You Go Be "Amazing Missionary"

First of all, thank you all for the happy birthday wishes. I feel older and more mature already....sorta. Strange to think that one year ago my call came in the mail. weird. If I really wanted to be sentimental I'd say something now like....My life will never be the same.....haha

I'm glad that all of you had such a good, busy! week! Honestly, these past 7 days are like a blur. I can't believe it's already Monday again. Actually this week, when somebody asked me how much time I had left in the mission and I told them "a ton -- more than a year" --- I realized how big of a lie that was. oops. Definitely not more than a year.

I feel like I've learned more in the past two weeks than I have in my whole mission - because I've really had to. Crazy how necessity really pushes us to rise to the occasion. And it's really humbling when you realize that even though you are trying your hardest, it still sometimes isn't enough. Even though you plan the best you can the night before for the next day, there are only so many "back-up plans" you can have for the day, when all of your appointments fall and you find yourself looking at your companion and saying, "now would be a great time to practice your contacts." :) Part o' the mish, right?

A few "tender mercies" that were sprinkled on me this week:
-Hermana Da'Luz takes the time to teach me how to plan and how to teach and how to love and how to live the gospel.
-Hna. Bustinza made fried hotdogs, fried eggs and rice for me.
-We have two baptisms planned for this week, Rosa and her grandson Matias, who are so adorable and desire to be baptized to follow Christ, and need Him in their lives.
-For the month of July our mission hit 115 baptisms for the month. Boo-ya.
-Our zone (2 districts, 12 people) completed 9 baptisms this month--our goal. So our leaders prepared us a Mexican lunch today - complete with burritos, salsa and chips, and topped with chocolate ice-cream. MMMmmMMM
-I haven't had a sleepless night yet on the mission, in fact, I don't remember 30 seconds after my head hits the pillow every night.
-we did a service project with a less-active family. Back-shed clean-out...let's just say it was a little worse than a Morris-home clean out. Thanks for the training mom.
-there was actually a warm day this week. Not even a coat. SO fantastic.
-I got 2 letters from home and a package! Thank you!

Along with the privilege to be apart of this great work, I really feel blessed to be here in Chile, doing what I'm doing. I wouldn't want to be doing anything else in my life. How blessed we are to truly be partakers of this AMAZING gospel. I can't thank you enough for the prayers and encouragement and love and thoughts sent my way. You keep me going strong.

hit 'er hard this week! The showers look like they were a hit! I'm so excited for everything you're doing! Curt--you go COLLEGE! Mitch--you go BAPTIZE! Rach--you go RUN-BIKE-SWIM! Clint--you go FINISH! Jed--you go BE TENDER! Amanda--you go BRIDE! Mom--you go MAKE CREPES, ADDRESS INVITATIONS, HUNT FOR A PERFECT DRESS, BE R.S.P., SEND YOUR BABY OFF TO COLLEGE, and could you send me Reese's? Dad--you go TAKER EASY with that jack-hammer. We don't want another head injury like that time you took an ax to your head. I want to see you alive again.

I love you all so much! xoxo

Hermana Ch-AY!-LLLL