Rolled up in a cookie

Dear Fam bam,

HEY EVERYONE! WHAT UP WHAT UP?? Finally feels like winter here right after christmas... I swear that always happens!!! Thank you mother for the fleece lined tights...  the humidity can go through anything as thin or thick as grandpa HR's legs but they MOST definitely help!! How fun it was to see you all on skype you cuties you! I just have the bestest estest family of allllll time! Christmas is amazing as a missionary! I just seriously love life. I think that's the one thing I've mainly learned from serving a mission. That LIFE IS AMAZING! It's like a big bag of pop rocks tied in satin ribbons. SOOO GOOD! It just sizzles and pops. Somedays are terrible and some are amazing but that's just life and it's so darn fun! I love it! And I love you guys! Let me tell you just one of my favorite christmas memories from this year. THERE ARE SO MANY TO SHARE! But we wrapped up so many books of mormon to give out on christmas day. So christmas comes and Christmas night we just walked around and handed them out to everyone!  We went up to this group of little boys who you could tell got nothing for christmas. We handed them this incredible book and they just DEVOURED it like little wolves. They were so excited to open it and then they kind of looked bummed out like, ahh man just a stupid paper back book? But we looked them in the eyes and told them, "This is the best gift you will ever receive." Who knows if they read it or threw it away that night but they KNEW and they could FEEL how powerful this book is. They held it in their little hands!

Well let me tell ya a little bit about our trip to 5151 on saturday. I have no idea where in the world I am but man all I know is when we have our day scheduled to bike to 5151 I never want to get out of bed and go run at 6 a.m. because I know what kind of day I have ahead of me... all heck breaks loose.  It looks a lot like preparing for a backpacking trip up the Windriver mountains. You get prepared for a heck of a ride and just prepare well because it's going to be a whole day long ordeal. So I pack up my snacks-granola bars up the wazoo, and pretzels. Next you get your best riding shoes on- rain boats for me. Check. Get your garbage bags in case the Texas rains hit you. You'll never make it home alive. So we head out... first mistake.. forgot my water! I'm dying! We hit a couple of storms along the way but we made it in one piece... The people we were going to teach were either hung over from Christmas or just not home because NO ONE ANSWERED!! So we start heading back and we decide that the first store we come to we will stop for water. This ride however takes you past fields of grass and flowers and lots of land.... 

We had no idea they were diggin up a pond and so we start riding and then it started getting really really muddy and before I knew it my wheels stopped turning. I WAS DARN RIGHT STUCK IN MY TRACKS. This mud was thicker than cookie batter. I got rolled up in a cookie all right. Clogged up my wheels quicker than Jackies candies will clog my throat. I felt and looked  like I was dragging a small angry child to the first day of school. My bike would not move. I ended up having to carry it. Everyone was yelling out their window helpful hints like "try running it on the grass!" ok thanks! "That's mud! watch out!" ohh yeah i didn't see it thanks! We make it to Sunny's food store and met Ralph the Cherokee Indian..... What a man what a man.... Now i really felt like i was in the WindRivers. He's like, "ladies man o man! you got caught in my street! I'm sooo sorry. I'm just digging myself a fishing pond back there." I'm like, "Ralph you know I was a little angry but to hear you are building a fishing pond -I'd go through your mud any day!"

He then invites us to grab a bite to eat at the taco truck and we didn't turn him down because NO ONE DOES THAT HERE! i mean this isn't utah. The ladies wearing long shorts aren't mormon moms. The mini vans with family stickers on the back with thousand of kids still aren't mormons. But Ralph wasn't either. He is a missionary for his First Indian Baptist Church. what a guy! He taught me some valuable lessons that day. We start talkin religion and I'm like Ralph do you believe in the bible? "Don't we all?" he says. I'm like no there are a lot of people who have never read the bible and don't believe. He's like, "you're right. You can be in a grocery store and still be hungry. You can be in a library surrounded by books and have no knowledge. You can be in a church your whole life and not know god!" YES RALPH YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKIN ABOUT!!! He just got out of prison 8 months ago and is now diggin ponds! What a turn around!

Well guys- It was wrapped in a cookie with an indian kind of week! It was a terrible morning at 5151 but God always sends something beautiful after bad things happen. I know I was suppose to meet Ralphy that day! so good! God is good! people are great! and texas is crazy!

love you all so much!

tiny tinnie tony

the stupid COOKIE BATTER MUD!!! thank heavens for Ralph the indian always makes things better!

 from my side! best family EVER!!! i would pick you guys over any family anywhere!

  

   

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND TO ALL A GOOD YEAR!   Most of her gifts were food storage... haha I know how she feels. I got food storage one year at HRs party!

wowwzeerrrs we are loved

Girls in my district and me and my companion

Christmas conference!

