June 20 2009 P-day take two

Whoooohooo!!! Okay, this transfer has been crazyyy so far. The weather here has just been adding to it. I’m not complaining one bit, I love the rain and cooler weather, but I know it’s not really normal…

But first off, Stephen, I’m SO sorry that I forgot to send you something for your birthday! I remembered the day before… which wasn’t p-day, so I couldn’t send you anything! So Here’s a Belated Birthday Hug via the Internet!

Elisabeth, it’s so good to hear from you! I’m glad that you’re able to be in Texas now and somewhat settled, and that the kids are able to adjust to the different things that are going on and all that! I’d still like some pictures, particularly ones that are snail mailed to me, so I don’t have to be attached to a computer in order to see them :D

That goes for the rest of the family! I’d love to get more pictures :D

Mom mentioned that it’s my 4 month anniversary, on Stephen’s B-day, and it’s kind of funny, because today when I was exercising with some of the other sisters, we were trying to figure out how long I’d been out in months, because I’m starting to think of time in terms of Transfers, which is kind of funny. My companion, sister Cox mentioned this morning as well that mission life is starting to feel normal (She’s just a transfer ahead of me.) So it’s been fun adjusting to things and just getting into it.

And as for the figuring out when I’m calling, Chances are I’ll be calling around 5:30 my time, but it may be 6 or 6:30 depending on the other sisters who are on the same phone line, I haven’t had a chance to talk with any of them but my companion and roommates, and there are 3 other rooms full of 4 sisters that are attached to the same phone line… but yeah, sisters who are calling to another country can just call from the Referral Center.

Amy, I think my companion, sister Cox knows how you feel. I think I mentioned last time that she’s a district leader, and currently, there are only solo district leaders, so I can’t help her much, so she’s a bit stressed, but she’s not able to talk to me about it since she’s the district leader, and I’m not. She’s doing a really good job though, and making sure that all the sisters are doing well.

We just had a Zone meeting this morning, and as always it was fun. Our zone leaders, sisters Ward, and Krietzer are very creative. I kind of feel sorry for the sisters who will be zone leaders next transfer, since both are at the end of their missions. Today we went to some grass that’s between where most of the sisters live, and had breakfast in a picnic like fashion, then had some ‘games’ My group first had a fast companionship study, and we were given points depending on how good it was going, then we were asked some random questions about our companions (since it was ran by the district and zone leaders, I was in a tri-companionship, and didn’t know the other two sisters very well, so we asked each other questions just before we got to this part)Then we had a three legged race (in our case, 4) The three of us were saying together, “One two one two …” etc until we got up the hill, then we had to feed each other pudding, and paint one of the sister’s toe nails, before giving one of the sisters a piggy back ride back down the hill. It was quite an experience. Then we had to choose an item and bridge from it to the gospel and the restoration. We got some Ibuprophen, and so talked about how Christ takes away our pains and afflictions, etc. It was a lot of fun.

Then later, sister Cox and I had a huge tour. Normally Gate tours (tours that we take from either the West or North Gate) are just a few people, but we had 17-22 people on our tour. It fluctuated because people would join us, then they’d leave, but it was the best tour that we’d taken together so far, and I’m really excited for the rest of the transfer.

I told Amy that I’d tell her a little bit about my birthday. It was a lot of fun, and I’ll be sending pictures soon enough.In the morning the first thing out of my companion’s mouth was, “Happy Birthday” and she did a lot of things for me. We all went to the Oquirrh mountain Temple Open house, and walked through. It was my first time through a temple like that before and it was fun.
After we got back, I got a page in the middle of making lunch, and was the only one available to take an ASL tour at the Beehive house. It was my first one, and they were all very sweet. It was to couples, and they loved the tour and would have referred had they not already done so on temple square.

The day before I talked with the Doctor that volunteers for us, and figured out what I needed to cut out of my diet so I can get rid of some weight, so I didn’t have many sweets on my birthday.

As I went through the day, a lot of people wished me happy birthday, and I was sung to at least 5 times, and people left things in my mail box, and I was wearing the green shirt that mom and Amy sent to me.I got several cards, etc, from sisters who were on the square, etc. Then that night, when we got home, sister Cox said, “Oh, we’re going to sister Shugart’s apartment at 9, just so you know.” I didn’t think anything of it, because I thought it had something to do with district stuff. I only got slightly suspicious, when she said some sisters who were visiting me could come with us.

The door opened to the apartment that I had moved out of, and sister Shugart had moved into, and was surprised by no less than about 25-50 sisters, who all hollered, “Happy Birthday!” and started singing to me.

My companion had gone behind my back and planned it with the sisters at Mission Services (which is where we call to when we don’t have anything to do and see where we’re needed) and so on. It was a lot of fun!

Any way, must go! Love you all LOTS and LOTS!

Talk to you tomorrow!

HUG!Byes!