bubble, purple, and airplane," which all sound the same. (Insert wink)
If you can't tell, this is Eden having fun. The best time of day is when Daddy comes home. On this particular day, Eden and I met Austin on campus. Before walking home, they ran around the basketball court. Eden is getting to be a fast little thing, and tall too. Austin still likes to hurdle over Eden, but now he has to be on his tip toes. Eden is becoming quite the little athlete. She has a good arm, fast legs, is figuring out how to jump, spins in circles until she makes me dizzy, and loves being upside down.
I'm a proud momma to have a potty-trained, somersaulting one year old.
My shoes, Austin's shoes, big shoes.. no problem. You'd think she had big feet with how coordinated she is at walking in shoes 10x her size.
We are PROUD to be American. We may not be in America, but for one day we did our best to pretend. Thanks to Grandpa and Grandma Gardenhire, Eden even looked American. Austin had block exams on the 4th of July, which meant we could really celebrate when he was done. A few families and us gathered at the Marriott pool and a potluck. It was the next best thing to a BBQ for people without a grill. For an island in a drought, it sure has ironic timing. It is always unbearably sunny and hot here EXCEPT on the rare occasion that Austin gets to go swimming. So what do you know? It rained. It poured. And we got caught in it.
We waited out the rain in the lobby and then tried to catch a firework show on the beach. How cool would that be? Fireworks over the ocean. Well, the show kept getting delayed from 8 to 9 to 10 to 11pm and the big show was at midnight. We didn't stay long enough to see more than the individual fireworks being lit from the shore, but even that was fun. It was a good introduction to Eden, who liked them more from afar. Actually, I don't blame her. There were little Kittitian kids running around with sparklers that scared me half to death. It was like cavemen had discovered fire! These kids were so careless; I was sure they were going to hurt someone or catch something/someone on fire.
... In case you needed a good laugh. Oh, and to make you grateful for the bathtub you have. Eden bathes in a turkey basin, but it's the best we can do here and she doesn't mind. Look how long her hair is! It stood straight up with shampoo.
Being here gives us a million opportunities that nowhere else would. We are unique, to say the least. It's a place where we stand out like a sore thumb, or like a marshmallow in chocolate chips, as my friend Joanna says. We are experiencing a new culture, a new environment, everything. Even the things that are familiar to us are different, but different isn't bad, it just opens the door to learning, appreciating, and teaching.
As you know, Austin is involved with about every project, additional class, or club possible. It won't come as surprise then, to learn that he is part of the Arab Student Union on campus. He is good friends with the president of the club and was enlisted as part of the presidency. The presidency is made up of the president, vice president, secretary, other needed positions, and Austin.... the "Grand Member." Let's just say they are honored to have his presence.
Last week, Arab Student Union (ASU) put on a big show for students and faculty. People filled the auditorium. There was food, dancing, and presentations on the diverse cultures that make up UMHS. Represented were cultures of Lebanon, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Brazil, Iran, probably others I forgot, and Mormons. It's okay to laugh. I didn't realize Momonism was a culture either, then again, it totally is.
We were invited to present about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints. I've said it before, but I think they called me on a mission. I'm on a mission. When else do you have the opportunity to present 200 people with the most important message of their lives? What a responsibility. And how cool. I'd like to say that we were like Alma and changed the lives of 200 people on the spot. Really, we probably just put the church in a positive light and stopped some of the crazy rumors. If anything, I hope people learned that we are the Church of Jesus Christ and worship Him, we love family, and we seek after good things. It was tricky to say everything we wanted in 5 minutes; and with such a light mood it was difficult to talk about such sacred things. Nonetheless, it was fun to present with Austin and I think we were a big hit thanks to Austin's sense of humor and sincerity. Oh, and I baked 200 cookies (with my savage kitchen and circumstances) and am proud to say they were a big hit too.
Since then, my attitude towards being a member missionary has changed. I'm not sure why it is so easy to keep your mouth shut, but it is and it shouldn't be. Like I said, the Church of Jesus Christ is THE single most important thing for your life now and eternally. It's also the thing that brings me the greatest joy in life, so why would I not share it? I've come to see that there is always an opportunity to share the gospel so long as you make it so. Everyone has a way to relate to the gospel, to Joseph Smith, to the Book of Mormon, or something! All you have to do is open your mouth.
I have tried really hard this week to do just that.
To Tricia- my friend and gym attendant at UMHS- I gave a Book of Mormon for her birthday. After all, it was the greatest gift I could give her. She had told me that she has been to many churches but just isn't feeling it in the one she is at now. Doesn't that sound a bit like Joseph Smith?
To Pat- a new cleaning lady at UMHS- I gave a Book of Mormon after a conversation we had. She feels that anyone who pleases can start their own church and ask for money. That's all they want.. your money. But she still goes to church.
To Bahaa- Austin's good friend and the president of ASU- I gave a Book of Mormon as a thank you for letting us be in his show. It is a history of an Arab people, from Iraq and Jerusalem, to the president of the Arab Student Union.
To Phillip- a security guard at UMHS- I gave a Book of Mormon because he was having a rough day and I told him it would cheer him up.
Each story is a miracle and answer to prayer. It was a miracle to even find each person that I needed. Eden and I went to campus with the intent to give books to the appropriate people, but honestly, I wasn't sure where to find them. I say it was a miracle, because as I walked without direction, Pat came up behind me to say hi. Her shift had been changed from her original hours and was amazingly there for me to meet. The same happened with Bahaa. I had looked everywhere I knew to look, but that little voice said that I would find him. Of course I was being guided because I was doing God's work.. or trying, anyway. Sure enough, on my way home, there was Bahaa playing basketball near my exit. He was put right in my path, a miracle.
This is my mission and I love it. My mission doesn't have to end either. Being a missionary is invigorating and empowering. It is an easy way to invoke the Holy Ghost and to feel Heavenly Father in your life. Who wouldn't want the happiness that the gospel of Jesus Christ brings?
