The post where all my dreams came true

I’m stealing a few minutes from cleaning time to write a little something. We’re getting ready for Tim’s Sacrament Meeting mission return address thingamajig. Mom decided that she wants to make chicken crêpes. That means that Tim and I get to make a WHOLE lot of crêpes. So there goes my weekend. Not like I ever go out anyway :-)
In fact, I feel like I spend every spare minute studying. It’s kind of like juggling, the way I’ve been studying lately. I’ve got these things to study:
1. Preach My Gospel which I study alongside Predicad Mi Evangelio, looking up all the references in both Spanish and English. Takes forever.
2. Conference Talks—for Young Adult Sunday School, we’re supposed to read a talk per day and write about it afterward.
3. Scriptures—Currently looking through the Book of Mormon, D&C, and New Testament for my upcoming Sacrament Meeting talk on “Blessings of Living a Christlike Life.”
4. Missionary Preparation Manual
5. Spanish for Missionaries—brother Eric gave this one to me, and I’ve been studying in it quite a lot.
So, there you have it. Once work’s over, perhaps I’ll have some time to spare for spending time with some friends. We shall see.
I got a gift from Mavis Oswald the other day. Yeah, Mavis Oswald who’s gone to the same ward as me since I was born. Mavis Oswald to whom I’ve said more than a passing “hello, how are you?” possibly twice in my life. She gave me a kitchen knife for my mission, a package of HLJ rings, $50, and really nice note. Wow.
Probably the best part of my week was when I found out I have Welsh ancestry. Yeah, all my dreams have come true. I’m related to Llewelyn ap Iorwerth AND Llewelyn ap Gruffydd. S’mae! And if you don't know who they are, they are only the two COOLEST people who ever lived. Also I’m related to Edward I, John Lackland, William the Conqueror, and Charlemagne. All on the Hamblin side. Cheers!

Beautiful Aging

You know who makes aging look good? My Grandma Colleen. She’s got this natural, pearly-white hair that’s just plain classy. She’s got a smile ready at all times. Even though she’s had multiple problems with her eyes, they just look LIGHT. Her whole face emits a glow. When I look at the age spots on her hands, all I can think of are the stories behind the spots…all the good deeds those hands have done over the years—writing innumerable thank you notes, wrapping gifts, changing diapers, giving Grandpa daily shots, perming granddaughters’ hair, writing talks, packing bags for Grandpa’s overseas assignments, making food for family gatherings, paying bills for family vacations, etc etc etc. Those hands tell 82 years’ worth of stories. They’ve grown old and aged in service. When I get old, I want to be able to say the same of my body—that it has grown old in service to others. Because what’s more beautiful than that? Yesterday was Grandpa and Grandma’s 60th Anniversary. I can’t think of two people who are a more perfect example of that—wearing themselves out in service. Grandma’s still here doing just that—Grandpa’s doing it on the other side. I remember that he was frustrated in his last days at how he felt like he was on the sidelines, unable to DO. He said that he wanted a jersey—he wanted to be in the game. A young spirit in an old body. That’s how it should be.

Rat?

So two nights ago I had this dream. It goes like this:
I’m heading on my way to who-knows-where, and some people grab me and say I have to come with them. Obviously, what they needed from me was important and couldn’t wait. So, I went with them. They told me, “We need to check your mercury levels.” This made sense to me, but I was nervous. In order for them to check my mercury levels, I had to chew up a mixture with a baby rat inside it. Yes, that’s how you check people’s mercury levels. Duh. However, I was suspicious of the purpose of the test. I thought maybe it was trick, so I called my mom. “Mom,” I said. “These people are telling me that I have to chew up a dead rat so they can check my mercury levels.” She says, “Yes, and?” Pause. “I can’t do it, Mom.” “Yes, you can, Martha. Don’t be silly.” [Crying] “I’ll throw up, Mom.” “No you won’t, Martha.” [Hang up.] And so I did it. I put that mixture in my mouth, and I chewed up AND swallowed that dead rat, thinking to myself, “Chicken. It’s just chicken.” It sooo wasn’t.
The people told me, “We can tell if your mercury levels are high if you start getting flustered and stressed out while you’re chewing the mixture.” Luckily I passed this test. But I was worried about my dad because he’s always pretty stressed out.
The end.
So despite being traumatized by the dream, I didn’t think too much of it. However, today I was cyber-stalking the Bolivia Santa Cruz mission, and I saw on one elder’s page: “Strangest food eaten: Rat.”
:-( :-( :-(

