Houston is a dumb place to park.

I'm REALLY enjoying being able to drive again. I didn't give my companion the keys back until yesterday. Have I mentioned that Texas drivers are about 10 times worse than Utah drivers? And the parking spaces--I don't get it. Everyone here buys these gigantic trucks, but then ALL of the parking spaces are compact. There too small for our little Malibu 2010, so I don't know why they do it. It's downright dangerous is what it is.

Anyway, that's enough ranting about the traffic. I don't want to sound ungrateful, especially since I can finally DRIVE! YAY! I'M FREE! And yes, I did notice that they had included an envelope for me to send them the paperwork directly, but only after I'd already put together the letter for y'all. I'm so glad you enjoyed the Twilight Musical. It was all Hermana Christensen's brilliance, after I mentioned to her that when I was 14 I had this idea to make an Alice in Wonderland musical using entirely contemporary music. She said "YOU SHOULD WRITE A TWILIGHT MUSICAL!" as soon as it was said, ideas for songs started to explode like fireworks as a gift for my birthday from the muses. Don't worry though, I've only given out three copies. One to you, one to an old companion and then I mailed one to Sister Singleton in the East mission as I figured she'd appreciate it.

Your collective week sounds lovely! I've got to admit, I am very excited to go to art exhibits to see my little sister's work displayed. Do you have a picture of her project that you could send me?! I'd love to see it. That's so sad about Steve, I hope his family is working through it alright. When it rains it pours is right. I can't even imagine what it must be like to lose parents/children when they're still relatively young like that. But the funeral does sound like it was nice, as strange as it is to say that. So Maddox is really all it's cracked up to be? I saw the pictures of the old Lillywhite home on dad's blog. Laney looks so big! She looks like Cat. For a second I thought it was Cat. Crazy! She's going to be so grown up when I come home!

I'm really looking forward to my Easter Package. And Conference. I probably will not get the chance to go down to the mission office this week, but as long as you sent it through the regular post they should forward it to me. So, I might get it Saturday. THANK YOU!!!! I'm very excited. This is my last conference in the mission field! I'm still holding out for that announcement about sister missionaries being given the option to extend 6 months. The Elders are talking about the possibility of 3 year missions.

As for my week...

So. Wednesday night we had Hermanos Solano with us. Hermana Solano served in the South mission, and Hermano Solano was one of her ward mission leaders. After her mission they ran into each other again in none other than... MURRAY! Yep. They had their first date in Murray park and now they are married and he's the second counselor in the bishopric and she's the adorable very blonde blue-eyed lady in the ward who speaks perfect Spanish. So, we were walking from one apartment complex into another and suddenly, in front of us... there was a little kitten!!! It was SO cute, and way too young to be wandering around on it's own. We caught it and snuggled and it fought to get away for a moment than calmed down. It was a feral little thing, but very sweet. We knocked on the apartment it was hanging around and they said it wasn't theirs' and that they already had a cat and didn't want another one, but that it had been hanging around on their porch for a while annoying them and they had no idea where it came from and figured it was just stray. We asked a few more people but no one had any idea and it was getting late and dark.

"Can we keep it?!" Hna S

"Absolutely not." Hno S.

"Please!" Hna S.

"We already have a cat and two dogs! You don't need any more pets!" Hno S.

"But it needs a home!" Hna S.

They argued back and forth about it playfully while I wrestled within myself. Finally, we just went to see if our investigator was home, and she was! So we taught her while little "Sarita" as we had started called her (to the exasperation of Hno) fell asleep in Hna Christensen's arms. Our investigator didn't want the cat either.

"Listen Hno. You guys need to take the cat. At least for the night," I started to explain to them, "If you don't. You'll be forcing me to be disobedient."

"How will that be forcing you to be disobedient! You guys can have pets!" Hno S

"NO WE CAN'T, IT'S AGAINST THE RULES!"

"I had lots of pets on my mission!" Hno S

"You served in an apostate mission honey, everywhere else, missionaries aren't allowed to keep pets." Hna S

"What?! Sure they can!"

"No they can't... Can we take her home?"

"NO!"

This went on for several minutes as we walked back to the car, now I was holding her and she was so little and cute and clinging and sleepy, "Listen. I can't take her home with us... AND I CAN'T LEAVE HER HERE!"

