Back to the Motherland: Wait, where did all the time go? (August 25, 2014)

Familia y amigos!

Really, truly. Where did all the time go?! I JUST left the MTC. And now I'm halfway through my mission? CRAZY. I almost can't believe it.

This was a really good week! It was really eventful. Well, to commemorate my 9 month mark, I really wanted to do something, soooo someone gave me the idea to burn a dress. It's one of those tradition things that sometimes missionaries talk about but don't actually do. But I did. It was super fun!! I told the Sharps, who we live with, and they got super pumped about it. They even had a brand new portable fireplace that we broke in. That night, we came home for the day and were exhausted and almost didn't do it, then Brother Sharp reminded us! He was super excited for it. And he even bought frosties to celebrate. He kept saying "Fire and iiiice." It was fun!

The other really funny thing that happened this week was we were at this lady's house who is a less active member. We were just visiting her and inviting her to church and all that jazz. As for background, her house has fleas. She took in this stray dog that was really gross and flea-covered. Sooo it spread to her house. So as we were there, we were kind of on edge and careful not to touch things too much. But we were just sitting on the edge of her couch and her granddaughter brings in a little jar with a grasshopper in it. There's just foil covering the top. Hna. Jacuinde takes it and it poking it but the grasshopper didn't do anything. Then she started doing something to the jar and the grasshopper started freaking out. It was hopping like crazy in that little jar. THEN, all of a sudden, the hop was so powerful that the grasshopper popped through the foil RIGHT AT US. Hna. Jacuinde's limbs went flying and she screamed and jumped across the room. She almost kicked me in the face! But it was suuuper funny, her reaction, so I just start laughing and trying to catch the grasshopper. It was caught within a few seconds and put back in the jar. We couldn't stop laughing.

Another really eventful event that happened this week is I got to go to the temple!! Because the Boise temple isn't in our mission, we only get to go twice our whole missions. At our halfway mark and right before we go home. So this Wednesday was the day! There was a group of us and we had an amazing time. We had the opportunity to go with President and Sister Cannon too. It really rejuvenated me. After, we went to the mission home and ate dinner together and then had a testimony meeting. Super good. This gospel is so true. I KNOW it. And I'm so grateful to have a temple close by. I know that Heavenly Father has a plan for all of us and He knows us perfectly. He wants us to be happy and to return to Him. Because of that, He gave us a Savior to atone for our sins and give us a way to be perfected. We get the chance to go through things and learn and become like Him. HOW AMAZING! The gospel is perfect, but the people aren't. We make mistakes but are trying to be more like Him. I love this so much and want everyone to know about it! It makes me so happy and I want to share that.

I hope you all have an amazing week!

Con amor,

Hermana Shirley

Us all at the Boise Temple.