Good Tan Lines

Saludos! So good to hear from you and see your fun pictures! We had a fun p-day today. We played futbol and volleyball with the elders in our district. The boys wanted to play dodgeball with coconuts but we didn’t end up doing that. This week I hit my four month mark and I have been reflecting on my life now and how different it is. Mission life is very unique. I made a list of some of the quirks and unique aspects of mission life. 

You might be a missionary if... 

- you make popcorn and look forward to watching The District (The District is dvds we have to watch during our training to learn how to be effective missionaries.)

- your main arsenal for jokes and quotes come from The District

- the weeks feel like days and the days feel like weeks

- the words mail, referencia, and bedtime make our heart skip a bit

- the words companionship inventory white-washing and role play-practice lessons make you cringe 

- you feel naked without your nametag

- you have dreams-nightmares about not being able to find the scripture you want

- your selection of clothes is about as versatile as your selection of food 

- you always have to be prepared to give a thought or talk because you are definitely always the back-up

- you have lost some connection with your first name and it feels like a secret identity you don’t want people to find out. 

- if male investigators or members try to hug you or grab your arm or shoulder you panic and are ready to go Jacki Chan on them, ¨No touchy!!¨

- you can’t remember things that you used to know perfectly i.e song lyrics or movie lines. I always say I´ve passed through the veil, the mission veil. 

- people assume you know everything and are perfect. 

- your tan lines are very good. Very good! 

- you have a weird, probably unhealthy attachment to your day-planner. It’s somewhat of a lifeline. 

- you give the pioneers a run for their money as far as the amount of daily walking goes. 

- when you get home for the night, writing in your journal always seems like a good idea. But going to bed also always seems like a good idea. Going to bed usually wins. 

- you can measure the end of the month by the lack of food in the house. People start getting creative and start making weird creations with their condiments and whatever else is left. 

Life is good. Transfers are in a week, I am getting nervous. We had ward conference yesterday and there was a white family that is vacationing here and attended the sacrament meeting. Later that night when we visited one of our investigators, the investigator was asking me where my mom was. It took me a while to figure out what she meant but finally I figured out that she assumed the white family in sacrament meeting was my family haha. I wish it was my family visiting haha! Miss you lots and love all the photos and letters. xoxo

 

Hermana Christensen