First of all, going to the mission office the last time with my hija (greenie) was fun, as going to the office usually is, the only pain was draggin my two large suitcases with us. I told Hna. Monge that the best way to ttravel with luggage is on the micro (small bus) because its funer. We got to the office, i dropped off my luggage and me and my comp made our way over to president's house. I had my interview with President Gillespie in the which he asked me about my plansfor the future, gave me some advice and dating tips, and then asked me how the mission had changed me, or rather, how i had become a better person because of the mission. Really, I would ask myself how it had not helped me.
the mission has helped me in so many ways, apart from having become more responsable and organized, and learning to work with a schelule and to plan and set goals- apart from meetong and seeing the points of view of so many diverse and wonderful people and really beginning to see the complexity and,at the same time,simplicity of nations-apart from all thast, it has helped me to find nourish and strengthen my convictions and faith in my Savior Jesus Christ; and Im talking real faith- the thing that makes you walk the walk instead of just talking the talk. The patterns i have established during my mission are a foundation on whcih i can keep edifying myself until I reach heaven. For that, I am eternally and deeply grateful to my Heavenly Father for the chance He gave me to serve him for this year and a half. It may not have been a long time (though for some it would seem that way) but it has truly been a formative and quintasential period in my life up to this point.
i wish i had been able to sum it up as well for my mission President, but I think he got the gist of it.
Afterward, I had to wait for Hna. Rivas (the other sister missionary returning home with me) to have her interview with President, during the which time i had some breakfast with Hermana Gillespie. Then Hna. Rivas and I went to read and answer our last emails of the mission... that was a heartwrenching experience for me... i felt like there was a hole opening up in me. Then we went to weigh our luggage, moved some things around, and Hna. Rivas had to take and english test. I suppose it went well for her... i wasnt too sure because i took a nap on Presidents deep and incredibly comfy couches.
When all the returning missionaries got to the house, we began the "closing ceremonies", if you will. It consisted of a dinner, then a testimony meeting. Each and every missionary had the opportuniy to stand and say something about how they felt/what they had learned from the mission. Personally i couldnt stop bawling, to see so much change in people's live, its awe-inspiring. Somehting that Hna. Rivas said taught me a lot about the influence a missionary has without knowing it:
In Belloto 2, the Hna.s had an old man named Jorge Luis as an investgator. They shared with him and he lied what they taught but never really kept his commitments. One day we went to his house (we were in a trio at that time) and we found him watering outside. He told us that he wasnt very interested in listening anymore. (heres the interesting part... but also the part i dont remember) Hna Rivas was about to accept that he didnt want to listen anymore, but turns out that I piped up and insisted that he let us talk to him for a few minutes, saying that the message we had was of utmost importance. Well, he let us in and we talked to him about prayer, i think. He had never prayed. That was the only time I had the opportunity to teach Jorge Luis, but I heard that he got baptized and is currently active in the church, and that he has a beautiful testimony.
You never know what kind of infulence you will have on the people around you.
Working at Firehouse Subs has been one of the more interesting experiences of my life. Mostly because I've recently realized it is one of my most favorite jobs thast I have ever had. I haven't got anything bad to say about any of it; the hours are flexible, they guys (and one other girl) that I work with are nice and friendly. My manager Rolando is benevolent, and is a real help whenever I make a mistake (which is often enough). The people who eat there (for the most part, anyway) are patient and amiable, especially the "regulars".
m? My ipod. I never go anywhere without it at school; and in Fla, I always keep it in the car so I can listen while I drive.
plete without? Music, art, and somebody to love.
nknown fact about me? I watch anime on the D.L.
Florida's summers are great, and I love the beach; but it is HOT here! And humid, too. The fall brings milder weather, and it gets cool and crisp outside. The clarity and briskness make walking outside in the morning invigorating! These days I drive with the windows down, and even the smallest breeze puts a smile on my face.
2. Fall Leaves
As the weather turns, so too do the leaves. This is probably the thing I miss most about fall in Utah. I remember, my first fall at BYU, I collected fallen leaves from all over the campus -- I couldn't help myself, they are so beatuiful. And the COLORS -- there were some that I didn't even know a leaf could be! Apart from being pretty to look at, they are also ridiculously fun to walk through/jump in, as illustrated by this little drawing I did.
3. Pumpkins
I have a weird, and possibly unhealthy, obsession with pumpkins. And this is the time of year when lots of things are pumpkin-flavored or pumkin-oriented. There's pumpkin ice cream, pumpkin hot chocolate, pumpkin pie, pumpkin cheesecake, pumpkin chocolate-chip cookies, pumpkin pancakes at IHOP, and also pumpkin carving, pumpkin painting, and pumpkin smashing :). Also, just to be impish, I like to take the pumpkin guts out of a pumpkin I'm carving and throw them at people. This year I carved a pumpkin with some friends and had it entered into a contest. It won, and we got free tickets to howl-o-scream at busch gardens. So, boo-yah!
4. FOOBALL!
Fall is prime-time for football, one of my favorite sports. I like to watch it, and I love to play. As a matter of fact, this weekend we are having a powder-puff football game, and I am stoked!
5. The Fall Holidays
Though it's already passed, I've got to give a shout-out to Halloween. It's a holiday that calls for two things I like a lot: candy, and dressing up in costumes. I love dressing up for halloween, and every year I get so many good ideas for costumes that I have a hard time deciding what to be. This year I was Indiana Jones, because he is and anthropologist, and so am I. Well, I'm an anthropology major... but still..... Also good, and coming up soon, is Thanksgiving. I love food and cooking, and this holiday has to do with both (I make a mean turkey). But most importantly, this is the time of year for people to remember and really do honor to the blessings they have in this life. It also kicks off the Christmas season for my family. Besides that, the next day is Black Friday, which is both fun and exhausting for me, my mother, and my sisters.
So, Autumn, Fall, whatever you call it. It's an awesome season and I suggest that everybody make the most of it....
