Monday, December 28, 2009

"Congratulations on your recent conception"- Hna. Hoskins

Familia!

I love you. Getting to talk to you on Christmas was the best Christmas Present ever. I hope not knowing when I was going to call didn't make things too stressful for you. Next time, I think I'll call that morning and let you know when I'm going to call later, since that's apparently totally legit. Transfer News: I'm staying! I get to stay here in BearCreek, probably for two more transfers, I'd guess... But little Hermana Russon is leaving, she's going to go to LittleYork to be companions with my old companion Hermana Bastian. I'm sad that we only got one transfer together, but I'm really looking forward to this next experience. I don't know who my companion is yet, because I'm going to be training one of the new sisters coming in on Wednesday. And President doesn't assign our trainers and trainees until after he's met them all/prayed about it. So, next week I'll be able to tell you about my new companion. I'm way excited to train, I think it's going to be a blast. So far, I've been very blessed with amazing companions. So, we'll see how this goes. My MTC companion Hermana Gurney is also going to train. She gets to White-wash train in her baby-area—meaning the area she served in when she first got to the mission—Westgreens, I'm so jealous! I'd love to whitewash City View, but they've only got Elders serving in that ward now... They took the sisters out shortly after I moved to CrossTimbers last summer, so I probably won't get the chance, but I can imagine she's as excited right now as I would be if I got to go open up the City View sisters area. Elder Herrman is also training, so when we all get together to meet our Greenies, it's going to be a bit of an MTC district reunion. Very fitting, I think.

The subject line is what Hermana Hoskins said when she found out I was going to train.

Christmas sounds like it was really wonderful! I had a great Christmas here. One of the happiest and most meaningful of my life. I didn't get homesick at all actually, I looked forward to getting to talk to you all on the phone and after I hung up, I was a little sad for a split second. But then I saw that dad had hung up at exactly 59 minutes and 59 seconds and that made me laugh. Hurray for exact obedience! And I remembered that next time I talk to you isn't really all that far away. This was the long stretch of months and it's ya llevar acabo-ed. How's that for horrible Spanglish?

We had a wonderful dinner with Ashley and her mother. I got to hear funny/terrifying “Drill Sergent Stories” from her days in the army.

Getting to play with the family is so priceless though. I'm really looking forward to getting to see you all for Christmas next year and spend it as a family. But no... I actually didn't get legitimately homesick, just a touch nostalgic, we'll say. Our Christmas P-day was wonderful. I already told you a little bit about that. I'm not sure when Hermana Thomas is going back, but I'm sure she'll be fine. She's got a large chunk of good saints praying for her and she's a strong/righteous person, so whatever happens, she'll be fine, and hopefully she'll be back out here with us in just a short while. When I described to Ashley how I'd been trying to at least cry silently during President's prayer (and then failed miserably) she said that was exactly what happened to her when she started coming back to church and working through the repentance process. Every Sunday in church as they passed the sacrament and she couldn't take it she would try to at least sob quietly, but it never worked and people always stared. But the experience helped her gain and more profound appreciation for her baptismal covenants, and now that she can take the sacrament again, she doesn't take it for granted.

I loved Jensen's description of the movie Avatar as “Ferngully on Steroids”. I think I'll have to see that one when I get back. And Ferngully. I don't remember much about that old movie, except that I liked it a lot as a kid until I was old enough to start getting annoyed with the unintelligent, irrational conclusions reached by some of our adorable environmentalist brethren and then it just made me exasperated.

And Sherlock Holmes sounds pretty slick. Holidays and movies always go together... I was so happy when the Zone Leaders told us we could watch the Peanuts Christmas special. I loved my presents from all of you and I especially loved getting those letters from you folks. I think that was the best gift I got to unwrap. I'm happy, I'm healthy more or less and I'm so excited to be out here doing the Lord's work! I love you all like crazy! MWAH.

Hermana Lillywhite

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Monday, December 21, 2009

Merry Christmas!

Familia!

First off... announcement... Steven got baptized last night! YAY! And His less-active older sister came. It was a wonderful baptism, though it was nearly a bit of a disaster. Poor Hermana Russon was a little stressed. I was too, secretly, but I didn't let it show, because no body needs two panicked sisters at a baptism. It was just a problem with the whole program not showing up for a few ages, and also we had no baptismal jumpers for Steven. He's 12, but he's really tiny. We ended up using an adult jumper and just rolling up the sleeves. Then, the only other jumper we had (the rest were dresses) had a broken zipper when Pompo tried to put it on. So he was struggling with that in the bathroom for a little while, trying to beg safety-pins off of people and stuff. In the end it all worked out though. He got baptized and that's what's important, and his less-active mom is making lots of friends in the ward.

La Hermanita Diaz just got home from her mission to Argentina. We got to talk to her a little at the Christmas Party Saturday night. “Raro.” was all she kept saying when people would ask her how she felt. Raro is like weird. She looked a little bit uncomfortable and out of place. I was watching her saying to myself, “Aww... that's going to be me one day. How cute.” We made arrangements for her to come out with us this week, and when I pulled my planner out she say it and was like, “Oohhhh. I miss that.”

These planners are amazing. So efficient and practical. I said the other day that God himself probably designed them, and I wasn't being cheeky, I actually think these planners are a product of revelation. But everybody laughed, and I was like, “No. I'm serious.”

FELIZ NAVIDAD! It's Christmas this week. We are SO excited! This has been a really wonderful, oddly warm Christmas season for me. I told Hermana Russon about the Stained Glass Orchard Christmas story that I've got in mind to write when my hands are untied and fate returns the quill to it's rightful place in my hand. I clearly have lost all my writing skills, and will need to be periodically reminded when I accidentally use words that don't exist in English. All this great Christmas music that you folks sent me and also that I discovered here, has got me piecing together a soundtrack for the motion picture. Which is a little strange, since I haven't even written the book yet, and have no funding.

What's the song called on the CD you sent me...? Track 6? Really gorgeous rich baritone voice and the lyrics are a narration of when the Angel told the shepherds to go to Bethlehem? “Prepare and go, the Angel said, to Bethlehem...” Something a long those lines. I feel like it's familiar to me, but I can't think where I've heard it before. Probably as a special number in church or something... anyway, I REALLY love that song.

Home sounds so brilliant. Everyone's continuing in their common vocations in life... rescuing animals, singing Christmas songs, repainting the bedroom. Actually, I managed to impress some of the Latino men I've taught, because they'll occasionally talk about how difficulty tiling is and then I just shrug and say, “Yeah. Been there, done that.” in Spanish. I definitely do remember when we took on that particular project. I bet it'll look gorgeous, I hope you all have a little fun working on that.

Yeah, I remember you mentioned about dad's sabbatical. I thought only professors got sabbaticals? If you guys do decide to go to the grand canyon or something, do send me pictures. And be careful. I keep hearing stories about people falling to their deaths recently. Tenganse cuidado.

I ended up sending off a little Christmas package last week for y'all. I don't know if you'll get it until today in the afternoon or tomorrow though, just because of the high quantity of mail etc. Holidays, ya know? Plus, I didn't send it priority. But it's just got this rather nice picture of ME that I thought you would appreciate on an artistic basis, and plus I'm in it looking quite snug in the Tejas snow. And you can see my nametag. I really like this picture. Ashley, who works at Walgreens, developed our footage and then decided to redo the display, so now there's a bunch of pictures of missionaries hanging up in the foto department at her Walgreens. She says people sort of look funny at it sometimes, and she just chuckles and takes their money.

There's also a copy of a CD that I've fallen in love with. Track #11 is particularly amazing. I love it, because it's very much a Christmas song, so I think about Christmas and my savoir... but it also sounds a lot like the Violin bit in Serenity to me at the beginning. Plus it's quite dark and rich. Mmm. Sounds like chocolate to me. But yeah, I don't know when you'll get that. Or if you'll get it. Tell Chantal I got her letters, and I'm working on her Christmas package. I'm sending her the same CD and a Book of Mormon, that she must cherish forever. I'm also nearly complete with my story-summary-notebook, which I told her she could have while I'm gone, since she asked about what ideas I've gotten while I'm on my mission, I figure she might like to read them herself and send me her thoughts on my righteous madness... But first, she's getting a Book of Mormon for Christmas and a Jenny Oaks Baker CD. So is Brighteyes. I know it's not really a surprise if I write what their getting in here, but hey. I'm a missionary. What did they think they would get from me this year? I might actually wrap them up in paper and then write IT'S A BOOK OF MORMON! On the wrapping, just so the surprise is really utterly ruined.

BABY RATS! I love little ratties. I'm glad the kitties are more or less being good about the new pets. Diggy is so silly. I can just picture him sitting, totally serene and gentlemanly inside of the rat cage with the little sillies playing with that ridiculous fluffy tail he's got.

The Christmas program sounds charming. Silly Laney. Give her a kiss for me. I feel like me or Jensen did that once too? Did we? I wish I could hear you all sing! I was trying to figure out if any of the songs on that CD were done by daddy's chior.

Good job in school Jensen! Let me know what her final grades are. Would you do me a huge favor and PLEASE please please, TALK with Mr. Darcy before I get back?! That is, assuming that he hasn't moved back to England to marry someone named Elizabeth or Jane or Georgina. I love hearing of romance. So delightful. The thing I'm going to regret about this attitude is that someone will probably hold me to it when I get back, but I'll worry about that later. For now. I'm Hermana Lillywhite. Soy misionera.

Good luck on your Kung Fu test Jensen! And tell Chantal I said MWAH as well! You'll both do great. Send pictures of the carnage.

Well, I'm just going to end my letter there. There's tons more I could say, but since I get to hear your voices on FRIDAY! YAY CHRISTMAS! I'll just leave it here. I LOVE you and I miss you, but I've felt it again and again. I'm here for a wise purpose and this is exactly where I want to be this holiday season. Besito and besito.

Happy Christmas! Hermanita Lillywhite

Monday, December 14, 2009

RIP MEMO

One of my investigators died this last week: Memo, who was very old, and I never actually met the man, but he enjoyed drinking, smoking and reading the Bible, he was living with a family who we're still teaching, because shortly before I got here, he moved out and we weren't able to get back in contact with him until he was checked into the hospital. But then he died. It's very sad, but he was very old, and as we explained to the children Alison and Jorge, his name has just been given as a referral to missionaries in the spirit world, and they're going to finish teaching him all the lessons so he can get baptised too. I can't get a straight answer as to who this man was in relation to this family. He's apparently not a family member, but just a close friend who was staying there for a while while he looked for work.

I got everybody's packages! Thank you to Aunt Kim, and Mommy and Daddy! I had a very happy Birthday with lots of fun stuff to open! (Mom, I didn't open the stuff that was marked X-mas, was I supposed to wait? I'm so curious! Am I supposed to open everything in the box, or wait...?) And Aunt Kim's donnescitos for me and my companion were adorable!

The CD worked great and I love your selections!

