Life is in session.

I've wanted to use that title for a blog post for quite some time.  So today's the day!!  I did it!

Ok, well I have still been contemplating my life lately, and I've been setting more goals and such, and when I think of a goal, I write it down in my phone so I can remember it later.  Apparently "learn greek" is pretty important because I wrote it down twice.  But I'm not so sure that language even exists.... not to mention the country, Greece... does that even exist??  Does St. George even exist???  So many questions of my soul...

But I don't just write down goals, I write down all my thoughts that seem important.  I know that if I don't do that, I will forget forever and those brain children will die.  So that's how I care for my thoughts and impressions, I write them down for later.  Some are for "apologize to so and so" or "make cookies" or "the best is yet to come", sometimes they are baby names (it's not THAT weird), some say weird things I don't understand because I wrote them down too fast.  But at least it was a good idea.  It will eventually help me to be a productive human.

I sat down to the piano today to practice and it was stressing me out like crazy and I remembered all the years of lessons I took that also stressed me out, because I don't sight read and I don't know why that frustrates me.  But I got talking to my mom about it and she told me about a few times in her life that she got super frustrated and stressed and I just laughed so hard!! I'm heartless. But it was so funny.  I know what how she feels though.. sort of, like the time in 9th grade when we all had to sing solos in choir and I hated that and so when I did mine, I whispered it and no one could hear me.

But not today, it's time to take the bull by the horns.  If that's even how you say that.... What I'm trying to say is, it's time to stop joking around.  Abby has a book called Where Will You Be Five Years From Today? by Dan Zadra that is super awesome and inspirational and I have some friends that are particularly inspiring that make me want to not be scared of failure and what not.  (Because my fear of failure is possibly too big... but that's another story for another day).  So here goes nothing.  Gutsy Rob is coming out of the grave, did you hear she died?  Yeah, it was a beautiful funeral.  But SHE'S BACK!!  Warn everyone.  And close all the windows, she might try to jump out one again.

GUYS!  This is it!  LIFE IS IN SESSION!  Go learn to play the guitar (you're going to be sore), go jump off a bridge (actually don't, this is a shout out, you know who you are), go for a drive and sing your guts out, go for a drive and don't sing your guts out, talk to a stranger, hug your mom, make a scarf, climb a mountain, anything!  And if you see me on your way, TAKE ME WITH YOU!

And just like that, you're a big kid.

When I was little-er I thought, man how great would that be to just have a montage life and be grown up and be married and have a little family. I was 7. Boy was I dillusional.  Because during my whole life, it has seemed to drag on slowly, but looking back at it, it really has been a montage. It's gone by so fast. I feel like I blinked and now I'm 21.

A woman asked me the other day, "so have you graduated high school yet?" I thought, could she be asking this because I don't act my age? Or because I don't look my age? Well it doesn't matter. I was wearing massive sunglasses, but I don't think that had anything to do with it.

I think I don't act my age because I don't feel my age. And who really does? Remember when I said I went on a ride-along with my dad? Well I learned that night that you can't just sing Frozen songs while your dad pulls people over... because every cop car has cameras and microphones!!! Guys, somewhere on the police records is a lot of "can i say something crazy? I love crazy! All my life has been a series of doors in my face........"

But then I met a little girl on Sunday that proved the point even more. She was probably 8 or 9 and her little sister was maybe 4 or 5. The older sister was holding her little sister, stroking her hair and just taking care of her. She looked at me and said, "our mom is sick today with my 6 year old brother and I'm just trying to be like her." So she looked back at her little sister and kept stroking her hair. That little girl doesn't act her age either, guys.

But really, I've been contemplating 2015 and setting goals and figuring out a million things like bills, healthy food, exercise habits, husbands (good one, right?), looking into little houses, taxes, regular dentist appointments, ect.

AND HOLY COW GUYS, I DON'T THINK I WANT TO GROW UP!!!

My dad has offered to let me stay at home til I'm 35. And then even at 35, we will reassess... that doesn't mean I have to be married or out by 35. We'll just set a new age limit. This has been an offer for years. And I get all the mint chocolate chip ice cream I want if I stay.  Why would anyone want to pass this up?!

I really didn't mind having a bedtime, or a mom that made all my meals and would talk to the cashier for me, or would talk me through those confusing bank deposit slips.  Life is good as a kid. No worries.  No problems. Just fun. And chores.  So I think I'll wait a little longer before I grow up...

Confession

So I have to confess something... not many people know this... in fact, until now, only my mom, dad and Abby know this.... I have bunions. At this point, it's mostly just making the best of the time I have left. So I have named them. Because they are a part of me now. Betty (big one on the right foot), Byroniesha (small one on right foot), Brad (big one on left foot), and last and technically least, Blake (small one on left foot).

Oh the places we go... never a dull moment with those four around. Seriously, I'll just fill you in on all the fun things they do with me. Sadly, they don't get to experience life like I do.. but they live vicariously through me. So they enjoy it.

Well, since I've been home from Guatemala, the birthplace of my new friends, we've already done lots of things. For example:

We went to see Meet the Mormons, but turns out on Wednesday at certain theaters it's only $1.25 a person. So that was sweet. And when we got out of the movie, I went to the restroom, my mom was waiting in the lobby for me. I was looking at my phone and walked in, got into the stall and decided, first, I'll take off my backpack, so I stepped out and saw a whole line of urinals. And my first thought was, "When did they start putting urinals in the girls bathroom?" And then..... an old man walked in, saw me, and said, "this is the men's bathroom." And I said, "yes it is, I am so sorry". I got out and my mom was dying. She couldn't contain herself. And so I went to the real girls bathroom and laughed the whole time and the other women just pretended like I wasn't there at all.

