Monday, February 15, 2016

Fwd: Mission call changes and true love

From: Hannah Fouts
Date: Mon, Feb 15, 2016 at 11:12 AM
Subject: Re: Mission call changes and true love












Me+the Russian burger 4 life.




























Sorry, you probably want pictures of New York or something. But THE OLYMPICS ARE THIS YEAR SO GO AMERICA! USA, USA, USAAAAAA! 















There ya go. Have some New York today. (Close up, Queens. Skyline, Manhatten. The Empire State Building is behind the big white building on the left.)
One more of the big apple. The bridge is actually for trains so that is rad. 


แง

Fwd: Mission call changes and true love

From: Hannah Fouts
Date: Mon, Feb 15, 2016 at 10:55 AM
Subject: Mission call changes and true love

Yo yo yo, waddup?
I just read Sister Paget's great email and now I'm nervous about my writing abilities. The above greeting is a good example of how I respond under stress like that.

Well the biggest news of this week is they've changed my mission call! I'll find out where I'm going tomorrow, but they need me in a different mission besides the Lynbrook, NYNYS mission. (That's a joke because I've been here for so long I'm pretty sure that's where I was actually called originally.) so what's atually happening is my sweet Sister Landaverry is training the Haitian sister, Sister Figaro, and I'm leaving! Not to train, just to mission. Sister Wheeler got Sister Cate, the other sister learning Creole. Cross your fingers for Brooklyn because LynBrook-BrookLyn would be so fun! 

What else? Well so much! Patricia's parents aren't giving her permission to be baptized right now, so we're praying hard there. But Gina is still thinking about it, so maybe she'll change her mind! Also a Haitian member was like, yo, my daughter Isabel just came from Haiti and isn't a member but wants to be. Will you teach her? UH YES WE WILL. Then she came to church, because she's the best, and I realized after the first talk she didn't understand a word. I don't know why it took me so long to think about it, but then I started translating for the first time ever and it was so fun!!! So hard, my brain was hurting after, and it wasn't making sense to me. I was just talking, and God was giving me the words. Hahaha it was especially rough when we translated for the last hour, when the stake patriarch came to talk about patriarchal blessings and described the lineage of the priesthood and used words I don't even know in English. HOLLA. 

Oh something else fun was it was like 5 degrees yesterday and Saturday, plus wind chill equals actually just -22 degrees. AND WE WENT KNOCKING!!! Because we are crazy! Saturday night our heater and our water had frozen up. We just piled on blankets and were fine, but we joked about it with one of the senior missionary couples at church and before we know it we have 2 space heaters (shout out to the elders and zoster Maxwell my BFF member for those) and we were asked to sleep at the mission home. I ain't even mad! Cold, yes. Mad, nope! But it's all good and fixed now, no worries! 

Apparently there's a holiday today, so happy (insert holiday everyone keeps talking about but not saying the name of)!!
 Food I ate: Greek, Dominican, Italian, Mexican, and burger shack which is my true love.

Here's my two cents for the week. When I first came to Lynbrook, I was a little bummed but ready to work. Then I realized it looks like a flat Utah and I got really bummed. Then I couldn't wait to leave. Then I got my trainee and settled in for another 12 weeks, not too happy about it. Not that I wanted to leave, but I wanted to leave. I wanted to see the rest of New York, not just A remix of Ogden. But now I'm leaving. Saying goodbye to my friends here has been so so hard! I love these people more than words can describe. I can't imagine my life without them! So here is the wisdom: it might be hard to be happy where you are. It might be hard to feel like you're not moving or progressing. And it might be hard to change and move and progress. But no matter what, do your best to see the good where you are! Enjoy something in every day, even if it's a nice cloud or you have to make something to enjoy like brownies or cookies. But never go to sleep without thanking God for something good and beautiful in the day. I know that as you do that, your various situations, whether you're at the beginning, middle or end of Lynbrook, will be better. God will bless you for your choice to be happy with even more reasons to be happy! I love you all so much! Go rock this week and try something new! Be adventurous! BE HAPPY! Tune in next week for some more big apple wisdom!

With all the love that I haven't already given away to Burger Shack and Lynbrook,
Sister Hannah

PS sorry to Emmie Brown who has heard so much about the shack today.
PPS a member told me to make sure I keep my weight and height in proportion so I'll be attractive to the men when I go home, so there's that. 
PPPS LOVE YA

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Monday, February 8, 2016

Fwd: God is Great and I am awkward

From: Hannah Fouts
Date: Mon, Feb 8, 2016 at 2:01 PM
Subject: God is Great and I am awkward

People of the world! How has your day been? What was the coolest thing you did? That's so neat! You are the most cool! 

Let me tell you all about this week. It was, in the words of the lady we shared an elevator with this morning, a looloo. I think that means doozy or crazy or wacko. Take your pick! 
So on Wednesday we got a text at 3 from the young women's leader asking if we were set to be in charge that night. Nope...but with the help of the Spirit and poptarts, we had the best young women's night EVER. The spirit was so intense! All of the young women came (apparently everyone knew we'd be there but us) which never happens, and P. was there! We talked about missionary work and how great it is, and then we had them practice. P. even did it, and it made me so happy to hear her introduce herself as "a missionary for the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints!"  Then we went out to find people, and the guy we talked to spoke Spanish so Sister Landaverry took the reigns after I tried to introduce us and failed miserably. Turns out he's a member, but lost the church after he moved from El Salvador 3 years ago! HOW COOL IS THAT?!? SO COOL. 