This last week was really amazing. We had sister's P-day which was SO much fun. And very inspiring as well. We had a sister's conference that night with just us Sister Missionaries (And the presidency and the Assistants and a random husband of the singer who was really nice...) Mostly just us girls though.

Tuesday we went on exchanges with the English sisters. That was very fun. Sister Hoskins wants to learn Spanish so badly. Both her parents speak Spanish (mom's Hispanic and her dad is a returned missionary who spoke Spanish) but she never bothered to learn... but she was way awesome.

I got to go to the temple for my birthday which was amazing, and wonderful. And then Friday we had the huge yearly service project, Navidad en El Barrio, which was SO fun. Just about the whole mission was there to put together gifts for underprivileged children. It was a blast.

Not to much else to report on, this is going to be a short letter this week, but I'm really happy to have gotten to hear for you guys today... And I loved getting those packages! I had a very happy birthday and a very happy week, and I especially appreciate you guys remembering my birthday. I'm way excited to see those pictures!

MWAH! I love you. Hermana Lillywhite

Monday, December 7, 2009

Snowday!

Querida fambly,
Home sounds so lovely! I was warned repeated that I was going to get really homesick for the holidays, but so far, I’m very much fine. I miss you guys, and it sounds like you’re having a wonderful Christmas season, but so am I! I do wish I could see little baby Bella playing with the Christmas tree. You should probably send me some videos of Christmasness at home si quieran. I love that Laney used the line from Miss Congeniality, that is so her. The treats you’re making sound amazing! Yummy, yummy… Mexican dulces, are NOT that great, but luckily, they recognize that and usually will finish meals with more Americanized desert or fruit. Which is good. Because you can’t eat rice pudding or tamarindo for every meal, and not enough people know how to make flaun(sp?). I don’t think I spelled that right, but you know what I mean.
Poor daddy, I’ve been kind of sick too. I think it might be allergies, actually. I’ve never had them before, but apparently a lot of people develop them when they move here. I love your paragraph on Jensen, it so embodies her completely. Excellent writing. I’m glad she’s being cute and taking care of herself. Gina-ga-bobbin, you’re probably going to have to reteach me a ton of Kung Fu. I remember very little, it’s a problem.
I’m glad you liked my card mommy! I wanted to wish you a happy Birthday in time, so I hope it got there fast… I also meant to write you a happy birthday note before, but I forgot, because I’m silly. So… HAPPY BIRTHDAY! YAY!
Everything sounds lovely and homey… They keep us very occupied during the holidays, I think as a way to put off any homesickness that might arise, especially among the newbies. So, this week—today, actually, we’ve got an activity and a conference with ALL the sisters, which means we’re probably going to have to do some P-day stuff, like shopping, tomorrow. We’ve also got service tomorrow, interviews & probably planning on Wednesday, and then… guess what I get to do on Thursday?
TEMPLE DAY! What a great present for me. I am so excited that we get to go to the temple for my birthday… I had pretty much forgotten all about it. So, before, the exciting thing about Thursday was that we get to go to the temple. I just now, as I was writing this, remembered that it’s also when I turn 22. Crazy. I feel old. I also look, dress and talk like a tex-mex church-lady. Gosh. I sure grew up interesting.
Friday, we’ve got Navidad en El Barrio (Christmas in the Neighbourhood) Barrio is also the word we use for ward, but this isn’t actually a church thing. It’s a community service project that we get to take part in… Next week is more or less normal I think (Which is good, cause I’d like to teach a little this month) and then the week after that, we’ve got two pdays… regular and then mission p-day, and then temple as a mission, then another community service thing and then Christmas.
Crazy month.
They don’t want to give us any time to think about anything, I think. Which is probably really good.
Alright… well, news and stories. I’ll just do highlights: Last P-day, we went to go do our Laundry at Ashley’s place, and when we came over, she was sleeping on the couch and then she told us about her night/early Monday morning. She’d gotten a call from a co-worker at about 2 in the morning and he asked her to please come pick him up because he was drunk out of his mind and couldn’t drive home. She’s pretty sure he didn’t even mean to call her—probably thought he was talking to someone else—but she went to rescue him anyway, and after she’d loaded him in the passenger seat she was like, “Okay, where do you live?”
His response, before he passed out was, “I don’t know… Houston?”
So, she took him home, tucked him into her bed, read him a scripture, which he didn’t remember, and then slept on the couch until we showed up a few hours later.
Just… just imagine, waking up hung over to find yourself in a strange house where two missionaries are sitting cross legged in the living room studying “El Libro de Mormon” & “La Santa Biblia”. Maybe it’s mean, but I kinda wanted to mess with him and just speak Spanish for a while, for an added measure of surreality. I didn’t though, I was very polite and we introduced ourselves formally after he finally woke up a few hours later. We talked to him a lot about missionary work and the gospel while Ashley got herself ready for work. They left the house together after Ashley’s mom got home, and apparently talked about the gospel the whole way home. He admitted that he is looking for the truth, and that he thinks everything we were talking about was interesting and he would like to know more. He’s gringo though, so we can’t teach him… but I now his missionaries and they’re great, so I don’t mind giving him away to them.
We spent the rest of P-day waiting for our Laundry to get done and watching “The Book of Mormon Movie” which Ashley had on VHS.
Oh. My. Chispas. Y. Hijole.
HOW DID THAT GET FUNDING?! HOW DID A COUPLE OF HALF DECENT ACTORS PARTICIPATE IN THAT, I ASK YOU!? Who is… responsible? I must, have them brought before me forthwith.
Alright, so Kirby is always fun, and there was something weirdly appropriate about him as Sam, but mostly it was just WRONG. And Pilote (I don’t know the actor’s name, but he’s Pilote from El Cordero de Dios) is such a good guy, why was he involved?! Nephi’s a good looking man and all, but geez… the whole thing was just so… It was just wrong. I felt like I’d been battered and assaulted after it was over. I really lament the possibility that any non-member ever saw that.
Because, let’s be honest… It’s kind of fun to go all MST3000 and watch bad church movies with active members, but people can NOT think that, THAT is what the Book of Mormon is like. Nephi was so whiney. Huge. But he acted like a little girl, and his nasty brothers were so unbelievable… And acting was bad. The writing was AWFUL. The sets—well, it was Utah, so it wasn’t bad except for being recognizable. Artistically, I just had a huge problem with it. I would have done everything differently. Every single shot, from the beginning to the end. Different angle, different actors, different costumes, different… all of it. The daughter of Ishmael… hijole, let’s just not get into the romance. Let’s not. That was uncomfortable.
Aside from all that, I liked it.
Actually, it did help me appreciate the awesomeness that is the book of Mormon in comparison to the horridness of the movie in which they tried so hard to depict some of it. Which, is good, because it got me all geared up for Zone Conference last week, which was all about The Book of Mormon, and how great it is.
I’ve NEVER read the book of Mormon like this before. Before my mission, I loved it, and I loved reading my scriptures, but now, I just eat it up. I’m actually depressed sometimes when I have to spot reading. I’m almost to the war chapters in Alma. And I can’t believe how enthralling the story is. I’ve always understood it, I think, but sometimes the strange words were awkward, distracting, but I’m so used to it now that it just doesn’t bother me. I’m so into it. Jensen. One day, when we are both insanely wealthy and eccentric geniuses, we shall have another go at cinematic depiction of some of these stories. It shall be awesome. Work on sketches and story-board. NOW!
So yeah, Zone Meeting was amazing. It was all about using the Book of Mormon more in our teaching.
We have a new baptismal date… Lauren is a cute little girl who we just met last week. She’s got friends in the ward, but she doesn’t speak Spanish. She wants to go to the Spanish ward anyway though, because her mother does speak Spanish and her mother will probably start coming to the Spanish ward. It’s not a problem in the young women classes, since there’s minimal Spanish among the younger people, but in Sacrament meeting, she needed me to translate. It was intense. I just had to lean over with my mouth by her ear, tune into whatever was being said at the pulpit and go into this kind of trance, just filtering the Spanish in through one ear and letting it come out in English. It was very cool, but I’m not sure how well I did. I didn’t really have time to think about it, I just had to talk. No time for correction/etc.
There were a couple of moments when I’d miss a word because they’d talk quietly, or someone would cough or a young child would start screaming and I’d usually get totally derailed and just have to try and pick up the strain again… I’m pretty sure there were a couple of moments like this, “I know that Jesus Christ is my Savoir and that he died for my sins, and I know that God—BABY screaming, that was a baby screaming, sorry, what’s she saying?! Oh, yeah—we are all God’s children and the Gospel is…” and I’d just say the interruptions like a talking subtitler or something. Hilarious. Lauren seemed to find it pretty amusing too.
She’s so great. Her parents want us to teach her because she’s supposedly a ‘problem child’. She’s twelve though, and adorable and very nice. I think she’s just been through a lot. She’s moved all over the place. When I first met her, I remembered this line from Jane Eyre, when Mr. Rochester says something about Jane being like a little bird that is afraid to move too suddenly for fear of being struck, or something like that. That’s Lauren. She’s very still.
We’re working with her mom too. She thinks that she’s already been baptized. We’ve yet to explain that without the Priesthood… No vale. Next lesson: Authority/The Book of Mormon is so great.
It snowed on Friday! I’ve got pictures of me being dorky in the snow. And some video of how Texas looks like Utah sometimes. It’ll be part of my Merry Chirstmas stuff that I send to people.
Well, I’d better say goodbye, we’ve got to get going so we can make it down to the mission home for the activity. I corazon all of you.
Missing you, and giving lots of cyberoisty hugs! Paz & Amor a vosotros.
Hermana Lillywhite

