#muslims/ex muslims will understand because haha me too

[p2ii]

'my skin is cold to the touch and made from the earth' <- gotta be my favorite spg lyric ever

[texanpeanut]

Community Based Training - A Day in the Life

This is another email from the beginning of my pre-service training, about what I was up to day-to-day in my community based training site. Enjoy!

October 22, 2017: 

A jaraama! 

That means hello in Pulafuta! Or literally, “you are praised.” This morning I returned to Thies from an 8-day with my Community Based Training host family. I really had a lot of fun during this visit, so I wanted to share a little bit more detail about my experiences and describe what my daily activities are in this mysterious "CBT". 

So, as I've mentioned before my family has five people - my dad (Amadou), my mom (Aisata), my 14 year old cousin (Aliu), my 2 year old little sister (Asiatu), and my 8 month old baby brother (Alfamaru). And me! My name is Fatimatu. We live in a small concrete house with a boutique (small shop selling things like soap, snacks, sugar, batteries, etc.) in the front. It's a very peaceful atmosphere. My family members are all very sweet and are very encouraging with my Pulafuta learning. My cousin loves to take my language books and teach me all the verbs. He's basically my own private tutor! 

Everyday I get out of bed at 6:45 to go for a run at 7:00. At first I was running at a nearby soccer stadium, but halfway through the visit I found an excellent bush path that led me into an open stand of enormous baobab trees - when I can upload pictures from my phone I will certainly share. I have fallen in love with baobabs. When I come back from my run, I take a bucket bath, which is really the highlight of the morning. I have a big bucket that I fill with water from the one spigot at our house, take it to the private bathing area, then use a small cup to pour water over myself. It's incredibly refreshing, and very eco friendly as I'm using a tiny fraction of the water I would use in a western style shower. After I bathe, I have breakfast with my cousin and sister. My dad doesn't eat breakfast with us because he wakes up very early to go to work as a mechanic. Breakfast is usually half a baguette, butter, and a tea called kinkiliba made with powdered milk. I eat a lot of bread in Senegal. 

Around 9:00 I head to language class at my LCF's host house. We sit on a mat together under a mango tree and three other PCTs and I use our maximum brain power to learn this language called Pulafuta. It's actually very fun for me to learn, but there are some aspects that are very challenging such as understanding the grammar and tenses and pronouns... THERE ARE 23 PRONOUNS. Class usually lasts until noon or one, then we often walk to the market together to buy fruit or a cold drink. I bought a lot of apples on this visit. We don't eat too many vegetables in my house or anywhere in Senegal really, so having something fibrous is much appreciated! 

When I return home, Aliu usually helps me with language learning and I talk to them about some of my gardening activities (which I will explain next). We eat lunch together around 2, which usually consists of rice with a sauce (ex: okra sauce, peanut sauce, etc), some vegetables in the middle of the communal bowl, and maybe some fish. We all eat from one big bowl for lunch and dinner. After lunch most people in Senegal usually rest because it's so hot, and most families have attaya (concentrated green tea with A LOT of sugar). My cousin has been trying to teach me how to make attaya which is fun and funny for him because I'm very bad at it! There's a special kind of pour you have to master to create a nice layer of foam in the little glasses, and I can never get it right. One day with enough practice maybe I'll beat him at his own craft. 

After attaya I usually head to our garden space to work with the other PCTs. CBT is not just for language learning - it's a time for us to practice our technical skills hands on. So far we've been creating compost, planting vegetables, creating a tree nursery, and planting field crops. It's a lot of work but it's really fun to put our whole bodies into it and sweat out some of our language frustrations haha. Some of the hibiscus we planted started to germinate before we left and that was very exciting! At the garden we also pull water from a real well in the ground which I realized I had never actually seen in person before. It made me realize how much of a suburban life I have lived. 

I come back from the garden around 6:30 or 7 usually, bathe again, then sit with my family while we wait for dinner to be ready. I visit with my dad and play with my baby brother. For dinner we eat more baguette, and the communal bowl usually has something simple like beans, spaghetti, or eggs. My dad also eats rice afterward and ALWAYS says to me "Fatimatu, Pulafuta naama maaro. Pulafuta naama maaro buy!!!" Which means "Fatimatu, Pulafutas eat rice. Pulafutas eat a lot of rice!!!" It always cracks me up. After dinner once we've put away the dishes we sit outside under the stars, usually just in silence, or I sit in silence while they talk about things I don't understand. It's a very relaxing way to end the day. 

When I go in my room (around 9 pm, I do not last very long here), I usually lie in my bed under my mosquito net and listen to music, journal, and read until I fall asleep. There are lots of sounds in Senegal - throughout the evening I can always hear music coming from somewhere in town, around 5 am every morning and throughout the day I can hear the muslim call to prayer blasted on the loud speakers, but that hour before I fall asleep is mine to cherish and listen to pleasing familiar sounds of some of my favorite bands. Eventually I do fall asleep and wake up refreshed the next morning ready to do it all over again. 

At the beginning of PCT, Etienne, the PC Senegal training center manager, advised us to fall in love with the country. And I feel like at the end of this visit it's starting to happen. There are many things I don't understand and probably never will, but I feel like I'm getting there. Walking through the sandy streets, greeting my neighbors and the children who call me "toubab" (westerner), chasing the goats and chickens... it all brings a smile to my face. I feel really lucky to be here and I'm excited to see what happens next! On Tuesday I find out my permanent site placement so that will be a day full of emotions. Thanks for reading if you made it this far :)

En ontuma (until next time), 

Maggie

[worldwidewow]

Now, onto the next one.

After the one I wrote about in my last post, there was someone else, haha. (This one's gonna be a lot harder to write)

We were in the same group for the community service program held by our university. We were from a different faculty, but there we met in the middle of nowhere (lol). He was nice, he was SO nice. He made me laugh a lot. He was a good listener, also a good story teller and we got so close so fast.

He was a Muslim.

He was younger than me, a-1999-born.

He took lots of selfies.

And we were about the same height, he was only taller than me by a 1 cm or 2 (not important but heyy let me write😂)

Why is this important? Because, let me tell you about my preferences of man.

I never want anything too specific in a man. I know some girls like men with lighter skin or beard or whatever, well I'm not like them. But whenever I think of my dream man, I only want these:

1. A Christian

2. Older than me

3. Doesn't like to take selfies ( this is deffo the least important but heyy it's my preferences, please just let me be😂)

See the weird thing here? He was the opposite of everything I wanted in a boy. So how could I fall for him?

I remember this saying: "Setinggi apapun kriteria tentang calon pasangan, akan kalah ketika kamu jatuh cinta tanpa alasan."

