Sometimes Life is Just a Disney Tune

Oi Familia!! Como Estao? Life here in GA is amazing as usual. This week was pretty spectacular. Just keeping busy! Spoiler: we have a baptism this week but more to come on that next email!! :)

This week I thought I'd steal one of Trev's ideas. So my thoughts will be italicized as I show you a day in the life of Sister Hawkins:

Alarm goes off. Snooze. Alarm. Snooze. Stumbles out of bed.

(Cue Tangled)

6:30 am it's the usual morning lineup

Why can't sleep just count as working out?

Do a few squats some lunges and maybe a pull up

Take a 5 minute rest, I'm sure that really counts! 

Now that I'm hungry gosh, what do I want to eat?

Eggs and bacon..maybe something sweet

Here comes my comp, what's that? Somethings smells like feet

Wondering what is she cooking now...

And I keep wondering and wondering and wondering and wondering what is that burning smell?

See sink. Sigh. Do dishes. Feel satisfied. Sit down at desk and pull out books. 

(Cue Little Mermaid)

Look at these books, aren't they neat?

Wouldn't you think my collection's complete?

Wouldn't you think I'm the girl, the girl who knows everything!

Look at these chapters, treasures untold

How many wonders can one bookcase hold?

Lookin' around here you'd think

"Ah man all that's not fitting in my suitcase"

I've got PMG, scriptures and pamphlets

I've got grammar workbooks and vocab

Wanna learn Portuguese? I'm your girl! 

But who cares, no big deal... I'm not there....

I wanna be where I'll apply what I learn

I wanna see, wanna see em convert

Getting on their knees to.. what's that word again? Oh orar. 

Down where they preach

in Portuguese

And where they walk all day in the sun

Maybe I'll stay

In Georgia clay

thanks Chevy cruz...

Finish studies. Call the whole world. Twice. Turn off all the light...again. Walk out door. 

(Cue Beauty and the Beast)

Little town, full of little people

Everyone is a child of God

Douglasville, are you ready for the

Gospel truth?

Hi! Good morning! Hey y'all! 

Look here we go again we're missionaries

We've got our books and tags and skirts

Everyone gives us a stare

Maybe then a little glare

We'll see the best of them and send a smile to share!

Ohhhh isn't it amazing! 

I am called to love the people here

I need to be inviting

So they can discover who the Lord wants them to be!

Make it to service opportunity. Awkwardly change clothes in car. Gather house cleaning supplies.

(Cue Mulan)

Let's get down to business

to defeat.. the dirt

Did they send for elders?

No they sent..for us!

The sisters know the rage of dirt

the elders haven't got a clue

Somehow I'll make a Temple out of you

Be a sister 

you must be swift as a coursing river

Be a sister

Clean up the dirt in all the corners

Be a sister

With the force of unfailing Spirit

Persistent as the ringing of our phone

Answer phone. Team-up confirmed and appointment set. Do a little happy dance. Get sevles to appointment. Ring bell. Chat. Say prayer, follow up, teach doctrine.. watch investigator start to understand...

(Cue Tangled)

And at last he sees the light!

And it's like the fog has lifted

And it's warm and clear and bright

As the Spirit fills the room

All at once, everything looks different

Now that he knows truth

Leave with commitment. Close with prayer. 

Time to be guided by the Spirit...time to find. Get to store, carry Book of Mormon. Look around for someone who stands out to me. Feel discouraged. Take a breath.

(Cue Pochohontas)

I look once more,

just beyond the frozen food

A family of four

I know I've seen them before

I find the courage to walk ahead

Just beyond the frozen food

For me..waiting for me!

Make appointment to see new friends again. Check watch. Gasp! Run to car. Ponder for 20 minutes while driving to dinner appointment.

(Cue Hercules)

I have often dreamed, of a far off place

Where a great warm welcome will be waiting for me

Where the crowds will cheer, when they see my face

And a voice keeps saying this is where I'm called to be

I'll be there someday, I can go the distance

I will find my way, if I can be strong

I know every mile will be worth my while

When I go the distance I'll be right where I belong

Arrive late to dinner appointment. Chat with family while dinner finishes. Discover fried butter on the table. Sigh

(Cue Beauty and the Beast)

Be their guest!

Be their guest!

Put my stomach to the test

tie my napkin 'round my neck, Cherie!

And they'll provide the rest

Fried butter!

More fried butter!

Why we only fry in butter

Try the butter

It's delicious

Don't believe me? Ask the Misses!

They can talk, with their mouth

After all this is the South!

Still the dinners here are never second best!

Go on get comfortable

soon you'll be very full

'Cuz you're their guest

Be their guest!

Be their guest!

Share spiritual thought. Find mobility to get to car. Waddle out the door. Squeeze into car. Drive home and check mail....

(Cue Hercules)

If there's a prize for rotten judgement,

I guess I've already won that

I should have guessed I'd get no letters

But it could make my life so much better

 (Muses):

Who'd you think you're kidding

You're behind in writing them back

You know that they love you

They just got their tax return back

Probably on vacation...