"Sure you can! She'll be fine, she'll get bigger!" Hno S.

"She'll get eaten! It's Texas!" Hna S.

"Well... she... we can't take her home!" Hno S.

"Why not? We already have a litter-box and food and everything she needs and she's so cute! Look at her!" Hna S.

"Hermanas, do you want some cat-food and a litter box?" Hno S asked us as he pulled the keys out of his pocket and went to unlock the car.

"HERMANO! You cannot seriously leave us with this cat!" I finally cried.

He sighed and relented, FINALLY. ("YAY!" -from Hna as she took the kitten from us.) But only on the condition that we call around and find someone else to take her the next day.

My journal entry that night ended with the line 'I'm pretty sure the Solanos have a new pet.'

Turned out it was true. They decided they were keeping her pretty fast. She is adorable. And guess what mommy! Remember those funky six-toed kittens that you were always cooing about? Guess how many toes Sarita has?! 21! She has a cute little sixth toe on one of her front paws. She is SO CUTE! I took pictures. They will arrive with the package I'm putting together.

We did a LOT of service this week. Way more than normal. We had our regular service at the theater, building sets with Ben. I'm basically a carpenter. It's very holy of me, I think. The next day we went to go help the Medina's paint their new little house that they bought, and then on Saturday we totally renovated this members 6/10 acher backyard. I got to ride on a riding lawn mower. It was pretty boss. It looked AWFUL when we got there, but she made us juevos racheros and I thought of Uncle Phillies yummy juevos racheros that we always have at san clamente, and then we were put to work. two hours later it was completely unrecognizable. It looked AMAZING! We really did a good job if I do say so myself. There were 8 of us working on it, so we got a lot done in just a short amount of time.

As far as missionary work goes, it was actually kind of a rough week. Lots of slammed doors and 'missing' return appointments. We're not discouraged though. Quite the contrary actually. I feel certain we're on the brink of a new dawn for this area. Wow. That was rather epic. I mean it though, I think we're going to see some miracles this transfer. I'm glad we've got this opportunity to put most of our efforts into finding.

Yesterday, Hermana pointed out to me that it's my 'T-minus 4 months' countdown day. I'm on section 122 in the doctrine and covenants... Reading backwards so I'll land on 1 on the plane-ride home. I've been told it's an old missionary tradition. I hadn't realised this until she pointed it out. It's also her 5 month birthday in the mission. In response I wrote this semi-agnsty self evaluation in regards to the Christlike attributes in Preach My Gosple. I just want to share part of it, the clever bit on Obedience...

Journal Entry-Obedience, obedience, obedience... my love, my precious. My worst enemy. My hero. I don't know why I have so much trouble with you my sweetest friend. We all know that whenever I break up with you, I'll just crawl back, hurt and tearstained and begging you to take me back again. I had such a recalcitrant youth (word my Stake President taught me in my pre-mission interview). I flirted with Rebellion all the time, but it was such a joke. I knew it would never go anywhere, really, and so did Rebellion. No matter how he enticed me, and as fun as a day at 'Naughty-World-Amusement-Park' sounded, I just could never go along with it. Every time I found myself on a date with Rebellion I always felt like I'd been tricked into it. Besides, he knew that I harbored a not-so-secret torch for Obedience all along. I was too shy to talk to him. "He's too good for me," that kind of thing, but I knew that I'd never love anyone like I loved him.

When Obedience and I finally got together, I was a little young, but I still gained a real determination to maintain the bounds we formed. So, I'm a crap girlfriend. Still, I'm trying. I'm just being a jerk is what it comes down to. I know that Obedience will always take me back, and I totally take advantage of him. I know I can change though. I'm getting better. And Maybe then Obedience and I can really commit. He's said all along that he's ready with that ring whenever I'm ready with my heart.

-So, there's part of my entry from last night. Eccentric, affected, whatever you want to call it, I think it's kind of clever. Hope you enjoyed it!

I just got mommy’s little reply, I’m glad Jensen likes Castle! My companion was gushing to me about it. It sounds like exactly my kind of show. Well, I’d better wrap-up and send this. I LOVE you all so much. I hope you have an amazing Pascua and conferencia! MWAH, mwah, mwah! Os amo.

