Enjoyable Studytime

I'm really excited today! We have the family study this afternoon in Exeter where Liz's family lives. The only problem with that is I will have to pretend that I speak better Spanish than I do because Bertha doesn't hardly speak English. After that, we will go a little further to Porterville to see Brian and Debbie! I can't wait to see them because it has been at least 5 years since I've seen Brian and much much longer since I've seen Debbie. Let me take a moment to catch you up with what's been going on. Speaking of which, I finally got the karaoke videos to post! They're on the post that will show up right below this one. Oh yeah, and the picture of my cat is there because I kept forgetting my camera yesterday, and plus, he's stinkin' adorable!

Yesterday, Liz and I were planning on going out in service. We woke up a little bit late and were worried we wouldn't make it to her congregation in time since it takes about 20-30 minutes, so we decided to go with a congregation in Visalia. There are two halls, but we went to the one on a street called Lover's Lane (how hilarious, huh?). It happened to be the Spanish congregation, and we ended up going with a sweet little older sister named Estella. We were on our way to her study when she told us that she's a pioneer and always goes in service at 6am every morning. I don't know if I told you this, but when we made Liz's schedule we found that she would need to go out at least twice a week at 6 am before work. When Liz told that to Estella, she said that she would love to go have a companion during the early mornings and that she would be like another mom to Liz. What a wonderful sister! She didn't know it, but she was an answer to our prayers. Just the night before, Liz and I had been talking about the privilege of Pioneering and how she's been wanting to do it for a long time. As soon as she decided she would definitely sign up, Jehovah provided her with the means to do it!

Both of us, beaming and slightly teary-eyed, went on the study with Estella. It was a fantastic study and the lady, Basilia, is a very genuine woman who is progressing in her knowledge very well! Afterward, we went to In-and-Out for lunch (my idea, of course). Don't worry, April...while I have had a few sodas, I've been mostly drinking Iced Tea because it tastes so amazing here! The rest of our day was spent doing a little shopping, including Target (loving that!) and JoAnn's Fabric (not loving that so much) as well as going to the bank and even getting a few more things for my dinner.

I cooked dinner last night: speghetti, bread, garlic butter and Liz made a fresh fruit salad. It was great. Jeremiah said he hated it, because that's how he rolls, but he then proceeded to "hate" two full plates... We watched a movie together: The Terminal. Phenomenal movie, in case you haven't seen it. I think it would make a huge impact on Americans if they made it in some obscure language, like Farsi, and had the tourist be English-speaking. Then I think Americans would understand how difficult it can be to be in a new country where you don't speak the language and no one speaks your language. The way people just talk normally, as if you could understand them if you really wanted to. The way people treat you like you're not really a person if you don't speak their language. It's really quite demeaning the way immigrants and foreigners are treated in the States, all because we're just too ignorant to appreciate their situation. Now I will step off of my soap box...

So, Liz and I enjoyed a 2-hour study session last night. We studied the oral review together, and I feel confident in commenting on a few of them. Everyone, I'm having a great time, and I want you all to know that I am addicted to traveling. Cool things always happen when I travel to new places. For example, I am at Starbucks right now (big surprise) and I just met a nice old man who asked if I knew where an IRS office is locally. Of course, I didn't, but I found him one on the Internet. Then he made a phone call and I noticed he was speaking in Spanish! We started chatting in Spanish, and it turns out he was born in Tempe, AZ! What are the chances? Tried as I did to do the contrary, I couldn't help but overhear him say a few things on the phone that made me think he was a Witness. In talking to him, then, I tried to find out if he was. I found a way to work it into the conversation that I am one of Jehovah's Witnesses, but he never said he was too. Oh well, coincidences don't happen everyday, right? So, until tomorrow, I suppose my adventure will progress, and you all will wait in desperate anticipation of what is to come!

Les Amo, mi familita!

Katie