Hey there!!!
This week was amazing :) I'm going to start with telling you all
about my birthday and conference. Friday morning I woke up and Sister
Kennar had a present for me. She had bought me some earrings on p-day
and wouldn't let me see what she bought. I like them a lot and have
worn them almost every day since I got them. They are fun. Then while
we were tracting (yes we got to do my favorite activity on my birthday.
Sister Kennar hates tracting) we got a call from the Ellenbrook Sisters
in our district who sang a beautiful version of Happy Birthday. It made
me feel awesome. Then we went to lunch at Kylie Flavell-Brown's home.
She is one of our ward missionaries. She is a single mum of 2 super
awesome boys. Regan is the one in the picture. He's darling. Kylie
asked Sister Kennar through the week what I needed for my birthday so
she surprised me with a curling iron! All of the pictures that you've
seen with my hair curled has been done with a straightener. I've gotten
pretty good at curling it like that but I was super grateful to see a
curling iron. I've been trying to find a good one since I got into this
country but we never go to the right shops for that as a missionary. It
was a great surprise present. Saba was also at lunch and she bought me
a new red watch :) It was super cute of her.
Then for dinner that
night we went over to the Pearsons. They are the best family. They
made an incredible lasagna for dinner (complete with garlic bread) and
then bought this massive beautiful chocolate strawberry cake.
While we
were there their son rang in from the mines and Sister Pearson gave me
the phone so Caleb could wish me a Happy Birthday too! I left their
home that night and just wanted to cry because I felt soo at home with
them. I haven't met a family that I've been that close to yet on my
mission. The Berrymans took us right under their wing but just sitting
at the Pearsons feels like sitting at home or and grandmas and just
talking with family. They haven't been to church in a long while. I
said that since it was my birthday I get to share my favorite Book of
Mormon story. I shared everything I know about Abinadi and bore my
testimony to the family. The spirit was so strong. I was grateful for
the knowledge and testimony that I have and for how much it's grown over
the last 20 years of life and especially the last 7 months. They
surprised me with two bags of peanut butter M&M's from the American
store. I didn't even know there was an American store. I have no idea
where it even is but if it ends up being in my area one of these
transfers I will be one happy camper. I had forgotten that we had even
talked about peanut butter M&Ms at their house before. It made me
feel really loved.
Then we gapped it right over to Jesse Pappas' house
for MCM. We had a quick meeting and then his wife went down stairs and
like 5 mins later asked Jesse if he would finish the meeting so that we
could all leave. We came down stairs and they had made a cake for me as
well! I had trouble sleeping this night from too much sugar. It was
cool to see how many people just wanted to help make my day special.
Then we went home and our house was completely decorated from top to
bottom outside. I counted this morning as I cleaned up. There were 115
heart shaped sticky notes outside. That was from our District Leader
Elder Beck and his companion Elder Faitua. It was just awesome! Then
we went inside and our Sister Training Leaders Sister Manu and Sister
Teriipaia had decorated our room. There were glow sticks leading from
our front door to our bedroom. They had candy and fruit and pictures
and balloons everywhere! I slightly teared up at all of the love that I
felt from when I woke up until I went to sleep. It was just awesome!
General Conference was amazing!!! It's so weird watching it a week
late but I loved what Robert D. Hales said. He said that it doesn't
matter where or how we are gathered to watch conference all that matters
is that we are there to be edified by the spirit. Even though I was
just watching a recording and not watching it live I still felt the
Spirit stronger than I have in a long time. Some of my favorite talks
were Brother Dube's talk about not looking back. I related it to
missionary work of course. I have seen so many less actives that have
served faithful full time missions and then they return here and just
fall away. I had someone say, "But he's a return missionary." During a
conversation about one of the ward members. When Brother Dube said to
not look back I thought about that. I agreed that he has served a
mission but now it's time for him to see what his priesthood
responsibilities are now that he is home and to further his missionary
efforts. I know I wont be perfect when I return and I'm not saying that
this brother is unable to change but it really opened my eyes to the
title of "Return Missionary." I loved the theme of Member
Missionaries. We as full-time missionaries really can't do this work
without members help. We've been blessed with some incredible members
in the ward that I am in now. I also loved President Uchtdorf's talk but
then again who didn't? I loved loved loved the musical number from the
family choir at the beginning of that Saturday afternoon session. It
was so moving. I loved every bit of it. I felt like Elder
Christofferson's talk rebuked me a bit. I felt the weight of being a
woman in the gospel really fall upon my shoulders. I have a list of
things from different quotes from this conference that I'm going to immediately start changing and applying to myself. I feel like most
conference's are that wake-up call to the things you can do better. The
Sunday morning Session overall was my favorite. President Eyring will
always be my favorite speaker. His stories always touch me. Sister
Oscarson and Elder Nelson's talks really had a strong impact on me as
well. I don't know why those hit me as strong as they did. I was
definitely spiritually fed from this conference.
