It finally started raining in Washington

I had a dream this morning. I dreamed that for some reason I spent away my whole P-Day doing nothing and I forgot to email and write letters and I was freaking out and started to write them in the evening and was breaking the rules and feeling guilty and dying inside.... luckily it was a dream. Shows you how much us missionaries value our P-Days though, huh? Haha. SO here I am nice and on time, breaking no rules, and typing happily away. :)

One thing I have learned this transfer is to NOT taste any of the foods in the cupboards. Several times last week I found myself eagerly grabbing a Wheat Thin or a Graham Cracker only to find it had either been affected by the humidity. Everything is soggy and chewy and tastes of wet cardboard. On top of that, for some reason missionaries like to keep random things in the fridges 15 months after their expiration date. Not cool. I have been working on clearing it out. I told Sister Hopkins that she must try things before I do now.

Well, it hit 90 degrees this week. Let me just say that wet heat feels 100 times hotter than dry heat. I was dying.... kind of. Speaking of the desert, I apparently need to get a printed out map of where I live. I guess I just don't know my geography too well and after many failed attempts of trying to inform people where I live I think a visual would be my best bet. Can't just pull out my iPhone anymore.

Our Ward Mission Leader's birthday was last Monday... or Tuesday. We bought some random stuff from the Dollar Tree and decided to hide it in his milk box. (Yes, people have milk boxes here.) It was dark. We parked way out on the street. We tip toed through the crunchy rocks. Got to the front of his house and could see him watching TV with the window wide open. We crawled, most unladylike might I add, under the window so we could be seen. Got to the door. Put everything in and upon closing the lid... he opened the door. Yeah, we scared him pretty good. I can still imagine his freaked out face and little jump. Haha! Turns out he was actually just going outside to put his flag down. Rotten timing.So much for the surprise. Oh well, we still got him in some way. They are the Graneys by the way. And they are an AMAZING couple and such a help to us. Love them.

We got smoothies from Jamba Juice on the 10th for my 2nd Click Day. Two months out. Woohoo. Jamba reminds me wayyyy to much of my BYU days. So weird to think I'd be there right now if I weren't here on my mission.

So my apartment grosses me out. I wear shoes in the bathroom sometimes because the smell of wet plastic disgusts me. And I just don't appreciate laying on the floor and feeling your clothes get damp. Bleh. Don't think it bothers me too much though, I'm EXTREMELY grateful to have my little soggy apartment. I truly am. :)

Our Zone Leaders told us a statistic. In order to talk to everyone in our area, my companion and I would have to meet 14,000 people. Haha! 7,000 people per one missionary. I don't know why, but that made me laugh. It's crazy!

Hmm, the other day I woke up with a pulled armpit muscle. It hurts so bad. I never realized how much you use your armpit... you use it a lot.

We were able to do the Day of Service as a Zone on Saturday. It was so much fun! I felt like I was back in my community service days at HJH or HHS. I got to wear a big neon yellow vest and roll around a trash can along the street. We had those little clampy poles to pick up the trash. I've always wanted to do that honestly. Dreams are coming true out here.

Goodness, I love music. If I hadn't brought my little used iPod out here I would not be as happy as I am. Every song is a Tender Mercy from the Lord. :) On top of that, I am sooo glad my brother Donald told me about the band NeedtoBreathe... I think he may have heard of them through his girlfriend... not sure. But I have some of their songs and I just absolutely love them. Never was a big fan of Christian Music, but they're worth a listen. They sure know how to uplift you when the goin' gets rough. Plus, their songs always seem to fit the moment. A song Washed by the Water happened to play as the rain began to pour on us. And These Hard Times... well that's always a good one. ;) Haha!

Well, I am having a blast meeting all of God's children out here in Washington... even if they're not having a blast meeting me. :)

An Awwww Moment: 

We knocked on a man's door. He was obviously not interested and let us know. So we crossed the street and knocked on that door. And as we were waiting that man came out of his house and told us they weren't home so we didn't have to wait. Awww. Look at people doing nice things for us.

So I have been reading the New Testament during personal study and I am loving it. Just starting from the top at Matthew. You can never read through Christ's life and ministry too many times.

Here's a couple versus I liked.

Matthew 10:16

"Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves." ----> Hahaha! This one just made me think of myself thrown out here to the wolves. Gotta be smart... but harmless. ;) Haha! And I'm trying to be. The harmless one isn't too hard. I won't even let Sister Hopkins kill a slug.

Matthew 10:39

He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

I really love that commonly quoted verse. I'm trying to lose my life for His sake. When I do that, I'll have everything I need. :)

Random thing of the week:

THERE ARE SLUGS EVERYWHERE!!!!!!!!!!

Almost like Harry Potter status when Ron is puking up slugs in the bucket... well, they're a tad bit smaller. But yup.

Okay that's all folks! I love you all! 

I'll be doin' it the Federal Way!

Love,
Sister Pearson! :)