Lo siento que esta esta un pocito tarde.. The computers were not working yesterday and so here I am today! hiiii.
On Wedesday Sister Taylor and I got to work together. We were talking and realized that 5 months ago to the very day she received her STL call.. and that in 5 months from now we would be waking up for the first time in our homes. It's funny how God works; he has a clever mind.
Sister Taylor is the greatest. She had me think of all my fears and how they impede me from being myself. Over the next couple of days I thought about it and this all of a sudden came to me:
When I was in elementary school my family went to Disney World. In Magic Kingdom we decided to ride "Splash Mountain" (a log ride.) No biggie, right?
We stepped into the log and rode though all the creepy hillbilly animals warning us of what was ahead. We got to the top and I saw the entire park underneath me. My stomach dropped and I grabbed Spencer's arm for shelter. The cart tipped over the edge and we came splashing down. The ride was over but my fear of roller coasters began.
Every couple of years my school went to a amusement park, either Adventureland or Six Flags near Chicago. It had always been something everyone looked forward to. Deep inside I dreaded it. There was no way anyone would ever get me in a roller coaster. I was "that girl" who always held everyone's bags while her friends rode the ride.
My family went back to Disney World the year after my senior year. Usually, we would split up; Kate, Spencer, and my dad would go ride the big rides, and Claire, Ellie, my mom, and I would go see all the characters and ride the smaller rides. At the end of the day the "roller coaster riders" would come back so excited and I would always feel slightly jealous of their stories.
So I woke up the next day determined. "Spencer, what is the best roller coaster?"
"The HULK!"
"Let's Go!"
Everyone's faces were super surprised. Elizabeth is going to ride a roller coaster?
We all got in line. It took three hours and the whole time we stood underneath the huge terror machine. Every once in a while I would find myself making excuses to not ride... but as we got to the top I put my foot down. I WAS GOING TO DO IT.
The worker ushered us to out seats. The harness slid down on my shoulders and I remember thinking, "I hope that's tight enough."
My heart started to race and tears wiggled down my cheeks. I have to do this. Just like the first time I rode a ride, brother reached over and squeezed my hand.
Instead of slowly creeping up the hill to start the ride, the machine went, "shhhhh"....... BOOM. We shot in the air at like 70 mph.
I screamed, closing my eyes. On our first loop I peeked open. I was surprised at the sight. It looked just like the TV showed the roller coasters! It was so fun! Why was I ever scared of this? And for the rest of the day we went from coaster to coaster enjoying every minute.
How sad it is that I wasted all those trips to amusement parks and never even gave it a try. I missed out on so many fun memories. I let my fears impede myself.
Write a list of your fears; every single one. In some way or another, they are impeding you from reaching your potential. Choose one to conquer and I promise you will learn to enjoy your life so much more than you can even dream.
Yesterday everyone went to the coast and we had a water fight. Here is one picture where all the elders put their heads in a circle. They were not allowed to move, and then someone throws a water balloon in the air above their heads. It smashes someone in the face. It was hilarious.
Shoutout to
Mandy Wiberg for getting engaged. #WHAT.
Katie Hemmingsen for having another baby #WHAT.
Bryn Haycock for getting married. #WHAT.
Spencer for hitting his year mark. #WHAT.
with sugar,
hermanita hemmi
This is last weeks letter.
Officer Gloria's Tip #234: (Someone please tell me you remember that book.) Do not wax your eyebrows and then go out in the sun all day. They will burn like crazy.
Fun Fact: Sister Bushman was born with the hiccups. At least once a day she has a hiccup attack. It's hilarious. (she is hiccuping as I type this.)
Something Random: Our cute little grandma investigator goes by the name "Grandma Turtle" because she likes turtles. She has a pet turtle, and about three months ago it went missing. We were over for dinner and her grandson was in the back room and all of a sudden we heard him yell, "What the heck?!" Out he came with the turtle in hand.
"I thought you were dead!" Grandma Turtle exclaimed. But nope. Turtles never die, people.
Clumsy inconvenience: My middle name is not Grace by any means. I knew I don't have very thick skin, but guys, I bruise like crazy. I ride my bike and somehow it looks like I got shot with a be-be gun (don't judge that i cant spell be-be). Then Sunday night we put all the folding chairs away. I used my knee to fold them up and then when we got in the car and my knee had a goose egg that stood about half and inch off my leg. #noexaggeration
Joke of the week: We knock on a door... "Hello!" man,"What are you up to?" us,"We are missionaries! What are you up to?" Man,"about 200" jaja.