I believe it now, I'm a living proof of that saying. He came out of nowhere and broke my walls down, he crushed all of my preferences and made them nothing. Gosh, even the timing was off. After my last breakup, I had no intention of getting into a relationship until graduation. One more reason not to fall for him, but I still did anyway.

We stayed up all night most of our times there. We talked about nothing and everything at once. He was the first person I truly opened up to about my last relationship, I had never told anyone before him. I don't know, when we were talking I just felt like I had no filter and I could tell him everything. Every word just flowed out without me even thinking about it.

And then this one weekend in the middle of our community service program, we came back to our town for 2 days. First night, there in my guestroom, he tried to kiss my forehead. I dodged out of reflect 😂�� and we laughed about it later. I told him that I didn't think he would be brave enough to try to kiss me so soon, then he told me that a man has to brave and he wanted to show that he was not playing games😊 Second night, he tried to kiss my forehead again. This time I didn't dodge, haha. After that, his face was right in front of mine. Our lips were almost touching but he didn't move, so I kissed him first haha.

And then the community service was finished. I remember one night, I again told him everything. We were officially in a relationship then. I told him EVERYTHING about my past relationship, how my ex had touched me in places he shouldn't be. I told him, it's okay if he didn't want to continue being with me, if he thought if I was dirty and not worthy, because I honestly felt the same. He said it was okay, and you know what? He cried. I asked him why, he told me he was hurt that I asked him if he wanted to end things so easily. He told me that we would face a lot more obstacles to come and whatever would come in our way we should face it together, he told me to never ask to end things so easily ever again. After that, I cried too haha.

The first few weeks being back was still nice. He was busy with his academics things, but he tried to make time for me. We met like 1-2 times a week, he called me when he had free time. We talked about everything, and we laughed. He made me laugh a lot and I was just so happy everytime we talk. I really felt like I could tell him everything, and it was nice to have someone who wanted to listen to all of your stories, even the insignificant ones😂

And then one week, everything changed. He suddenly went MIA for days. I didn't know why, he didn't tell me. After missing for a few days, he told me that he had problems with his family, and it was about me. He told me that he would call me to explain, or we could meet in the weekend and he would explain in person.

But that phone call never came :) When I asked him if we were still on for the weekend, he told me he didn't have time. I was hurt of course, I mean, he went missing for days with no words and I think I deserved an explanation. So I asked him again, when can we talk? I told him that I felt like I was talking to a wall because the communication was only going in one way. You know what he said? He wanted us to be just friends. Yup, he broke up with me over a fucking text.

Reading that, of course I cried. I cried like a bitch, I was so hurt. I texted him a long-ass message, I reminded him of his words, how he said he wasn't playing. How he kissed me to show me that he wasn't playing. He told me that he didn't have time for everything. He was already so busy academically abd he didn't have time for a relationship. He then said that his mom found out, and she didn't want him to be in a relationship with a girl from a different religion.

When he said that, I understand. I know that interfaith relationships rarely have happy endings. And I wouldn't want him to rebel against his mom just to stay in a relationship with me. I understand. My last request to him was that I wanted him to end things in person, not just over a text. I mean, we started with him asking me in a person, so it only makes sense to end things in person also, not just over a meaningless text. He insisted that he didn't had time to meet in person, but he told me that he would call later that night to say everything. I waited, you know? I waited like an idiot. That night I didn't sleep well. I set an alarm for every 15 minutes, I was afraid he would call and I missed it. But until the morning came, he never called. I texted him then, and the day after. He didn't even read it. 2 days after that, he read my message. I thought maybe now he would call to explain, but no. HE FUCKING BLOCKED ME.

I was hurt, I was so hurt. I felt so worthless, I felt like I wasn't worth one last meeting. Hell, apparently I wasn't even worth one last phone call.

You know what hurt me the most? I remember this story he told me, about his breakup in high school. His ex was also a Christian, she told him that before they fell even deeper, it was better that they broke up because of their differences. She broke up with him over an email, and he wouldn't take it. He asked for her to tell him in person, and so she did.

See? He knows how hurtful it is for someone to breakup with him over an email. Even he couldn't accept it, and he asked to be told in person. He knows how hurtful it is, so why did he did the same to me? :)

It hurts. We were only together for a little less than a month, but this hurt more than my first breakup. It hurts more because I have got no closure. I insisted for one last meeting not because I wanted to beg him to stay, no. I just wanted to get some things off my chest. I wanted to apologize if I was ever a burden, and I wanted him to know that I will always be here for him as a friend. It hurts because I have so many things to say but he gave me no chance.

Another reason why this breakup hurts more than my first one is because things were still going great. We haven't even had a fight. We still got so many plans that we hadn't done. We wanted to go to karaoke, we wanted to have a morning run together. And during the short time were together, he had never hurt me. I was so so happy with him and I never saw the end coming. I wasn't prepared :). I lost count of how many nights I cried for him, haha. It hurts you know, keeping everything alone for so long. Keeping everything bottled up, keeping everything in my chest without a chance to tell him. I just wanted to tell him everything, and I wanted him to tell me everything. That's the closure that I want and I probably will never have.

I know we could never be together with different religions, especially in this country. But did he really have to cut me off completely? Am I really that worthless and he could forget me that easily?

But I could never hate him. I tried, I thought it would help ease the pain but I just can't. All I remember is the good times, the nights we spent together, the way he listened to me, the way he made me laugh, how he made me happy. I didn't even want to sleep because talking to him was far more interesting than sleeping. For all of that, I am thankful.

I don't want to get back together, I seriously have no intention. But I want to mend things, he was a good friend and I like talking to him. I hope some day in the future we could be friends again, in the most platonic way possible.

I wish him the best in everything he does. I know he'll find someone better, even if it's not me. And I know I'll find someone better, even if it's not him.

So, wherever you are, whatever you do, I hope you're happy and healthy and well :) And I hope you don't hate me, the same way I could never hate you. You made me happy even just for a while, and for that I thank you. Good luck to you, you know who you are! ☺️

[glamournews-blog1]

Designer Jenan Keogh (DANYA) - Startup Fashion Week

Startup Fashion Week - Danya by Jenan Keogh

Jenan Keogh is amazing designer behind DANYA - https://shopdanya.com/   She is passionate about her faith and fashion. As a Muslim she had difficulty find modest wear brands. She launched her brand to offer women like her, who are looking for a modest wear brand. She also participated as a designer in SFW (Startup Fashion Week) Vancouver past August, and Danya will be doing a fashion presentation at Startup Fashion Week Media Launch / Opening Party on Oct 22.  When you are at SFW, please make sure to go see her and say hello.

