The Holidays (2 weeks)

We had an interesting week. The weather decided to go from the 10 degrees and constantly snowing to 40 degrees and constantly raining. Which was crazy and wet. Since we had about 2 ft of snow everywhere plus snow banks that went even higher there was tons of water around. With the rain, it melted the snow down. Long story short, half of our area flooded. We went around after Church on Sunday making sure everyone was okay and see if they needed help. Our Recent Convert Stephen needed help and we were able to help him clean up everything. Generally I would have been way worried because he is a recent convert. He said he was freaking out but then he remembered everything happens for a reason. So he calmed down and looked at the reason. All of his important stuff was untouched by water. The only thing that got ruined was things that he was either 1. Going to throw away or 2. Had bad memories and couldn't get himself to throw away. SO he is pretty overall satisfied to know that the situation wasn't really bad. The bishop lent him a dehumidifier and we showed up to help him so he felt blessed. His non member wife also took note that it was nice of us to help and Stephen was excited about that. He keeps us up to date on her interest in the church. He definitely has a game plan for her and the rest of his family which is fantastic!

Since Elder Allen is my companion and he is the District leader, we do a lot of exchanges. Carrying a tote with your bedding and clothes for the night on the subway through downtown and walking around downtown is really awkward. haha! I had to go to the more downtown part of the area as part of the exchange. It was fun to mix it up and go into their area. Elder Lynn was my companion for the day. As sarcastic as me and harder to tell if he is being sarcastic than me. But it was a fun time. And their apartment has the coolest old style Elevator. Pictures to follow!

This week was very interesting. First of all, obviously there was the phone call home. That was nice! Turns out that I actually went a little over the recommended time for calling home. But Elder Allen and I were the shortest phone calls in the District. ha!

The rest of the week went well. I went on an exchange with the other Elder Allen (Brown Allen/Zone Leader Allen). We kept missing buses so we walked quite a bit around the area doing a bunch of drop ins on some less actives. But it was good talking time. Was able to catch one bus and make 2 solid contacts out of it. 1 of them we have an appointment with tomorrow.

BUT to get to the real news and stories of the week. Saturday was GuoJian's wedding. Probably the funniest day of my mission yet. They show up in limos because "It's Chinese tradition." Granted I think that any time he wanted to do something during the planning sessions that we kind of questioned his reasoning on, he just said it was "tradition" so we wouldn't bug him about it haha! But the two Sister missionaries got to ride in the limos as the escort for his wife because she doesn't know too many people from Buffalo. I don't know if I've explained it yet but she was in France until Christmas Eve because she is going to school there. SO he planned this all by himself and she showed up for the party. She had an elaborate wedding dress and he looked all spiffy. So that was good! Then they awkwardly stood out in the cold waiting for their camera guy/friend to show up because he was like 5 minutes behind him. So he could film them walking in. There is like a group of 30 asians just sitting outside. And the Maid of Honor is freezing in her... well, not very covering dress. I got a good chuckle outta that.

We then went into the Relief Society room for the actual ceremony. Which wasn't the classiest looking place which made it funny. Bishop gave a little speech and then married them. Then the greatest of all moments happens. Their "First kiss as a married couple." GuoJian's original plan was to just kiss her on the cheek but his Asian friend "Kevin" (American Name) was like "Noooooo! You gotta actual kiss her!" (He's funny.) So he goes in the kiss. It was the most funny awkward chin kiss and she kiss his nose. Then he just blushed really hard. It was hilarious. Then we had a little mini reception in the Gym where Nu Fuji (Asian Buffet) provided tons of food for. That part actually worked out quite well. Then it just struggled through the usual stuff that GuoJian had no idea on what he was doing. We ate and chatted and pretty much had a bunch of first discussions with half the wedding. They had their awkward first dance to the wrong song. haha! It was pretty much just the most fun Saturday yet. I got a great kick out of it! In the end, GuoJian was way happy to be married. We asked him why he was marrying her before (Not doubting, just seeing like why he loved her.) and he just said "Because she loves me." It was funny. GuoJian is my favorite little Asian ever. Granted he is like 28. ha!

The rest of the week was good. Sunday was great. Church is always a nice reboosting of energy. Sadly, I woke up that morning and was feeling quite sick. Almost threw up a couple of times. But luckily (Thank the power of prayer) I was feeling up to going to church and wasn't going to miss it. I felt fine all during church and didn't feel sick again until we were home weekly planning which is a totally okay time to feel sick. ha! GuoJian brought his wife to church. They are great! He was beeming with pride that he was a married man and that was his wife. Granted she could barely speak English... haha!