Mormon Hogwartz

Hello my loveliest Family!

I finally get some time to email everyone. It's six am on my first p-day (Thursday's) and Sister Nelson and I got up early to do laundry. Turns out everyone and their dirty G's get up early to do laundry....dumb Mormons. :) So this is seriously Mormon Hogwarts. A few comparisons. Instead of little wizards everywhere practicing their spells, there are little missionaries practicing the invitation to be baptized in their language (Which lets be honest, most of the time sounds like a spell coming from us newbs). Instead of dementors (creepy ghosts that still souls at hogwarts), I reside among glorificators--always happy, free-compliment-giving, zealous missionaries. It is a grand ol' time.

Anyways....here are the details. After saying goodbye some elder passing in the hall said, "Sister, you'll live dry your tears." Um hello, I just said goodbye to my family jerk! Mostly though the tears were dried and into the work I went. I was ushered through a bunch of rooms where they draw your blood, label you with a tatoo number...jk....it just felt like that. I got my tag, rooming assignment and books (17 lbs worth!!!). I dropped my stuff off at the room and was ushered to the classroom.

Thus it Begins

Hi folks,
    This is my last post as Christine. From here on out Sister Alley will be doing the writing (how strange, it kind of feels like an alternative personality...). I definitely have no idea what the next 18 months will be like but I am grateful for this amazing opportunity; that the Lord trusts me to teach His children. Naturally, I am anxious but I am completely at peace. Saying goodbye to those I cherish has been ridiculously hard, and oh mercy how the tears have flown, but I am blessed to have so many wonderful people supporting me. Thank you awesome people!!!

Stay tuned. Thus it begins.

Love always,
      Christine

Called to Serve

Hi folks, 

Upon the request of many homies, my personal blog has been converted to a mission blog. It will be updated weekly with stories and pictures by my fantastic, technology savvy sister Liz. Mad props to her. However, this does not mean that you can read all about me without sending me updates about you, yes I'm talking to YOU. I promise to respond to every letter and let's be honest, who doesn't love getting mail! 

We will start at the beginning- How/when did I decide to serve a mission? 

Over this past summer, I began to seriously dread the approaching semester. I procrastinated registering for classes somehow convincing myself that perhaps if I did not register for classes the summer would be endless. This was highly unusual for me. I usually LOVE school. In the past I had taken 18 credits each semester and loved my pre-med track. Somehow, something had changed. My parents encouraged to register for a light load of easier classes. Being the oh-so-obedient daughter that I am, I registered for 12 credits and school started once again.

However, I still wasn't happy. A relationship I valued was not going where I thought/hoped it would,  and I was beginning to feel very lost. One night I fell upon my patriarchal blessing and felt myself being nudge in the direction of a mission. I decided to read the entire Book of Mormon within the semester with one question in my mind; to serve or not to serve? I highlighted in yellow anything I felt was an answer to my question. By October 1st, my Book of Mormon was completed highlighted in yellow. I had my answer.

Single Cruise #2

Hello again,
    My last post was about the Party Cruise (almost 1 year ago...what?!?!) so I figured I might as well just follow that up with Party Cruise #2. My older sister Liz and I decided to be brave and booked (thanks, Mom) a Singles Cruise with ~350 other single adults. We stopped in Cozumel, Mexico; Costa Maya, Mexico; Isla Roahtan, Honduras; and Grand Caymen, UK. Besides these awesome Ports, my favorite aspect of the Singles Cruise was how warm, welcome, and overall accepting every single person proved to be. I felt 100% comfortable walking about to a group of random people, introducing myself, and tagging along. Overall, I had a wonderful experience and am grateful I shared this adventure with my sister!