ARE YOU SELF-TAUGHT OR DID YOU STUDY FASHION DESIGN?

Self-taught

DO YOU DESIGN YOUR OWN CLOTHES, OR YOU HAVE GO TO LABEL?

I design my own clothing

 HOW DO YOU DESCRIBE THE CONNECTION BETWEEN FASHION, MODESTY, RELIGION AND ART?

Well for starters we as human beings are individuals and yet connected to each other through similarities. There’s something beautiful when looking at another human being and having even the slightest of understanding. Saying to someone “wow, I get you. You get me.”

These similarities can be through fashion, modesty, art, religion they all go back in a very rich history. They all have a special place and we see them all in history books, connected in some way shape or form. It’s a form of communication and self-expression. 

WHEN DID YOU FIRST REALIZE YOU WANTED TO PURSUE A CAREER AS A DESIGNER?

I want to say around 12 years old was when I would go around telling everyone that I would be a Fashion Designer. Haha 

Unfortunately I felt like it was a pipe dream as I got older. Until last year when I did some serious self-reflecting and realized I couldn’t ignore it anymore.  I had 3 beautiful kids that needed a strong female role model. I wanted to be the best version of myself that I could be. No excuses.

 WHAT OTHER SKILLS ARE IMPORTANT?

There are a number of skills that are important. Researching is definitely a priority. Researching where your fabrics are sourced, who your manufacturer is... what their views on sustainability and resources are. 

I think an important skill is being able to understand what your customer’s needs are. What’s missing in the industry and try to work with that. 

Another skill I would consider important is definitely looking at oneself as a consumer and reflect on what one might feel is important. That way it’s that much more important to you as an individual. 

You also need to have a comprehension of fabrics, and patterns. It’s a marriage between the two. They have to work well together.

WHAT ARE YOU BIGGEST FEAR WHEN GOING OUT AND STARTING YOUR OWN LINE?

Biggest fear is feeling vulnerable. Each design is a piece of me and is an investment.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT BEING A DESIGNER?

Every stage has something I love. If I absolutely had to pick one thing it would be seeing my customers happy with the final product. 

COULD YOU GIVE ME A DETAILED BREAKDOWN OF THE STEPS IN PRODUCING A COLLECTION...(FROM CONCEPTION TO THE RUNWAY)?

In regards to the steps of a clothing line they all vary depending on your manufacturer. I’m fortunate enough to have one here in Toronto! 

Every step has a lot of back and forth and requires lots of patience and communication with any outside parties. 

Step 1: Would be the idea of my clothing line. Since my brain goes crazy with ideas I love to start with a mood board preferably one on Pinterest. My mood board has to have my colour scheme, theme, accessories, and I imagine something that I am obsessed with for example Tea parties!

I then match my mood to that one kind of event or thought. 

Step 2: Sourcing fabrics is a step that comes shortly after. I think it should be done before the actual pattern making of your garment. If the fabric doesn’t work with your design you lose lots of money. 

Side note: either you create a design/ pattern and then find fabric that works with it or the other way around. What ever works for the individual. 

Step 3: order a small yardage for sample making and have it shipped to the manufacturer.

Step 4: based off of the fabrics etc I then can design my clothes. 

Step 5: this step is where a lot of back and forth with the manufacturer comes in. (For me, that means a lot of driving) this step is where my manufacturer and I have meetings on what what designs are (drawings) and I give a detailed description as to what the garment needs to look like. Ex. How many buttons, what kind of buttons, how long sleeves or hem lines need to be. Will the garment be fully lined or not. The list goes on. But every detail counts. 

Step 6: sample making (time varies based off of work load)

Step 7: testing the sample garments. Either one can bring a model to try it on or  the designer will wear it. I usually go and wear the item as I want to know what my customers will feel like once they put it on. I won’t sell anything I myself won’t wear. If there needs to be any adjustments we go back to the drawing board and make those adjustments (which happens) if everything is good that’s when I move on to the next step. 

Step 8: This step requires two things. placing a full production order with the fabric supplier. Also where I write down exactly how many garments in what colours and sizes I need them in a form so the manufacturer can start production once the shipment of fabric arrived. This stage takes about one month and a half if not longer depending on the amount you require. 

 In regards to the runway, I haven’t done one yet but doing the fashion presentation in Vancouver taught me a lot! Thanks to Startup Fashion Week I learned so much! With the Fashion presentation I determine what and how I would like to showcase my pieces. I typically like to stay true to the mood board I made from the very beginning.  I decide on whether I am going to have a mini collection or a full collection, contacting models (provided by SFW), then creating the looks for each model. You need to speak with hair and makeup. Explain everything you’d like to see for each look (pictures in these cases are great).

I found Constant communication is key that way everyone is always in the know. The director has a call-time sheet for everyone. This helps everyone know when to come the day of. The day of the show Makeup artist, hairstylist are there and models that are expected at their respective times arrive. We usually ask them to come with no makeup and hair not done that way the artists can do their thing. 

We have all the clothes ironed and hung with name tags so everyone knows what to wear. Once hair and makeup is done you style each model to the desired look and that’s when everyone waits to be called out for their turn to go on stage.

  HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR BRAND?

Love. That’s the best way I can describe it. It came from a place of love it was inspired by people I love and I want everyone to feel that. You see a lot of florals and pearls and pinks in my social media pages and I feel it’s because somewhere inside me that is what I would gift someone when I love them. 

 WHERE DO YOU GO FOR INSPIRATION?

My inspiration comes from my mom and my kids. I remember when I was really young maybe 5 or 6 my mom looking for clothing and having such a hard time because things were either too short or see through. She finally found a black and white polka dot dress that was the right length but was sleeveless.. so she had to go looking for a cardigan to cover her arms hahaha 

She found a red blazer. Fast forward to 2019, I designed a wrap dress just for her. It’s black, white, red polka dots full length, long sleeves and non see-through. I was so proud. Hahaha 

 IN THE NEW COLLECTION, WHICH PIECE OF DESIGN WOULD YOU LIKE THE MOST? WHY?

That’s genuinely a difficult question to answer. All my pieces have a story behind them and a reason as to why I designed it in the first place.

WHAT ARE YOU FASCINATED BY AT THE MOMENT AND HOW DOES IT FEED INTO YOUR WORK?

I’m always fascinated by textures and colours. You see it throughout my collection.  HOW DO YOU WANT YOUR CLIENT FEEL WHEN WEARING YOUR CLOTHES?