Monday, November 30, 2009

Monday-Sunday Breakdown

It sounds like you guys had a great Thanksgiving. Mmmm. I love food. I think I’m going to have to think about these letters a little more… I think I know exactly which teacher to ask, but I’m not sure how to get into contact with him…
Okay… where to start?!
Usually, you may have noticed, I don’t do a day by day accounting of my time here, just because it usually takes SO long to try and explain everything, since all the actions of the day are results of long, long preparation in advance and foreshadowing… but, I’m going to TRY. It might work this time, since I’m new to the area.
So…
Monday: Wrote you charming folks, very fun, then went and played with the English Sisters in our Zone. I’ve never had English sisters in my zone before. They’re hilarious. We went to the home of a member in their ward, and I took tonz of covert pictures of her house, her daughter is an artist and she’s done all the decoration herself. Gorgeous stuff. She taught us how to make lip-gloss and bath salts and sugar scrub. It was a very fun and girly day… We’re around Elders so much that I forgot how being girly can be a blast too… Then the Bishop ditched us for the family home evening we were supposed to have. Everyone forgot to tell us it was canceled, but it was okay, because we sat and chatted with the man who was doing some painting on his house and he seemed very interested in the church. We gave him the address and hope to hear from him soon…
Tuesday: In the morning we had an appointment with Ashley. Ashley is a less-active girl in the English ward who isn’t allowed to meet with Elders anymore on account of them continually falling in love with her. She’s ADORABLE and nineteen years old, and fascinating. Her life story will be a book; probably written by me. She started reading miracle of forgiveness and spent about forty-five minutes telling us how horrible she felt and how she couldn’t finish it because it was too depressing and making her feel even worse than she already did about what a terrible person she is. (She’s not a terrible person though, she’s actually really amazing.) Anyway, she literally threw the book away from herself dramatically and claimed she’d never pick it up again. We got her to agree to finish it by December 7th. The anniversary of Pearl Harbor, which she appreciated because she’s in the Army. (Or, she was in the army, that’s part of that amazing life story though, and I might have to explain all that later…)
Anyway, then we had some lessons fall through, which was lame because we had Hermana Medina with us, and she’s the best member missionary. But, it worked out alright because we ended up running into a family (Castillo) we’ve been trying to get back into contact with for a while. They were NOT doing well. They were about to get kicked out of their apartment and had no food and no money. We prayed with them and promised that we’d get them some food, at least.
So, our next lesson is with their neighbor and she just happens to have a couple pounds of rice/bread/tostados/cans of food etc. that she’s trying to get rid of, so, we had a quick lesson on generosity, and then she gave us a ton of food to give to the Castillo family. They were sobbing. Everyone was pretty elated and it was a wonderful experience for our Thanksgiving week.
We had several more lessons fall through that day, but we ended up doing a lot of good. We gave the Elders a ride home (they’re on bikes) and they gave us two referrals to check out the next day. It was a great day, but I was actually pretty ill… coughing so hard I was making myself sick. I ignored it though and now we move on to…
Wednesday: More stuff fell through, but we checked out those referrals the Elder’s gave us.
On our way there some guy very obviously checked us out, “Looking good ladies.” (eyebrow wiggle)
Eww. I was just about to give him a card but I was so shocked I ended up just standing there dumbfounded. I’ve never felt less cute in my entire life. I try to rock the ‘church-lady’ chic as much as possible, but seriously sir, what is your deal?
Hermana Russon and I got a pretty great laugh of it. Got lost in this huge apartment complex and found a burned down laundry room (why do the laundry room’s always burn down? Is it the crapy dryers in this state?) The first one explained to us that she had told the Elder’s to go away, but since they didn’t speak Spanish they didn’t understand her and so they wrote down her information as a referral for us. We offered to share our message anyway. She accepted after a minute of explaining that she’d catholic and she’s going to live and die a catholic… But we’ve heard that before.
She mentioned part-way into our plactica that she has a Mormon friend who just moved into the apartment complex next door, and that she came from Utah. We didn’t know of any new members in the area so we asked for her address and name, and then the doorbell rang and the son of this member happened to be outside. We asked them, “Are you guys looking for the church?” and he said, “No.” he corrected the information the woman had given us and said that his mother was home right now.
So, after our lesson, we went to meet Isaura, she opened the door and immediately burst into tears when she saw us. She was wearing a green tank-top over some very new looking garments. She invited us in and explained that she had just gone through the temple right before she moved here. She’s a recent convert to the church and is living with her daughter-in-law here in Houston right now. She’s got no way to get to the church building, no job, no car, no clue and she’d just been praying that someone could help her figure. So, we arranged for her to get a ride to the church. She showed us her collection of books. She loves to read Church literature and is part way through “El Milargro de Perdon” as well, and will probably be starting “Jesus El Cristo” pretty soon here.
Then, on the way home, Hermana Russon noticed some people struggling to pack up a car on the side of the road and suggested we stop to help, so I pulled over and we walked up to these people and they gladly accepted our ayuda. We started chatting with this one woman who was curious to know all about us. Her name is Maria Ester and she’s fun. She practically runs this fellowship and was telling us all about her beliefs and asking us questions about ours for about 40 minutes.
My favorite part was this.
“Do y’all believe in the gathering of Isreal?”
“Uh… Yeah.” (me, smirking, trying not to add, ‘that’s what we’re doing right now ma’am, wanna be gathered?!’)
Part way into this we both had the strong impression to give her a Book of Mormon. We did so, and she started asking us, “You mentioned that Jesus Christ visited the American people, where is that part?” so we marked 3rd Nephi 11, “Where does it talk about Faith?” so we marked Alma 32, and “Are there any prophesies about our days?” so we marked a number of chapters with that one, and then, “Where’s there a discourse on Baptism?” so I marked Mosiah 18.
Then, Hermana Russon, being amazing like she is was like, “There’s a promise in this book… right here (opening to Moroni 10) that if you ask God, he’ll tell you if these things are true, and he’ll give you a witness of them.” And Maria Ester folded the page over and said, “I’ll be sure to read that first.”
We had some more amazing lessons and turned in a little early on a result of both of us now feeling pretty crummy physically. I feel so bad, I think I got my companion sick!
Thursday (THANKSGIVING!) : Breakfast at Ashely’s. She made us an AMAZING meal. Blueberry muffins, pancakes, bacon and sausage and then some amazing tex-mex with tortillas. SO good. We enjoyed this feast and she started to tell us her story of how she really became converted to the church. She was baptized when she was ten, but fell away rapidly and remembered NOTHING and was pretty bitter as a result. After that she lived in Mississippi. You know. That place where missionaries aren’t allowed to go because they still occasionally get tarred and feathered? Anyway, she started her religious search when she was a little older as a teenager and before she joined the army. As she was telling us her story, I was repeated reminded of Glen Beck. She kept saying things like, “I did NOT want to be a Mormon!” and talked about all the deep questions she had and how she actually got kicked out of one church that she was going to for a while for asking too many deep doctrinal questions about the war in heaven and the role of Lucifer. She told us the whole story… which I’m still working on slowly since it’s quite long, but she’s really cool… for our lesson I pulled out my copy of Glen Beck’s conversion on CD and was like, “You need to listen to this guy”. Turns out that she LOVES Glen Beck, she’s been listening to his show for years, and her mom was listening to him even before he got famous, but she’d never heard about his conversion. So we listened to it and the whole time she was like, “THAT WAS TOTALLY ME!”
It was great.
We also watched a few scenes of the Testaments in Spanish and made fun of the dubbing while I parroted back the best phrases of the movie, like “Yo se tu nombre” and “DONDE ESTA MI HIJO?!” “Si tu no lo sabes, quisaz ya no sea tu hijo!” and we spent entirely too much time there, but poor Ashely was all alone for Thanksgiving because the rest of her family left town and she had to work from like 2 in the afternoon until who knows how late… so we spent some fun thanksgiving time with her before she had to go work and it was all very pleasant.
We had lunch with our ward mission leader and his adorable family. I started to feel pretty headachy and miserable, but toughed it out and ate tons while playing Mexican train with Hermana and two of the girls. They’ve got a very big, fun family and the Elders came too, so it was a great time. Then we had an appointment with Isaura. It was really nice to go over to her house. Her room is like a little sanctuary. She’s got all her books and her church music going and her window overlooks the little pound at their apartment complex. We visited with her for a while and made last minute plans for her debut at church… then, we were supposed to go to the Medina’s house for dinner. The Medina’s are those awesome member missionaries I mentioned.
By now, I was feeling really sick, but I felt like we were supposed to go to their house and like we couldn’t just go home. So even though I almost threw-up twice on the way there we showed up and met with the family and chatted for a while with them while I TRIED to eat but failed on account of being so sick.
It was good we went though, because part-way into it some in-laws of one of the kids showed up and Hermano mouths to me, “No son miembros” (They’re not members) they only speak English too, so some quick operations were put in order and they sat these people right in front of us and were like, “HAVE YOU MET THE MISSIONARIES?!”
“Err… no.”
We told them all about what we do and bore some powerful testimony. The spirit was very, very strong. As we were about to leave they asked us for pamphlets and how they could learn more. So we supplied them with some good stuff, and they were like “Well, we’re catholic…” but remembering the way they said it made me remember that line from ‘The Conversion of a Catholic Priest’ talk that I was listening to a while before, where the missionary responds to that same statement with “Sir, we’ve just shattered your faith so significantly that you just said that to reassure yourself.”
Good day. Powerful testimonies… Then, We got in the car and promptly pulled over after half a block so I could throw up a little.
Friday: District meeting was pretty groovy. We’re still sick, so we didn’t do much else that day except teach Stephenie, an amazing woman who’s just getting back into the church and whose husband is planning to get baptized as soon as he get home from Mexico in about a month and a half… we tried to do planning for the week, but we were both so ill we just ended up sleeping for most of the day—in between frantically running between half a dozen other appointments that all fell through. But. We saw a frog. He was big and squishy and I petted him and it felt weird.
And, I got an idea for a vampire novel. Hermana Russon picked out the name Phillip Graystone of Coventry for our main vampire hero. She is so cute. A little innocent thing, she’ll probably never read the book, or if she does it will be the “Hermana Russon edited version” that I will make specially for her and other sensitive readers who don’t need a lot of violence and intensity to keep their interest.
Saturday: Zone meeting, which we pretty much missed because part way into it my poor companion just about fainted and so we went out to where she could lie down and I wrote a rather brilliant little essay on why missionaries get sick and what the spiritual implications are, and I think I’ll have to share that with you later, because although it is great, it’s also long and this letter is already turning into a novel and I haven’t even gotten to the best part yet!
So, That night we decided to check up on our investigator Elena who last we heard had to cancel our appointment for work and because she and her husband got in a huge fight and she kicked him out. (they’re not really married, and she said it was because she’s sick of him doing drugs and drinking all the time) so we went by to see how she’s doing, but she wasn’t there, HE WAS! Edmundo was at their apartment, alone, drunk and crying hysterically because actually, what really happened is that Elena left him and took the kids and all of their possessions, so now he’s got no clothes, no furniture, no car, and he just lost his job and is depressed out of his mind, so we just sat there with him and let him cry for a really long time. We taught him a little, but I don’t know how much he’ll remember. I think it was just good that we were there, he kept thanking us for coming by and apologizing for being such a wreck.
We called his fellowshipers (The Medinas, who are sort of like main characters in my life right now) and told them about what was going on…
Sunday: Good day to come to church, all the lessons and everything was amazing, I could talk about them for a while, but I’m seriously running low on time and space… Anyway, Steven and Jackie came, a less active mom and her 12 year old son who’s going to get baptized as soon as we can finish teaching him all the lessons. Isaura and her nieto came with the Alvareses who also spoke in sacrament meeting and did a great job, and then the Medina’s brought Carmen and her two kids of the Castillo family who I told you about earlier. It turns out that while we were sick/in other appointments, the ward really stepped in to help them. They used the food they got to make a bunch of tamales and they sold them and got enough cash to pay the overdue rent. Huge blessing. And then like half the ward went by to visit them, so they FINALLY came to church. We’re hoping to give the whole family baptismal dates soon… so, that night, there was a baptism. I was playing the piano and Hermana Russon was leading the music, and then low and below, the Medina’s show up with Edmundo who looks sober and isn’t crying anymore.
It was a BEAUTIFUL baptism. The spirit was amazing and everyone was in tears. This woman is one of the Elder’s investigators and her whole family has been members for years and her husband finally got to baptize her. It was a very touching story.
So then, after she was baptized we went back into the relief society room for the rest of the program, but Edmundo was missing and so was the principios del evangelio teacher. We left to go find them, and walked in just as Hermano was explaining to Edmundo that he can get baptized as soon as he feels ready and that he just needs to talk to us about it. So I briefly explained the other requirements for baptism and then the Bishop came and told us to join the rest of the ward please. I sat down next to our district leader who asked me, “Do you want me to interview Edmundo for his baptism?” I thought he was joking at first, but after the program they both disappeared and when we found them, they were having a baptismal interview. So we straightway went and told Hermana Medina and there was much rejoicing and tears.
Edmundo was crying, he knows that this is the answer he’s been looking for and that this is how he can have a better life.
So. That pretty much catches you up on my week. It was a pretty cool week! I didn’t really get the chance to explain everything, or in very much detail, but I wanted to give you an example of what my days and weeks are like, since I really feel like my letters don’t do any of it justice… I LOVE being a missionary. I love Texas, I love these people. I LOVE the Lord and his work and I am so happy to hear from you guys, because really, that’s what it’s all about. You are my motivation to help these people a lot of the time, because I just look at their lives and I can see how much their missing, and I have it. I have exactly what they need. I’m out here doing this so that they can have families just like mine. So they can raise their children in a home with the true gospel of the lord supporting every step. I mean it when I say I miss you all like crazy, but that’s one of the main reasons why I love this so much, is because I love you and I miss you, and I want these people to be able to have the same eternal perspectives for their families as I do with you!
So… this letter is a little monstrous, but it does a pretty good job of hitting some of the highlights of my week. I didn’t get homesick at all this week, which is good, because I’d been warned I might. I hope you’re all happy and well, and doing as good as it sounds like you are. Os amo, besito, besito, BESO!
Hermana Lillywhite