What else? Oh yes. Why I'm awkward. Well, lots of reasons, but the main one is one night I was so tired and locked the door like always. The next morning when we went to leave the apartment,  we couldn't find the keys ANYWHERE. We tore the place apart, nothing. we prayed, and I thought maybe they were outside. Like, I'd left them in the lock last night. So we tried to unlock the door to check, and WE WERE LOCKED IN because the key was jamming the lock. Sure enough I'd left it out there like the dummy I am. So we had to call the elders to come get us out and I've never been more embarrassed in my whole life. They thought it was hilarious and I almost cried and I've never been happier to live in apartment building full of very old very nice people! 

Also a blind dog sat on me while I was trying to build a shelf for one of our investigators and it wouldn't get off of me and it was so awkward. 

Some good quotes from the week:
"He's in the hospital? Did he get stabbed again?" -in a condescending voice, from Elder Jeppson while on the phone with someone
"You must have the wrong number." -literally every number that people we talked to on the street gave to us when we called it
"My name is Kevin! You can call me Jamaican K.. And when you find someone you want to marry, you'd better bring him by to meet me first so I can approve." -Jamaican K. we met on the street
"I love you! Come to my house at 7 on Saturday. I will feed you. What's your favorite kind of juice?" -E., the Haitian lady we met on the street

Oh another thing that happened! While I was introducing us to E., SPANISH CAME OUT and I could not get my Creole to work! Sister Landaverry is ruining me! But it's okay because she's still the best, and Emma thought it was funny. Life goes on. 

Here's the thought for the week!

The gospel of Jesus Christ
is the plan by which we can become what children of God
are supposed to become. This spotless and perfected state will result from a steady succession of covenants, ordinances,
and actions, an accumulation
of right choices, and from continuing repentance"

So that's a super cool quote from Elder Oaks. I love it! How cool is that?! I don't know why it looks like that, just go with it. Basically, through following the gospel plan of having faith in Jesus Christ, changing our actions and our hearts to be more in line with Him, making and keeping promises with our Father in Heaven, and listening to the Holy Ghost, we can keep progressing and becoming the person that God has in store for us to become. Solid! 

Well I love you all and hope you rock this week into outer space. Hopefully that made some sense, just go do some great stuff and always love life! 

Love ya!

Sister Hannah

แง

Monday, February 1, 2016

Fwd: Sa ka rive koukouloukou a ka rive kakalanga tou


Me and Sister Young!


Us at sisters conference! UnShoutout to Sister Anderson for cutting out Sister Landaverry.

Betty's 93rd birthday. Right after this picture she leaned over and told me "I'm going for 100!" So I promised her I'd come back for her 100th birthday.