I want them to feel proud, confident, empowered. I want them to feel stunning and beautiful. I want them to feel the way they were meant to feel. We were created in the most beautiful way. We should feel like that all the time.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONAL STYLE?

Chic, Classy, Colourful, playful.

I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU PARTICIPATED AS A DESIGNER IN SFW VANCOUVER EVENT IN AUGUST, HOW WAS THE RESPONSE?

It was such a blessing to be there! The feedback was so positive! I made a ton of connections and built friendships both professionally and personally. Most designers want the classic runway but for startups needing exposure and need to network, I would highly recommend them to do this type of show. It gives the designers and guests time to speak to each other and build relationships.

  WHAT ARE YOUR EXPECTATION FROM SFW TORONTO?

I learned really quickly that you can’t have expectations hahaha. It’s best to just plan your show understand what you are doing, your why and be ready to learn. Then go from there. I know SFW TORONTO is always the hot spot so I’m excited to see what’s in store and I know it will be another amazing experience I will have been blessed to have. SFW  is amazing with educating new and up and coming designers. I can’t wait to see what’s in store!

 IF YOU WERE A SUPERHERO, WHAT KIND OF POWERS WOULD YOU HAVE?

I love this question I have 6 younger sisters and this question stirs up a loud conversation. One sisters super powers would be to steal other people’s superpowers! 

Mine would be to make others feel right mentally and physically.

 IN YOUR OPINION, WHICH SUPER VILLAINS NEEDS FASHION ADVICE?

Hahahaha easy, Cyborg Super Man.

 WHAT IS NEXT FOR YOU?

There’s a Few things we have in the works but they are all at the concept stages as of right now. All I can say is you will be seeing more of us. Hahahaha

[reinalhambra]

hey guys, it has been a long time since i posted anything. 4 years probably? idk. Life has been doing some crazy shits to me during those times and i’m here now. in Germany. yeap, Germany. 

All those things that happened back in my hometown has finally stopped following me. I mean, all those problems i had with my exes and some friendzone stuffs haha. idek why am i writing about this here. i bet no one read it anyway. but well, i find it kinda comforting to write about anything i currently feel. it’s like a little getaway i have from the reality. it just feels nice.

anyway, i have a new boyfriend now. probably not new ‘cause we’ve been together since last june and we’re going 10 months now! i almost can’t believe that it has been this long. well, it’s still months i know but i haven’t had any kind of relationship that actually lasts. I’m very very in love with him. i know it sounds cheesy and all but i really am. there has been a lot of stuffs that almost broke us up and a lot of other hardships but we’re still going strong. to be really honest i have never imagined myself marrying anyone before. even with my ex, andrian. cause i was in love with him for a long long period of time. but with my boyfriend now. well, let’s call him Jo. I know i’ve used this name before but it’s the only name that suits. okay right. so, i really can imagine myself marrying jo. i mean, maybe it sounds too clingy or dumb or some shit ‘cause i’m not even 21 yet. fyi i’ll be 21 next month. but well, i said it. i can really imagine spending the rest of my life with him.

jo is two years older than me. and he sometimes talks about marriage ‘cause he actually wants to be married at 26 or so. i know it really sounds cheesy right now but i kinda like it when he asks me how will our house look like or something. i mean, it’s huge coming from him. ‘cause he’s the guy, you see. and i always restrain myself from asking such things, cause i don’t wanna look very clingy or too hopeless romantic. but you see, i just love it cause he asks me first.

the thing between our relationship is actually religion. i was a catholic, or so i can say. i used to believe in it but not anymore right now. like, i really don’t mean anything bad or trying to make any kind of riot with this. i just kinda wanna write my story. so, jo is a muslim. at first, i thought, well our relationship won’t last more than 3 months anyway. but it does. and i am pretty surprised to be really honest. and then, i had this discussion with him about religions ‘cause i actually kinda like talking about it. it always peaks my interest, that’s all. to be honest i really thought i could ask him to be catholic with me. cause of some things like, he didn’t look very religious to me and he loves me. so, well, maybe i could. it’s not like i have anything for islam or muslims, it’s just that i find it better if we could share the same believe. but then, after the discussion, i could see his eyes sparkling as he talked about islam. and i was like, wow, that was beautiful. i mean, it really touched my heart. i’ve never seen anything like that. that was really beautiful. like he actually shined and i really am not talking shit here guys i’m serious. after that, i started to read quran and do some research on islam. i asked jo about things that i don’t understand. ‘cause he speaks arabic and i obviously don’t. but then, we found out that we can’t be married if i don’t share his believe. i mean, there was this kinda thing that as long as i have the abrahamic believe, i could still be married to a muslim. but apparently, there has been some kinda rule or so that i have to believe a certain thing that’s written in the quran so that i can marry him. and this thing is actually against my believe in catholicism. i was pretty devastated. but i kept praying to God to help me find a way thorugh this. i read quran almost everyday and learned a lot about islam that i’ve come to believe in it. it’s actually very beautiful and almost everything that i’ve learned as a catholic is written in the quran. i mean, i actually more of a muslim right now instead of a catholic. but there are some really difficult reasons of why i can’t convert to islam right now. maybe you guys think that i love him that much that i would change my believe for him. hell no. i’m not that kind of person really. but i actually had that thought too so i prayed to God because i don’t want my believe to be some kind of unseriousness. i want to believe in Him because i’m convinced that it’s the right way is. and God answered my prayer. He showed me things that makes me believe in islam more and more.

well tbh i don’t really have any point in this story. i just wanna share a piece of my life with you guys. so have a nice day!

[chippedfolks]

Love

I saudade him and everything that has to do with him, everyday! From the minute I saw him put his glasses on and open his mouth to speak, I felt comfortable and safe. I was instantly attracted to him, and i will never forget that feeling, a warmth in my heart. It was exciting, even the way we met so unexpectedly like the work of god or the universe at that exact moment in time. I gave him a chance, and i don’t know why i just felt like i had too. I definitely feel like our souls have crossed paths in another life, and it was perfect their as well. Out of billions of people in the world i found him, so randomly and to me that’s so beautiful. He is my soul mate. He loved me even though I am black, Muslim, come from a super strict family, and that I live thousands and thousands of miles away from him (all of which have very negative connotations). Vanilla guy and chocolate girl, its nice to see that it’s becoming a lot more common around the world! I am so honoured I was the first girl to meet ur family and I hope you know that I love all of them. Yeah I haven’t known them for years and have only spent like 3 days in their presences but I Iove them jimmy. Your mother is so special to me she is my R! But just know I will always be there for her, ok! if anything happens. For all of you! After the first month…nah even the first two weeks of talking to him I knew I loved him, he was so fucking special how couldn’t I..he was/is everything I love in a partner. I loved our first encounter we were so nervous and scared in person and our first awks kiss and every kiss I ever gave him after that and every hug <3 and I loved when he got on one knee (well i forced him too haha) and gave me nala (as we were both wearing nothing) and asked me to be his gf <3 haha we were crazy. I even loved the way i told him i loved him at Stonebridge park on our 10 mins walk to the train-station. That was the first time he knew how strict my parents were..something i never wanted him to know because i knew it would be so fucking difficult and we’d break up over their opinion one day. It was not the most romantic place to say i love you, (i mean i was in tears and freaking out) but it just came out, but when he ran back up towards me and surprised me as i was waiting for the train in tears, i will never forget when he said he loved me too and wished he said it first and was feeling that way for a long time. 