Besito, Hermana Lillywhite

Remember what the doorknob said.

That’s lame about dad getting stranded. I’m so sorry! It sounds like one of those situations that was not really anybody’s fault and just a mess. How frustrating.
The whole situation with politics is freaking people out here. We’ve been having to talk to people more and more about the signs of the times. “It’s really bad out there.” The members keep telling us. I have no doubt that it’s as bad as you’ve described it, or probably worse than we even know. That’s CRAZY. I wish I could say I was surprised though…
I’m in a bit of a hurry this week, so I’ll just share one little story. I’m working on a letter to Grandma and Grandpa right now, and I’ll be sending the paper-work for my license to you today as well. I’ll see if I can’t include a few little fun things… I’m sorry I can’t write much today.
This week was… Fascinating.
First of all, transfer news is that there is none. After all of that stressing I get to stay here with Hermana Christensen for one more transfer. In fact our entire district is staying the same. Very uneventful. I totally satisfied. I really wanted to get the chance to make a real difference for this ward and in this area, and I don’t feel that I’ve done enough yet. So, I very happy to report that I’m staying.
Sacrament meeting was awesome. A leader from the stake was visiting. He got up and talked for about 15-20 minutes about how awesome the new Alice in Wonderland movie is. It had relevance to the theme of his talk, and I and everyone appreciated the wonderful analogies that he made—but I must say, I pretty much know the whole story now. Thanks a lot.
So… I was inhibited slightly by the fact that I was half trying NOT to listen. It’s especially easy to ignore what someone is saying when they’re speaking in Spanish, but I couldn’t help but catch a few things. So… true or false…
If you haven’t seen the movie yet and want to be surprised, don’t read the following. Possibly. He could have been totally making stuff up and I never would have known.
Alice is older and about to get engaged?
Somebody dies?
The caterpillar turns into a butterfly at the end, giving great significance to the whole story?
The Red Queen turns into a dragon and gets her head chopped off by Alice, who has a sword?!
Alice falls in love with one of the Wonderland characters?
He explained plenty more about the movie. Plenty. But this is what I remember being a little alarmed about. Later, we had a plan of salvation lesson with a less active girl who hadn’t come to church, so we caught her up on what she missed. Including how Alice in Wonderland related to the Plan of Salvation, which turned out to be the ultimate point of this man’s talk. She had seen the movie as well, and was very confused but tried to correct us on a few things.
“Nobody dies…. (five minute pause) OH! Her dad dies! It’s not important though.”
“The caterpillar doesn’t die. There is a butterfly, but… I don’t know, that’s weird.”
“The Red Queen doesn’t turn into a dragon! There’s no dragon! (five minute pause) … OH THERE IS A DRAGON! I FORGOT!”
“Alice doesn’t fall in love with anyone.”
Ten minutes later.
“…I think Alice falls in love with The Mad Hatter.”
I think the difference in the perspective and focus of a 45 year old high priest and an eleven year old girl is fascinating.
I can’t wait to see this movie. I’ve heard it’s terrible, and I’m pretty sure I’ll love it.
My companion actually wrote something really awesome about the man’s talk, that I hope you’ll find as inspiring as I did.
Hermana Christensen’s Thoughts in Wonderland:
Sometimes, I feel like Alice in Wonderland. Sometimes it feels like I am traveling through this strange place far from home. That is probably because… I AM. Sometimes life feels like a dream, but the most real and intense dream you could possible think of. That has huge effects for my real life when I wake up.
Sometimes I feel like my mission is wonderland. At times I wonder how I got here. At times I feel lonely, and want to go home. Most of the time I am absolutely in awe of this fascinating place. Sometimes I do things that make me grow. Sometimes I do things that that make me shrink and feel very spiritually sheepish. At times I feel like there is a wicked monarch who wants to shop my head off and has an unusual fetish for the colour red… probably because there is. That’s odd.
Sometimes my investigators are crazy but charming Mad Hatters – AND SOMETIMES THERE’S TEA PARTIES, don’t worry, I never drink it. Sometimes I meet mean Cheshire cats who confuse me. At times I want to just sit down on the side of the road, throw my hands up, and say “I DON’T KNOW WHERE I am going, I’m just trying to move forward!” most of the times it’s just so random and seems quite curious.
Here’s is the thing; Wonderland is not all. I am so thankful that I can see or at least know abu9ot the end of this crazy, rabbit hole called life. I just need to keep following that little white “espiritu santo” rabbit who is always late for a very important date – hopefully it’s a baptismal one! I am thankful he never stops and that I am constantly running at a marathon sprint to keep him in view.
On day, I will wake up form this crazy “Dream” and find myself peaceably asleep under an apple tree, but that doesn’t mean I should just sit and wait for that time to come, HOW BORING! I need to be decisive and bold and make the best of this time _ I don’t want to wake up to a nightmare. Be bold. The choices you make matter. There is more to life than Wonderland. So many people don’t understand that and end up being twiddle dee and dumb victims of their current circumstances. I am more than some random stranger wandering through an unfamiliar land. I will leave this place one day. The decisions I make now matter. What to be is up to me.
These are the lessons of Wonderland.
-End of the thoughts of Hermana Christensen.
Anyway. I didn’t mean to write the entire letter about Alice, but this was a very significant meeting. The investigator we had there, LOVED it. He said that the talks had given him exactly what he needed to strengthen himself with his life right now. Excellent stuff.
I LOVE you all so much. I miss you, my darling family. I pray for you every day, and especially grandpa right now. Kisses and hugs to all.
MWAH! Hermana Lillywhite

