Guess who (:

Didn't we just do this?! Wowzers, what a fast week! And next Monday is my 2 month anniversary, holy smokes!

Well it's been another stellar week down here in Jackson! Last Monday a family whose son served in Brazil had us over for dinner and he made us some good old arroz e feijao. (the a has a squiggle over it (: ) And they also invited Viviane, the Brazilian my age. It was the best. She is hilarious and precious. Maybe someday I'll go to Brazil...

Since we're a new addition to the ward we haven't been fed a ton yet. The weirdest thing I've eaten so far was something I made. But I told someone last week to invite us over the next time they are grilling up some possum. (: So excited (:

We came up with the best game ever this week. Someone makes up a problem - you lost your job, or you don't get along with your sister, or your pet turtle died - and then the other person flips open the Book of Mormon, points to a verse with their eyes closed, and solves the problem with that verse. It's awesome. It works literally every time. The war chapters are fun, but it still works. (: It definitely strengthens your testimony that the Book of Mormon was written for our day and that it can answer any question and solve any problem we have. And, future missionaries, it's perfect practice for explaining and applying principals of the gospel to people. The best one of the week: Sister Jenkins said that she really liked this guy but she's not old enough to date. I point to Jacob 2:28. Boom. Roasted. It's been fun. (:

So the highlight of the week: Sister Jenkins is a Sister Training Leader and this week she had an overnight training meeting. So day 9 in the field, Sister Davis and I are out on our own. We had reign for about 24 hours, Thursday after dinner to Friday evening, and oh did we reign. It was basically the day I've been waiting for since October. It was either sink or swim and we sure as heck didn't get called here to sink. Thursday night we picked a neighborhood, made goals, and said we weren't coming back until we had met them. The first hour was slow going, but within the next 90 minutes, we'd taught 4 lessons, got 6 return appointments, and 4 new investigators. That doesn't exactly happen here.

It was hands down the best day of my life. Just to hear multiple people tell you that it's a miracle we caught them home and to know that it wasn't us who picked the streets or the houses or what we said. Every day is the best day. To be literal instruments in the Lord's hands, to share with everyone something so precious to us that can change their lives and their families, and to stand as a witness of the Savior everywhere, all the time. It don't get better than this! I can't imagine ever being happier than I am here.

Sister Jenkins has a 4 day conference in a few weeks and Sister Davis and I will be alone again, so they had me get my driving record because it's clean and that way we can drive while she's gone. Isn't it funny how this whole thing is just about 100% different than we thought it was going to be?

Well, I just noticed your email! YAY! I was literally just thinking the same thing about having this time every week to give you a little glimpse of all I've been up to and give you a hug through the computer. (: Hug hug, kees kees, little hug beeg keeeeees. (: I love you Mom! I don't think I tell you enough!

Thoughts on the priesthood: I don't know if I have a ton of thoughts, but I like to think that women share the priesthood through the men. We've each been given attributes and abilities because of our gender, but the blessings aren't withheld from either of us. I dunno. I'm just a little girl, mommy, I don't have all the answers. (:

I'm sure glad you're all doing well! That's an awesome story about dad! And can you just send me Emma in a padded envelope? (:

I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!

Love, love, love,
Sister Vaughn