He’s is my best friend, and i pray he’ll always be there for me as my best friend even if we aren’t together. He is the only man that has ever wanted to know everything about me, and that i was completely open to sharing who i am really am and that’s so special…no one has ever care about me that much. You know I’m not the type of girl that dates a lot or wants to fuck around. I’m a one man type of girl. And I miss him, and I want to tell him im sorry if he is hurting i don’t know if he is. I don’t know how he is feeling, he is very good at hiding. So he can be very mysterious in that way, and i love that in men. But if you are hurting in anyway, I’m so sorry, and I wish I could take all your pain away and suffer for you. It might sound crazy ok but i’d die for you and I would love you in sickness and in health. I really pictured one day being Mrs. Jimmy, it would have been a dream come true for me because you are all i’ve ever dreamed about and want. And you’ll forever be so special to me. I might not be with you, but my heart still cares deeply for you. So my long essay below is just a little bit of what I love about you Jimmy, and I wish I told all of this to you in person to your face when I had the chance. I wish I told you I loved you every day and I wish you could feel how much I truly meant it.

First off jimmy is hilarious seriously soooo funny and gets my weird sense of humor. He’s tall (yeah i’m finally admitting he’s tall) 😂  and smart as fuck! I’ve learnt so much from him. He is so nerdy (actually smexy) in the cutest way, and he’s not like any guy his age which is honestly the best thank god! He respects women so much <3 Love that he rates things, and researches so deeply about everything he purchases. Haha and the way he explains it to me a thousand times…and even though I don’t really care, I just love to listen to how happy he is when he explains it and I could listen to him for an eternity. I love watching his nerdy youtube video about tv shows, and his ‘how to become a better public speaker’ youtube videos. He always trying to learn something and better himself and it’s amazing to see him grow. I love that we have the same tastes in tv shows and movies (kinda..i guess i like romance a bit more haha) <3 and that he watched chewing gum with me even though i forced him to, but he secretly liked it. It was times like those that i miss! the simpler times. Oh and i’d watch tv shows he liked..honestly i loved the crown, i still have to finish up the last 3 episodes..wish it was with him but at least he watched it with his mama. It was a very educational tv show, and i do love it.

I love that he’s paranoid, and scared to try new things. But he eventually tries new things it just takes a while and he has too be very cautious (not like me haha). I love that he’s the only person i’ve ever met that brushes his teeth after lunch and not after breakfast. He’s a good texter, actually the best! And probably the only person that understand my fucked up texts because they never make sense. He’s so mature, understanding, and really cares about everything. I love looking at him when he doesn’t know i am (which is a lot), he’s a masterpiece and every movement of his face and body is truly a work of art. His soul is so pure, like his mother’s and father’s and brother’s. I love his huge personality, his lips, eyes, beard, hair, chest, arms, stomach, toes, legs everything about him is so beautifully gorgeous. I LOVE HIS MANHOOD, in all its stages, it is so PERFECT!!! I have no regrets about anything! I love how he naturally smells, it is soo nice and I feel like I’ve imprinted on him like a wolf. I can’t get his smell out of my mind (sounds weird but it’s true). I love how he tastes :D and I love his hips, even though he doesn’t I do. I love that he trusts me with scissors if you know what I mean you really have too trust a person too do that, and i love giving him massages and receiving them from him. I love that i know he would never hit me or lay a finger on me, he is just so gentle and loving. I love that he makes me want to dress sexier and look sexy for him, because his opinion is the only thing I cared about. I love feeling him grow under his pants and I love that look I give him when I want to rip his clothes off and he tells me to stop looking at him in that way.

I love love love that he’s Portuguese 😍 and I love his accent so much. It was such a huge turn on for me, the main reason i was so intrigued with him in the beginning. As well as his low sexy voice. I love his culture, and country and i loved learning more and more about it from him. Love when he says things wrong in English, but that I never correct him coz I understand him 10000%. I love giving him Hickeys on his neck and I love that he calls them hiccups. I love that he called muscles..muskuls haha so fucking cute. I love giving him head massages on the train and when he’s driving (anywhere really) just running my fingers through his hair. I love biting his beautiful sexy neck and his ear and whispering all the things I want to do to him. I love messing with his nipples, haha he hates it. I loved biting his chin just a little, even though it hurt him a bit he always got mad…I stopped doing it eventually coz my baby (ex baby) said it hurt a lot and I never wanted him to feel any pain. I love that he always tried his best to make me laugh when I was feeling down. And that he always told me everything was going to be ok. I love that he still stays with simba after all these years and isn’t afraid to say he has a stuff animal, so manly and now he has sabrina protecting him. Love the way he sleeps with one leg in and out of the covers and also when I try to wake him up in the morning, but he always finds a finds a way to cuddle me and get me back to bed and all quiet. Love making sure he’s ok in life and that he tells me, and trusts me when things are not going so well because he knows im always there for him. I love that he never likes to waste food, and he always finishes mine. I love that he used to hate when I would ask strangers for help, most of the time I did it just to piss him off haha. I love how happy we were when we went to a costa and that we would both never step foot into a starbucks. I love how competitive we are with each other. I love that he loves soup and I wanted so badly to learn how to cook all his favourite dishes, especially from his mother so I could make it for him. I love how he is with buckbeak, coz i pictured our future pets and how happy he’d be with them. I love that one piece of hair that always falls on his forehead and how annoyed he’d get about it.

