West Side Story - TMSQ Edition

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Bonjour mon fils! Ok...I think that's "my kids"....so that doesn't apply to anyone BUT it's French! I'm learning bits of about 90 languages - it's awesome!

This week has been fantastic - as always - and it flew by like nobody's business!!! I'm starting into my last week of my first transfer! So exciting!

Thursday: After emailing we went shopping at Jordan's Landing in South Jordan. There's this really cute brown jacket that I didn't get (what's your point, i know) but I thought about it & I think I'm gonna get it later today. So I'm excited! I bought an electrical hand mixer which will greatly improve the cooking experiences we have had this transfer. I bought a dinky little old school scale...yes - so I can have it laugh at me once a week :) No, but Sis Garbett & I are working on being healthy! We haven't made cookies in over a week! It's crazy! This way, with the scale & all, I'll be able to keep track of where I am! I bought a BRITA pitcher which I was a teensy bit skeptical about at first because it would be a hassle but in the end, worth it. OH MAN! BEST THING EVER! The water in SLC or Utah or in the west...idk...is soft & so it tastes weird so this amazing BRITA pitcher makes it taste like normal water! Holla! We're drinking 5 bottles of water everyday & YES we have to take a bajillion bathroom breaks. And for the last & possibly best purchase - a shower rug! Best thing ever - I just never knew! It was $5.00 at Wal-mart but my goodness how much more it makes me feel at home! It's wonderful. It makes me happy every time I have to stick my feet on it. Lesson learned: Find joy in the infinitesimal things :)

Friday: Did I mention David Archuleta came to our session of General Conference?!?!??! He sat 15 rows in front of us -- it was so cool! And after one of the morning session started, Sis Garbett & I were contacting in front of the waterfall at the CC when who should walk by but ALEX BOYE!!! [Go to mormon.org & look up his profile - he's in the MOTAB!] He smiled at us, we waved & he waved back!!! Yup...we're best friends.

Sister Garbett has been writing to Elder Jones since they met in the MTC. His companion, Elder Grimm is hilarious & has officially been encouraged by a certain Sis G to write me. We'll see :) We sent them a package with goodies & letters & I drew them two little comics that were apparently so funny - Sis G started crying because she was laughing so hard!

There was a bomb scare at the construction on Main St. we had to walk around two whole blocks to get home from Rite Aid. I know...poor us. It's so awesome living in SLC & calling Temple Square "home". I feel so special! It's great when SLC sister missionaries will come to go to the temple or do service & they walk through the gates; I feel like I should break out into a West Side Story song & dance :)

We committed Jessica 2 to church! She is golden.

During our dinner break we went to Gateway to Barnes & Noble. We took a quiz & found out my love language is QUALITY TIME. Just for future reference :) No, but it's good to know as companions, because I know that Sis G shows love through words & that's how I can show her I appreciate her. It makes communicating so much easier! It also helps you understand yourself a lot better. Things make much more sense now.

On our way back, we ran across the beloved corner bagpiper who we can hear from inside the Square. He played "I hope they call me on a mission" for us! We talked to him for a few minutes. He's from Sandy, he has a fake Scottish accent that's actually very believable! His daughter is on a mission in Connecticut right now. He's been out of work for a while but he's made work by playing his bagpipe! He's raising money to take his wife with him & his "piping group" to Scotland! Sweet, huh?

Saturday: All 4 of our phone appointments kept! We were thrilled! We've got Jessica in Arizona, Jessica in Florida, Yvonne in Ghana & Efrem in Ethiopia.

Jessica (AZ) made it to church (yea!) and really enjoys going to Relief Society. She is making progress in reading/listening to The Book of Mormon & we are very excited when she understand what we teach her. She is 34 but a little slow - so we have to teach very simply. She is on date for Nov 6 !!!

Jessica (FL) told us she made it to church, met the missionaries, was actually meeting with them right then when we called - so we called back. She's on date for Oct 31 !!!!!! I was so excited I couldn't breathe! We found her on chat and one week later -- she's on date! How prepared was she!?!?

Yvonne came on chat & set up an appointment to meet with us right away! Turns out her fiance lives in Oregon & is encouraging her to get baptized. They have never met before & this whole situation is a little tricky. She is very willing to learn - but right now, maybe not for her own reasons. We are hoping to develop it into a personal desire to continue learning more.

Efrem is AMAZING. He lives in Ethiopia - 12 hrs from church. He has to go 8 times before he can be baptized! He has read The Book of Mormon FIVE times, finished the Doctrine & Covenants along with The Pearl Of Great Price -- and soaks it all up! He is 24 and wants to serve a mission :) He has applied to three new jobs that are closer to church, which would allow him to go 6 more times & get baptized! We assigned him to read from Preach My Gospel -- because he's read everything else & knows it better than we do! He's progressing very well. He lives 9 hrs ahead of us, so scheduling is hard & sometimes the call won't go through. But he said not to worry about what time it is, learning more about the gospel is more important that his sleep :) He is so fantastic!!!