Paris je t'aime

Château de Chenonceau

Chenonceau woods--they're neverending--so beautiful

Château de Cheverny

Château de Chambord--E-normous

The view from Chambord

Notre Dame

At the Paris Letters with the missionaries--Bois de Vincennes

Yummm...my pastry from Le Gaychoc

Château de Chantilly

Opéra Garnier--the Phantom of the Opera house

Inside Musée Jacquemart André

Inside the Arc de Triomphe with Kacy and Mariya

On the top of the Arc de Triomphe

The Swarovski store on Champs Elysées

The Swarovski staircase

Yay!

Château de Fontainebleau

First night in Paris with Tim :)

Sunset from Notre Dame

Inside Chenonceau

Autumn at Chenonceau

Bolivia

The time has come…It’s time to think about Bolivia.
Today I’ve been cyberstalking Bolivia via a blog I found on google. I’ve been thinking a whole lot about my mission these past few days. At first, I was pretty scared, thinking about the types of things I’ll encounter during my 18 months. But I’ve come to a couple of realizations over the past few days:
If the Lord has called me to Bolivia, not only is that the right place for me, it is MORE right than any other place I could possibly have been called. More right than Oklahoma, Paris, or Tokyo. Bolivia is where I can do the most good, and where I, too, will benefit the most. This is so comforting to me when I start worrying about the types of trials I’ll encounter during my time there. A mission in Bolivia will challenge me where I am most in need of growth. A scary thought in many ways, but also encouraging since I know I need some serious growth in numerous areas.
The night I got my call, I remember so vividly sitting in front of my computer screen, looking at google images brought up by the search terms “Bolivia” and “Bolivian natives.” I remember just having this huge pit in my stomach as I thought, “I’m going to sacrifice 18 months serving these people?” I felt absolutely no connection with them whatsoever. Embarrassingly, I even felt a slight revulsion because of how different from me they seemed. Inside, I wished my call could be reissued. Bolivia was so unexpected…South America hadn’t even crossed my mind at all as an option. But, as I’ve been talking to people and reading the blog I mentioned, I’ve had a couple of distinct impressions. 1. I’ve felt the amazing spirit of the people—their humility and their strength because of the trials they endure. These people will more than likely teach ME how to better live the gospel. 2. It is exactly BECAUSE I was called to such an unexpected place that my call must be inspired. If I had been called to France, I think I would have thought, “Oh, yeah, of course. Makes perfect sense.” No need for a testimony when logic nods its head at the call.
This goes along with what I just said, but one of the things that struck me about my call was the conditions I’ll be living in. Bolivia is the poorest nation in South America. I know the Church takes care of its missionaries, especially the Sisters, but that doesn’t change the environment I’ll be in. It scared me to think of seeing that kind of poverty. Still when I think about it, it’s overwhelming, but I know that I need some serious humbling in this area, so it’s fitting that I would be called to such a place. I know that seeing people live in poverty will be shocking and tough on me emotionally, but I also know that it will strengthen my testimony as I see these people accepting the gospel and living it with more gumption and devotion than many of us who’ve grown up with it in such blessed conditions.
In a nutshell, I’m coming to know more and more firmly that serving in Bolivia will be an experience tailored to the areas the Lord wants to see strengthened in me. Ether 12:27 will become a dear friend, I’m sure. I have a tendency to be somewhat Pharisaical in how I live the gospel, and I really believe Bolivia will help me to be more of a Spirit-of-the-law person, to become more Christlike and charitable towards everyone.

Bon Voyage à moi :)

So…um….I LEAVE TOMORROW. Huzzah! Yay for Paris!
I spent about 2 hours yesterday looking for my Paris par Arrondissement map book. That thing is THE single most valuable tool in Paris. I’m pretty sad about not being able to find it. Drat.
I’ve got tons to do tonight. And, yes, I’ll probably find time to squeeze in a Hulu session.