> On Feb 1, 2016, at 3:04 PM, Hannah Fouts <hannah.fouts@myldsmail.net> wrote:
>
> Happy Groundhog Day, everyone! ๐Ÿป It's actually tomorrow, but we'll
> celebrate a little early because preparation day. I hope you're all
> alive and well! Here is a big birthday shoutout to everyone who's had
> a birthday in the past 8 months that I've missed, and one to Elder
> Tingey who's aging this Friday! So fun!
>
> Well this week was just great. It's currently 60 degrees, which is a
> big step up from last week, so I'm not complaining! The best things
> that happened this week include but are not limited to:
>
> -We taught 3 Creole lessons in one night! It was so exciting! If
> you're ever like, I wonder which language to learn, just pick Creole.
> See subject line for more support to this argument.
>
> -We had sisters conference, which happens twice a year and is when all
> the sisters in the mission get together and exchange clothes and eat
> food and listen to amazing speakers and get pumped about ourselves and
> the work! And we got to drive the Flushing Chinese Sisters to the
> meeting, which means I got to hang out with Sister Young! I love her!
>
> -This is a long one so get comfy: We talked to this guy on the street
> and he gave us his contact info. A few days later we tried to stop by,
> but he hadn't given us an apartment number and it was one of the
> places where you have to get buzzed in. The number he gave us was
> wrong, too. So we rang a random bell and the nice lady let us in and
> told us where he lived! Turns out he doesn't actually live there, his
> sister does. But his sister told us where he lives and is letting us
> come back to teach her and her family this week. Then we went to his
> actual apartment and he said "who is it!" and then pretended he wasn't
> home. His girlfriend opened the door and after talking to her for a
> minute she told us when we can find him (even though he was clearly
> there) and she wants us to come back and teach her this week! The
> lesson: don't give the missionaries false info because we'll find you
> anyways. Also thanks for all the investigators, friend!
>
> -While on the wild goose chase mentioned above, some boys asked us
> what we were doing. We said talking about Jesus Christ, and one of
> them, who was 11 years old, asked us if we were also looking for
> drugs. Nope...no we are not. Then we invited them to church because
> that boy clearly needs some primary songs in his life.
>
> -The elders had a baptism!!! But...the water heater broke...and all
> the pipes were rusty...so the water was freezing cold and yellow.
> NASTY. We ended up boiling cold tap water and bucketing the font full.
> Apparently it was still really cold, but it was better than the ocean.
> They talked about doing it there. Man, if only I'd known that was an
> option when I was 8!
>
> I want to close this lovely email with my testimony. I know that God
> lives. I know that His Son, Jesus Christ, lived, died, and lives now
> for each of us! I know Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. I know the
> Book of Mormon is the word of God, and that everything in it is true.
> I know we have a living prophet, Thomas S. Monson. I know these things
> because I've prayed about them and I've had it all confirmed to me
> through the power of the Holy Ghost. I came on a mission because I
> believed these things and I knew it was what God wanted me to do, but
> I'm still here in spite of all the really hard things because I now
> know these things to be true, and I'm still here because I love these
> people so much! I love this gospel! I know it changes our lives when
> we let it.
> I love you all so much! Thanks for all your support and encouragement
> and love. Go change the world!
> Love,
> Sè Hannah
>
> PS Today's subject line means "what happens to the rooster can happen
> to the turkey too." It's probably the funnest thing to say ever.
>
>
>> On Jan 25, 2016, at 2:21 PM, Hannah Fouts <hannah.fouts@myldsmail.net> wrote:
>>
>> Hello people of my life!!!
>>
>> How you be? Good? Good! I'm just going to assume that unless I get
>> mail telling me otherwise, so go team! What team? WILDCATS! GET YOUR
>> HEAD IN THE GAME!
>> Okay now that that's out of my system here is the low down:
>> There was no email last week because I went to the temple and due to
>> the poor wifi on the SUBWAY(!!!!) the really funny, inspiring email I
>> know sustains you all through the boring week got lost. So here's my
>> attempt to rewrite that one and give you some info on this week.
>>
>> Major life changing events that have happened in the last two weeks
>> include but are not limited to:
>> We saw two tumble weaves. They're like tumble weeds, but weaves. I'd
>> have taken pics, but didn't feel like flashing the iPad in those
>> areas.
>> It finally snowed!! First it was just a dusting that melted right
>> away, but this weekend we got a Nor'eastern, which is basically a
>> blizzard that feeds off the ocean so it never dies. It dumped snow for
>> about 24 hours and we got 2-3 feet! So fun! Except we weren't allowed
>> to drive so we, like the pioneer children, walked and walked and
>> walked. And shoveled and shoveled and shoveled. They ended up
>> cancelling church because there was so much snow, so we've been
>> shoveling snow for the past two days straight and I'm pooped. Also NY
>> needs to learn some stuff from Utah. The roads are still not clear!
>> There were snow plows everywhere with the plows UP. What good is that
>> gonna do? Tèt chaje!! We dug out 5 stuck cars, too. What team?
>> WILDCATS.
>> I went to the temple in Manhattan for my 6 month anniversary trip and
>> it was perfect. I didn't see any of my north mission homies, but I did
>> ride the subway for the first time ever and I did talk to one lady who
>> escaped as a war refugee from Bosnia 20 years ago with a baby and a
>> sick husband. Her advice: "Do not be afraid! Everyone in Bosnia is