I Loved watching him drive and I loved going to the beach with him and annoying him, i could go everyday!! Love that his mums his real bff ❤ Love that he always tries to think positively, even though it’s easier to think negatively. I love the way he dances (it’s so bad, but he tries so hard it is so cute) and that he sings along to every song even if he doesn’t know all the words. And I love when he puts a show on for me, because those dance moves are one of a kind. I love the way he would  grab me sometimes when another man looked at me, he was claiming his territory but he didn’t need to because no man could ever replace him. I love that he would make sure that I’m well fed, coz I don’t eat that well sometimes… and the way he chews his food so loudly. The way he helps out around the kitchen and house and can cook a little. I love that I know he’d NEVER EVER cheat and I trusted him 100000%, he’s not that kind of man. I love flirting with him, the way he sounds when he wants to U know. I loved making him feel relieved and I know I would never get tired of seeing him happy and relieved, if you know what i mean :D Also love when he bits his lips, and the vein’s he has on the back of his arms. I love all the little black freckles around his body and the little chest hair he has. I love that he thinks he’s getting bald but that i’ve prayed he wouldn’t and believe he wont…even if he does i’d kiss that bold head every fucking day.

I love us as sabrina and Alex!!! I loved that he used to tell me he loved my lips the natural color they were..no one has ever told me that. I love that whenever i first saw him..i’d put so much make-up and he’d hate it and after that i’d just do my eyebrows and i felt beautiful in my own skin and he didn’t mind. I love his presence and the way he touches my body so softly, also the way he hugs me. Our naked cuddles, and fuck me he was getting so good at his oral game just needed a bit more practice. Love the feel of his kissing my neck, Honestly he turns me on so much, and turns me into a sex crazy maniac which is cool. God he has the most perfect ass, so juicy i love it. I love that he’s not afraid to try the craziest things with me everywhere and anywhere. I love the little moments we had in person, like laughing on the train or on a walking tour..gosh i miss those moments they were so full of pure love. I love that i know which side of his face he thinks is the sexy side and which one he thinks is the nerdy side, but to me both sides make up the face the most handsome guy i know. I love the little black dot he has behind on of his ears. I love the way he would grab my hand when we are walking or puts his hands on my hips to guide me through a crowd of people. I love his dry lips. I love that he traveled to see me 4 times! Best parts of my university and I can’t wait to tell my grandchildren about our adventures with my first love. He’d always get mad when I lost something, but he always looked so damn cute, or the way he triple checks everything when he travels. I love that he would sometimes just laugh at my clumsiness, because he knew I just can’t help it. I love that he has goals in life, and wants to be super successful. I love that even tho I sometimes feel super insecure about the beautiful females around the world that he could be with, he always reassured me that he was mine… was is the key word 😔  It’s ok though i’m hopeful everyone of my friends…even his beautiful mum and mum’s best friend all believe we might have a second chance (hope then it lasts, i believe it will). Don’t know if its gonna be in a year or two or even when we are 60 but i know in the back of my mind as life goes on i’ll always be hoping for that day to come.

I love how childish he is, and he isn’t afraid to be. I love that he can put up with my craziness haha. I love his sharp teeth, and I love how cute he looked as a baby so fucking adorable and he knows it. I love that he’s the first person that has gotten me to look at the world differently (and i know he has learnt a lot form me as well), and he always pushes me to do better because he believes in me the same way i believe in him. I hope i made him him that he is destined for greatness. I love that he used to hate when i said nevermind, but i’d eventually let me know haha he hates that word. Jimmy is just so strong mentality and i admire him for that. I love how happy and in the zone he gets when he plays the PS4 😂 she’ll always be his mistress. I love how he taught me to keep happy aspects in life to your loved ones and closets friends only and not to share it to the world. I love that when I want to try super crazy things, that I might regret, he doesn’t tell me not to do it he just talks to me and always gets me to reason. I love that even though his friends said they would never date a black girl he did and didn’t give a shit. You could say he’s a rebel. I love when he talks to strangers and when he’s nervous but confident at the same time. I love how perfectly our bodies mesh together when we spoon. I love how his face brightened up every time I snuck back into bed at 2am in the morning, and he’d open up the covers for me and he’d just cuddle me and hold me close and we’d fall asleep so quickly. I love that he respected me while I was fasting, and he even respected my sister when she was. I honestly did believe we could live in a household together as one with two different religions, I never cared. I just love him for who he is…it most mostly for my families sake really. Whatever doesn’t matter now i guess. I love that we’d dance in the kitchen when we were doing chores together. I loved that we both surprised each other with our skills when we did activities, because theirs still a lot we never go to do together. I love the face he makes when he’s concentrating and that I always need to tell him to relax it. I love that “back straight” always rings in my head even when he’s not around. I love that I’m able to tell him almost everything, and he would listen and be there for me and would never judge me. I love how generous he is, and that he gives to charity even tho he doesn’t have much. I love how humble he is, he’s not cocky (well maybe just a bit haha). I love the way he looks at him himself in the mirror and is like yup I’m so fresh and handsome (coz he really is). I love that since the time we have been dating his sense of style has improved so much. I love when he tries to impersonate accents and acts out characters, like his stupid British accent. I love how goofy he is, and when we plays sports he’s so good at everything. Gosh it’s such a turn on. I love when he watches football and changes his team on that OSM app like a beautiful kid on Abby every day. I love when he tries to explain something to me 1000% times, even though I mostly know what he is talking about I just like it when he says it again and again he gets frustrated poor thing. I loved that he saw a future of us together, and boy was it amazing. I loved watching him put on some music and clean up his dishes after dinner, he always used to take his sweet time. I love the voice he makes when he’s like “your my gf and i’m your bf and we’re bf and gf and we’re special”. I loved studying with him through skype, he really did help me stay focus. It was nice to see his beautiful face on the side of my screen. I love when some rare nights we’d stay up on whatsapp call and talk suer late and then he’d just fall asleep with the call still going and i’d hear his beautiful breaths. I love that he takes a bite of a burger and then eats some fries and then back to the burger…like who does that? haha. Also i actually love that checked shirt i told him i hated, i’ve never missed it so much. 

