Well do I have stories for you.

 

If only I had the time to actually share them. They give us only 4 hours for letters and email and it feels like the writing section of the ACT.  My hand is always about to fall off, even though I only write a few people. Funny how already my letters are already getting shorter and shorter, yet the things I want to say only get longer and longer. I know my emails have no real format to them. They are kind of just "brain on paper" and a list of things that happened this week or things that I wrote in my journal about. Maybe I should be better about sharing real stories. But it also just means I'll have lots of good stories for when I return.

 

Hmm. Well on to that list of things to share.

 

Did I even tell you there's a boy in my district from Waukesha?  Ironic. And this week when getting to know the new district there's another boy in my zone from northern Milwaukee area. Same ward as the elder in my district.

 

ASL is rad, Richard sorry you didn't have a lot of formal training here at the MTC. Our teacher has yet to give us name signs so we have all kind of picked up ones from each other. Mine still remainds elephant but with an O.  The rest of the district I've pretty much named though, and they have just kind of stuck. Some are quite hilarious.

 

I got some pretty crazy news this week. Jon Llewellyn and Max are both engaged. Yep engaged. Blew my mind and put me in shock but I'm trying to get used to the idea. I know more letters with news like that will continue all thru the mission. So excited for them tho, and strange to not be able to be there for Max's wedding, when i feel like he's like a brother to me.  Russians.

 

Fourth of July here was fun. We got to stay up late! And in that I mean instead of going to bed at 10:30 we weren't allowed back into our dorms until after the fireworks ended. So like 10:50pm. The sleeping schedule is really strange and hard to get used to from the typical college student schedule.

 

I cleaned the temple today!!! It was so legit! We disassembled two large chandeliers, cleaned them, and put them back together, like a giant puzzle. So cool. And wow it was gorgeous. Our instuctor let us sisters do it 'cause he said the sisters always love to play with the "jewelry of the temple." The provo temple is currently closed for its biannual deep cleaning and they asked a few of the missionaries to come over and help. Well we got asked and we were all so pumped. Such a blessing and way cool. But also can't wait for the temple to open back up in a few weeks so we can continue to go on P-days [preparation days to do laundry, write letters, etc].

 

Is there any chance you can send me a few family pics? Like our last good one, and maybe that really goofy one of us all on the living room couch from so long ago. Preferably the goofy one again and not the one where my eyes are not level. :]

 

Okay so you know how elders exchange ties here. Yeah its cool. and I'm jealous. But I kind of want to exchange ties anyways so I can collect and send a few to my favorite to people as a joke or gift. Any chance I could get a few sent along my way? Ones that are trade-able status, and maybe one thats purple trading status because I've already got my eye on a tie owned by the elder from Waukesha, he hates it and I love it and I told him I'd trade him. And seriously I think I have mentioned the Missionary Tie Club quite a few times in the last few weeks and a few friends have been really curious about it. You should send along something that I can give to elders or something and they can mail home for their families to check out. Don't want to be promoting anything while I'm out here, but I don't think passing along a website would be harmful if they ask about it. [but I do.]

 

I got that shot finally. Yes I was tearing up. I'm a wuss.  The nurse was so nice to me tho. She even sang me a song: "I hope they call me on a mission, so i can get a shot or two..." as she poked me. Haha. I felt like I was 5 again.

 

well love you lots!

would love to hear more from ya all, and words of support and love. 'Cause seriously I need it. Remember I'm the emotional child.

 

LOVES!

Sister Clarissa Oliphant