>> afraid of something. Fear is paralyzing! Just hold your head up and be
>> brave!" Imagine that with a Bosnian accent. Then I talked to a guy
>> from West Africa. His advice: "It's good to talk to other people and
>> find out how they live. If you spend your whole life not knowing about
>> others, that's no good." Say it with an African/French accent. Then an
>> Indian lady God blessed me before getting off the subway. Best day
>> ever!
>> Also in the subway there were mosaics and news stands and one guy was
>> playing the steel drums and two others were playing the saxophone and
>> guitar. Also if you spit onto the rails the rats come out and eat your
>> spit. I didn't do it, but it happened.
>> Speaking of rats, Cheryl told us about a Greek god with an
>> inappropriate name that is a rat that comes into people's houses who
>> don't believe in God. She thinks the rat is in her house and when we
>> meet with her we scare the rat away. What team? WILDCATS.
>> When we went to see Cheryl, we ended up teaching like 5 lessons. There
>> were 4 kitchen chairs set up in the living room and we sat in two and
>> when we finished talking and praying with one person, someone else
>> would come sit down. I don't know who the 4th chair was for, probably
>> the Holy Ghost. We're still not sure if all the people we taught live
>> there or not. And they gave us cake, which I probably would have
>> thrown away once we got home if they hadn't offered the 2 year old
>> some. People don't usually offer 2 year olds weed cake. Turns out it
>> was delicious and weed free!
>> Shout out to my father dearest for sending me the warmest coat ever
>> that protected me from the frozen tundra of this weekend! You rock!
>> Also we're getting TWO new Creole sisters in February!! AAAAHHHHH!
>> Okay now for my spiritual schpeel - those of you with a temple
>> recommend: the temple is SO GREAT. If it's been a while since you've
>> been, drop whatever you're doing and go right now! If you're still
>> reading this email, that hopefully means you've been to the temple
>> recently. Now you stop whatever you're doing and go to the temple!
>> Unless you're a missionary then keep missioning because rules. The
>> blessings we get and the peace we can feel there are SO MUCH MORE than
>> anything we will ever find outside of the temple for one simple
>> reason. The temple is truly the house of the Lord. It is set apart
>> from the world. It's the best!
>> Also, don't forget my Bosnian friend's advice. Do not fear. Fear is
>> stupid. Be brave!
>> I love you all so much! I hope you have a wonderful week and that
>> you'll be able to feel how much your Father in Heaven loves you. Go do
>> amazing things! Lots of times, we are the only things holding
>> ourselves back.
>> You rock my world.
>> Love,
>> Sè Hannah Fouts
>>
>> PS Also about the subject line, I was given a book of Creole proverbs
>> and it's my favorite and that's the English translation of one of
>> them. It's like saying "you're a hard nut to crack" or something like
>> that. In creole it looks like this: "ou se yon kokoye." So fun so fun!
>>
>> PPS Be prepared for lots of pictures this week. #Sorrynotsorry
>>
>>> On Jan 11, 2016, at 4:44 PM, Hannah Fouts <hannah.fouts@myldsmail.net> wrote:
>>>
>>> We decided to freeze at the beach today. Best choice ever! Beach
>>> therapy is the answer to all of life's greatest mysteries. Also I wore
>>> my shark shirt but you can't tell.
>>>
>>> Also please enjoy this cliche street sign photo because I❤️NY
>>>> On Jan 11, 2016, at 4:39 PM, Hannah Fouts <hannah.fouts@myldsmail.net> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Because this morning our professional boxer investigator named Cara
>>>> taught us how to box! We even warmed up by jogging around the block in
>>>> New York, like Rocky. It's fine, I'm basically famous. And she told me
>>>> I'm a natural, so I guess I've figured out my career path.
>>>> We had some incredible first lessons with people this week! We're not
>>>> sure how things will end up, but man the Spirit was strong! I love the
>>>> first lesson because it's where we get to testify for the first time
>>>> of Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon and the truthfulness of the
>>>> restored gospel. ITS DA BEST. You can literally see the stress melting
>>>> off of these New Yorkers shoulders as they listen to us retell the
>>>> First Vision, which is Joseph's account of when he prayed to get an
>>>> answer to a question and in response he saw and spoke with God the
>>>> Father and Jesus Christ. It's so incredible and I love it!
>>>> Some of the best quotes of the week are:
>>>> "Ya know when water jis sits...and, and stuff GROWS in it?! Dats
>>>> GROSS!! And dats where I'm at! And I don't wanna be dere no mo!" Well
>>>> Cheryl, the gospel can help you get out of that gross growing sitting
>>>> water.
>>>> I won't put this in quotes because it was in Creole, but we were
>>>> talking to an old lady about the bible and she was telling us why she
>>>> couldn't read it and it was basically because her eyes were bad and
>>>> there were too many chickens in Haiti. I'm not really sure what the
>>>> correlation there is, but okay! Also there might have been a language
>>>> barrier problem, but it was a funny one.
>>>> "How many siblings do you have?"
>>>> "The nice answer? 4. The real answer? 19."
>>>> "Can I learn some more about dis Book uh Norman's?"
>>>> And some graffiti wisdom because why not: "know God, no fear. No God,
>>>> know fear."
>>>> Also we found out that an older lady in our ward worked with Joan Jett
>>>> and has her name on two of Joan's album covers and hung out with Alice
>>>> Cooper. She doesn't talk with Joan anymore because "we've just gone
>>>> our separate ways."
>>>> For my spiritual schpeel of the week, I'd like to share a quote from
>>>> Elder Holland, a living Apostle of the Savior Jesus Christ.
>>>> "I ask everyone within the sound of my voice to take heart, be filled
