Christmas Dinner Mission Style!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Feliz Navidad y Prospero Año!

I hope ya'll are enjoying the holidays! 

For me, Noche Buena(christmas eve) was pretty chill but SUPER cold, and it rained ALL day! We worked and then ate dinner at a members house. Christmas day was good cuz I got to talk to my family! WOW! Everyone has really changed/grown! Also we ate Christmas dinner at home, it was Christmas dinner mission style! Ham, potatoes and gravy, stuffing, jello salad, and chocolate pie! YUM! American food! It was fun too to open gifts from some of my friends here in the mission. 

Can I just say I really miss real heaters in houses? We have a tiny little space heater and there are nights that it just isn't  enough. I also miss vacuums. I haven't used one of those in almost a year, and a house with carpet and no vacuum is a sin. 

So there is a Christmas song here in Mexico that goes like this "mira como beben los peses en el rio, les beben, y beben, y velven a beber por ver Dios nacido,..."

Basically, it says that the fish are drinking cuz Jesus is born. WEIRD! So I asked my comp about the song and she told me the fish are drunk...nice... hahaha

Anyway, something I missed this Christmas was watching Norah's Christmas Gift. It's a movie by the Church and I love it! It always makes me think of my lil sis, Marie. "MOM! I want to watch Hallelujah!" haha! Good times! 

Funny story- So one of the sisters from the other companionship in the branch fell or something and bruised her hips really badly, so my last comp remembered that she had a bottle of oregano essential oil that another sister had given to her, and told her that it was for "warming" tired muscles. Uh, I don't think so! Oregano for those of you who don't know is a VERY strong oil, that can actually burn your skin. Well, my old comp used it on her comp and it did just that... it burned her comps skin. So I get a call from Valdivia saying, "Hna. Shingleton HELP! I don't know what to do!" I could hear her comp crying in the background. I couldn't help but laugh because I had told Valdivia to NEVER use oregano like that. Well, I ended up playing doctor. DOCTOR SHINGLETON TO THE RESCUE. Nice. lol. Poor Hna. Del Barrio.

Well love yall! Hna.Shingletonxoxox

Be of good cheer...

I’m Tired I’m worn

My heart is heavy

From the work it takes

To keep on breathing

I’ve made mistakes

I’ve let my hope fail

My soul feels crushed

By the weight of this world

And I know that you can give me rest

So I cry out with all that I have left

Let me see redemption win

Let me know the struggle ends

That you can mend a heart

That’s frail and torn

I wanna know a song can rise

From the ashes of a broken life

And all that’s dead inside can be reborn

Cause I’m worn

I know I need to lift my eyes up

But I'm too weak

Life just won’t let up

And I know that you can give me rest

So I cry out with all that I have left

Let me see redemption win

Let me know the struggle ends

That you can mend a heart

That’s frail and torn

I wanna know a song can rise

From the ashes of a broken life

And all that’s dead inside can be reborn

Cause I’m worn

My prayers are wearing thin

Yeah, I’m worn

Even before the day begins

Yeah, I’m worn

I’ve lost my will to fight

I’m worn

So, heaven come and flood my eyes

Let me see redemption win

Let me know the struggle ends

That you can mend a heart

That’s frail and torn

I wanna know a song can rise

From the ashes of a broken life

And all that’s dead inside can be reborn

Cause all that’s dead inside will be reborn

Though I’m worn

Yeah I’m worn~Tenth avenue north

This week...ugh! We had combios yuck. President called my name I stood up he anounced who my new companion was going to be I was in shock, then he named me senior companion NOOOOO! I am not happy Bob, not happy! To make matters worse, I feel like a mother who is constantly like, "Where is my baby? Where did she go?" Sometimes my companion just takes off without a word to me and it's really stressful and annoying to me. It's a bit like herding cats. JOY!(sarcastic smile added)

My new comp is interesting, I am still trying to decide how I feel about her, I WANT MY OLD COMPANION BACK!!! To bad life is slightly cruel and that won't happen. At least I am pretty sure Hna. Bravo(my current comp) will only be my companion for six weeks more. HALLELUJAH! The only downside to that is I have the yucky feeling I may end up training...that scares me spitless. 