Leaving the One to Find the Ninety and Nine.

Techincally the one keeps leaving us. But he's our only sheep and he's a very good sheep. We'll see him at church.

Man. This week. I don't even wanna talk about it... Well, I do, because I always want to talk. Y'all know that!!! But this was honestly a very rough week. We've been finding so many people recently, but then, for various reasons we can never get back into contact with them. We're relentless in trying to track them down, but it's to no avail. I've never had so many doors slammed in my face than in this area. I've never had SO much difficulty getting the members involved as in this ward. That's the truth, but here's another truth—transfers are next week, and I don't want to go anywhere. I hope they leave me here with Sister Christensen.

But, I'd never request anything for transfers from Heavenly Father. I learned a long time ago some important lessons from my Trainer and my Greeniebreaker. DON'T make transfer requests. It's just not a good idea to ever try to pretend that you know better than God where you should be, who you should be with or what you should be doing. Just because I don't think I've fulfilled my purpose here doesn't mean I have any idea what I'm talking about. Next week, I'll be able to tell you what the final verdict is.

As rough as this week was... it was also a blast. I had a lot of fun knocking doors. We went on exchanges with the Spanish sisters this last week—Hermana Gurney came over here to hang out with me for the day, and Hermanita went over to be with Hermana Gurney's baby in Westgreen. It was a very informative, helpful exchange for a lot of reasons. I think the thing I liked the most was getting to see that Hermana Gurney has grown SO MUCH as a teacher. She hasn't been my companion, and we actually haven't spent any real time together since the MTC on account of never really serving all that close by. It was interesting, because I realized that Thursday (the day of the exchange) was my one-year anniversary of being in Texas. So it was a fun reunion for the two of us. She's really grown a lot since the MTC. We were also able to commiserate a little on account of our areas being so similar in personality right now.

Hermanita Christensen is learning a lot of valuable lessons early on. Middle class people are often comfortable. People in general, regardless of circumstances can become comfortable with their situation, no matter how poor, godless or degrading it might be. But middle-class often have the added challenge of overcoming their own societies opinion that, they're just fine as is. They don't need to change. They don't need to push themselves or progress any further. Just wait it out until you can retire, until you're body is too worn out to move like it used to, until the kids are grown and out of the house. It's an attitude that I've developed a somewhat hostile intolerance for. I've never been more 'uncomfortable' in my whole life. I trespass on people's privacy, try to break into their lives and help them develop a desire to change. Admit their faults and come unto Christ. I walk around in the heat or the snow in what I've come to loveingly refer to as 'church-lady-chic' trying to get strangers to open up to me and trust that I really am what I say I am; a servant of their father and a messenger from their brother. I might have to pack up my half of the apartment in a week, and go live in a new-old apartment with some chick I don't know and be instant best friends. There is nothing really comfortable about my life, and I've never been happier. Comfort is nice from time to time, but it also has somewhat inhibiting qualities. We're much more prone to new growth and development into a stronger being in a environment with some aggravating elements.