Monday, November 23, 2009

Welcome to Bearcreek!

Hey fambly mia!
The members definitely will not let us sit at home and eat macaronis&cheeses on Thanksgiving. Especially not in this ward. In Sunday school, the teacher asked,
“How can we help the missionary work in our ward…?”
“Feed them?”
“Food?”
“Do we give them food? Is the answer food?”
“Have them over for dinner!”
So, after this array of cries from the class he turns to the missionaries in the classroom, “Sister, on a scale of one to ten, how much does feeding you help with the missionary work?”
“Err… Almost three.”
I had to be honest. The entirety of this message was translated from the original Spanish to English for the convenience of the English Speaking audience. A direct transcript of the event is available on request.
I LOVE eating with members. It is one of my favorite things. We’ve already got an invitation to come over for lunch on Thursday to the Salazar Familys’ place. I’m excited to get to know the people in the ward. I’ll never knock dinner appointments to much, because they are awesome. Not if you’re trying to lose weight, mind you. As said, it is not, as such, calorie counting food.
It’s good food too. I’ll have to make some for you.
OOOooo, I so want to see this picture that caused audible gasps from the class. I bet it’s gorgeous. I do so love your style Jensenbubby.
About graduate school… so, apparently I don’t take the test until after my mission. But in the mean time, I’m supposed to complete the other steps on the checklist. One of which is to get three letters of recommendation. I’m going to ask President Hansen for one, and then I was hoping to procure good recommendations for recommendations from you folks? Ideas? Who are they expecting these letters to be from?
Anyway, my new companion Hermana Russon is ADORABLE! She is one of the sweetest, nicest people I’ve ever meet. She’s from all over. Her dad is a chemist and they’ve moved a lot as he did work with different labs, I guess. She’s lived in Canada and Connecticut and Arizona and a bunch of other places and slip my mind, but right now her family is in Tooele. Of all places to end up, right? She’s sort of annoyed, because now when people ask where she’s from she has to be like, “*sigh* Soy de Utah…” like so many other people. The typical response to this answer is: “Oh. The factory.” Or, “Ay, la fabrica.”
She’s very cute. Me and Hermana Forsling used to mercilessly make fun of the hundreds of girls at BYU Idaho who were majoring in Elementary Education. But now I feel kind of bad about that, because that’s Hermana Russons major, and although, there are more LDS girls in training to be elementary school teachers than society will EVER need, given any sort of baby boom or what not… I’m pretty sure she should be the one to actually get the job. I think I want Hermana Russon to be my kids’ elementary school teacher, is what I’m saying. She’s so patient and kind, but she’s a very hard worker, and she’s very determined. She’s a bit hard on herself, which is ridiculous she’s already tearing it up out here, she speaks Spanish way more confidently than I did when I was her age in the mission and the little mistakes and things that she does make are hardly noticeable/easy to fix with a little bit of time and practice. She’s not really much of a greenie, I keep telling her, because she’s already got this.
The area is different from what I’m used to. I’m officially out of the ghetto. This place is actually pretty nice. Not like Woodlands, or anything, but life seems much more comfortable here. We’ve got some great people we’re working with. A little boy named Steven who’s twelve and whose less-active mom wants him to get baptized. We’re working with both of them… a man named Carlos who doesn’t think he’s ready to get baptized because he still uses bad words. And this great guy Eduardo who just went down to Mexico for a month and a half, but is going to get baptized when he comes back.
My district is a little weird. I’ve never been around so many very, very English missionaries. Usually, I like English missionaries. I was around them a lot at the office, but I don’t know if the APs really count. Especially since Elder Briscoe actually did speak Spanish, and was loco. But whatever happens and wherever I am, I’ll learn to get along with a love the Elders I serve with.
I’m glad you guys dug the CD I can’t listen to! I’m excited to hear it one day, and groove to it’s happy/peppy beats.
As far as B-day and Christmas goes… There actually are a couple of songs I have yet to have on CD that I’d like. There’s two Christmas songs that the Mormon Tabernacle choirs does, “What shall we give to the babe in the manger?” is I think what it’s called… I don’t remember if that’s the title exactly, but it’s really pretty and has a “tumtatumtum,” bit and a line about “him who will carry the tree” which I’ve heard dad say before, so I assume he knows it. And then I love their version of “Carol of the Bells” and I don’t have either of those. If you wanted to burn me a Christmasy CD including those two songs, I think I’d have a very happy Holiday season!
That’s all I can think of specifically right now… I know there’s a lot of essentials that I probably need. Make-up/footy-socks, I’ll probably need another pair of gel inserts right around my year-mark… But I’m living pretty light these days. There’s not too many places to put things. Food/goodies are always good… They don’t seem to last long, hehe. OH! And I just remembered, there’s a target and a Walmart that we shop at sometimes and also there’s a couple of restaurants where we can go, and I guess what some of my companions family’s do is they’ll get them like a gift-card for cracker barrel or Chilies or anywhere like that, if you guys wanted to go that route.
But whatever you wanna do! Lo que sea, como quiera, tal vex, quizas… ya.
A traffic ticket?! Mommy. That’s cute. And he didn’t knock of the miles because of oldosity, it was because you’re PRETTY! Duh. I’m sorry your record is broken. But now you’re just like the rest of us. You get traffic tickets too. One of my companions got pulled over a few months ago. I really alarmed the officer because he asked her to back the car up and I jumped out of the passenger seat to “hechar aguas” and he was like “WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?” and I was like “I’M SORRY IT’S A RULE! We’re missionaries, we have really weird rules!” Because one of us has to be outside of the car when we’re backing up, to make sure we don’t run anyone over.
He calmed down and didn’t give us a ticket though. I think once he realised we were harmless church ladies and that the posted speed limit is hidden behind a tree he let it go.
I am so glad that Laney’s interested in Greek Mythology. It’s so fascinating, isn’t it? I like the image of her drawing Athena in church. Naughty little primary adorables.
Hey, has anyone seen New Moon? Did it come out this last week or is it not out yet still? Two little girls in Louetta, Mariah and Ariel were going to tell me all about it, but then I moved. They got to go meet “The Wolf Pack” and were very excited about it during our family home evening about missionary work. The lesson might have gotten derailed a couple of times. Just imagine you’re daughter being like, “Yes… and…Alice’s psychic abilities are kind of like when we get member referrals.”
No, I’m just kidding, it didn’t ever get that crazy.
The baptism and dad’s talk sounds wonderful and inspiring… Tell silly Jensen that she should always go to baptisms first and play video games later. Preferably with whoever just got baptized:) And could you send me a copy of daddy’s talk maybe? Si existe?
Well, that’s my letter this week. I LOVE you all, so much. I miss you like crazy, and I’m starting to get really excited to hear all your lovely voices on Christmas day. That’s pretty much the best present:)
BESO! Hermana Lillywhite

Monday, November 16, 2009

Transfered Again!

Hey family! Super fast letter this week, but there’s an explination.
My big news for this week is I’m being transferred again!
I’m headed to ‘the land of milk and honey’ as they call it. Katy Zone. Bearcreek area. My new companion is Hermana Russon, she’s adorable and still new. She’s actually the newest sister in the mission, aside from the Hermana who’s coming in Wednesday. She’s only been here two transfers. I’m her second companion in the field which either makes me either a ‘greeniebreaker’ or a ‘madrina/godmother’ depending. I really don’t know what else to say—this week was good, but crazy. We’ve found a lot of people recently and now I’m being sent away, so I’ll probably not get to teach them again.
Hermana Bastian is going to be companions with Hermana Gurney, and Hermana Willis is staying here, and Hermana Green is coming to be companions with her. It turns out so that a lot of my companions are companions with each other then. Very fun.
I love that you referred to Victor as a Mayan Prince. He’d love that. I think that’s very much how he sees himself. And how he acts. He’s really sad that we’re being changed up. He threatened to get a ball and chain to keep me and Hermana Bastian here. And Maya sounds really cool, I think I understand now.
I’m SO sad, I can’t see any of the cool stuff that Jensen has ever sent me. Every time she tries to send me one of her videos, I CAN’T open it. I don’t know what the deal is. I really want to see this tea-party! And the dancing bag of flour and everything else she’s tried to send me, but I can’t figure out how to get it to open. It’s very depressing. I’m happy to hear about your recent attempts to be more girly. I hope they are satisfying and fun. You need to try and talk to Mr. Darcy. Tripping on his front porch is totally acceptable.
Your getaway sounds like it was a lot of fun! I love the food. Still, I always love the food.
I’m glad to hear that my stuff all made it home… about those pics, maybe don’t put all of them on the internet. Especially not the ‘9 months’ tradition shots with the belly. Very silly stuff.
OH! My BYU grauduate packet arrived. It’s freaking me out a little. I guess I’ll have to look into working on that check-list, right?
I can’t believe I’m leaving so fast! I feel like I just got to Louetta and already it’s time to book it. Crazy. But I’m excited to check out another part of this amazing city. And to be companions with Hermana Russon. I hear great things about her. She seems very sweet. We’ll do a lot of good.
I’m so excited to hear about all the sisters who are leaving on their missions! It’s honestly the greatest thing. I’m so excited for them to go out and have these same experiences. It’s inspiring and wonderful, beyond description.
Another short letter:) I’m sorry again. I know that it must seem like not a lot’s happening. Don’t believe it, a lot is. It’s just hard to explain sometimes. I’m pretty sure that when I get back I’ll never shut up. Also, another explanation, it took me like an hour just to open my e-mail. Myldsmail is freaking out again. So I’m just about out of time already. Very lame.
I love you all so much and I miss you!
Hermana Lillywhite

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Monday, November 9, 2009

Guess why July 28th is important.

