Week 24 Chico/Orland CA

Hey Mama!!

Sounds like a fun week!! I'm glad that all the spring fair stuff went well!! it sounded pretty successful!!

So the subject of the week is FOOD!! I know you are surprised, cause I never talk about food. But it was a food kind of week.

So to start off, last Monday we had a zone preparation day! It was super fun. We went on a hike together! My first hike in Chico. But then after we had Costco pizza!! It was the first time I had Costco pizza in a very long time. It made my belly happy.

That night Hemana Hayes and I went home and decided to make some hot chocolate (even though it is at east 85 each day, haha!) But we were making some Mexican hot chocolate. So we had to boil the hot chocolate with the milk and stir it. We turned away for like a minute, and then the pot boiled over everywhere... whoops. But then II went to put it in the blender to make it all frothy, cause it's better that way. so I did, and then it was a classic movie moment... the top came off a bit, and there was hot chocolate all over... I thought that only happened in movies, but I guess not... whoops!

The next day, Tuesday, we were having a lesson with Kristina. She is still doing awesome. She is so ready and so excited to get baptized this Saturday, and I am so excited for her! She is literally just so perfect and so ready and loves everything about church! But after the lesson she offered us some Loatian food (her husband is Laos). It was called "thumbsum" and it smelt kinda weird, but she said we had to try it and wouldn't tell us what was in it. So we did and it was super gross... it was shredded papaya with 7 different peppers, so super hot, and little crawdad arms, and fish sauce. It was weird. I don't think I would eat it again, but it was an experience to say the least!

So after that we went home and I wanted some cookies, so I made the yummy peanut butter chocolate chip cookies. SO GOOD!! I hadn't had them in soooo long. But while I was making them I was using the mixer, and then it just stopped... an then it started smoking and it smelt funky... so I broke the mixture. whoops. but at least we got the cookies out of it!

The next day at district council, it was the last one with our district (Cause transfers happened this week, but I'm staying in Chico with Hermana Hayes!). So the Hmong elders brought Hmong food, The Spanish sisters (us) brought Flautas (like tacitos) and the English elders brought PB&J. So we had all the different cultures cover, haha! But it was a fun time! Everyone liked my flautas too, and no one died, so double win!

This week was also 5 week! which is basically a meeting for all the people who just started training. it was a good time! We had some sisters come and stay the night with us the night before so they didn't have to drive as far in the morning. so that was a party. and it was good to see other friends, but also learn more about how to better our efforts. It was a good conference! but the food that ties in with this was that we made quesadillas there. They were good. that's about it though, haha!

On Saturday we had dinner with one of the members in Orland, and they gave us pizza with artichoke on it! It was actually way good. I am a fan. But while there, they showed us their cats and OH MY GOSH THEY ARE THE TINIEST AND CUTEST THINGS EVER!!! They literally are so small I an hold them in the palm of my hand, and I have small hands. They were super cute though. So that plus pizza was a win!

Also on Saturday, there was a Hmong baptism! That was a fun time! We had someone we were teaching go to the baptism, so we went as well. The only thing was that the baptism was in Hmong, and Tranquilino speaks Spanish. So one of the Hmong elders translated the meeting into English through a translation headset, and then I translated that into Spanish. SO there were 3 languages flying around. That was pretty crazy. The gift of tongues is REAL!! But after we had a Hmong lunch, and it was way good! A lot better than the Laotian food we had the other day...

It was a good week! And I promise with all this food I am not far (yet). We bought a ton of fruits and veggies, so we will be eating healthy!!

I love you and miss you! It was super fun to talk with you and the rest of the fam on Sunday!! I love you all so much! Have a great week :)

Kiley

Hermana Atkinson