Eighteen months, baby.

Phew. I’m beat. My favorite member got arrested for unpaid parking tickets, but everything’s been sorted out now. We were worried she might run into immigration problems, but since her paperwork is actually being dealt with right now, they didn’t try to deport her or anything, and she’s a trooper. She made friends with all the toughest Hispanic ladies in the cage and described how the police trembled in fear when she was released a few hours later. (I think I already sent you a picture of Hermana Castillo once, and some of her precious children.)
We also enjoyed a lovely ‘goodbye-Elder-Meade’ dinner appointment with a family that are members of the ward in spite of not being members of the church… (waiting on divorce papers to go through in Mexico so they can get married legally.) Their oldest child has already been baptized though, and we get to start teaching the second oldest just in time for her to get baptized Oct. 8th; her eight birthday. It was a very fun evening. I tried to get footage of Elder Meade getting his face smashed into a cake but it didn’t work out. I do have pictures of the aftermath.
We’re working with some WONDERFUL people right now. It’s stressful, but it’s soooo rewarding.
Oh! It’s transfer week, and the only reason I didn’t bring that up sooner is because my news is boring: I’m staying and so is my companion! Actually, very few Spanish missionaries changed at all, except to regulate some things that were made wonky by sooo, so many missionaries having to go home this week. But everyone who wasn’t leaving was basically just left alone! And then they paired up the companionships who lost someone—or made them trainers. Very slick transfer, which is a little unusual for president. But I’m REALLY happy that I get to stay here for at least six more weeks with Hermana Forsling. It’s her second to last transfer and she’s praying that they’ll just leave us together/here, until she dies. There are so many wonderful people here, I could honestly spend the rest of my mission in this little apartment in the ghetto and be perfectly happy. But—I said that about Gunspoint too, so I guess the lesson in to trust in the Lord that wherever I go, or wherever I don’t go and whoever I’m with/not with, is all for my good.
It’s the last P-day for a lot of missionaries, I was expecting something big, but I guess they decided to keep it pretty low-key. We’re just going to get food at a BBQ place here called The Hungry Farmer and say our goodbyes and then maybe play some sports if we don’t just spend the whole time reminiscing.
Funny moment of the week:
*Hermana Forsling notices some black marks on the back of Elder Meade’s shirt*
“What happened?!” –Hna Forsling
“Two years, baby.” –Elder Meade
“…Did you just call me baby?” –Hna Forsling
“I’m practicing.” –Elder Meade.
“Don’t practice on sister missionaries.” –Elder Brady
Best district meeting ever.
I assure you, we got a lot of work done and had some wonderful spiritual moments as well. I’m such a softy these days. Remember how I cried pretty easily before? It’s gotten SO much worse now. I try to keep it under control, but seriously… Don’t know what to do about that.
Hugh B. Brown, Profile of a Prophet and God is the Gardener—I think I remember listening to this at Kimber years ago. Hermana Forsling has a copy on tape that we’ve been listening to. Good stuff—powerful. Also, I think I forgot to mention before, daddy—THANK you for the talks/articles. I really can’t get enough of this, don’t hesitate to send me more goodness.
Apparently Phill Collins recorded all of the soundtrack from Tarzan in Spanish. According to the new music guidelines that President set, it’s not okay, but it’s still something I’m going to want to participate in later. Tarzan in Spanish. Sweet.
Mommy, I LOVE that poem you sent me. It’s gorgeous and it’s so true. Just in keeping with my newest theme of every lesson “God loves and knows you”. I’ve decided that this is a simple truth that has been completely and utterly lost on pretty much everybody. No matter what we’re teaching, we always figure out a way to trace it back to that. It’s amazing to see the light in people when this precious reality starts to come into them. It’s so taken for granted by us as latter-day saints. And that story about President Monson and Uchtdorf is hilarious! I love it, totally warms my heart. It sounds like it was a very wonderful and busy Sunday. I hope that Grandma is doing okay, I’ve been praying for her! Let me know how everything goes.
I sure do love and miss you all bunches… sorry this letter is so short this week! But there’s not much more that you need to know except that the church is true and that this message we have is the most wonderful, most important thing for all the world and I know these things because I have felt the truth of them por medio del Espiritu Santo.
Love, Hermana Lillywhite