Alright, I prayed about it, took it to the temple and talked with President and I’ve decided to go ahead and take the option of staying the extra transfer. So, my official date for when I’m coming home is July 28th. I’m super happy to have this time to serve the lord, so I want to stay as long as I can without actually screwing up transfers. YAY! So, make a note of that everyone.
Que es Maya? Why is Jensen playing with it? Is it fun? Que es? Thank you so much for the recipes and the funny comics! And for the inspired Job Scripture. I love that the sisters dressed as nuns. I wish we could get away with that, but no… hehee.
Laney’s drawing of dad made is great! I love how she label’s everything. So detailed. She’s a very good artist too.
Did you get the first package I sent as well? With my Ipod and stuff? I don’t remember you mentioning it, so I’m a little worried that it never made it home… If It did, know that I’m not sure the Ipod works any more. I tried to get it to start up again, and it did a couple of times, but then it just stopped working… So I don’t know what the deal is.
Please enjoy the pictures! And the videos, I’ve got some good ones on there.
We took our recent convert Victor out with us to a lesson for the first time last night. He did GREAT! He’s going to be such an amazing missionary. He’s got no fear to talk to people, and he shared a powerful testimony. It was really amazing to see. I think, I might have to make a trip back here in a year to go to his farewell… And Maria and Goyo’s baptism, as we’re all still waiting on the divorce to go through.
Aside from that, I don’t have much news, but I really love hearing about home and everything that you are all doing.
So, Jensen refuses to date her whole life and then meets Mr. Dracy? Typical. Not allowed to get married Jensen, until I get back, but you should probably ask Mr. Darcy out. “You’re English, right?” isn’t bad, but let’s see if we can’t top that. A job at the creamery sounds like fun. I wish I had more to say, I’m sorry, I promised myself once that I’d never become one of those missionaries who scribbles three lines home every p-day. I just really can’t think of anything else to say!
So, Grandma and Grandpa wrote me. I guess that Grandma is doing well, I’m so glad. And she gave me fun family news. I’m super excited for everyone.
I guess I could tell you all about food—it’s always one of my favorite things in your letters. I’ve been learning how to kind of cook for real, having had a couple of companions who knew how to cook and then a couple who didn’t. Real Mexican food is pretty different from Taco Bell, but I still like Taco Bell, weirdly enough. I had Papusas yesterday from an El Salvidorian. AMAZING! I must learn to make them. It’s simple enough, but easy to go horribly wrong. And then we had some tostados covered in pico-de-gayo (sp?) and avocado. Then some fun sort of taquitos that were filled with mashed potatoes instead of meat. Interesting, I liked it a lot. I’ve learned to make some pretty great salads, and Hermana Forsling loved it when I made her capreze (sp?).
Oh, and I have to make my district leader cupcakes because he finally agreed to call us on the phone and say “Hello Angels!” and then we answer back, “Hello Charlie!” but we all had to make him a separate treat. So worth it.
I’m sorry again, for this short, lame letter, but hopefully getting all that stuff from me earlier can make up for it. I love you all so much, and I missed you a lot this week. I had some weird post mission dreams. Very strange. I’m not sure how I feel about going home. Sometimes I feel happy and sometimes I feel really sad, and sometimes sick… But one thing is always the same: seeing all of you again is going to be a very sweet experience. I LOVE you. I’m working hard, and praying hard, for all the people of this city, and for all of you.
Love and kisses 7 HUGGLES! ~lovin’ you lots and lots~
Hermana Lillywhite

Monday, November 2, 2009

Yay!

Dear Fambly!

I’m so sorry you have a cold mommy! That’s awful… I started to get one this week, but I killed it before it could form… guess how. It’s pretty weird actually, I downed a ton of super spicy food. Two members made us soup with tons of peppers and suddenly I’m all better. I’ve heard that before, about eating a pepper to get rid of a cold, I think it might be true. Halloween sounds like fun. I LOVE Halloween. We get so many people asking us what the church’s stance on Halloween is. There’s a lot of confusion, especially in the Hispanic culture. But I still LOVE dressing up and eating candy, and spookyosity, so Halloween is for me. I’m glad Laney wore that 1870’s costume, I wants pictures! It’s such a great little outfit. I’m glad you had a lot of trick-or-treaters. I worry that it’s not becoming cool to do that, but tradition is so fun… Go beg for candy kids! What movie did Chantal and Jensen watch?
I can’t believe it’s November already either. I feel a little crazy to be honest. Such back in May right now.
I’m sorry that you’ve got no ‘free’ nights daddy! But you’ll be blessed for the work LINDSAY WASN”TA MEMBER ALREADY?! Dang, I missed that. We’ve got sisters in the ward now? Rock on. That’s okay about not telling—sometimes it’s better to keep in super secret like that. In my last ward, there was a baptism were the only people who knew were the guy getting baptized (dry Mormon for years, coming to church every week with his active family but refusing to get baptized) he finally decided he was ready. The only people who knew about it were the Sisters who taught him, their district leader (because he needed an interview) The brother baptizing him and his father in law. He got in the fount after another baptism and his wife burst into tears when she realized what was going on. I don’t know what a carbon fiber rear derailleur is, but I know what $735 is! I’m so sorry! Is that a fancy bike bit? That’s awful, I’m so sorry daddy.

Mommy, you’re costume sounds amazing. I LOVE Halloween. I think I’ve said that a couple of times, but not being able to dress up has made me realized that I LOVE Halloween! I’m dressing up as much as I can for the rest of my life, I think. I wore my English Nametag for a little while on Halloween and pretended that my costume was to be an English missionary. My district leader looked like he might shoot me. You’d like my district leader now, I don’t think I’ve talked about him or anyone much lately, because we always seem to be running late on P’days here (like today, again) but I’m sending the camera card home, hopefully today, and you’ll be able to see him on some pictures and videos and you might get an idea about his personality. I’ll have PLENTY of stories about him and all the other Elders in my districts later, I’m sure.

Thank you so much for that story about the minister. It’s wonderful to remember how the Holy Ghost can and does touch all of us and can give us spiritual promptings. At times, I get so frustrated with leaders of other faiths. It’s hard to be all lovely about it when you’re out here, because they just prove to be such a problem. But it really is true. In the end, they’re just doing what they think is best, and if they continue on that path then they’ll eventually make it home.

I made a list of topics…

OH! IMPORTANT! I need a recipe for Lemon marang pie/ banana. I I don’t remember which, or how it’s spelled, but my Companion needs this recipe by next week, and there is NO WAY that her family will ever respond to her request for one, so I thought mine might be able to help us.

SAN CLAMENTE 2010!!!! EPICOSITY! Yes. I reacted all crazy in real life last week, but I was super mellow in the email for some reason. I am so looking forward to being beach-bums. I made a list of happy-thoughts, that are specifically post-mission, in order to vencer the sadness that sweeps over me whenever I think about ending my mission. It’s not good to be all “lot’s wife” about it, right? I’m happy here, and it’ll be hard to leave, but if I trust in the Lord than I know that I’ll have a lot of amazing experiences later in life too. Like San Clamente

Remember when I once compared a couple of Elders I knew to Paul and Barnabus? Well, I still do that a lot. I’ve met a LOT of Book of Mormon characters out here. I’ve definitely met a Nephi and a Jonathon, and they other day I decided that my District Leader is pretty much Phinieus? (SP?) from Numbers. I’ve spaced on his name, but it’s something like that.

I love it when people look at me like they can see three very muscular Nephites standing directly behind me with their arms crossed.

I love you and I miss you all. I’m sorry my letter is so short again this week. I got totally giped, on account of time today and only got about 30 min to read and write my e-mail… it’s very sad, but hopefully things will be a little better next week.

MWAH/ Hermana Lillywhite

Monday, October 26, 2009

Excellent Week

I have awesome news again. Remember how last week was the best week ever? So was this week! Alicia and Janet got baptized and Victor was confirmed. Pictures to come from the baptism, you’ll have to notice how Alicia had to be stylish and wear her own white clothing. Which is SO Alicia.
AND! During an adorable lesson in which we were teaching Victor how to tie a tie he admitted to us that he wants to serve a mission. YAY! I baptized another future missionary! Did you get the letter with all the pictures from the temple and his baptism yet? Tell Sister Child’s thank you for the money and tell everybody I said hi out there!
Sounds like the kwoon is growing right along. Wow that’s crazy! Nick is getting married?! And he’s a police officer! Wow. It’s crazy how we grow up… I remember that kid. Crazy. CRAZY. I hope Jensen and Chantal are gearing up for their test.
Laney memorized the Jabberwocky poem!? Oh, my heart! That makes me so happy. There’s a street called jabberwocky in our area. Well, not really. It’s on the map. Actually it’s on all the maps, old and new, but we CAN’T find it, which is to bad because we really wanted to knock it.
District meeting was really weird. We actually watched Elder McGary and Elder parker playing Darth Vader. (This means that Elder McGary would pretend to choke him from across the room and Parker would choke from his seat).
The only other thing I can think to say is that my feet are pretty mangled these days. I took a picture. It’s bad. And those spots are coming back, the ones that mean I need more sunlight. The missionary dress-code and lack of tanning salons are not good for my skin. I need sunlight! And Vitamin D. Which is sort of like the best part of sunlight. All in all, I’m a little messed up physically, but that’s okay. I’ll take care of that later. It’ll have to be dealt with eventually.
THANK YOU SO MUCH! For the Halloween package. I was SO happy when I saw it waiting for me at the office there. I LOVE candy. Too much. I shared with the other missionaries and I’m sure we might get a couple of trick-or-treaters. We’re supposed to stay in at seven on Halloween night. I’ve got the pulga during the day, so it’ll be nice to just relax a little. Pulga is always SO draining.
I’m not too worried about school. I guess I should ask somebody about this whole GRE thing? I’ve got my interview with president coming up. Or I guess I could just write about it in a letter, I forget who it is who takes care of schooling stuff around here. Anyway, Creative Writing major sounds interesting… Then I could be a creative writing teacher. I could also pursue Spanish too.
I’d be totally comfortable going English for a little while. Some people freak out about the idea, but I’m open to it. I love Spanish though… I’d like to finish my mission as a Spanish missionary, but if he wants to send me English for a couple of transfers until we get a few more English Sisters out here, that would be alright with me. I know the language. I don’t feel uncomfortable speaking it at all anymore, so I think I wouldn’t have a problem if I stopped for a few months and then came back to it. And that’s the risk with sending Spanish missionaries English, is that they might forget their language. I don’t think that would happen to me.
Dang, poor BYU. That’s pretty terrible. One of our assistants is a BYU football player. I hope he hasn’t heard. I’m sorry about health care too, I hope nobody gets sick! I’m working on not getting sick out here myself. And yes mom, I’ve gotten A LOT of ideas for books. It’s actually not to bad, being unable to write. I thought I’d be really frustrated, but I’m okay. I just jot down some ideas in my journal every once in a while, and then I feel better. I don’t know how interesting my journals are going to be. Most of it’s jokes the Elders tell, or just a quick note of “Man, so much is going on, I wish I had time to write about it. Bye.”
I’m trying to do better, but I think this is the worst Journal keeping I’ve ever done. Sister Hansen and you both brought up the importance of keeping a good journal in one week though, so since then, I’ve been trying to write every day, a least a little. It’s tough sometimes though. I’m just SO busy. And on that note. Tell everybody who I should be writing right now that I’M SORRY!
On that note… Short letter this week. I’m so sorry, it really was an amazing week. My journal entries for this week are good actually, but I’m afraid my letter is going to be a little bit lame. I LOVE you all, so much. More than I can ever tell you. I hope everyone has an amazing week, and that I’m able to write a less-lame letter next week. I miss you, and I love you!
Sister Lillywhite