This week we had our branch Christmas party, I ended up accompanying the RS choir with my guitar and then singing two solos a cappella. Scary, but fun.

Here in Mexico piñatas are for Christmas parties, so of course there were piñatas at this party. It was cool because they were full of candy, clementines, sugarcane, and who knows what other weird fruits. FUN! Sadly, as missionaries we only got to watch. teehee

Right now the church has a video out called "El es la dádiva" I think in English it's "He is the Gift"...not 100% sure. Anyway, the stake president decided to cancel all other activities from Friday to Sunday so that we could have an el es la dádiva missionary activity. Basically the missionaries go to the stake center, give tours to show the video, the members bring food and friends, and the primary sings, etc etc etc. Awesome idea, right? Well it was REALLY, and I mean really, poorly planed and no one showed up, so we missionaries stood out in the cold scary dark street contacting people, asking if they would like to pass and watch the video, and see inside a mormon church. Well, needless to say the people manda nos a la goma...they blew us off. FUN! Then the elders started to sing...it was so funny. They were all over the place lol, at least that was fun. haha. I have to say though, this activity was an EPIC FAIL! lol. 

Oh hey I got super awesome earings in the tiangies(street market) this week, they are unicorns! Yup, ya heard me, unicorns. They are so spiffy. Teehee!

I got super sick this week and super depressed, I still don't feel so hot. When my ex ex companion, Hna. Monarrez, the sister training leader called the other day, I just had a meltdown. She was all like, "On a scale from 1 to 10, how are you?" I was like, "4.5" Yup, that good. I don't like feeling like crap. I want to be happy again!

Two months ago Hna. Monarrez and I contacted a chick and she kinda blew us off. The other day we went to eat at a restaurant thing that a member owns and the girl was there, and she was like, "Hey, what do you have to do to serve a mission? I want to be a missionary and get baptized." I about died. I was all like, "Say what?!" Anyway we are now teaching her, and she has a baptism date, it's cool cuz she really gets things, just pray that she will come to church this week. 

Pues...Feliz Navidad prospero año y felicidad! Les quiero mucho! hna. Shingleton xoxoxox

I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas

'm dreaming of a white Christmas
Just like the ones I used to know
Where the tree tops glisten
And children listen
To hear sleigh bells in the snow

Random thought: I really miss snow at Christmas time. :( It's a bummer really.

Well this week has been interesting. Monday, I went shopping with my mission aunt ,Hna. Abril, but there was a TON of traffic and so we only had time to buy earings, the nice thing is that they are real silver and were cheap. They also have the ball back so I can sleep in them YAY!

Later we had the mission Christmas party. It was all right. My zone made a choir and we sang 'The First Noel'. I sang the first part alone, and then everyone together, and then at the end I had to hit some HIGH opera like notes alone. Everyones jaws dropped at that. ROCK ON! Then later I sang Mi ancla or Anchor by Mindy Gledhil in Spanish and English while an elder played the piano for me, but he kinda messed up lol. It worked out nice, though. Yeah, I'm famous in the mission now. lol. But I know without God I could never sing like I do. 

Then on the 11th it was like a scene from the book Fablehaven, when it's midsummer night and no one can leave the house because the fairies are have a riotous party outside, yeah that's pretty much the 11th and 12th of Dec here. It's el dia de la virgincita de Guadelupe. So yeah HUGE PARTY for two days super dangeours for missionaries. We didn't work all day the 12th, so we cleaned the house and chilled out. 

Sunday was weird. When sacrament meeting started there where only 18 people present. Not cool. 

Also we got the call that my comp has combios! WHAT?!?! NO! We only had five weeks together! WEIRD! Pray for me my options for new comp are not very promising. 

Now all my plans for Christmas are messed up. At least I get to talk to the fam in 10 days! YAY! 

Well love yall! 

Hna.Shingleton xoxox

Christmas!

Welll this week was not really anything special. Yeah it was my birthday, that was good. Probably the strangest B-day I have ever had. Almost no one knew it was my birthday. Hna. Turcios called at six in the morning to sing the Spanish birthday song, but I was still half asleep haha. 