I love that he tried with my family and siblings the much he could, he was so beautifully kind even though my family is just so difficult. But it they were lucky enough to get to know him, they would love him just as much as i do. I love/don’t love when he cries..but can honestly tell whether it’s happy or sad tears…he just rubs his eyes a lot under his cute glasses. He’s sometimes insecure about his glasses and has to take them off during the day…even tho poor thing can’t see so well. But i love him with and without his glasses. Love that he is afraid of anything touching his beautiful brown eyes, but i still think he should get laser eye surgery (but i respect that is he afraid, i’d hold his hand if he ever got it..i’d be right by his side and i’d take care of him after). I love that he loves man bracelets, they are sexy as fuck but I never got him any and I wish I did. I love that he’s competitive, and always wants to learn and improve in all aspects of his life. I love love love that he loves to travel and explore (like me) and that he loved going on free walking tours and museums like the beautiful nerd he is..turned me into one 😂 love when he answers questions In a crowd and the way his face lights up when people are interested in him being Portuguese. I love his stiff hand gestures and that movements his hand makes when he’s nervous. I think i’m the only one that has notice how stiff he is, love teaching him to loosen up and use his shoulders (he was trying :D). I love that all my friends said he was the perfect bf, and that i should never let him go. They said we looked happy and perfect together. I love that when I was at home by myself scared, he’d call me and let me listen to the the noise of his family so my home felt full. I love when he’d let me creep on Skype just because I asked. I love that he cares so much that he cared enough to proof read my boring essays, and correct me. Like however, haha just joking…I also loved living with him, it was amazing he is the perfect living partner and i was getting used to it!! I love that as much as i tried, we’d always end up (after cuddling) facing the opposite directions to sleep. Like i did try, guess i just gave up haha coz no matter what side of the bed i slept he would always face the other way. I love that we have a hell of a lot of common interests yet we are still so different. I love that he accepted me for all that I am he is. I am sorry if you felt like i wanted too change you, i don’t i love you..but i guess my family really messing everything up huh. I love that he tried so hard when I said I didn’t feel enough panda from him, but the next time we were together he made sure he damn well was an amazing panda and I never complained. You see he’s a good learner, i’d give him an A++, because I could tell he was really trying and i felt so much love from him. I love when he occasionally randomly told me i was beautiful, it made me feel so good inside yo. Or when he told me he liked my hair a certain way or he liked what i was wearing. I love when he surprises me, because i love surprises and i don’t get them that often <3 love that he has soft hands, coz he’s a king and never does the dirty work. loved that he always gets so tired poor thing, when he used to sleep on the train and lay his head on my shoulder like a big beautiful baby. I loved watching him laugh so hard on the dinner table with his fam bam <3 He has the most perfect smile, and i loved making him laugh so much his eyes would disappear and his smile would get so big sometimes he would laugh so much he’d tear up haha. And i loved staring at him when he was never looking, i did it a lot. Or when he was checking out other girls, he was so bad at hiding it but i didn’t mind it was a fun game i played with myself. He looked at asses more than anything, thank god i have an okay one.  But we were cool, i didn’t never cared that he watched adult videos, some girls do care.. but heck its life i never got pissed it was cool. Actually i love how open and loving our communication was about everything, i think we managed to build amazing communication skills. Plus i loved how he would never understand why i hated going through instructions, so he’d help me out once in a while..he’d get a bit angry haha. Also how he would always have something smart to say about my amazing/right theories, like you should never update ur old computer or phone coz it slows it down. Huge companies are evil like that and that’s just companies way of messing up your devices so you buy their new products..BOOM facts (mic drop ooooo). Loved how he never ever fucking listened to me about drinking hot water with lemon, honey, and ginger when he was sick or using an old t-shirt to dry his hair because towels pull hair out. He is so hard headed, but i love him man. I love him in all his moods and his good and bad days, i still love him. I love that he always managed to say the right things when i’m mad at him about some stupid thing. And i love that when he actually apologises, its so genuine and i can feel his love. I can never stay mad at him, i just can’t.

I love the way he speaks and bonds with his family, and the way he shows them so much love and kindness. I want my future family to be just like his! I love play fighting with him and making him fall off the bed. Because we all know i’m the WWE champ, he kinda sucks haha. I love watching him drink his cafe latte and eat a donut. And the face he makes when food tastes so good. I love annoying the shit out of him and being too hype, coz he gets all happy even tho he says he doesn’t like it (he does, because secretly I know). I love his great memory, and the chicklip, forlip, liplip, noselip all the lips he gave me and he liked mine too mianly the chicklip he liked them more than kisses haha what a weirdo. I love that he’s not afraid to be different and doesn’t care what people think. He really doesn’t care what people think. I LOVE Nala, Stuart, Simba, and Sabrina we were the most perfect family ❤ I love how hardworking he is and that he always gives the best advice. I love that he always wants to make others happy, and that he hated seeing me cry.I love that sometimes he doubts himself especially with his degree and sometimes his work ability, but i just want him to know i truly believe in him. And i know he can do anything in this world he sets his mind too. Love that i’m the only one that can call him jimmy fucking neutron haha.

I love that even when we argued and I was a dick who always had a problem with him..he wouldn’t say anything mean to me or argue and he tried so hard not to be like me.. so I wouldn’t see that side of him. He is always so beautifully positive <3 I love that I know he’d be the greatest father on planet earth in the future, and boy was I lucky to even be considered to have had a future of raising kids with him. I mean those golden genes are so beautiful <3 but it’s just the person he is..his future kids will have the worlds greatest father! I love that he thinks his hair is blonde when it really isn’t, ok fine it has a little blonde but he’s a brunette my favorite kind <3  I love how he is with my friends, I love that he doesn’t judge anyone for who they are. I love the look he gives me when you know, and the noise he makes you know. I loved those times we’d just laugh so hard in the middle of “you know” haha i was just so comfortable with him..i love him. I love how happy we both got every time we’d see each other in person (actually he got mad 2 times we saw each other coz my stupid ass was late but he got over it fast) And how happy we where when we counted down the days..like T-6 day! I love the weird faces he makes when he dances they are just so creepy. I love when he picks his monkeys and does it anyway even tho it’s super gross, but he’s comfortable enough too do that in front of me..it’s still nasty. I love watching him workout and get all sweaty. I love that he texted me everyday and night and that that alone would put the biggest smile on my face. I love our night time whatapp calls, fuck i could talk to him all night. Also that he waited a year and a half for me, he never pressured me to do anything I didn’t want to do!! If that is not a man you should never let go of then I don’t know who is. He is so polite and is honestly the best male in the world no one compares to him, not even one bit. I am so blessed he’s in my life, even he is a friend right now because I love how he’s helped me grow as a person and has taught me so much and will continue too. He truly has a bright and beautiful soul. And I will always, without a doubt, love this man and all that he is forever! I just loved that he tried his best with me, as much as he could. He is my home, where ever he is i’m 100% comfortable and safe and happy. I could go on and on about the millions of things I love about him (seriously this is nothing). We have had a beautiful experience together..and If you didn’t already know this jimmy, i love you from the top of our big ass combined foreheads to the bottom! Always and forever. I think now i’ve said my peace with everything, more like wrote my peace haha (bad joke) lol…but at least one day he might read all of this and know. I have so many unforgettable memories i share with him that are so beautiful, but i’m hopeful for what the future has in store for the both of us. I don’t think our beautiful story is over just yet. It’s just came in the wrong time for now but our time will come again, i know it will, if your open too it (coz hell too the fuck yes i am). Thank you for everything, it was the biggest honor being your gf even if it was cut short. I only wish you good fortune and pure happiness for the many years to come. And no matter where life takes you i will always be there for you and so will my guardian angel, you can always count on me and her haha.  It’s the least i could do for all the happiness and love you brought into my life all those months. My one regret was not saying all of this in person, but at least now i’ve written a little bit of how a feel and have always felt about you. There’s still much so fucking i could write, but i think the word count on this essay has come to a max ;D you know me and my essays haha i always have a lot too say! I love you! I sometimes wonder what would have said about me, haha just a thought i guess. 

