ALOOOOHA

Another day, another dolla. Just kidding. I don't earn dolla's here, I earn testimony. But let me tell you if wealth is measured in Knowledge and Testimony then I am the Bill Gates of little Mormon girls. I have NEVER studied this much in my life. It's remarkable that at the end of every day I know 10.5Kx (10.5 thousand times) more than I did the day before, and the I wake up the next day thinking "I know nothing!". So much learning. And you know what? I absolutely love it. I've never been so stoked to read the scriptures and cross reference. And then to get to share what I'm learning with other people is just the coolest job I think I've ever had!

LEARNED TO WALK
finally
Ok Ok I learned to walk when I was a baby, but I learned how to walk AGAIN a few days ago. Hermana Tew is teaching us how to walk on our hands and since it's about the coolest thing I'm allowed to do here, I do it as often as I can! 3 days ago I couldn't even do a hand stand but after much persevering and determination I am now able to take a few steps. My entire body is sore, and I think I broke my back a lil' bit, but nothing will stop me now. I WILL walk 20 feet by the time I leave the CCM.

6'6" GINGER
meet the tallest red head ever
Really, though, that's all I have to say about him. He's a ginger and he's 6'6". He was an Elder in my Zone before I left for the field last week and to be honest, I don't know his real name. I don't think anyone ever called him "6'6" Ginger" to his face, either. But that is how I was introduced to him, that's how I referred to him, and that's how I will always know him. He is so stinkin' tall!

AND THEY WERE ALL YELLOW
(Coldplay)
I love yellow nails. I really do. And for about 80% of the year my nails are painted yellow. Last week I decided to paint them and the next day I fought and denied and ignored the fact that they are too bright. It's definitely against missionary dress standards, and before the first day was over I took it off. I think I lost a part of my heart, too. No more yellow for 17 months and 1 week. At least now when I'm feeling defiant I can do something that is against the rules but won't get me sent home, right?! 

MAROT
I think was his name
Andres' family had a foreign exchange student once and I never had the pleasure of meeting him, but I heard many stories about him. One in particular was how he would sleep fully clothed (shoes and all) so that the next morning Andres wouldn't leave him to go hang out with friends. He would jump out of bed and say "No, I'LL COME! I'M READY!" First of all - Andres, you're a jerk face. Secondly - Hermana Tew does this. She sleeps in her gym clothes, name tag and all, and when we wake up and get ready she just lays there. Then when we're about to leave she jumps out of bed and calmly says "I'm ready whenever you are, sisters." 

MMMM
not sure what else to say....
This week was super spiritual. I had so many realizations that I can't believe didn't come BEFORE my mission. It's ridiculous to think how unprepared I am to serve and teach God's children. Last night I prayed to know if the Book of Mormon is true... for the first time in my entire life. Seriously? I should have done this long ago. The whole day I was thinking about how I've never done this and how important it is that I have a rock solid testimony of the teachings of the Prophets from the Book of Mormon. How can I ask others to do something I've never done? After I finished praying I felt... well... I'm not sure how else to describe it except that it was the love that God has for all of his children. It was strong. I felt completely weighed down with the power and strength of this love, and I knew right that how much He truly loves every one of us. It wasn't exactly the answer I had been looking for. I told my companion how inadequate I feel. So, so, so inadequate.  Right before I prayed I had found a little piece of tape shaped like a heart on the ground and I picked it up. As we were walking away I opened my scriptures to drop it in between the pages and guess what it landed on? Smack on top of the words, in all caps, "FROM GOD". I wrote this in the crease of the page the other day as I was studying. The scripture next to it was highlighted in yellow (my color for all mission-related scriptures) and it said "Ye are not sent to be taught, but to teach the children of men... and if ye sanctify yourself ye shall receive power". Or something like that, I think it was in D&C 43, maybe. But HOLY COW, this scripture was the answer to a feeling I had AFTER praying, not even the answer to the question I had asked during, but simply a thought that I had after. Heavenly Father knows us; he knows our feelings, our weaknesses, our joys, our goals. He loves us more than we could ever know. An investigator in a film described how she felt while standing in the church building and she said "I feel.... like there is something inside of me. It's too big. It's too big for me. It feels good." I know that she was feeling her Heavenly Fathers love. And it IS too big!! He loves us so much. I am so happy to be here and even though I am some random little blond hippie hobo girl, I know that I have something to share with the people of Boston. And it's the love that God has for them. And as inadequate as I feel, as inadequate as any of us ever feel, HE IS THERE and He will always help you. Not in your time, in His time. Think back..... things happened just yesterday that were meant specifically for you. He's got yo' back! And He always will. I want to tell everyone!

Well, I've gotta go get my laundry out. Hooty hoo! Hope all is well in the world. If anything crazy happens make sure you let me know! You know where to find me. Oh, and dearlelder.com is fantasticly easy to use.... soooooo use it! 

LIFE IS A MISSION!

Hermana Hileman