My companion said it beautifully in a lesson a number of weeks ago, when, after our investigator had just finished sharing with us his feelings, concluding with the statement, “But... I'm comfortable at the Pentecostal Church.” and without hesitating she said, “God doesn't want you to be comfortable, he wants you to be a Mormon!”

At that moment, I realized she didn't need me anymore.

I don't know though, maybe we'll get to stay together for three transfers. I'd like that. But as I already said, I'm morally opposed to transfer requests.

Bishop came out with us last week, and that was very nice. He also apologized for not having supported the sisters very much at all over the past few months, which I appreciated. He asked if we've been have ward correlation, and I admitted that although it's scheduled for 9:30 on Sunday morning, typically, us missionaries arrive, write in our journals for about an hour while we wait for someone to show up, and then give up and go study. Bishop said he would take care of that. This week, we only had to wait 45 minutes for the Ward Mission Leader. Hey. I'm just happy he showed up. Then, I was surprised when Bishop actually invited us to come into PEC also. A meeting that the Elders were previously invited to, and we weren't.

I think the Elders might have said something, because they asked us last week, “Why aren't you invited to PEC? It doesn't make any sense, they always ask us questions about the families you're teaching and we're like... we don't know, ask them. But then they don't.”

Yeah, I don't know why we weren't invited before, and I don't care. I've been invited to PEC in other wards. And It can't possible be the lack of Priesthood, since the relief society President is supposed to come. The point is, now we can come, which is good, it was very informative actually. We also let them know that we're having problems getting lessons with our one solid investigator right now. He's got a date for his Birthday (May 27th) yeah, WAY far out there, but he was forced to get baptized by crazy people a couple of years ago, so he's pretty determined to do it on his own terms this time. Hermana Estrada tried to point out that he might not be alive in May. Cheerful woman.

So... we're going to back off of him for a while and try to find the other 99 sheep that were lost.

So, that's where I'm at right now.

Home sounds so charming! Wow, President McDonough was in there for a long time. I'm happy for daddy as choir director, he will love that! You're fancy bishopric party sounds like good fun. I'm excited to get Laney's new letter. Can I have Grandma practice too? Or does it default to Mom Pratice on account of me not having children? What was the Opera that Jensen saw about? I really want to read her funny Opera essay again. I think I must have mailed it home with that last package of letters I sent... I'm glad to hear that my license is... coming along. I hope that Grandpa is okay and that the test result come in quick.

I love you all sooo so, much! I heard that Bad Romance song in a restaurant this last week when we went with out zone and thought of silly Jensen grooving along to it. Also... they're remaking Clash of the Titans? Seriously?

I adore you all terribly and love and miss and hug you! MWAH!

Trying to find decent mozzarella in Houston is like trying to find meaning in a Pauly Shore movie.

Familia y Amigos...

Daddy is released!!! How do you feel, Padre? Estas cansado? That's fun that you two get to be sleepy ward miembros for a bit. Good for you! Also, good for you to have dinner with missionaries and recent converts. That's the idea. Our ward is not doing amazing right now, but I did get to go visit my last ward Louetta, last night for a baptism of a woman who I taught while I was there. Also named Joanna. It came as a huge surprise, since the last I heard (at Christmas time) was that they stopped teaching her after I left the area. So I was really excited to get a call this week letting me know that she started coming to church in the last few weeks and has been preparing for baptism! It was a lovely service. As usual, I played the piano. I forgot that no one in that ward knows how to play until we were on our way there and I suddenly wondered if I'd been invited for the sole reason of my abilities to tocar. Joanna looked beautiful and very happy. Her family was there to support her, and it was nice to visit with some of my old friends there.

Dinner sounds delicious, I hope both Joannas feel comfortable and happy in their respective wards.

Yeah, our ward is a little silly right now. We had an AWESOME stake conference in which they gave a huge emphasis to member missionary work. So. Hopefully we'll see some improvement soon. Or at least have correlation sometime this transfer.

