July 7, 2014

Dear Family,

Dad, thanks for the email. Glad to hear that Blanding was super fun. It always is. I look forward to going there next year.

Sounds like your popcorn popper is super cool. Good to hear there was no fires in Utah. So all the fireworks in Utah that are illegal are legal here. It's amazing!!!! There is a family that lives in the middle of nowhere and they put on an epic firework show. It's like a huge family tradition. It was SO COOL. And loud. Lincoln is very into their fireworks. I didn't sleep for like 3 nights because it sounded like we were in a war zone/thunderstorm. Granted it's so green here so there is less of a risk of fires so that's nice. :) Lincoln is very serious about their fireworks.

I always find this concept of "doing the little things" kind of cool.  It kind of goes both ways. If you don't do the little things eventually you will fall. But if you do do the little things then great things come to pass. It's fascinating. "Small and simple things are great things come to pass." It's like working out. Doing 25 crunches once doesn't give  you a 6 pack. It's consistently doing crunches day by day that gets your core into shape.  Obviously I have not applied that into my life...I hate crunches. Anyway.

It also makes me think of the Atonement a lot. Many have fallen from not doing the little things, but because of our Savior Jesus Christ they are able to try again.  Also, through the Atonement we can change our character and nature.  I feel like that is a huge comfort for me because after my mission I will not be expected to study everyday and I will not be expected to do a lot of stuff. But the goal is that when every missionary gets home they're are able to keep up the habits we have learned because it's apart of our nature rather than "expected behavior." So hopefully I'll be able to apply that. I don't know about cont to wake up at 6:30...that might be the first thing to go...;) haha. All is well I still have a while so I'm not too worried.

Anyway this week went really well. It was hard week to proselyte obviously because it was a holiday week and everyone drinks here so...that made it difficult. But thankfully we were able to have a member drive us to some other small towns in our area. Like Firth, Hickman, Douglas, Panama, Palmyra...yeah our area is huge. There are a lot of LA out in those towns so we spent ALL day traveling to peoples houses and what not. We spent a lot of time in the car...the scenery was gorgeous though. :) We were able to meet a Recent Convert family and they're awesome. :) They haven't been able to come to church because Sis Dowling has a lot of legitimate health issues. But they have a  very strong testimony of the gospel and they're so great. I love the people out here. :) Also my new goal in life is to live on a ranch in the middle of nowhere...:) We'll see how that goes.  haha  So yeah that's my mission life...Sis McCauley is still as great as always. Car shares stink and I hate them but the members have been helping us out a lot. :) It's really really hot...I don't remember it being this hot last summer...But yeah.

Thanks for everything. I love you all and hopefully mom's surgery goes well.
Love, Sister Curfew