>>>> with faith, and remember the Lord has said He "would fight [our]
>>>> battles, [our] children's battles, and [the battles of our] children's
>>>> children." And what do we do to merit such a defense? We are to
>>>> "search diligently, pray always, and be believing[. Then] all things
>>>> shall work together for [our] good, if [we] walk uprightly and
>>>> remember the covenant wherewith [we] have covenanted." The latter days
>>>> are not a time to fear and tremble. They are a time to be believing
>>>> and remember our covenants."
>>>> Amen to that!
>>>> Always remember that God loves you and He will be there to guide you
>>>> if you will accept His guidance. I love you all so much and hope you
>>>> have the best week EVER. Kenbe djanm!
>>>> Avek lanmou,
>>>> Sè Hannah Fouts
>>>>
>>>>> On Jan 4, 2016, at 4:16 PM, Hannah Fouts <hannah.fouts@myldsmail.net> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> Family, friends, fellow Creole speakers who randomly stumble onto the
>>>>> blog my dad has created, and anyone else who weirdly reads these
>>>>> emails,
>>>>> Transfer calls came....drumroll.....STAYING IN LYNBROOK for another 6
>>>>> weeks. Holla. Lynbrook is da best.
>>>>> We met JT this week. He is a singer songwriter for Akon and also
>>>>> Shaggy. We're gonna start teaching him the gospel before he goes on
>>>>> tour with Akon next month, so that's pretty cool. If anyone does
>>>>> research and discovers that he doesn't exist or that Akon isn't going
>>>>> on tour next month, I don't want to hear about it. Let me live a
>>>>> little, please.
>>>>> NEW YEARS EVE IN NEW YORK!!! BALL DROP!!!! Jokes on us. We had to be
>>>>> in at 6, so we played all the board games and it was a party!! ๐ŸŽ‰
>>>>> So Haitians really love New Year's Day and in Haiti everyone makes
>>>>> soup jou Mou, which is a spicy pumpkin soup with meat and stuff
>>>>> (everyone makes it different) and everyone just goes around eating
>>>>> soup jou mou all day! I need to learn how to make it because if I
>>>>> could eat that every day I would. It's delicious!!
>>>>> We had an amazing lesson with Gina and Patricia! I'd tell you more
>>>>> about it but my fingers are frozen so maybe later. Keep praying for
>>>>> them, or start, because Patricia's dad is really against her being
>>>>> baptized and until he says "go ahead," nothing is gonna happen until
>>>>> she's 18. But they came to church so that's so good!!!
>>>>> We did some fun service for Cara, a professional boxer. We organized
>>>>> her bookshelf! She has so many books! It was so fun! We've been
>>>>> helping her out a lot lately and that's been super cool. She's way
>>>>> awesome, she even has a belt. Not a big deal. At first I thought she
>>>>> was a super model (we organized her closet and man that woman has a
>>>>> lot of expensive clothing) but nope! How neat is that!
>>>>> Sorry this email is lame, my fingers really are so cold it's hard to
>>>>> type. Humid cold and I are not on good terms, and we don't even have
>>>>> snow yet. Ridiculous!
>>>>> Well I hope all is well with you and that you have the best week of
>>>>> your lives thus far! The big apple wisdom of the week comes from the
>>>>> poor man who missed his train. We were knocking on a lady's door and
>>>>> he was running to the train as it was about to leave the station. He
>>>>> yelled, "Oh me oh my, oh me oh my! Oh me oh my, oh me oh my!" A lot of
>>>>> times and stomped his foot. "I've missed my train, and now I do not
>>>>> know what I shall do! Oh me oh my!" He really yelled like this, ps. We
>>>>> could hear him from across and down the street over the sound of the
>>>>> trains and the arms that stop cars from going. He was really upset.
>>>>> Anyways, after the train pulled out of the station he crossed the
>>>>> tracks and waited for the next train to come. The moral of the story
>>>>> is its okay to be really upset and yell and stomp your feet when you
>>>>> miss a really great opportunity or things don't go the way you want,
>>>>> but when you've got it out of your system, move on and patiently wait
>>>>> for the next train to come. Turn what you can't control over to the
>>>>> Savior. Also maybe don't get too drunk because I'm pretty sure he was
>>>>> in the tavern next to us too long which is why he missed his train in
>>>>> the first place.
>>>>>
>>>>> Avek lanmou,
>>>>> Sè Hannah Fouts
>>>>>
>>>>>> On Dec 28, 2015, at 2:57 PM, Hannah Fouts <hannah.fouts@myldsmail.net> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Hello my people!!
>>>>>>
>>>>>> CHRISTMAS WAS THIS WEEK!!!! How fun is that?!?! The answer is THE MOST
>>>>>> FUN!!!! It was sort of white because it was SO foggy. I got to talk my
>>>>>> family, cute grandparents, and favorite Brooke and it was just the
>>>>>> best! We were in two nativity recreations. In one we were the
>>>>>> narrators and in the other we were singing angels and it was
>>>>>> magnificent, thanks for asking! Also in one the Baby Jesus was a cat
>>>>>> named Van Lapis. Go figure.
>>>>>> We went to lots of people's houses and ate lots of food and it was
>>>>>> glorious. We went to 2 Haitian parties where we were the only non
>>>>>> family members and also the only white people and it was great! I
>>>>>> really love akra, which is basically dough that's been fried to death,
>>>>>> but it's not a scone because it's spicy ish and way better. Also
>>>>>> griyo, which is pork that's also been fried to death. But I'm good to
>>>>>> stay away from the pikliz, which is basically coleslaw of death. New
>>>>>> favorite Haitian foods for sure! One Sister we went to visit didn't
>>>>>> have anyone to spend the day with, so we surprised her! It was super
>>>>>> fun! We sang songs and played some of her 30+ guitars and just had a
>>>>>> grand old time.
>>>>>> Okay. Here is the craziest thing that has ever happened ever. Are you
>>>>>> ready? We got leftovers from a member who works at a restaurant. It