[sistercampbell]

Woche(week) 28 (Jan. 9-Jan. 16) Broke bread with Turkey & broke Turkey with Romania. Ate a Guinea Pig perhaps?

Heyo!

(Anything in italics are linked to more information about it!)

This last week was interesting because I spent a chunk of the week not in my area! So, Tuesday we had Zone training (when several Districts get together)  in Stuttgart.  After ZT, I stayed with Sis. Pettit (Sister training-leader) for tausch (exchanges). We went finding in the Innenstadt (city center) with the goal of getting 4 potentials (interested people who want to know more about the church) which we got! 

They were all cool interesting people! One was actually a Jehovah’s Witness, we had a nice conversation with him and another we gave a Book of Mormon too! One guy stopped us on the street and asked us if we were learning German because he overheard us asking questions in German. We explained the mission thing to which he said "Oh, I know all about you Mormons! I work with some of them."He wasn’t interested, but it turned out this guy is from the Middle East, can speak like 10 languages and served in the American Military at one point. When he went to leave though, he shook hands with Sister Pettit then kissed her on each cheek! He turned to me, and I thought okay same thing...NO he shakes my hand then pulls me into a hug and lays a huge kiss on my cheek! Different cultures and customs man! Still not used to them haha and it all happened so fast!

Wednesday we went by to see a less-active (someone who does not attend church meetings regularly) and an investigator (someone who is learning about the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ). With the less-active we taught about courage and the story of Esther. It was cool to see how everything ties back into faith and how Esther had so much faith which turned into courage for her to save her people. With the investigator, we just talked and got to know him a little better. Sis. pettit gave him a Book of Mormon in Persian which he was excited to get. He told us how he stopped going to the church he was a part of because they couldn’t answer any of the questions he had which meant for him then they weren’t the true church! 

Thursday morning before I left Stuttgart, Sis. Pettit dyed my hair black just for the heck of it. We had to have one more adventure to match the cheek kissing guy haha! Then I came back to Ulm with Sis. Church. Unfortunately, Sis. Church got suddenly really sick so we stayed inside the apartment for the rest of the day. 

We re-scheduled our appointments, one being with our investigator. We still wanted to meet with him, so we taught him over the phone! We asked him if he had read in the Book of Mormon that day, or the day before because he struggles to read it.  No he hadn’t, so we read with him! We asked him where he wanted to read and he gave us a specific scripture (Alma 22:13)! We read it, discussed it and taught him based off of it. I asked him why this specific scripture? 

He said he had read in our Plan of Salvation pamphlet and that scripture stuck out to him, that he had been struggling with lots of stress and when he read that scripture he felt immediately better! The joy Sis. Church and I had when he said he had read earlier in the week and that the Book of Mormon had helped him was indescribable! He is so awesome and we are so excited to work with him!

On Friday we went finding (proselyting) in the Innenstadt and stopped this 16 yr. old kid named Angel from the Dominican Republic. He told us that since he had moved to Germany he had been trying to figure out how to come closer to God.

 I told him that was what we did as missionaries, is help people strengthen their relationship with god and come closer to him. Then the kid straight up said how? 

Then i straight up pulled the Book of Mormon out of my bag and said by reading this! We both bore testimony about how it has helped us and our relationships with Heavenly Father. We told him we had a Spanish one we could give him which he was excited to get at our next meeting!

Saturday we did a lot of vorbeis (visiting) on potentials, less-actives and few members to say hello and make appointments! But my favorite and most random vorbei was on some ex-investigators. 

They are a small family from Romania, mom dad and daughter. They had been investigating before I came and then stopped because they didn’t have time. Anyways, we went by on them and found they were having a mini family get- together. We said we just wanted to say hi and not bother dinner, and to that they pulled us into the home and said no no come sit come eat! (keep in mind their German is very limited so...) 

They said they were frying up some very small water birds but the little fried body sitting on the plaate did not look like a bird’s body, because don’t birds have wings?

This little body had 4 very distinct legs...we each got a leg to eat (which had little to no meat on them!) and it was good! Just it was hard to swallow as I was thinking of all the edible rodents in the world that this could be...haha it was quite the experience! So broke "turkey" (really guinea pig) with Romania! 

See the red circle in the picture, we are each holding up a “leg” bone.

Sunday was pretty normal. We left the church building really late like 5pm because we stayed there to do studies. 

We started to talk to people on the street and the second guy we spoke to said "Hey I know who you are, you stopped me on the street a couple of weeks ago." Straight up awkward because we didn’t remember him at first, then we did! It was interesting because the first time we met him, he didn’t understand any of our German (he is from Turkey), but yesterday he understood a lot of it and wanted us to come share the message we had with his wife and family! So, we followed him home and met his wife, one of his daughters and granddaughter. All from Turkey..the wife and daughter were making Turkish Sarma which is rice/meat filling rolled into spinach leaves super tiny like! 

Then the husband started to feed us tea, oranges, apples and homemade Turkish bread that the wife had made that day! IT WAS AMAZING. BETTER THAN GERMAN BREAD!

We talked and got to know one another, talked about what a mission is and what we teach. Turns out they were Muslim so they weren't interested, but the wife had tons of respect and let us talk/teach almost the whole first lesson! They thought we were straight up crazy being 19 yr. olds, leaving our families and doing all this work for free! But it was really cool to share our testimonies about why we are here! So, broke bread with Turkey. 

That’s really everything that happened! Still beyond grateful to be here and to have this chance to meet people from all over the world and share the Gospel with them.  

I never imagined on my mission, I would sit and spend more time with people who aren’t German than German people!

I found this quote the other day that I absolutely love and try so hard to share with everyone I meet because it is so true. "Please do not lose hope in the Savior and His love for you. It is constant. He promised that He would not leave [you] comfortless"-Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin

I love you guys! Have a great week- Sister Campbell

http://alpinegermanspeakingmission.blogspot.com/