Ankara, Patriarchal Blessings, İnterviews, and some other Stuff

 Hello everyone!

I once again have spent my p-day in a way where I don't have a ton of time to write this email, so I'll say the main points of my weeks :)

- Last week we traveled to Ankara, planing on staying there for the weekend. We had everything planned out so well, we were excited, and we had just gotten through security when we got a call from our mission president. He told us that the patriarch would be coming to ankara and they needed translators to do the interview with the patriarch before the actual blessing. For reason, he told us that we would be staying the week! We flipped out!

- We had all our normal appointments, a branch game night that was awesome (learned about some hidden talent of one of our members who literally should make an album), a Relief Society activity, a baptism, and even a mini birthday party for me and Sister Clinch (a member bought us cake :)) 

- We got to see Ankara! We traveled to the Kocatepe Mosque, The Roman Theater, Kızılay, Hacı Bayram Mosque, and just wandered the streets. It felt like we were in-person missionaries and I got to say it was one of the coolest experiences of my life!

- I absolutely loved the traveling patriarch, Patriarch Schuster, who was just a boss in every way. He helped out our members big time and I learned a lot more about the great potiential that all of them have. We are so lucky with our members. I also just learned a lot from him about knowledge, light, and understanding, as well as how we should prepare for the important things in life. He made a joke about my future husband being Jimmy Brown (its a whole story), so if Jimmy is out there he said that he would seal us in the temple. 

- Honestly, I learned a bunch about marriage and companionship on that Ankara Trip. Because of what the patriarch has advised us missionaries to do, all of us will be teaching our spouses and children Turkish, so pray for those guys because Turkish is hard and I don't know I will even do that. That is just one of the things I am planning to do.

- We got back from Ankara last Saturday and since then have just been Adjusting to Turkish Missionary Life (they should write a book for that). We had interviews with President the other day and have loved just hoping back into lessons. 

-  Today, we went shopping for p-day and I bought new clothes. I will finally wear something different after 11 months!

Another thing was that it was mother's day on Sunday and I didn't get to write about my amazing mom yet. My mom has taught me what it means to be a true daughter of God and has always helped me feel loved. This poem says it best: 

"When God created mothers,

All as lovely as can be,

He made one extra special,

And saved her just for me!"

I love my mom and I am glad that when I got home I could always tell that love was spoken there. Happy Mothers Day mom!

Also Happy Mothers day to my Grandma Calder and Grandma Seal! I love you both!

I also want to write about my Grandpa Seal, who is just one of my biggest heros. He has taught me a lot over my almost 20 years and I am so glad for his stories, laughs, and for his strong testimony. I will never forget mopsie, popsie, and poopsie, or gobble gobble, or just getting to spend time laughing with him or cheering on BYU. I love him a lot and I am so happy that he is doing well after his surgery! 

Ok, well, I need to go. I love you all and I hope you have an awesome week! Sorry that i am terrible at answering emails!