Hello world!!!
First of all, let me just say... my niece is adorable. I feel like I should have one of those passive-aggressive bumper stickers that hails the, "my niece is cuter than yours" or something. BIG MAC ATTACK!!! Mckenzie is the best. (Mom, can you put that horse picture up on the blog? Seriously, the world needs to meet Mac!)
Monday we find out the scoop for the next 6 weeks. Changes go in effect on Wednesday. If I go to serve in another state in the US at all, it would be starting Wednesday. I don't really think I'll go...that's my gut. Some sisters leave, but not all. I'd say maybe half go. ANYWAYS. That's just a heads up. So technically, next week I could be writing to you from Alaska. Ha! That'd be the day. I have 4 more 6-week transfers. Woah. Does that rock your world? Does that make you want to get the party plans in action? Get excited. I'm not sure if the Bay Area can handle me again. They needed an 18 month breather methinks.
ALRIGHT. I think I'm babbling. I'm not even looking at my notes. I do take notes, you know. Throughout the week, I'll jot down things I want to mention in this e-mail. So....a few:
- THANK YOU LISA for the darling "classic Barbie" card! I miss you so much. I miss your Monets. I miss snacking with you. And bike rides. And looking at bugs and flowers. Seriously. I am SO looking forward to just syncing up our lives again. LOVE LOVE!!
- THANK YOU Jennie for the card!! I loved the art!! Very classy. Very Jennie. Thanks for thinking about me!! Love you so! Hey--can you send me a picture of Spencer's dog?
- KJESTINE!!! TUSIND TAK PIGE FOR DIN SODE DANSK GAVE!!! I loved it so much!!! Ugh. I miss you SO MUCH!!! Happy birthday to YOU this week!!!
- JUST to let you all know---missionaries can be fashionable. It's not breaking any sort of commandment from God to love what you wear. Phew. AND just to prove it, the missionary department thought up some stylish new ideas. (MOM, you're going to love this. Seriously.) The first time I saw this, I felt like I was doing a little online shopping at Nordstrom. Not so. Just strengthening my testimony of being human, not a robot missionary with starchy clothes and bricks for shoes. Basically, when sharing the happiest message in the world, we can look the part.
- Hey-o! Mormons take on New York City!! TIME SQUARE has a new add spread. LOVE THIS!!
- Laie Temple Dedication Celebration!! Yay for Temples!!
- I'm going to miss Sister Kemsley!! She goes home on Wednesday!!!
- And, I love Sister Chen. She's really incredible. She's one of the most supportive companions I've ever had. The other night, we were getting ready to go to sleep and I was a little restless. So, naturally, I clean. I was wiping down the counters in the kitchen, channeling my inner Willow Street. We go to sleep the latest 10:30pm. It was a few minutes til 10:30, and I turn around and there is Sister Chen, with a warm smile and "hey, stop being crazy Sister Harmer" eyes. I'm really learning that we all deserve supportive people in our lives. I hope that I can be that for other people!!! She's a gift.
- NICOLIOLIO!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THE STICKERS and moolah and love. SERIOUSLY. BEST week ever.
- Made a cake for Sister Chen this week as an "I'll miss these 6 weeks" goodbye. She reminds me of "Stich", so I naturally included that on the cake.
- So, every night Sister Chen and I prayerfully plan for the next day. Tuesday night, we planned to meet someone on Wednesday from 7-8pm. We planned for 1 lonely guest and felt like we should focus on the atonement and a living prophet. Enter Spencer. 7:15pm we met Spencer. A 17 year old from Utah. Loves to rock climb. Likes REI and Cliff bars. Hallelujah. We started talking with him. We went up to the roof of the conference center. That's one of my favorite thinking places at Temple Square. It reminds me of the roof at the Oakland Temple. He's been through a lot. Really questioned the existence of God or not. And the importance of a living prophet. And the power of the atonement. Me too. The atonement is why I am on a mission. The restored gospel of Jesus Christ is the only way to take full opportunity of that atonement. I love the atonement. So beautiful.
Welp...time is of the Emril Lagasseeee essence!!! BAM! Out.
--Sister Hams
Parental Note: We got the following email yesterday from Sister Ku from South Korea. Amy will not be going out into the field beyond Temple Square. She will likely serve out her mission there.
Hello Sister Harmer,
My name is Sister Ku from South Korea. I know, very exotic. By the way, your daughter is now a zone leader and her new p-day is on tuesday so she won't be able to email you till next Tuesday. Her new companion is from Taiwan, Sister Yao who is my companion till today.
Sister Ku