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Monday, October 19, 2009

In Awe

I am in awe. This was probably the best week... of my mission. Possibly. I don't know. I've had some pretty amazing weeks, but this one... it's up there.

Laney’s ‘notes’ from conference read like some of the modern poetry I was forced to read in the English department at the University of Utah. Very interesting stuff. I’d love to show it to a psychiatrist.

Speaking of. I think it’s best that I go into the English department. Jan. 15th huh? So what do I do, anyway? I didn’t even think about this before… I probably should have. I’m sure there are some people who are thoroughly disgusted with my lack of foresight about my whole life.

So the Kung Fu test happened for some but not all?! Chantal wrote me about how he kept changing the dates… I hope Jensen get’s the opportunity to test soon. Study hard, m’baby! I’m o ashamed, I don’t remember ANYTHING. We are going to have to whip my bum back into shape, I’m telling you…

Everything sounds like so much fun. And all the food sounds delicious:)

I had a very amusing freak-out moment once when I was still back in Crosstimbers. It wasn’t a bad freak-out, it was more just very, very funny that my whole life suddenly came to me in a flash and I found myself sitting on the floor of an apartment in the ghetto of Houston, in an ugly jody-dress with a black nametag and some chick talking about the eternal salvation of a couple of cholos. And I just paused and looked up at Hermana and said, “How did I get here? Where am I… WHO THE HECK ARE YOU!?”

Every once in a while that happens. I really can’t figure out how I ended up a church lady, but hey! All’s groovey. I’m blissfully happy and fulfilled and I’m pretty sure I might actually be sort of like a good person. Maybe even a messenger of Jesus Christ.

Wow. I sure do miss you all a LOT sometimes. It’s weird to think that Christmas is sort of coming up… I’m excited to hear all your voces dulces again.

This was an incredible week. One of the best of my life. I had two, really amazing baptisms that I got to go to, a temple trip… I met some new amazing people and I feel like the ward here really sincerely wants to help with the work here. It’s an amazing new place… I miss my old areas, I always do, but I LOVE Louetta.

The two baptisms were Silvia, who’s story I think I’ve already told… if not, I’ll write in on the back of the photo I’m going to mail home. (Probably next week with another package.) and Victor. Victor is AWESOME! Yet again, I’ll have to send that story with a picture. But it was a very powerful weekend we had. And I’ve got another baptism this next Saturday as well. The field is really coming alive out here. I’m so excited to be a part of this work.

I am also so excited for Nanette! That’s so great that she’s coming down here to gorgeous Houston. She’s going to be such an amazing missionary… the East Mission Huh? It’s the Houston East mission, but here, we just call it East. Sometimes they refer to us as North, but we’re just “Houston” really. Anyway, we might actually see each other if they do another multi-mission conference, like the one I just had last transfer. I met lots of missionaries from the East and South mission then. But those aren’t scheduled in advance, they just happen sometimes, and we usually don’t hear about it until a few days before. And yes, Elder Costa came and spoke to us at that last one, he’s very entertaining and very inspiring.

Oh! Fun fact: Sister Willis, one of my new companions, loves the Mighty Boosh. I sort of snorted in the car after remembering a random joke from the show, and I started to explain it to her and she was like: “Oh my gosh…. You just discovered a really deep part of me because I LOVE THAT SHOW!”
It was excellent. I’m pretty sure we’re the only two people in Texas who’ve ever heard of it.

My story telling habits are now pretty well known. It seems that whenever I run into a new missionary they look at my tag and say, “Oh. You’re the one with the stories.” So. Now, I occasionally host story time. I’ve tried encouraging others to share, but they just want to hear.

Just FYI. I don’t know anything about how transfers work, but I had a funny thought the other day and I think… maybe… I’m not trying to prophesy or anything like that, but I DID have this thought and I wanted in on the record just in case I’m right.

I think… I might go English next transfer.

I just did the math and I realized that in order to keep all the English sister’s areas open (and there’s only five) one of the Spanish sisters is going to have to switch to English for a while, and I just have this feeling it might be me. I have evidence to back it up too—President only sends Sisters English when their Spanish is good enough that when they go BACK Spanish speaking after a transfer or two, they will still remember everything and be able to communicate just like before without loosing any ability. He also doesn’t like to send sisters English right near the end of their mission, but more in the middle… and out of all the sisters, I’m probably the only one in the middle, with good enough Spanish and who would be totally okay with it.

Honestly, I think going English would be really interesting. Most Spanish Speaking missionaries are ardently against it. like… violently, violently opposed to ever teaching white people, but I think I’d be okay with it. it could be interesting to go teach white people in the belt-buckle of the bible belt for a little while, and I know I’d learn a lot.

But then, Hermana Willis pointed out, “Because you’re okay with it, it probably won’t happen to you. It’s more likely to happen to a Sister who will throw a huge fit about it and then learn a lot and grow as a result.”

So, she’s got a point. Whatever. I’m just saying, if you get an Email from me and I’m all like “HEY folks! I’m getting banished out to college station to serve English for a while!” just know, I’m totally cool with it and prepared for that kind of a change, and I’m not one of these lame “Spanish-pride” missionaries who are dissin’ on the English missionaries while still trying to figure out how to roll their rrs and use subjunctive tense.

I wanted to try and explain all the spiritually wonderful stuff that happened this weekend… but it’s hard to write about for some reason. I’m working on getting over that, sorry:) But I’ll include at least some explanations about the baptisms.

Also, there was one other baptism this weekend that touched my heart… I didn’t get the opportunity to go, but all the same, I’m so happy I got to be a part of it in a sort of round about way.
Do you remember Veronica? My recent convert? I walked up to her in a parking lot and then she and her two children who were old enough got baptized with her? I love that woman so much.

She joined the church, terrified that she was going to be spending every Sunday sitting alone on the bench, because her husband used to listen to missionaries but had sent them away forever when they started talking about baptism (this was years ago). She had always been curious about what they were teaching him and about why he had been so opposed to the church, so that’s why she invited us to come and teach her. Anyway, she wanted to her husband to be with her in the church. But he refused to have anything to do with it. He didn’t come to her baptism or anything, and whenever we were over there, he wasn’t. I’ve never actually met the man…

Then Elder Dorion and Elder Morin white-washed my old area after Hermana Frieszell left. And Veronica still had a number of recent convert lessons that she needed, so they were over there all the time. Vernoica’s husband, did NOT like it. He would get drunk and make up all kinds of things in his head about what was ‘really going on’ between his wife and the Elders. So, they were welcome over there. It was really horrible for Veronica, but she stayed strong, coming to church and bringing the kids and talking to the missionaries when he was out.

Then… apparently kind of out of the blue, he called the Elders up one night, tearful and repented and explained that he and his wife had been talking and he knew the church was true (had apparently known if for a really long time) and he knew he needed to defeat all of his vices and get baptized.

And yesterday, he was baptized!

Alright… there’s my stories for this week. I’m overjoyed. I really want to bask a little in the glow of the Lord’s success in this campo for a bit… but, I sort of can’t. Not for very long at least. There’s a lot more work to be done.

I LOVE you, my darling, sweet family.