Other random things from this week. If I had to title October
something this is what it would be, "October: The month of vicious mosquitoes and mating magpies." I have acquired 14 mosquito bites this
week. 5 of which swelled up really nicely and they all have tried my
self control as to not itching the living tar out of them. I have tried
all kinds of things on them but over all I just have to hold my hands
in my lap and try to get my mind off of the itch.
It is Spring here and
the Magpie birds are very territorial. Sister Kennar the other day
while we were biking was attacked by one as we rode down the street. I
felt really useless as I saw it sweep at her head 2 or 3 different
times. She finally turned off the footpath and the bird left her
alone. That was a sight that I won't soon forget haha.
With it being Spring we have some days where I think we are finally
going to have sunshine from here on out and then it just rains the next
day. I sang "Rain rain go away!" The other day when it started
raining during comp study. It's been awful coming from winter into
winter. I should have had a summer by now and my body is just craving
vitamin D from the sun. I can't wait for the hot weather.
For District meeting last week we did my favorite activity so far
on my mission. Everyone realized that I am the oldest kid after we
finished this activity. We were told by Elder Beck that we were going
to draw a story from the Book of Mormon, share them with the district,
and you had to find two other scriptures that backed up the gospel
principle that we can learn from that story. It was awesome!!! I'll
send you a picture of what I drew. You should all try it for an FHE.
It was really a fun activity. I did it with a family in out ward and
even the 5 year old drew and awesome picture of Nephi to which she sang,
"I will go and do!" It was really cute.
That's all for this week I love you all and thank every single one
of you for your birthday wishes. This was the greatest birthday :)
Love you all!
Sister Shayne
p.s.
Thank you all sooo much for the birthday package! I love it! The letters were great!
Dad- I'm sorry you are feeling old. I'm feeling it with you! I
can't believe I'm 20. It's such a crazy thought that I'm entering my
3rd decade of life. Sunday was really special because 7 months ago I
entered the MTC and 12 years ago I entered the waters of baptism :) A
decision that has effected my life and now I've seen it bless so many
others as well!
Mom- Thank you for all of the updates about everyone! Thank you for
the eating tips as well. I actually cut out buying bread from my
shopping list about 5 weeks ago so I'm glad I'm sort of on the right
track. I really appreciate the help. I'm glad that you all get to be a
part of Zack's setting apart this week. I can't wait to hear all about
it. Give him a big hug for me before he gets set apart! I was glad to
hear about PJ and Jacob.
Soph- I loved your letter. I love being able to chat with you on
p-days. School sounds just awesome! Mr. Candland and Ms. Schuler are
the best!!! I love them. Tell them I said hi :) I can't wait to hear
about your first swim meet of the season and how the play goes. Sounds
like you are doing well and staying busy.
Josh- Your birthday sounded awesome! Sorry about your ankle. I
hope it's healed alright. I still am in awe at how much you have
grown. I saw your school picture and just wanted to cry because my
little brother is big and is becoming a man. It's crazy! I can't
believe that Tayson gets home soon! That was crazy news to me! I'm glad
PV beat DHHS at Homecoming! That's the best thing I've heard for our
school in a long time! It looks to be a great year for PV!
Ben- Way to run the Color Me Rad with Alex! Mom said you two
finished first! That's soo awesome! I'm glad that school is going
well. Crazy that they got new teachers for 4th grade. I'm sure it will
be great.
David- I love hearing updates on your football and all of the fun
things that you are doing. Tell mom to send lots of pictures of your
football and things. I loved your school picture. I can't wait to show
it off to everyone :)
I was ecstatic to see a letter from Chase and the Cluff boys! That
seriously was the best birthday present ever! Thank you for all of the
things in the package. I'm grateful for the necklace that Grandpa and
Grandma sent me as well. It's going to be perfect! I can't wait to
write everyone back.
I'll be sending Christmas presents during this next transfer
sometime. Mom is the only one who can open these boxes and wrap the
gifts. Mom's will already be partially wrapped so she wont know what
she is getting. I hope you all like what I'll send.
I got a letter from Brad and Ashley about baby Henry!!!!!! I'm soo excited for them!
I loved that they sang Love at Home for one of the Conference numbers. It just made me smile :)
And last but not least I hope you all know that I love you with all
my heart. Sometimes my letters may be dull or not very good but I
really do want you to know that even the times that I'm a dumb big
sister I love you and miss you more than you know. I can't believe how
fast time has flown and I'll be home before you know it. I love you all
and can't wait to hear all about your fun weekend.
All my love from down under,
Sister Shayne
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