>>>>>> was seafood, and anyone who knows me knows I do not have a good
>>>>>> relationship with seafood. But I ATE AN OCTOPUS. Not just part of an
>>>>>> octopus, a real live (we don't know if they cooked it or not) octopus.
>>>>>> IT WAS PURPLE AND STILL HAD ALL 8 LEGS WITH THE SUCKERS STILL
>>>>>> ATTACHED. I know because I counted. And I chewed it and swallowed it
>>>>>> and didn't throw it up. It's a Christmas miracle!!!! I could see its
>>>>>> little face. Ugh. Nasty.
>>>>>> In other news, we went to see Betty Jean McQueen and she had moved the
>>>>>> day before. What the heck. So we're going to be calling her until we
>>>>>> find out her new place of abode and get her to the missionaries in GA.
>>>>>> We've found some really awesome people this week who seem really
>>>>>> interested and committed to learning more about the gospel! Hopefully
>>>>>> they respond to our texts.
>>>>>> Also today I shot a bow and arrow, it's fine.
>>>>>> For my thought today I wanted to share something from a dear book
>>>>>> called "Adjusting to Missionary Life." It talks about dealing with
>>>>>> stress and has the driest sense of humor I have ever had the pleasure
>>>>>> of experiencing. One section says something to the effect of "think of
>>>>>> the worst possible outcome. If it's something you can live with, or
>>>>>> something the Savior can help you overcome, then move forward without
>>>>>> fear." Um yes hello. You can actually live with anything except death
>>>>>> of you, because unless it kills you then you're living with it. And if
>>>>>> it kills you, then the Savior can help you overcome it because
>>>>>> resurrection!! At first you're like, uh thanks a lot, adjusting to
>>>>>> missionary life, you're the worst. But then you think about it, and
>>>>>> you're like, woah! It's actually pretty true! Thanks!
>>>>>> I know the Savior lives. I know that by Him and through Him, we can
>>>>>> accomplish any righteous thing. When we humble ourselves and align our
>>>>>> wills with His, miracles will happen in our lives and in the lives of
>>>>>> those we love. I'm so thankful for the chance I had to spend this
>>>>>> Christmas in the service of my God. I love you all!! I hope you have a
>>>>>> wonderful week, and the happiest of Independence Days!!!
>>>>>> ๐Ÿ‡ญ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ญ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ญ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ญ๐Ÿ‡น (who needs New Years when you can just be Haitian
>>>>>> instead?)
>>>>>> Love,
>>>>>> Sè Hannah Fouts
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On Dec 21, 2015, at 5:20 PM, Hannah Fouts <hannah.fouts@myldsmail.net> wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> So this just happened...panini a la carte! Get it? It's a panini food
>>>>>>> cart? And it's called panini a la carte?! So punny!!! This is Giovani
>>>>>>> and David. Giovani was a mortgage broker until 60 days ago when he
>>>>>>> decided to follow his dream of owning a panini food truck. Giovani and
>>>>>>> David have been buds since high school. We are best friends, they even
>>>>>>> gave us a free menu and a muffin and took A Savior is Born cards.
>>>>>>> Ignore the really bad lighting and rejoice in the glorious gospel. K
>>>>>>> thanks.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> On Dec 21, 2015, at 2:55 PM, Hannah Fouts <hannah.fouts@myldsmail.net> wrote:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Hey there friends, family, and any other beloved children of God who
>>>>>>>> may stumble across this message,
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> MERRY CHRISTMAS! FELIZ NAVIDAD! JWAYE NWEL!! ๐Ÿ‘ˆ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ–•๐Ÿ––๐Ÿค˜๐Ÿ‘Œ✊! (That's
>>>>>>>> not actually sign language, I just typed in some emojis.) Are you so
>>>>>>>> excited to celebrate the birth of our Savior? I am!!
>>>>>>>> Well this week has just been great. We met with Sofie, that old
>>>>>>>> Haitian lady who taught us happy birthday in Creole. Well she knows
>>>>>>>> everything we've been teaching her is true, except for the fact that
>>>>>>>> she doesn't think she can get baptized again. Also the people in her
>>>>>>>> church love her and would be sad if she left. But she's in her church
>>>>>>>> choir, and so she taught us a Haitian Christmas song! We just be
>>>>>>>> singin with Sofie all day. I almost recorded it for you. I'll try this
>>>>>>>> week, were singing with her more on Wednesday. We told her we'd sing
>>>>>>>> her some of our songs, but that's awkward because there are only two
>>>>>>>> Christmas songs translated into Creole. So this week in language study
>>>>>>>> I started translating the hymn book, and who knows how many mistakes I
>>>>>>>> made. I'll be sending it over to Frè Anderson, Frè Chandler, and Frè
>>>>>>>> Dillon (the Creole teachers in the MTC. I actually haven't met Frè
>>>>>>>> Dillon, but he deserves a shout out because he sent us a Christmas
>>>>>>>> present.) so they can look it over.
>>>>>>>> My favorite phone call of the week was with Betty Jean
>>>>>>>> McQueen...remember her? The one who was supposed to be baptized this
>>>>>>>> week? Yeah awkward she actually hasn't been to church yet so we moved
>>>>>>>> it to January 17th. Well PLOT TWIST because she called us saying she's
>>>>>>>> moving to Atlanta GA by the end of the month. What the heck? So some
>>>>>>>> missionaries down in Georgia are about to get a Christmas present.
>>>>>>>> Fingers crossed its Sister Lawson!
>>>>>>>> Also Tracey, the other girl who had a date for this Sunday, has
>>>>>>>> dropped off the face of the planet.
>>>>>>>> The best day was when we had all of our appointments cancel and we ran
>>>>>>>> out of gas. Wow, that sounds like the opposite of the best day. False.
>>>>>>>> (It's because Heavenly Father directs the work.) But we looked around
>>>>>>>> and felt impressed to knock on these 2 doors with Christmas wreaths