Also, my bunions and I have been on a ride-along. Like with a cop. And it was going to be the best ever. It was great, but there wasn't anything dangerous... we just pulled people over the whole time. I got to help translate a couple times, but my dad actually speaks pretty good spanish. So he didn't really need me.  but it was a pleasant experience. I would probably do it again.

My bunions and I have lots of plans, and don't worry, I'll keep you updated on it all.

Side note about Aunt Clara, she's doing great. She treats me well. Can't complain.

Stake Conference

So today we had Stake Conference, it was life changing.  Best Stake Conference I've ever been to.  Crazy how a mission changes a person... Before, I probably would have enjoyed it, but would I have been changed?  I don't know.. probably not.. But today was so great.  So inspiring.

I was listening like a good kid and I found myself actually interested in what the people were saying, I was engaged in the talks.  That feeling can only be described as a gift of the Spirit.  I was listening and I thought, wow, Stake Conference is almost as good as General Conference... and then, it hit me... We go to church every week... why?  If its not all really good stuff, why don't we just have Stake Conference and General Conference every week?  Well, we don't, because, we have Sacrament Meeting every week... and that is the MOST important meeting in the church.

I sometimes try to remember my baptism, how I felt, what I was thinking, etc, but I can't remember.  Everyone told me to write down my feelings but I was a prideful eight year old and chose not to.  Now I regret it. But not too much.. Maybe I don't remember how I felt when I got baptized, but I remember how I felt last week when I participated in the Sacrament.  And that was awesome.  I think we take advantage of Sacrament Meeting sometimes and don't give all of our attention to what is going on.  We don't prepare ourselves well enough and we have just another experience... But each week, each Sunday, we can be completely clean.

That's a promise for everybody if we are doing our part.  We obviously have to repent first, but during the Sacrament Prayer isn't the time to repent.. it's during the week while we are making mistakes.

Church isn't for perfect people.  It's for the people that do need help.

Moroni 8: 8 Listen to the words of Christ, your Redeemer, your Lord and your God. Behold, I came into the world not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance; the whole need no physician, but they that are sick

I know that this is the only true church.  I know that because Christ died and suffered for us, we don't have to go through all that if we will just repent and follow Him.  He has set the path, and it isn't a path of laziness.  It requires all of our efforts.  It requires even more commitment.  I love this gospel.  I love consecration.  I know Christ lives.  In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

District Pictures from Guatemala

October 28, 2014 Final Letter From Guatemala…Hermana Evans returns home Thursday!

October 28, 2014

my family!!!!

I love you so much!!  this week... has been so nuts.

Well, we had 2 baptisms,  and, it was glorious.  and tonight we have one, it will be glorious.  

mostly, i want to share a story with you, that sums up my experience in Guatemala.  I wrote a letter and put it in there, but you get the story again then.  

Sunday night we went to Saylin and Nery to visit them after their baptism.. it was like 8:30, we taught them, we were leaving and saying goodbye and all, we decided that today, in the night, well go by again to say goodbye one last time. but Ruth, the 8 year old sister of Nery pulled me aside outside, stood up on the curb of the house to reach my eye level, grabbed my shoulders and said the following.

"Hermana Evans, dont go.  Dont ever forget us!"

"Im not going to forget you, dont worry."

*cue tears in her eyes*

"promise me, promise you wont forget us."

*cue tears in my eyes*

"I promise I will never forget you"

"Im going to miss you so much."

"me too."

Guys, that moment was one of the hardest things i have ever had to do.  I cried so hard.. it didnt really hit me until sunday night what was happening. 

But, just recently, i have decided that it isnt the worst thing in the world to finish a mission.  I have changed, and i honestly dont have plans to go back to anything "normal".  So, I am happy to see you, heck, im excited, but i have LOVED this time so much.  I can NEVER repay Heavenly Father for all that He has given me.

This week, i have ran more than ever. And i now i know that i am so out of shape. So much work to do.  SO MUCH!  This area is loaded with success.  Its nuts.  

Well, ive never ended a mission.. so, i guess ill see you guys on thursday? but be happy and safe and i love you all!!!

Love, Hna Evans

October 21, 2014

October 21, 2014

My family!!

i love you guys!  and holy cow. this week... so, you know how we had 4 baptisms for sunday?  well...... 3 failed and 1 almost did.  im going to tellyou a story.

we got a call from Pres. Markham a couple days before sunday and he said he was coming to our baptism. which was great. and then we got to church on sunday and were calling the kid getting baptized and the family decided it would be better to wait a week.. it was the worst... and the aunt of the boy was here from Utah and it was all so perfect, but they chose not to. and it was heartbreaking.  literally.  president was there, it was horrible.. and then, after having an emotional mornign, they come up to us after the sacrament meeting and say.. well, yeah, lets do it today.  and we had more tears. but of happiness. and then luckily, the district leader is in our ward and he interviewed the kid really fast and he got baptized on sunday.  Crazy.

On pday last week we had it Wednesday  and it was great.  We went to Antigua and it was a blast.  Good news, I found all the sweaters for everyone.  And the man sold them to me for REALLY cheap.  It was great.  And we ate at a place called Mono Loco.  It was really delicious, but so much food.  And.. then we came back. And yesterday we had pday and I was so exhausted.  So get this, I slept.  Because it was pday.  I know that Heavenly Father has been helping me.  Because I have just enough energy to do what we need.  And then in the moment I don’t absolutely need energy, it´s gone.  But there you have it!

This week we will have 3 baptisms and then next Tuesday night we have a wedding and baptism.  Madeline.  She is so pilas.  I cant wait for her wedding and baptism.  

Bueno, be safe and happy and i love you!  

Love, Hna Evans