Freeze up and Dye

December 9, 2013 Well Howdy! Ok, actually no one says that in Kansas, but it would be cool if they did :) HI! So this week we had a zone training and they played us a message from President Bell and he said that he got a letter from the 1st presidency saying that they had cut the mission serving periods by 6 months, so sisters would only serve for 12 months, and Elders only got 18. I was in shock. One of the zone leaders started to tear up because he would hit his 18 month mark in two weeks, and he wasn't ready to go home. All the sisters started crying and I was trying so hard not to, but the darn tears still came. I didn't know what I was going to do! I felt so jipped because I had been waiting to serve for so long! and I only had 12 months! I didn't want to come home early! Plus I was already out a month and I was not working nearly as hard or pushing myself as much as I could've been. I was so prepared after the meeting to be like, Sister Phadnis, here's how it's going down! haha! Then they talked to us about diligence and how much better we could be, and all talked about how we had so little time that we couldn't afford to slack off! It was really cool. But yeah, at the very end of it they told us it wasn't real and that we would still be serving 18 months and Elders 2 years. I was so mad!! I was trying so hard to be strong because I knew the prophets were inspired men and it would be all for good! but no, it was a joke. But it did help me realize how much better I could be and how much I have been slacking. So I guess that was the purpose. Oh well :) haha! it was president's idea and we have interviews tomorrow, so I plan on making him feel so bad for making me cry ;) haha! I really do love him so much! He's the sweetest. He called me this morning to ask if I could sing for our Christmas party tomorrow! cool right? haha! Christmas day won't be a day off, we'll still be proselyting so we're just celebrating early. I LOVE CHRISTMAS! I'm so glad that I have the chance to be a missionary for 2 Christmas's instead of just one. I'm ready for the best Christ filled Christmas every! President Monson even said last night the best way to bring Christ into Christmas is to take off the last part of Christmas. Ok, also, Sunday morning we get up and are about to leave for church when the bishop's wife says, girls, it snowed last night, so church might be cancelled. I looked outside and didn't even see any snow on the ground, I kid you not! haha! but the little bit that did snow froze over and made the roads really slick. So I'll give them that ;) But it was extra slippery today because the dew from the night time just builds and builds on it so I totally biffed it walking down the dalely's drive way. My tail bone's a little sore hahah! it was so funny! and it happened again on the way up! so i just ended up crawling on my hands and knees... in my dress. :) hahaha! But Sister Daley says she has something that you attach to the bottoms of your shoes that help for walking on ice. I really don't know how biking's going to work out this week. because if the tires slip we might fall into the road and people can't stop as fast as they'd like.... So we might just be walking a LOT :) Steffanie's court was this Tuesday and we visited her before to help prep her and invite the spirit. It must have worked because she said that her ex husband got his but whipped! haha! She was so happy and grateful for us. She kept saying that she didn't want to brag because it wasn't a happy situation but she did because she got Hannah full time! We then read 1Nephi and talked about the tender mercies of the Lord and challenged her to pick out one everyday that he gives to her. She made us dinner the next night and her ex husband tagged along. It wasn't as awkward as it should've been but you could tell that he was trying to be super nice so that she would give him some things legal wise. After sister Phadnis dyed her hair a nice burnt orange and had extra dye left so she was like, Sister Herrin, let me dye a piece of you hair!!! I was like no way!!!! but then I gave in and she did. haha! it's hardly different at all and it was just a little piece by my neck, so you can't even see it. But I still dyed a piece of my hair. Which is awesome :) haha! We need to encourage her to keep her commitments better because she wasn't at church again this week which was super discouraging. She's just not making it a priority and other things keep getting in the way. So we're working with her. But I love her so much! :) Mom I want you to be her best friend. :) Grizz is now having nightly prayers with his wife. HOW GREAT IS THAT??? He is improving so much and I really love him! We had dinner with him twice this week and both times Grizz and I would get something a little less healthy, like pizza or sandwiches while sister phadnis and sister racobs would eat the more healthy things. It's pretty great hahaha! But Saturday we were talking about the word of wisdom and somehow we got onto the topic of God's character. Grizz doesn't believe that Heavenly Father can answer every one's prayer at the same time and that he cares enough to do so. He doesn't think that he knows the future because he says that would take away our agency. And he doesn't believe that the prophets are called of God. He just has so many issues and questions and it brakes my heart to hear it. I just want him to feel Heavenly Fathers love for him the way I do. I don't know. But we had to pray a few times to re invite the spirit because he sometimes gets upset but every time we did we felt better. He just doesn't associate it with the spirit. ahhh we have to really work with him. But I have faith that Heavenly Father will answer his prayers and that he will soften his sweet heart. It will work out ok :) Because he really is doing so much better compared to before! :) Karen's doing great and she made me a necklace! and Sister Phadnis some earrings! She's doing really well but just gets lonely and bored sometimes. So we told her about family history work and how awesome all of that is!! wooo!!!!! Well I'm out of time. I love you all and I hope it warms up! for your sake and mine!!!! The church is so true!!! Share it! :) Love Sister Herrin