Don't you know you're still the one they're thinking of

No chance, no way, they have time I know it

(muses): They work they school, just get over it

Ooooh it's okay now, they will write me someday....

Get home. Plan. Throw Pj's on. Report on conference call. Crawl to bed. Write one thing I learned and pray. Think of family at home and in Douglasville.

(Cue Tarzan)

"Come stop you're worrying they will be alright"

I'll do what's right and hold on tight

He will protect from all around them

He will be there, stop, don't fret

For 18 months it seems so long

But everyday he'll keep them safe and warm.

This bond between us can't be broken

They all know that I love them

'Cuz you'll be in my heart

yes you'll be in my heart.

From this day on now and forever more

You'll be in my heart

No matter what they say

You'll be here in my heart.

Always.

Love you all :)

Sister Hawkins

 

Pretty blossoms!

We gave a salamadar to the Elders in return for the frog!

Zone conference. See? The butter is making me fat! 

Sis P took this pic of Douglasville in Spring!

A Day in the Life of a Sister Mish

S is for...Sister SieHawk.....and Snow!

beep. beep. beep. BEEP. BEEP. BEEEEEEEEEP!

The room is dark. There is nothing but the sound of shuffling sheets and blankets. Automatically I kneel by my bedside and pray. At the same moment "amen" leaves my thoughts, my clothes and toiletries are in hand as I stumble out the door to the bathroom. Immediately, fear and alarm fills my body as I scramble to think of an escape from the blinding UFO lights. Oh wait. It's only the empty hallway. Maybe I'm still half dreaming.

Dressed with badges and all, the sisters walk outside toward breakfast together. As I step into the icy tundra, the breath is taken straight out from my lungs and I can hardly adjust to the drastic temperature change... not to mention the foot of snow on the ground. Pretty sure my nose just froze solid on my face.

Breakfast goes by and it's off to class we go. Of the 15 waking hours of my day, about 13 is spent within these same four walls. The fight begins between stories of the Book of Mormon and my heavy eyelids. Despite the drowsiness though, personal study hour is without doubt my favorite time of the day. I learn so much! 

It feels as though I've only just opened the Book of Mormon when Irmao Henry walks in to begin class. The 11 members of our district pull out our books and struggle to fit them on our 12 x 12 inch desks. Amidst this 3 hour class we study, teach investigators, learn new teaching skills, study some more and hang on to as much vocabulary, grammar and energy as we possibly can. And did I mention?  We study. 

Lunch break! And a much needed one at that! Even though the food is not that great, haha. But before I know it, it's time to work again. This time my district ventures to a new room in the same building, mind you the same floor, but new nonetheless! I might add that studying Portuguese on the computer really does help to spruce things up a bit. We step into the computer room and in that very moment, a wave of drowsiness overcomes me again. I can see the same happening to all the others in my district. Later, maybe I'll conduct a scientific experiment and report back with statistic graphs and results.. ha. 

Ah! And now we're back (from outer space!! hehe) to the 4-1-4 (my classroom). This time Irmao Williams instructs our 3 hour class similar to the one before. Which means, you guessed it, studying again!

And sometimes, we're just plain goofy! (photo courtesy of Sis Menasco)

The day ends with dinner, companionship study, intense gym time (thanks to Pinterest workouts) and dear elder letters mostly from Mom and Dad and a few loving friends. Then 10:30 rolls around and I'm kneeling right where my day began at my bedside praying. Praying for all my loved ones; for family and friends and my ward back home. For all those who may struggle to recognize just how blessed we are even in the hardest of trials. And then I thank my Father in Heaven for this truly wonderful life and for the precious truths I learn every single day. 

Finally I fall into bed and close my eyes. The room is dark, but I'm illuminated with the Spirit of God. And all I can think is "Tudo bem, tudo bem."

----------------

I thought I'd build a little picture of how my day looks here in the MTC. Before coming here I had no clue what missionaries did to prep. Now that I know I figured it'd be interesting to show friends and family back home what being a missionary-in-training is really like. Keep in mind that this is just an example of a general day here. Not every day is the same. Other days we have service projects, devotionals and then preparation days like today! If anyone has questions to ask, post on the comments in the facebook group or message my mom and I'll respond to them in my next letter home! Thanks for all of the letters, love and support! Till next week!!

Ama,

Sister Hawkins

P.S. CONGRATS to Hayley Meise and her call to serve in Spanish speaking Oregon! I'm SOOOOO excited for you Hayley!

Note from the Mom: Ok everyone, I have a special request for my girl.  Next Friday, December 13th, as some of you may know, is her BIRTHDAY! PLEASE take a little time out of your week if you can and send her a Birthday card!  It would be awesome if we could just flood her with cards, she would LOVE it. Even if it's not a card, send a Dear Elder letter, or one via snail mail. Thank you, thank you!  Here's her address at the MTC:

Sister Sienna Hawkins

Missionary Training Center

2005 N 900 E

Box 120 BRA-JDF

PROVO, UT 84604