>>>>>>>> (Jews and Jehovah Witnesses don't usually put up Christmas wreaths,
>>>>>>>> and they're the bashiest of the bashers.) and BAM both people answered
>>>>>>>> those doors and they are interested in the message! Then we ran into
>>>>>>>> Dina and Hailey. Dina hasn't been to church in a while, but she's
>>>>>>>> worried because Hailey, who's 9, hasn't been baptized yet. She has
>>>>>>>> friends in the church and is super open to learning more! They were so
>>>>>>>> excited to get Book of Mormons and come to church! They didn't, but
>>>>>>>> they seemed like they wanted to, which is a good first step!
>>>>>>>> Something I've been working on this week is turning outward instead of
>>>>>>>> inward, and just doing things the Lord's way. I was reading in Mosiah
>>>>>>>> 2 today, which is SUCH a good chapter. King Benjamin, a prophet and
>>>>>>>> King in the Book of Mormon, is teaching his people right before he
>>>>>>>> dies. He explains to them that even if we were to serve God, who has
>>>>>>>> given us everything from our freckles and eyebrows and breath to our
>>>>>>>> clothes to our homes to our families to our riches, with exactness and
>>>>>>>> with all our heat and might and strength for the rest of our lives,
>>>>>>>> we'd still not be able to repay Him for everything He's done for us.
>>>>>>>> And all He asks is that we do our best to keep His commandments,
>>>>>>>> repent when we mess up, and take care of each other. Just something to
>>>>>>>> think about.
>>>>>>>> I love you all so much! You're such a support and a strength to me,
>>>>>>>> and I'm so thankful for all of your examples and love. Pase Bon
>>>>>>>> jounen, e jwaye Nwel!
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Sè Fouts
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Oh also for those of you who have been asking for my address:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Sister Hannah Fouts
>>>>>>>> New York New York South Mission
>>>>>>>> 85-69 60th Drive
>>>>>>>> Elmhurst, NY (insert zip code.)
>>>>>>>> I recognize this address is totally unhelpful without the zip code, I
>>>>>>>> will do some, digging and see if I can find it.
>>>>>>>> Merry Christmas!
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Sent from my iPad
>>>>>>>>> On Dec 14, 2015, at 2:53 PM, Hannah Fouts <hannah.fouts@myldsmail.net> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> People of my life! How you be? Bon? Bon! Bay m sa byen! Tell me
>>>>>>>>> everything! Or don't, do whatever makes you feel good.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> It's time for some shout outs.
>>>>>>>>> Shout out to my little brother Ben for conquering the mouse in his room.
>>>>>>>>> Shout out to my parents and aunt for the best Christmas package ever.
>>>>>>>>> Shout out to tiwi, the annoying black box in our car that yells at me
>>>>>>>>> when I speed.
>>>>>>>>> Shout out to Sister Landaverry for being the best companion evah.
>>>>>>>>> Shout out to the Holy Ghost for helping us not get too lost this week.
>>>>>>>>> Un shout out to the elders who used our gps this week.
>>>>>>>>> Shout out to Gina and Patricia, who asked who would baptize them and
>>>>>>>>> where they'd be baptized, but still haven't agreed to pick a date.
>>>>>>>>> Shout out to the two less active members who came to church this week
>>>>>>>>> when none of our investigators did. Special shout out to the one who
>>>>>>>>> doesn't have a leg and can't use her left arm due to a recent shoulder
>>>>>>>>> surgery. Big shout out there.
>>>>>>>>> Shout out to Lucky, the giant 7 foot tall black man who put out his
>>>>>>>>> cigarette to watch A Savior is Born. "Not everyone belongs on the
>>>>>>>>> streets, that's why they have sidewalks." Thanks for that big apple
>>>>>>>>> wisdom, Lucky!
>>>>>>>>> Un shout out to our zone leader who asked us to sing at Zone Training
>>>>>>>>> Meeting 3 days before. We sang Far Far Away on Judea's plains because
>>>>>>>>> it's one of the two Christmas songs that have translated into Creole
>>>>>>>>> and they wanted us to sing part in Creole but then changed their
>>>>>>>>> minds, so we just sang the most unChristmasy Christmas song in the
>>>>>>>>> hymn book. It's whatever. Also I still can't sing, the mission hasn't
>>>>>>>>> changed that.
>>>>>>>>> Shout out to the guy who let us in in traffic, that was a good day!
>>>>>>>>> Shout out to Maryse, the sweetest Haitian lady ever who changed her
>>>>>>>>> mind mid sentence about being baptized when she knows the Book of
>>>>>>>>> Mormon is the word of God.
>>>>>>>>> Shout out to A Savior is Born because it's basically all we think
>>>>>>>>> about right now.
>>>>>>>>> Shout out to the murderer that didn't kill us in Elmont. I actually
>>>>>>>>> don't know if it was a murderer, but we were just looking up some
>>>>>>>>> people when all of a sudden there were 15 police cars, with more
>>>>>>>>> lights than Temple Square at Christmas time, and maybe 5 or 6 police
>>>>>>>>> dogs. We kept knocking, but weirdly enough nobody answered their
>>>>>>>>> doors.
>>>>>>>>> Shout out to our Heavenly Father for sending His Only Begotten Son to
>>>>>>>>> the earth to live for us, to suffer and die for us, and then to live
>>>>>>>>> again for us! The gospel is my favorite and I love being a missionary
>>>>>>>>> and I love New York and I love Creole and I love all of you! I hope
>>>>>>>>> you all have a very merry week, and maybe someone can solve the
>>>>>>>>> mystery of Chanukkah for us. All the signs for Hanukkah spell it
>>>>>>>>> Chanukkah and also we don't even really understand this holiday. At
>>>>>>>>> the mall last Monday there was a dradel(?) spinning contest so that is
>>>>>>>>> cool.
>>>>>>>>> Mwen renmen ou anpil anpil anpil!
>>>>>>>>> Pase bon jounen!
>>>>>>>>> Sè Fouts
>>>>>>> <image1.JPG>
>>> <image1.JPG>
>>> <image2.JPG>
From: Hannah Fouts
Date: Mon, Feb 1, 2016 at 1:20 PM
Subject: Re: Sa ka rive koukouloukou a ka rive kakalanga tou