I met a husband & wife from Mink Creek! So they obviously know Gma & Gpa Despain. Small world!

I got a bag of candy from Sister Day!!! We don't get mail on Saturday -- so it was a wonderful surprise! Thank you!

Sunday: We found a new investigator on chat! Her name is Lisa, she's 24 & she has two little toddlers. She met with the missionaries when she was 15 but says she wasn't ready then. She was raised Catholic but the church she used to go to isn't very child-friendly. She had family friends who were member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints & they were really good examples of putting family first. That's what she wants in her life! So we set up a time to call her!

We ran into Matt & Missy Williams! They were down for a bit of the day & luckily we ran into each other!

Monday: I got updates from Sis Gandolph & Elder Lee! Sounds like Taiwan is a BIT of an adjustment to say the least! But she sounds very positive :) Elder Lee, as always, has entertaining tales of his investigators -- I tried to imagine 11 months without chocolate -- at which point my brain shut down.

I got a copy of the Spanish script for Square information!!! I'm practicing during Personal Study. Dad: Why is it called "La Manzana del Templo?" (Insert from Dad: manzana means apple and city block!)

We called Yvonne & found out she went to church!!! Her cell phone ring back tone is this African hip-hop something or other, it's crazy. And yes we rock dance to it every time we call her. It's our bit of worldly-side joy.

Sis Garbett closed my locker on my arm. It felt really good. No bruise yet...I'm feeling conflicted about that because it hurts but you can't SEE it?!?

Tuesday: We met a lady from Germany! She's been traveling for 3 months -- she started at Alaska went to Canada, California, Utah -- will go to Texas next then Hawaii! Her husband stays at home with the dog, apparently he doesn't like to travel. So he lets her go off for 3 months!

We had a guy come on chat who when we asked "What is your purpose in coming to mormon.org?" he said "To preach to you & teach you about the bible." We struggled with him for a few minutes but finally just let him know that we are here to teach & to feel free to browse the website. Enjoy your evening. *End Chat*

That night Sister Garbett said, "My sheets are so nicely tucked -- I feel like a burrito!"

Wednesday: Elder Jones wrote Sis G & said that both he and Elder Grimm loved the package we sent! One of the comics I drew was of them getting the package -- he said it was hilarious & right on!

Sister Thomas wrote me! Sounds like the family is doing great! Brooke is home, Jordan needs to write more & Hannah breaks out into song & dance. I love getting updates from everyone! Otherwise I have no idea what's going on!

That night on chat we had a lady come on with, "If plural marriage ended in 1890 -- why did Brigham Young have more than one wife?" Our answer: "Brigham Young died in 1877." ----- *cricket cricket* ---- we did talk to her more about it though. No worries. Turns out she was having a debate with her daughter & we were able to clear up some confusion! Go us!

I discovered that tuna salad -- or rather, tuna ON a salad -- is my new favorite lunch! It's SO good & fills me up -- it's so easy to make, I love it.

Sister Gilbert's boyfriend is going to ARGENTINA!!!!! He reports February 16, 2010! This means however, that she will have to wait a YEAR for him to get home. So she wasn't too stoked about that but was excited to finally hear where he's headed!

We went home & cleaned for hours on end. It's so CLEAN!!!! Sis G was busy cleaning the kitchen -- so I cleaned & organized her half of the room. "I didn't even know my stuff could look like that!" Made my day.

Today: I tried a new work out this morning. The hall I run in - is really long - so I run up & back then do 10 crunches - up & back then 10 push ups!!! For 20 min. It was awesome!!! I loved it. Added a little variation to my morning routine.

We met a guy on chat this morning, Logan -- who is going to NCSU! [What are the chances?!?!?] We're going to call him this weekend & talk more!

We're going to haunted Heritage Park tonight!

I have a vintage style pocket watch on a necklace & for whatever reason everyone is fascinated by it! Sister Kinman said, "You have a timepiece on a necklace?!?" Which was funny because she is American....with an accent it would have come off as acceptably appropriate but without an accent - it was hilarious!

Edit to my last post: Sister Moore's visitor who was amazed by the BuckEye tree -- was actually from Ohio. (Makes more sense now!)

I'm having the time of my life here at TMSQ! I keep having these random moments where it hits me "I'm a missionary on TEMPLE SQUARE! On the Temple Square!....Whoa! That's awesome!!! I have the coolest mission call!" So thank you to everyone who has written me - I really appreciate the stories & support from home & beyond! We have our days where the mental stress is insane & you just don't want to stand for 8 more hours! And you feel frustrated when you say "Hello" to people you pass & they reply "We've already had the tour." And I want to say, "That's wonderful --- we also have the ability to talk like normal people! Cool, huh? And did you also know that there isn't 'THE' tour anymore? Uh huh, we individualize our contacts. Feel pretty special now, don't ya?"

But at the end of the day - I still can't believe I've been so blessed as to be here! I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!