Monday, October 12, 2009

Louetta

Fambly,
Hey! Sounds like everything is groovy back home. Dad’s continuing with his Bishoply duties, huh? Senior Bishop? Is that a thing? Does that mean he’s been Bishop the longest in the stake? Yeah, that’s crazy, but I was thinking about it the other day, and I don’t really remember a time when dad wasn’t in the Bishopric, and I have to stretch my little mind back to before he was Bishop to when he was a counselor. I do have vague memories of when he was first called into the Bishopric though, but before that… nada. Me mente esta quebrantado ya.
That’s the weirdest funeral I’ve ever heard of… I don’t think I’ve ever been to a secular funeral. I must not have, because that’s just foreign to me. Why would you want to be remembered like that? Crazy. Don’t worry mommy, I won’t let that happen to you, or to you, daddy. There will be classiness for all to disfrutar.
Lane’s so adorable… I haven’t gotten her newsletter yet! It’s transfer week, and they like to hold the mail and packages until we’re all in our new areas and settled, also, it’s Columbus day. But, lucky for us the church’s employment office is open, so we came to do our mail since it’s fairly close and we had to drop some stuff off at the mission office (right next door) anyway.
Jen’s enjoying her classes? I just got that AWESOME picture she did of Poison Ivy, with MY costume. Everybody dug it. It’s gorgeous and it looks so great, I’m glad you’re continuing to improve, and that you FINALLY drew something I asked you to draw ginna! Bien hecho. Laughing stock sounds hilarious! Please, please continue to tell me everything you can remember about their shows. I can just see it all in my head. Man, that’s funny.
The garden sounds gorgeous, I love veggies… today, while I was shopping, I ended up getting mostly veggies without even realizing it. I hadn’t grabbed any sweets at all (accept for some pop-tarts). Not because I was making an effort to be healthy, but just because I wanted to eat veggies. Thanks for describing the food again mommy. We had a bit of a funny experience last Friday (my third day in our trio). There was something wrong with the tire on our car, so we went to NTB and had to sit there for THREE hours while they fixed it, argued on the phone with the mission car-guy for a little while, and dealt with a crisis (money missing from the register. Lots of cussing and angry mechanics). So, there’s a big old TV that they have to leave on during business hours, but because we were the only people there, they did let us change the channel (but not turn it off). We finally switched it to the news in Spanish and decided to call it slightly Apostate Language Study, just because we didn’t know what else to do. I learned some new words. Cabellos de fuerza (sp?) = Horsepower.
But before we got them to switch the TV for us, Rachel ray was making something that looked pretty amazing. And Dr. Oz suggests that the color of my alarm clock might be keeping me awake at night, and that it’s too warm in Houston to get proper sleep. Anyway, watching the cooking show made me so hungry. I love hearing about the food. Dinner sounds like it was delicious.
After a bit, the mechanics got tired of fighting with their boss about the missing money and one by one tried to escape. We ended up teaching two of them about the Apostacy and Restoration for the last hour and a half or so while we were waiting there. One of them was Iranian and didn’t know anything about religion in general, he said, but he was very nice and open minded about it. Said he was curious to know what the big deal was. The other guy was Hispanic, but clearly preferred speaking in English, though he tried to bash with us using that good old “Well, if you read the bible in Spanish, which is really more correct it says this…” one of my favorite arguments that people bust out when their talking to gringos, so then I just pulled out my brand new Reina-Valera and was like, “You mean this bible in Spanish?” and he kind of went, “Uuh, yeah. That one.” And didn’t knew where to go from there, because he was lying about the difference in the Spanish/English translation. He stopped trying to argue with him once he figured out that we speak and read Spanish fluently. I think he was kind of impressed actually, because he just took the pamphlet and read a little while I continued to explain about modern day revelation and prophets.
Very fun day.
Saturday we had the pulga again. We ran out of supplies, which turned out to be a really good thing, because then people who talked with us, couldn’t just take and card and run off, they had to stay and chat. I taught a woman named Yazmin who used to meet with missionaries in Spain and seemed genuinely interested. She lives in… I think Elder Dorion’s area (my old area) which is typical. He’s just going to go ahead and baptized everyone I find, which is cool with me:) I’ve really got a firm belief in the right missionaries being put in place to teach the right people. It’s something that’s been proven to me again and again, which makes it easily to turn over the wheel to someone else once you’re finished with whatever you’re part in their story happened to be.
Have I told you guys about Pulga music yet?
Okay. Remember the Weird Al Spoof where he redoes a bunch of rock music as Polka music?
Pulga music is that, but they also translate the lyrics into Spanish. Then, get yourself a cowboy hat and some very classy stingray leather accessories (that’s who’s buying all of your merchandise dad, Pulga people.) and you’re stylin’ for intercity Houston Texas and you’re very, very cool here.
It’s incredible.
My Trio is so fun! I love these Hermanas. Hermana Willis is super smart, she’s only two transfers older than me and Hermana Bastian, but she really knows what she’s doing. And Hermana Bastian is a real sweety. Very in tune with the spirit, especially when it comes to spur-of-the-moment changes in plans. I don’t think we’re ever going to be just sitting there after everything falls through and going, “Uh, what do we do now?” she always seems to have lots of ideas popping up in her head. She and I went into the MTC on the same day. In fact, I think in one of my earlier letters I told a story about the companion that Hermana Thomas was supposed to have? That’s Hermana Bastian.
Guess what? I’m finally funny in Spanish. And not because I’m making mistakes, but just because I’m clever and saying clever things. This is cool, just because I was told once that I’d never be funny in Spanish, but I have told at least five jokes and I’ve made investigators/members/my companions laugh. In Spanish, “Ja ja ja ja”. So. I win.
Also, learning to play the piano has turned out to be one of my best assets on the mission. It’s sort of a rare thing here. I played the piano in sacrament meeting and relief society in my last ward and now it looks like they’ll need me to do that here too. I also do it for most of the baptisms as well. Or, at least for the ones when Elder Meade wasn’t there. Very useful thing that. I’m so glad I got the opportunity to be relief society pianist in our ward abck home, otherwise I’d have no luck trying to play all these hymns on the fly. But I know most of them pretty well now. Finally. So, in case you were wondering, I think that was the purpose for that.
The last thing I wanted to tell you about was Victor.
Victor. Is. AWESOME.
He’s twenty years old and he’s getting baptized this Sunday. I’m so happy I arrived here in Louetta just in time to teach him. He’s such a great young man, de Honduras, he likes to speak in vos sometimes, which is my favorite. He’s very funny and he’s got such a strong testimony that’s developed in him so fast, and he’s just smart, he just totally gets it. I hope everything goes well, he’s determined that this Sunday is his fecha. Very secure in that. So… Yay! Also I’ve got another baptism this Saturday back in Crosstimbers. Silvia is eight years old, barely. Her parents are waiting on a divorce to mom’s real husband hiding somewhere in Mexico, and some vicios, so they’re not members, but still very much a part of the ward in the mean time. She’s such a great little girl! Adorable, I can’t wait till you see her and go, ooooo cute!
So, that’s all the news I’ve got for now… I love you all tonz and tonz, and I miss you like crazy, but I’m sooo happy here and I can tell that you’re all safe and happy back home. I’m sorry if there’s some questions I forgot to answer ect.
Les amo a ustedes.
Hna Lirioblanco
P.S. Do I need to worry about registering for school next spring at some point? Somebody pointed out to me that it’s something I’ve probably got to take care of, before I return home. HEARTS! Mwah.

Monday, October 5, 2009

me voy otra vez!

Wasn’t conference amazing?! I LOVED all the talks, but I think Elder Holland’s is the one I can’t wait to make every single one of my investigators watch, again, and again, and again for all eternity. Powerful man, that. Powerful talk! They were all so great, I LOVE conference as a missionary. It’s intense, but it’s incredible. Some of my recent converts and investigators were able to come and watch conference with us at the capilla. I was so glad to have them there…
Well, the only other bit of news I’ve got is that Transfer calls were Saturday night and I’m apparently finished in Crosstimbers for a while. Hermana Forsling is staying here and she’s going to be companions with Hermana Thomas—one of my old MTC companions. And I’m heading out to Louetta area to be in a trio again! My new companions as of this coming Wednesday will be Hermana Bastian and Hermana Willis. I know them both a little bit and they both seem really nice, and I’ve been to Louetta a couple of times on exchanges. I like the area, its right next to my old place in Gunspoint, so I’m still in the ghetto. Home sweet home.
I’m sad to be leaving, but I know it’s the right thing for everybody. I think it woke up a few of our recent converts. We told them a couple of times that this might happen, but I think they didn’t really believe it until I told them, “Ya me voy.” And then they were kind of upset… Antonia said she would have been better behaved if she’d known I wasn’t going to be here much longer. (She gave us all a heart attack last week when she ran away from home, but she’s back safe and sound and was just hiding at a friend’s house.)
Oh, drama, drama, drama. And from what I know of Louetta, I’m about to dive headfirst into some more drama. I’m bound to have the most dramatic mission ever. Okay, well, that’s an exaggerations if there ever was one; Dan Jones? Ammon? Alma? Abinidi? My mission is a different level of dramatic, not even tickling theirs, but still. Days of our lives… Or, more likely, “Dallas”. Hah. Houston, we’re a little off from Dallas…
Anyway, I’m probably being silly and not making much sense. Sorry! I’m a little jittery, having to pack and say goodbye to everybody while simultaneously being llenada del espiritu santo por medio de La Conferencia General.
I’ve obtained quite a lot of stuff since getting here four and a half months ago, but Hermana Forsling gave me some vacuum bags to pack with, so I should be okay for now. I’m going to have to start giving my clothes (that I took from Sisters who went home) away. Don’t worry mom, I’m keeping all the nice stuff that’s really yours… I don’t know if you’re going to want any of it back though. Heh. Sorry. The mission is hard on clothes.
Your guy’s conference weekend sounds amazing! I love La Puente, of course I remember that place… it’s too back they lost the reservation, but Bucca de bepo is my other favorite, so good for you guys! Fine choice, well done everyone, well done. Papa’s joke to the waiter is pretty funny and adorable. Macbeth sounds like it’s going to be amazing! Ooo, I wish I could see it! You’ll have to tell me all about how is goes and what it looks like and what Dan and Philly are doing/wearing. Beards nice and long, ya?
I’m sorry you can’t find good serviceable shoes. I have the same problem. In the missionary dressing guidelines for sisters it says that shoes must be practical/comfortable/attractive. I don’t think they realize that they’re asking for a miracle with that particular combination. Size 8? Good job! Are you a six then? Clearly, I was the problem all along. I should learn to cook/eat healthy. I’ve been doing pretty much all of the cooking for the last four months and I’ve found I REALLY like it, but I should learn how to make stuff that good for you and not just delicious.
I LOVE that conversion story! It’s so great! I love it when everything just lines up like that. Like dominos. It’s so beautiful to watch somebody’s life change. I especially enjoy the effect of seeing the truth and God closing in on all sides around somebody! Beautiful. Great, great story… It must have really been something to hear him tell it in person.
Well, my letter’s going to be short again this week, I’m afraid. I’m sorry, but I’ve got to go! Thank you so much for details about how everything is going. Everybody sounds good and happy. I hope Grandma has a speedy recovering and that all of this helps with her pain. I LOVE you and I pray for you all the time, I hope everyone is healthy/happy and was fully inspired and uplifted by the words of our living prophets; God’s representatives on the earth.
Hugs&kisses and amor for everyone!

Monday, September 28, 2009

15. yeesh.