Boiling that water! Also that elder looks like and acts like Elder
Tingey and it freaks me out. They're not related, I asked.


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Fwd: Sa ka rive koukouloukou a ka rive kakalanga tou

From: Hannah Fouts
Date: Mon, Feb 1, 2016 at 1:04 PM

Happy Groundhog Day, everyone! ๐Ÿป It's actually tomorrow, but we'll
celebrate a little early because preparation day. I hope you're all
alive and well! Here is a big birthday shoutout to everyone who's had
a birthday in the past 8 months that I've missed, and one to Elder
Tingey who's aging this Friday! So fun!

Well this week was just great. It's currently 60 degrees, which is a
big step up from last week, so I'm not complaining! The best things
that happened this week include but are not limited to:

-We taught 3 Creole lessons in one night! It was so exciting! If
you're ever like, I wonder which language to learn, just pick Creole.
See subject line for more support to this argument.

-We had sisters conference, which happens twice a year and is when all
the sisters in the mission get together and exchange clothes and eat
food and listen to amazing speakers and get pumped about ourselves and
the work! And we got to drive the Flushing Chinese Sisters to the
meeting, which means I got to hang out with Sister Young! I love her!

-This is a long one so get comfy: We talked to this guy on the street
and he gave us his contact info. A few days later we tried to stop by,
but he hadn't given us an apartment number and it was one of the
places where you have to get buzzed in. The number he gave us was
wrong, too. So we rang a random bell and the nice lady let us in and
told us where he lived! Turns out he doesn't actually live there, his
sister does. But his sister told us where he lives and is letting us
come back to teach her and her family this week. Then we went to his
actual apartment and he said "who is it!" and then pretended he wasn't
home. His girlfriend opened the door and after talking to her for a
minute she told us when we can find him (even though he was clearly
there) and she wants us to come back and teach her this week! The
lesson: don't give the missionaries false info because we'll find you
anyways. Also thanks for all the investigators, friend!

-While on the wild goose chase mentioned above, some boys asked us
what we were doing. We said talking about Jesus Christ, and one of
them, who was 11 years old, asked us if we were also looking for
drugs. Nope...no we are not. Then we invited them to church because
that boy clearly needs some primary songs in his life.

-The elders had a baptism!!! But...the water heater broke...and all
the pipes were rusty...so the water was freezing cold and yellow.
NASTY. We ended up boiling cold tap water and bucketing the font full.
Apparently it was still really cold, but it was better than the ocean.
They talked about doing it there. Man, if only I'd known that was an
option when I was 8!

I want to close this lovely email with my testimony. I know that God
lives. I know that His Son, Jesus Christ, lived, died, and lives now
for each of us! I know Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. I know the
Book of Mormon is the word of God, and that everything in it is true.
I know we have a living prophet, Thomas S. Monson. I know these things
because I've prayed about them and I've had it all confirmed to me
through the power of the Holy Ghost. I came on a mission because I
believed these things and I knew it was what God wanted me to do, but
I'm still here in spite of all the really hard things because I now
know these things to be true, and I'm still here because I love these
people so much! I love this gospel! I know it changes our lives when
we let it.
I love you all so much! Thanks for all your support and encouragement
and love. Go change the world!
Love,
Sรจ Hannah

PS Today's subject line means "what happens to the rooster can happen
to the turkey too." It's probably the funnest thing to say ever.

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