Last night some of the women from the Corpus Christi area put on a play called, "The Ten Virgins" based on the parable in the Bible. It was beautiful. Each woman had different characteristics and traits, but they all sang tremendously. The shopkeeper made each woman a lamp designed just for them. It was supposed to help guide them and prepare them for the marriage they were all anxiously awaiting. Near the end of the show, the wedding was announced. Only five of the ten woman were prepared. It was so sad to see only the five be able to go into the ceremony, when all ten were so excited. It just shows that we always need to be living in harmony with the Lord's commandments so that we are ready when he comes again.
So how do we know if we really are ready? This thought has crossed my mind time after time. We all are sinners; we are mortal. There's no other way around it. I was thinking about it during while taking the sacrament yesterday, and as I heard the finishing words of the prayer it dawned on me. We say that we are "willing to take his name upon us" (aka do our best) and then the promise is "that they may always have his Spirit to be with them". So when we feel the spirit, we are doing the right thing. It is true, "the spirit can't dwell in unholy places." I hope that we can all live worthy of the spirit so that we can be prepared for the day when the savior does come again.
And lastly, SYLVIA. #personalshoutout I can't express how happy I am that you were baptized. I can't wait to have a conversation with you in person. You just gained 15,372,337 people as part of your family. Don't ever forget how you felt. Write it down. Never forget to do the little things that will continue to build your testimony.
besos y brazos,
hermana hemmingsen
Attachments area
Officer Gloria's Tip #234: (Someone please tell me you remember that book.) Do not wax your eyebrows and then go out in the sun all day. They will burn like crazy.
Fun Fact: Sister Bushman was born with the hiccups. At least once a day she has a hiccup attack. It's hilarious. (she is hiccuping as I type this.)
Something Random: Our cute little grandma investigator goes by the name "Grandma Turtle" because she likes turtles. She has a pet turtle, and about three months ago it went missing. We were over for dinner and her grandson was in the back room and all of a sudden we heard him yell, "What the heck?!" Out he came with the turtle in hand.
"I thought you were dead!" Grandma Turtle exclaimed. But nope. Turtles never die, people.
Clumsy inconvenience: My middle name is not Grace by any means. I knew I don't have very thick skin, but guys, I bruise like crazy. I ride my bike and somehow it looks like I got shot with a be-be gun (don't judge that i cant spell be-be). Then Sunday night we put all the folding chairs away. I used my knee to fold them up and then when we got in the car and my knee had a goose egg that stood about half and inch off my leg. #noexaggeration
Joke of the week: We knock on a door... "Hello!" man,"What are you up to?" us,"We are missionaries! What are you up to?" Man,"about 200" jaja.
Last night some of the women from the Corpus Christi area put on a play called, "The Ten Virgins" based on the parable in the Bible. It was beautiful. Each woman had different characteristics and traits, but they all sang tremendously. The shopkeeper made each woman a lamp designed just for them. It was supposed to help guide them and prepare them for the marriage they were all anxiously awaiting. Near the end of the show, the wedding was announced. Only five of the ten woman were prepared. It was so sad to see only the five be able to go into the ceremony, when all ten were so excited. It just shows that we always need to be living in harmony with the Lord's commandments so that we are ready when he comes again.
So how do we know if we really are ready? This thought has crossed my mind time after time. We all are sinners; we are mortal. There's no other way around it. I was thinking about it during while taking the sacrament yesterday, and as I heard the finishing words of the prayer it dawned on me. We say that we are "willing to take his name upon us" (aka do our best) and then the promise is "that they may always have his Spirit to be with them". So when we feel the spirit, we are doing the right thing. It is true, "the spirit can't dwell in unholy places." I hope that we can all live worthy of the spirit so that we can be prepared for the day when the savior does come again.
And lastly, SYLVIA. #personalshoutout I can't express how happy I am that you were baptized. I can't wait to have a conversation with you in person. You just gained 15,372,337 people as part of your family. Don't ever forget how you felt. Write it down. Never forget to do the little things that will continue to build your testimony.
besos y brazos,
hermana hemmingsen
Attachments area