Sister Maegan Bingham: July 5, 2015

Dear family and friends,

Talofa lava!

Our week here has been interesting. Starting off with Libby. So she told us this week that she is gay. Needless to say that has postponed her baptism for a while. It's the first time I've really had to deal with something like that on my mission. Ironic as well that it happened the same time that gay marriage was legalized in America. It is hard because I know that she has a strong testimony of the gospel and that she really has the desire to be baptized, but now she will have to choose between accepting the gospel fully and leaving that behind her or staying the same and not being able to be baptized. I really feel for her right now and I know that whatever decision she makes it will not be easy.

Nova and Alex are doing pretty good. They didn't come to church yesterday and we're not quite sure why, but Nova is still really excited for her baptism. The only thing we need to do right now is teach her all the lessons and get her interviewed before the 25th.

We're not really sure what to do with Felicity at the moment. She likes meeting with us, but she does not want to come to church because she says it's boring. Haha! Typical nine-year-old! Maybe it's just not her time yet. But it's good because she has her mother to help her along the way so that eventually she might have a stronger desire to come to church and be baptized.

We finally met up with Stephanie this week. Her dad, who is the only member of their family, just got back from Sri Lanka so they invited us to come over one night. She is also on school holidays at the moment so we are hoping that we will be able to teach her more this week. We also met her house mate Sunny. She is twenty (only two days older than me!) and from India. Her family's religion is sikh, but she said she isn't really practicing right now. We got her number and hopefully will be able to meet up with her this week also.

Last fun thing from this week. So we have the most amazing neighbor ever at our flat. Her name is Colleen and she has lived next to the missionaries for about three years. She is a born again Christian and she invited us to come to a youth ministry on Saturday night with her. Sister Delim and I didn't have any plans yet, so we decided to check it out. I will say that I respect their way of worship because growing up as a dancer I truly believe that dance can be a form of worship, and for born again's their form of worship is singing songs, clapping hands, and jumping up and down. However, I also feel that such forms of worship should not take place of a quiet, peaceful, reverent church service where the Spirit can truly be present. But overall it was a good experience!

Hope yous have a good week and enjoy your sun!

Love yous heaps!

Sister Bingham

1. Colleen and I with our s'mores