Transfers are coming up, and I really don't know what to expect. There's a lot about my situation here which reminds me of when I was being trained by Hermana Frieszell in 6th ward. It makes me suspect that I'll stay here for a least one more transfer and Hermana Christensen will get sent to the ghetto to be greenie broken. But—that wouldn't follow the recent established pattern of me being the one to leave an area and my companion being left in charge of my old area. Or—maybe, we'll both just stay here. I just want whatever the Lord wants. And. I want to know about it. That second part is a problem sometimes.

Our investigators right now. Good heavens we have a lot of them. But very few who will come to church or accept any of the commitments we give them. We're working with a couple of lovely families, and an apartment filled with men from Guatemala. They are funny and all at differing levels of interest. Ranging from “I want to get baptized and go on a mission and tell everyone about the Mormon Book!” to “Well... I'm a sinner, and I'm kind of okay with it.” I'm a little unsure about how sincere these statements are. I think they both are probably a little more towards the middle than they're letting on.

The Earthquake in Chile is a topic of conversation and prayer everywhere. We got to read about the missionaries and members there, and how they're all doing well. I guess Moroni lost his trumpet but the damage wasn't too bad? That's crazy that Lauren felt it over in Argentina too. We're definitely facing up to some major signs to the end of days. It helps to increase my confidence in our leaders. If they receive warnings about stuff like this and act on it, then we just have to be wise enough to head their advice...

Ooo Roma. I was thinking about you the other day.

It's impossible to find fresh mozzarella in this city. They have this sorry substitute; whole milk mozzarella. I've used it to make a medio-capreze dish, but it's just not the same. And they look at you funny when you ask for oil and vinegar with bread. But that's okay, I learned how to make fresh salsa, so I guess it's a fair trade.

I got Laney's letter!!! It was SO CUTE. I want to see a picture of this silly bruise. I also finally received some letters of Chantal's. I don't know why, but the office seems to have difficultly sometimes, getting letters to people. Mostly to me though. And to Hermana Christensen, because there's a Sister Christensen serving nearby as well. So they sometimes get each other's mail. Silly office.

I haven't done too many magic tricks. I do show kids my puzzle ring and teach them how that works sometimes, but playing cards are not allowed (Don't get me started). So I don't own any right now. Every once in a while, when it comes up I'll mention to people how I LOVE cards/kind of collected them and had a deck with me at all times in case of spontaneous poker games, and usually other missionaries are sort of like, “Really!?” and I'll be like, “I don't gamble you silly boy, I just like games. And magic tricks. And cards. They. Are. Pretty.”

Actually. A memory is coming back to me. I think I did show somebody some card tricks once in Crosstimbers... They had a deck sitting at their kitchen table and I feel like we were waiting for somebody to get off the phone or come out of the bathroom, so I did a few tricks to entertain during the pause.

I think that's all for news this week. We've got another Zone Meeting this week. Apparently the one with the reporter didn't count? So, we're holding another one. We've also got more exchanges, this time, with the Spanish sisters in the Westgreen ward. Hermana Gurney will be coming here with me for a day! Yay! MTC companions reunited!

Honestly... kind of can't wait for Alice in Wonderland. I'm glad that Jesus and co. enjoyed it. I typically enjoy whatever they enjoy. Also. Johnny, Helena, Tim... Was Danny Elfman involved at all? I've been following their careers thus far. So, I'll continue.

I love and miss you all like crazy. I hope everything is well back home. It sounds idyllic as usual.

Hermana Lillywhite

Please. Call the police. I dare you.

Family!

We had Zone and Stake Conference this week, but still managed to find 10 new investigators. We also went on exchanges with the English sisters, that was way fun...

We met a very angry man while knocking an apartment building where a member had sent us to find her friend to teach. He threatened to call the police if we didn't leave the complex immediately. We tried to talk with him for a minute about Jesus Christ, but he was seriously hostile, so in the end we just went to go try and contact the referral (nobody was home) so we left a note and then slowly left the apartment complex. Poor little Sister Smith was kind of freaking out and really scared that the police would come and arrest us. Sister Hoskins and I took a more insolent view of things.

If the police want to arrest us for trying to spread the gospel, than great. Lots of cool people have been arrested for preaching. I'll be in good company: Joseph Smith. Martin Luther. Alma. Paul. Jesus...

