What a Week! -- 3 December 2012

So.... This week has been pretty cool!

Monday: Birthday! Greatest day ever! Thank you all for the love you sent!

Mama: when I got home from the li-barry, there on the doorstep was a bright pink package! Super exciting! Don't worry: Sister T took lots of pictures while I was opening!

Bestest Friend: Your letter also came right on Monday and was one of my favorites. I HOPE to be hearing more from you, but I know life is super crazy.

Special thanks to all of my wonderful grandparents! The consistency of your love and encouragement has been such a blessing not only on my mission, but my whole life!

Monday night was FHE, and we made gingerbread houses. Don't worry: a member of the branch took the time to make REAL gingerbread AND put the houses all together.  All we had to do was decorate! It was so dang much fun! One of our investigators came, and he decorated one of the gingerbread men (yes, she made little men to go with the houses) as a missionary! He put a tie on it and everything! It was so cute!

Sister T, sneaky Sister mish that she is, told everyone it was my birthday, and would they sing to me at some point. So all of the sudden about an hour in the ENTIRE cultural hall is singing "Happy Birthday!" I was very red, but also very pleased!

Afterward we were talking to one of the guys who works at the totally amazing Children's Museum (that is NOT open on Mondays) and he told us that on the 17th of this month it will be open, and that he would hold some tickets for us to go!!! YAY!! I am SOO excited! We have heard that this is a super fun place to go! Plus! It's Christmas time!!! Need I say more?

Wednesday: (Yes I know I skipped Tuesday) Wednesday, we went up to the mission home to hang out with President and Sister C. and the assistants. Just kidding, we weren't hanging out, we had a campus missionary special training. We loved it, and came away totally uplifted, and REALLY ready to get to work, and apply what we learned on campus! We also all went out to lunch (about 17 missionaries).  Since Sister T. and I were the only Sisters who went we got the privilege of sitting with President and Sister C. and laugh and talk with them. I love watching the two of them interact! You can tell they are crazy about each other! I have been so blessed with so many examples of what a great marriage looks like! Thank you so much to you all! Especially Mom and Dad! You are the best, and I couldn't ask for better parents!

After the training, I went up to talk to President C. one on one. I truly love my mission president! I know you all think you have/had the best one, but I am telling you, I WIN!!! He gave me some advice that I went home and applied right away, and the remainder of this week has just flown, full of the spirit! He was called here for me! (And Indiana is the BEST Mission on the earth!)

We have done a lot of walking this week. Applying what we learned, (and also this area just struggles with commitment. Can't be that we are in a YSA area?)

I got a very sweet letter from one of my best friends on Saturday! You know who you are, and I want you to know, that this has never been a one-sided friendship! I am forever grateful for you, and all you teach me as well! And thank you for waiting for me! ;)

Today: We left the house early (after study! Stop thinking I am disobedient!) and headed to.........LUCAS OIL STADIUM!!!! We (the whole zone) had a private tour that a member in a neighboring ward paid for us to go. It was so neat! That is a really cool building! I kept thinking: "My family, especially Uncles, would be dying right now!" We stood on the 50 yard line. Went into the Colts locker room, (the guide showed us Payton Manning's exact locker!) For the most part it wasn't "big-whoop" to me and the other sisters, BUT it was SO fun to watch the Elders. They thought they had died and gone to heaven! We have one Elder in my district who is only serving an 18 month mission, because he has a contract to play football for BYU next fall. So, he was soaking everything up! :)

Lisa, I got some really great pics, so when you go scrapbook paper shopping, look for Colts stuff! :)

I love you all and hope you have a great week! I echo Elder Hill's challenge. You will be such a powerful tool in the Lord's hands if you are serving your brothers and sisters! Keep the faith! Talk to you soon!

Love, Sister Hill

Holidays -- 26 November 2012

First off: Thank you all for all of the birthday wishes!!! They have made my day!

I have been treated like a queen by Sister Tagg all day yesterday, and today! I keep thinking it's just a normal day, but she is being super EXTRA nice to me. (I say extra cause she is always nice to me!) Last night at dinner, the member who fed us remembered that it was my birthday, and they made a cake, and put 2 matches on it, and sang Happy Birthday! It was so sweet of them, and all I could think, was: "Mom, I am well taken care of. (Even if it is a singles ward)" :)

This morning while I was in the shower, Sister Tagg Made french toast for breakfast! I am a lucky Sister Missionary, I have the best companion in the mission! ... That is actually not true, I guess she is tied with all my other companions. I have just been a lucky Sister!

We don't have any super-awesome-amazing-rockin'-awesome plans for the day, but all of the birthday wishes I have received have absolutely made my day! Sister Tagg got me a button to pin on my shirt that says: "Birthday Girl" Its pink and huge, and obnoxious, but I love it!

Thanksgiving was good. I got a little homesick for the my "normal" Thanksgiving. But for the most part I was just grateful for all that I have, and that I even got to celebrate Thanksgiving.

There is a Sister in our ward who is flying to Utah right now because she is reporting to the MTC on Wednesday. She is going to the (I am going to butcher this [sorry Uncle Brant])  Nagoya, Japan Mission. We are all super excited for her, and she is going with nothing but confidence! Honestly, she reminds me of Mama Montgomery. Her "farewell" was super fun to be at.

Well folks. Christmas is just around the corner, and It is finally getting chilly here. We had a 5 second flurry of snow 3 weeks ago, but since then nothing. I am not complaining mind you. I will keep it warm as long as possible. People are predicting a bad winter this year because last year was so mild. Yuck! And I will be the designated driver (most likely, since after this transfer [when Sister Williams and Stanford go home] I will be the 4th oldest Sister Missionary in Indiana. How did that happen?!)

Anyway, They did a big celebration of turning on the Lights downtown the day after Thanksgiving. We were PCing down there and saw the dress rehearsal, and then later on our way home for the night we saw the FIREWORKS!!!! (Why doesn't Temple Square do that?!)  Anyway, I would like to come back and see that show one day. Parentals, I really think you would enjoy Indy. There is A TON to do and see, and I cute little river walk that goes through the middle of downtown that I keep seeing Daddy running on, and Mom looking at all the art!

Anyway, I love Indy, and am going to miss it when I am asked to leave, whenever that may be. I love you all, and thanks again for all of the birthday wishes!

Love always, Sister Hill