                                                                               Christmas Eve

Home for the Holidays

Dearest darlingest family on Naniloa,

WHAT UP IN THE 801??? SO MUCH SNOW!!! I haven't seen anything white in months. I did make some instant mash potaters and wondered to myself if I could make enough just to simply lay a thin layer of them all along the grass in front of my house. BUT NO GET THIS! We run on the bayou every morning and there's this creepy fog stuff that floats above it because it's really cold. (kinda looks like a fog machine in a haunted house) but since my companion is such a fast runner I usually have to sprint to make sure I don't lose her in the fog and when my little eyes get all squinty, IT LOOKS LIKE SNOW!!! It's crazy how it doesn't feel like Christmas one bit! It's like 60 degrees out there, not many people have lights out, haven't received my 8x1000 christmas card and I haven't even heard christmas music. (But don't worry I bought a David Arch cd at the temple today. HEART. IT MELTED! HE'S SO GOOD!) But I really do feel like I'm now at home for the holidays and here are a few reasons why....

Norma.... OH Norma. She's a mix of Blaine Young, Julie O'leary, and mainly THE GRINCH. Blaine young, because she can decorate a yard like ain't nobody seen before. It looks like Christmas every inch of her house. (I'm too scared to tell her about the kicking legs because I'm scared she might chop off mine and use them) Julie O'leary because she makes me feel like I'm her best friend. She calls me Hija. And the grinch because she has a pot belly, she hates life, she is hilarious, and SHE STEALS FROM EVERYTHING! The other day we are just walking down the street and I see two shopping carts flying down the middle of the street with metal, bed springs, knickknacks, you name it EVERYWHERE ON THE STREET. And of course it has to be NORMA running after them like she just won the Price is Right. Cars are stopping, honking, yelling and I just start running towards her, "ohhhhh nooo dear Norma everythings going to be ok. Everyone just keep going so so sorry. We are her missionaries. Nothing to see here. Keep driving. Yeppp nothing to see here!" I'm like, "Norma, what in the world are you doing with all this stuff?" Norma- "Pagando mi renta Hija." She spends all day going to dumpsters and grabbing anything she can find to pawn it. (I'm pretty sure she pawned my birthday cake. It's bad. She pawns everything) I bring no valuables with me because she will pawn it! She's hilarious and just a little vacuum for houston! cleaning everything up!

Next we got to do service in this HUGE WAREHOUSE! looooveee it already! love factories. still no idea why! but they tell us we get to make bikes for all the children in third grade who have good grades! I was like a little elf . but I guess I put on the handle bars backwards for like 10 of the bikes. whoooopps. My bad! 

 I MADE THESE BIKES AND COUNTED EVERY LAST ONE OF THEM

WE FOUND A FAMILY!!!! THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS! They are cuter than a button! The familia Burgos. They accepted baptism dates and we are seeing them tonight at 7. so please keep praying!!!

And last but not least the experience I had today. The temple. I walked into the temple with nothing but my recommend and it brought the christmas spirit stronger than I've ever felt in my life. It's like life. We will walk away from here with nothing. I really haven't felt like it's Christmas time here but today I felt like I came home for the holidays. I felt like I walked into my home. It felt so familiar. I felt as if I could have seen Dad sitting in the kitchen squeezing oranges for orange juice, mom and I dancing to Michael Bubles christmas Cd, everyone sitting on our red coach laughing. I felt the exact same way and I loved it! We were 2 of the 4 woman in the session today so we got to have the Celestial Room to ourselves and I couldn't help just bawl my eyes out for how wonderful the gift of life is. And it's all possible through our Savior Jesus Christ. THAT IS WHY WE CELEBRATE, why we sing, why we rejoice, why we do all things,. Because Christ was born! And I can't wait to meet him again someday. If it feels half as good as I did today in the temple, it's going to be the most beautiful day! It was amazing though because as I looked around the room, there were so many empty chairs. Every single one was empty. So I walked over to my companion and said, "We are going to fill these chairs Hermana!" And we are! I want everyone to be able to make it and live with God! I have so much work to do!!!!

But mom and dad i just wanted to thank you for letting me grow up in a temple. The next closest thing we have to temples is our homes. and I truly had the privilege of growing up in one! It felt so familiar today. I GOT TO COME HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS!  I felt like i had you all around me today! I LOVE YOU ALL MORE THAN ANYTHING! 

love you more than all the nutcrackers the Fluits have in their home! wooooo woooo hooo merry christmas!!

love you, natsy catsy!

 SHOUT OUT TO AUNT ANGIE FOR THIS UNREAL TREE! MAGIC WATER!

                                                                                 it makes this

H9 YOUR SO FINE. YOUR SO FINE YOU BLOW MY MIND H9

FAMILIA! HOLA HOLA HOLA MI FAMILIA LAS EXTRANO MUCHO!! WELL HIIII. THIS HAS BEEN A WIRL WIND OF A WEEK! I can't decide what has been worse-the goodbyes or the hellos... I guess I'll let you decide for yourself.....