Chances are, the police are Mormon. And if not, I'd probably just say something along the lines of, “Hey. Man. I know that Houston is the third largest city in the country and that you've got a staggering crime rate... isn't there something else you'd rather be doing right now than dealing with a couple of little girls trying to talk to people about Jesus? Like actually protecting people from real dangers? I know, I know... It's been a long week. Would you like a card to receive a free copy of the book of Mormon? How're the kids? Do you go to church sir?”

Probably the police wouldn't even come. They'd just recommend that the apartment staff ask us to leave. They didn't though. Just the guy.

The family that e-mailed you is a family I met while in Tomball for the day. They were VERY nice and made us breakfast for dinner. Very sweet family, they asked if we should write you and I said absolutely, since most of the people I teach and know don't really speak English, so they can't as such... communicate. They also don't really have the Internet, more often than not.

I actually sent valentines for mommy and daddy tambien, but I just got the letter back and it was all damaged. What a waste of postage... I'm almost out too, I'll have to go to the post office. I still haven't managed to get my license. I received the copy of it, but I can't use it, because it's the copy of the license I had when I was sixteen, so it's expired by a number of months. I DID renew my license before I left, but nobody seems to have a copy of that one? The mission gave me a copy of my old one two. But it's starting to look like they can't find the copy that I KNOW they have, of my newer license. I know they have it because, they made me come into the office to specially make a copy of it when they were renting a new apartment for the sisters back in Louetta. But no. I still can't drive. I'm going to send you the paper work today. Sorry about that, I've just been so busy, but I really need to get that license.

The only other bit I have to tell you, I think, is that we were kicked out of the adult session of Stake Conference. Pretty hilarious, actually. See—we were told we should come and bring our investigators/recent converts. So... we did! We were also told that we should get rides with members so we didn't waste miles. So... we did! Then, the general authority who was presiding, came up to President Hansen as they were preparing to start the meeting and told him that “The Missionaries shouldn't be here. They need to be teaching right now. Please invite them to leave.”

I love it when they use the word 'invite' like that, when really he meant, “Get. Them. OUT!”

So, President Hansen told Elder Porter, zone leader, and he came and gathered all of us and we had an emergency 'What the heck do we do for the next hour and a half?' meeting.
None of us have cars, we all came with members, as we were attempting to be obedient.
We're 40 miles away from our area, and 15 miles outside of our mission.
It's dark. Sisters aren't technically supposed to do any tracting after dark in our mission.
In the end we just decided to go knock some doors anyway, as we had no other option, really.
President Hansen apologized profusely after the meeting.
Nothing much came out of it. Elder Frost and Elder Lang met someone who sounds pretty awesome. His Mormon friend has been trying to get him to come to church with her for years—that was really cool. And the Zone Leaders met someone who prayed for their souls not to go to hell and for their eyes to be opened to the error of their ways. That's always interesting. Aside form that, it was just a fun, funny night. I tried to be a comedian about it and get everybody else to look on the hilarious side of life, because it was looking like a few people were going to come over all depressed about getting kicked out of our own church meeting. I started to compose an Opera in Spanish on the spot about the experience and spread cheer and funzies por todos lados. I don't remember the music anymore, and for the most part the lyrics are just exactly what I've written but in Spanish, which is much easier to rhyme in.

We've been finding people like crazy recently, but we've also been losing them like crazy. I don't think I've ever been dropped or shoved off so much in my whole mission. This area is a little tough. But it's okay, because, like I said, we are finding people like crazy. Maybe this is just a violent sifting process here... we're bound to find the elect if we continue like this.

You also say that the week was normal, but it always sounds way interesting to me... All the little things that happen to you guys and important to me. Thank you so much for sending my debit card. I still haven't activated it. I'm not sure how. That stupid answering system leads you in all kinds of irrelevant circles. I think I'm just going to pound buttons until I can talk to a human being.

All these natural disasters are pretty serious then? We don't know much about it. Just what we here from the members. It's so sad—but I guess we have to come to expect it in these days. I'm so sorry about little Ben! Poor thing... Does George miss his brother? Little Bellatrix sounds like a doll.

Yeah, there's a couple of Elders who are like, “Your sister should write me.” to which my typical response is, “Fat chance. She won't even write me!”

I LOVE you all so very, very much. MWAH! Thank you again for my card and for all the funny comics. Me and my companion read them and giggled incessantly.

Love, Hermana Lillywhite