Hey family!
I just love you all so much! You don’t need to worry about me getting discouraged. Dissapointed is probably a better word. It never lasts long though, typically some miracle shows up to save us whenever things aren’t going well. I can’t really help but be happy constantly, so that even during sadder moments, it’s not quite so bad. It reminds me of that line about the Three Nephites, how they didn’t feel pain save for sorrow for the sins of the world. It’s hard to watch other people so unhappy and lost. I myself, am perfectly cheerful. But I’m sad for them sometimes. But you don’t need to worry about me getting discouraged, I know I’m out here doing the right thing and it’s vastly more rewarding than I could ever express. Every day I have a couple of dozen moments where I just have to stop and say to myself, “I am so happy I’m here right now! I can’t believe I ever considered NOT doing this!”
We’ve got transfer calls on Saturday, so next week I’ll be able to tell you what’s up—if I’m going anywhere or if I’m getting a new companion or what. Me and Hermana Forsling have been together for three transfers here in Crosstimbers, which is the longest that either of us has ever had the same companion. But, she’s only got one transfer left before she finishes her mission, and we don’t know if she’s supposed to just stay here, or if there’s one last place she needs to go to…
I forgot to say… I’m SO excited that Nanette is going on a mission! Sweet! That’s so cool, she is going to have such an amazing experience. I’m so glad that she and Alejandra both decided to serve, that’s just about the whole of my single adult class from our ward now… what’s McKenzie up to? :)
This movie you’re describing sounds way neat. I dig the concept immensely. I bet it was neat looking too… Fun analogy for the internet/gaming world too. I LOVE weird movies. I suggested in the car on the way here (we got a ride with the Elders on account of having literally NO miles left for the entire month) that we ask permission from President to watch New York Doll some P-day, none of them had heard of it, so I told them a little about it. Hermana Forsling insists it will never fly (on account of President’s disapproval of Rock Music).
That’s a really interesting story about Charlie down there in ‘somewhere in Mexico’:) There’s some pretty dangerous places out there, but with the protection of the Lord… well, I’ve seen it at work. That’s cool that they just started teaching a lesson. I can see that being super effective… Sheesh, scary.
School sounds like it’s so much fun! You haven’t been wearing your high heels and stuff to class have you? (I probably would, actually, now that I think about it) but that’s pain! Wow. That’s a relaly good idea to have the students write out the stories in paragraphs occasionally as well. Good practice for them on writing papers.
The Baby kitty sounds SOOOO cute! I can just imagine this little blackish/grayish-strippedy-green-eyed little fluffy muffin playing with our two big bad boys. Adorable! As far as names go, I still say we should do our usual gig of having like 50 to answer to.
It’s so weird to hear my name now. There was a random side character in The Work and the Glory (we watched it for a P-day, interesting movie, too dramatic/not enough funzies/uplifting moments if you ask me… also, not enough violence.) anyway, there was a side character with my name, and when they said it, I expected everyone’s head to turn and look at me on reflex, just because that’s usually what happens when my name comes up in a movie. And it didn’t happen. And I realized it’s because NOBODY here knows me as anything besides Hermana Lillywhite. Weird moment. I giggled and then they looked at me, but they were just confused.
I’m sorry I’m the one who was keeping you pudgy. I suspected as much. Especially since all my companions mysteriously gain weight around me. Even on exchanges. Hermana Forsling says it’s because I inadvertently encourage people to do, and eat, and say, and be whatever they want. This is both a good and bad thing. It’s a power I must learn to control.
I’ve actually gained fifteen pounds. Not cool. And also, a little confusing, since I don’t consume nearly as much sweet stuff as I used to, am fasting frequently and often miss meals on account of just not having enough time to eat… I’m pretty sure it’s all the avocado.
Also, I did actually learn how to make some more stuff. Next time we make caramel apples, I can make caramel sauce from scratch and it’s REALLY good. There’s something called a “Hello Dolly Bar” that Hermana Forsling showed me, “Chocolate Coma” courtesy of Hermana Frieszell. Papusas, tortillas, torta (Mexico this means sandwich, Spain it means cake, I’m talking about a sandwich) this really delicious Apple Cake recipe that one of our investigators gave us… Platanos con Crema, and Hermana Nunez taught me how to make some real good salsa. It’s spicey though, but I LOVE it.
I’m working on a cute little recipe book in one of the Yo Gabba Gabba journals I’ve got. Because there is totally a party in my tummy.
OH! And Toritlla chips. Really good ones.
Okay, so maybe all that would be why I gained fifteen pounds. Plus, it’s hard to exorcise properly, and now I’m not even on a bike anymore. Our area requires cars. Whatever. I’ll just have to whip my bum back into shape.
Well, I’d better get going, I’m really happy I finally got to read your letters! (The website was having difficulties for a bit) I’m crazy busy, but I LOVE you, and I pray for all of you. I’ll be praying especially hard for Grandma this week, I hope everything goes well!!! I LOVE you.
Lovin’ you lots y lots Mwahmwah, Hermana Lillywhite

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Letters! Yes! I win!

Familia mia,
I’m so happy! Today is a good day, a random Preparation day in the middle of the week is healthy sometimes I think. I hope you all remembered about Monday being a regular day… sort of, it started out normal but then we had to go all the way to the office for a kind of ‘Surprise Zone Conference’ with Elder Paul B. Johnson. Excellent, excellent thing, that. Very inspiring. Then I was on exchanged yesterday, so, today is P-day! I missed you all terribly this week because of the extra-long wait. Baseball playing was really fun last week, I made it to home base, thanks to Elder Zambrano. And Elder McGary almost killed me when I slid into first and he just about landed right on top of me with the ball a split second later—but I was safe! Hermano Martinez said so and there was much rejoicing. Good day. Good game. My companion got sunburned. So did everyone else except me and the other ‘not-white’ people in our zones. (I count as not-white in comparison to these rubios.)
It was a crazy week… we had Interviews with president the next day, then Zone meeting/President and Sister Hansen’s anniversary (they bought us lunch), then temple the day after that, then district meeting the day after that, then we woke up at ‘way-too-early-in-the-morning’ to go to South Houston for a Multi-Mission conference with the South and East missions to hear from President Costa, who is an AWESOME 70. He’s very inspired, said exactly what each of us needed to hear and made us laugh while chastising subtly. Beautiful thing.
Then Sunday. One of the most depressing days of my mission so far—or it might have been, except that some really great things started happening more towards the evening. Miracles, let me just be vague, because I don’t have much time and I’m just not sure this is a good ‘letter-story’. Then, the not-pday Monday happened, and exchanges… I was sent to go work with Hermana Bastian again, in her area, which boarders my old area. We got a referral by accident, that was supposed to go to Elder Dorion and Elder Morin, but they didn’t know that and made an appointment with the man. When I looked at where he lived on the map I was like “Yep… That’s my old area. That’s not you guys.” But we went and taught Mynor a first anyway. He’s from Guatemala and he’s married with four kids (boy 13, twin girls 9, and another boy 8) and I think they’re all going to be baptized pretty fast here. He had a book of Mormon from his uncle back in Guatemala and he says he’s really excited to learn more.
This week has been crazy and wonderful. I’m working with so many genuine people right now. We’ve just got to keep working and watch out for trouble, it always comes, doesn’t it? Hermana Forslying and I are really hoping they’ll leave us both here and together for her last transfer, which starts right after general conference. But wherever the lord sends me or her, I know it’s the right thing. I didn’t want to leave my first area, but God took care of the people I was teaching and now their baptized or they’ve got dates, or are otherwise well in the care of their father in heaven… and since I came here I’ve meet people who I can’t imagine not knowing. I’m so glad I came, and I know wherever I go, I’ll find the people I’m supposed to help, and I’ll love them just as much as I love the people I have to say goodbye to—if only for a moment!
I got several letters from Chantal this week! MWAH! I’m working on a letter to you right now sweetie, and I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to write, but I LOVE you! And I got one from Mr. Jacob Cantwell. Oh my, it sounds like I’m living in a rather dangerous area. Funny story in relationship to previous topics—for the Mutli-Mission Conference President Hansen asked all the Elders to wear blue ties and all the sisters to dress in blue. We’re in the north side of Houston, and we went down to the south. Now, I’m positive that Preisdent Hansen wouldn’t know this, and neither would any of the missionaries who work with him, but when gang members from North Houston go to South Houston, they wear blue. It’s the “North-side Gang Colour—son!”. So, our mission was inadvertently participating in modern day secret combinations, which I found pretty hilarious and also disturbing… mostly funny though.
And I got Mommy’s package! So I feel very loved. The rice crispies were delicious! My companion and I squealed for joy when we got them, and thank you very much Shazi for the letter! And thank you Sifu for your letter which was also contained in the package, pretty, pretty, pretty calligraphy! I’m going to be sending you a letter soon as well and then you can tell me how my Spanish is grooving along. The Baby kitty is SO CUTE! I made a funny noise when I saw her, I’m sure. She’s so ADORABLE! I wanna cuddle. I can’t though, for a bit. And thank you for all the funny comics and the sox and the yummy juice-instant things and the letter! Seriously, I feel so loved. Everybody was telling me how right around 6-8 months you just stop getting mail from anybody because they all forget about you and move on with their lives. But I get love! Yay love! (This is from Elders who stop writing after the MTC, I’m pretty sure is the difference there too).
Anyway, everything sounds amazing, I love it when you go into detail about the food. Me and Hermana Forsling were discussing it and we decided that we LOVE the food bits. Also, Shakespeare Abridged sounds awesome! I definitely have to see that again soon. Elder Meade, who recently finished his mission, was in that play in high school, he played the guy who has to be all the women, he said. At the time he had curly, thick, beautiful hair down to his shoulders (he showed us a picture), but he wore a wig for comic-relief purposes anyway.
I REALLY need to send you guys a package, I know. I’m ridiculous. I have a picture card and other things that I just really need to get back to you folks! I don’t know if I’m going to get the chance to do it today, but maybe Monday? Maybe? Please? I don’t know, man. Life is crazy.
The trip sounds enchanting. I hope Grandma is doing well and that everything goes good with her surgery, I’ll be praying for her extra hard. And yes, that has got to be the most appropriate nick-name for her!
Kimber sounds like a lot of fun, I knew you’d love it! And yes, I think being a teacher would be really fun, and more likely than not, that’s what I’ll end up doing… As much as I’d love to stay home and write books, I’ve always known that’s not really a practical plan to base your life around, but teaching others to express themselves with language would be so rewarding! And as a missionary… I’ve definitely discovered that I do love teaching. (even if I figured out that I like it more on a personal, one-on-one level)… still, that’s definitely what I’m going to have to look into when I get back. Hermana Forsling has basically convinced me that if I don’t go to graduate school I’m a terrible person, so… haha, I’ll probably be doing that too.
I love your description of how daddy gets Laney out of bed and just stands her on her feet in the morning—that’s perfect! I sure do miss you all a lot. But I’m so happy right now, and getting your letters and hearing about all the things your doing helps me feel close to you, especially out here in the fields, it’s easy to feel close to your family when you’re serving Heavenly Father.
The Luvin’ you lots and lots is a reference to… That Thing You Do? I had to think hard, and I’m not 100 percent sure that’s right. I’m losing it, folks. Pop-culture is slowly draining out of my ears at night and being replaced by… well, mostly the Spanish Language actually. Sometimes at night in my dreams I can hear my old playlist. I had a really interesting dream about getting trapped in an Investigators house during a flood and we all watched the rain bury the house through the windows while “Behind Blue Eyes” wafted through the rainy air. I love The Who.
Also, I did manage to remember The Fifth Element in its entirety last week and I rehearsed the whole movie to Hermana Forsling over the course of a few mealtimes, I even had a go at performing what I remembered from the Diva’s Aria. Hermana is sold, she loves the movie and she’s never even seen it.
I hope that everyone is wonderful and happy. Content with life, school, classes, work ect. I know that I’m doing a great work for my God right now, and I know that I am a member of his true church, restored to the earth and in possession of the authority and power of God through priesthood keys, and that Jesus is the Christ, the savoir and redeemed of the world. Even when I get discouraged or when faced with disappointment, I can’t deny the necessity of every day of work that I’m doing, and of every trial and challenge. I’m so happy and so filled with love, for all of you, and for every child of God I see.
I LOVE you family, and I miss you terribly. I’m sure I’ve forgotten to say something important here, and perhaps I’ve said a great many silly things, but what's important is; I love you!
Hermana Lillywhite