Beginning of last week. I'll have you know, I packed those days with people I love and had to say goodbye to people tighter than dad can pack a snail shell. You don't realize how much you really, really, really love people and how much they love you until you have to leave. So Monday we walk into the office and I'm positive God was trying to throw me a going away party because all my favorite neighbors and workers were there. Joe nooooo joe was so sad! He asked if he could give me a hug... it was awkward to say no but he understood! The office lady made me laugh sooo hard. I was like, "Hey, I'm leaving, it was so nice to get to know you." She quickly threw a little tantrum... "Nooooo not you! You just came and now are leaving so fast. not you!!!!" I was like ohh wow she loves me I didn't know that. (nope just crazy ideas about Mormons like usual.) "So now you have to get send off to get married right? They choose an Elder for you that you have to marry. You poor thing. Are you ready??" Sooo glad they are just transferring me. Not making me go get married! Whenever I am having a hard second I just think, "Hey, at least I'm not married!" haha losers!

Then Wilver, Jaime, Vanessa, Judy and Cristian were sooo hard to say goodbye to! Jaime tried calling the President. Wilver started making signs for all the relief society to go protesting at transfer meeting! He just kept calling us all day, "Are you sure you want to leave sister? I'm just really sad that you have to go." I cant wait for you guys to meet Wilver. Literally became my older brother. Reminds me so much of Tal! Best guy ever. ohh man what a deal. And Kelvin ohhhh kelvin that will be a story for when I get home! I had no idea how hard it would be to say goodbye to everyone. HACKETT DRIVE IS MY HOME BASE! It was like leaving home all over again.

But the hellos were just as wild! Transfer meetings.... first things first start with what I know...I go to give my new comp a hug and she simply pulls me aside... sorry I can't hug you I have LICE...... ohhhh no where are they sending me!!!! bedbugs, now lice! noooooo!!!! I still haven't really unpacked so it doesn't feel quite like home but the apartment reminds me of the old ranch house if that tells ya how much I love it! You know how much I love the ranch! The wood floor is the exact same, it sometimes smells like it, I always feel slightly frightened. It's like the ranch! So wonderful! My comp is darling! We came out on the same day, She just went to the mtc in provo. We were companions the first day and now today! She's from Henderson Nevada and likes running (I'm sure you can guess how that's going), basketball, and hopefully will like me! ha

So first night... powers out. No big deal but super confused. Not a storm in sight. No wind. Nothing.... just an old apartment complex I guess.

Next night.... I thought it was time that she would except me if I wore my velvet nightgown that I love to bed... but right when I put it on.. BANG BANG BANG. So loud on the door... I got so scared! Hna. Kirkendall's like "Call 911." I'm like, "lets just lock ourselves in the closet and call President." She runs over to the peep hole. and yells, "THE GUY HAS AN AX. CALL 911" So scary. I'm just hiding and she yells, "who is it?!" They yell back, "Fire department. Open your door!" So she opens it and two firemen are standing on our porch with an ax and they ask me to act calm??? I'm thinking about going to the Houston Fire Department and giving them a training on how to properly knock on peoples doors... because I have that skill and they need it! They asked if we had smoke in our apt but we didn't. I was so embarrassed because it's like 9 at night and they were laughing at me! So mean! Turns out the apartment below us was on fire. WELCOME TO HEAVEN OR the other place I guess you might say. BUT WE ARE HAVING SO MANY ADVENTURES. I LOVE IT! I love me a good adventure...

Next night.... flat tire.... nothing too crazy. Just had no idea how heavy tires are. Lucky we were close to a members house and they helped us out big time!

This area is going to be a lot of work but a lot of fun! There is not one progressing investigator but we are finding a lot. There was this lady Norma. She's black and from cuba and speaks Spanish. BINGO! Her Spanish is very different though. I feel like I'm learning a whole new language. So Norma. I'm like "can we come see you tomorrow?" (so desperate to see anyone at anytime! just give me a set appointment please!) She tells us it's her birthday tomorrow but that we could come over. I'm like sweet we will throw you a b-day party because I am off the hook good at throwing parties! NOPE! so bad! Bought her a cake, wrapped up a book of Mormon.. and it was the worst party ever. We get there and she's hanging up Christmas lights, smoking who knows what, so I just start singing happy birthday walking up the stairs. I give her the cake and she just like throws in on the chair. I'm like ohhh ok that's ok! Then her mom calls from cuba and tells her that her son just got sent to jail! It was a rough birthday for Norma- birthday let down you could say but I love her so much! I can't wait to go back and visit her. She's a hoot! SHE HAS HOOFS! I kid you not! Nothing brings in the Christmas spirit like reindeer hoofs! 

Well it's been an adjustment but I love everything about this area! The adventures and people we are meeting everyday! Pray we can find a family! I'm praying too!

I love you so much fam! You guys are the sizzle and dizzle pop to my mop! Have the best week ever!!!! love you soooooo much! whooottt whhhooottttt!

Hermana swagstaff or Hermana whatups what everyone calls me!

flat tire

our fav panda buffet

                                                             bye to my fav sugee sugee best friend

Judster

so disgusting had ourselves a good cry

saying bye to my girl hopie! she's so cute

random from the zoo

last sleepover

nooooooo not Hackett drive

new comp... new way to hug with lice