It was kinda fun because in the afternoon I received a text from Hna.Cristina, then a phone call, she was all like, "Hey I was just thinking about you, and I had this feeling I needed to get a hold of you." Then I was like, "What a miracle, cuz it's my birthday. She was like, "Oh, yeah, it is!" So that was a fun little birthday miracle.

We also ate cheesecake! Thanks, Mom! It was a TON of candles to light. lol!

Then our neighbor who is a member gave me a cute pillow she had made. FUN! It feels rather strange to be twenty. Idk if I like it. :P

Also THANK YOU to all y'all who sent B-day and Christmas money! I really apreciate it. 

The rest of the week was kinda, eh, but what ev. 

Things are really starting to look like Christmas here, lights, trees, music. It's cool.

I also got to watch the church Christmas devotional, it was good. I would have liked it better in English. It was funny in the end cuz all the Americans were singing 'Silent Night' and nobody else was singing, well apart from Vally(my companion) she kinda knows the song. 

This week my voice is going to be VERY tired I will be singing in choirs and alone a gazillion times. Wish me luck. I have "performances" Weds and Sat and then nex week too. Fun stuff! I just wish I was singing in English it's a ton easier. 

Sorry this post is short there isn't much else to talk about. 

Well love yall! Hermana Shingletonxoxox

Me, Myself, and I

Well I'm 20! So, I thought I'd write about some of my fave things...

I like puppies, the color light tan, I like serving the lord, hiking and volleyball...hahaha! JK

Movie: Lord of the Rings, Emma, etc

Song: 'Dream a Little Dream of Me' and 'Radio' (clean) 

Singer: Katy Pery, Lana Del Rey, and Maroon 5

Food: sloppy Joes and chicken pot pie

Dessert: molten lava chocolate cake and chocolate shakes

Color combos: wine and storm blue or gray and french pink

Weather: RAIN

Place: Missouri (forests and dirt roads)

Thing: rubber bands, iPhones, and swords

Video Game: Just Dance

Pastimes: SLEEPING, Writing, singing, reading...

Musical: Phantom of the Opera and Les Mis

Book:(apart from the scriptures) Princess Academy

Sports: Fencing

Animal: Unicorn(haha jk) Alpacas

TV series: The Office and Parks and Rec

Holiday: Thanksgiving

Season: Fall

Drink: peppermint hot cocoa

Numbers: 18 and 22

Time period: the 40's

Flower: carnations and blood red roses

Disney princess: Aurora and Elsa

Time of day: Dusk

Instrument: cello and bagpipes

Anything else? lol Well thats me!

Happy Thanksgiving?

Everyday feels the same 

She walks alone with her music loud 

She's given up on fittin in 

No need to impress the cool crowd 

Wishing that time would move faster 

looking forward to what come after 

right now, but right now 

This is your time 

This is your place 

Its no accident You're here 

So don't wish it away 

Look around 

and you will see 

there is somebody who needs you 

You are where you are meant to be 

Yes, there are better days to come 

But don't let that keep you from 

living today, this is your time 

this is your place - Lyndy Butler

HOLA!!! Lol!

Well this week was Thanksgiving! YAY! Our mission prez and his wife invited us sisters over to their house for Thanksgiving dinner! FUN! It was different than home, but it was still good, and it was amazing to hang out with friends for the day...mainly Hna.Turcios lol. 

Everything was good, we were eating laughing, singing, and then disaster struck. Prez. announced we were going to all get flu shots after dinner. NOOOOOOOOOOOOO! I HATE SHOTS! They freak me out. Well one by one we all got pulled over into a chair to get vaccinated, one of the sisters screamed, it sounded like she was giving birth or something. Then it was my turn, I tried hard to be brave, but uh yeah no, I broke into tears. Then I was so embaressed to have EVERYONE watching that I couldn't get into my happy place and calm down. So, uh yeah, Prez looked up at his wife and said, "Hun, you gotta get her to breathe or she's gonna be on the floor." Nice... I tried to breathe but yeah I'm a baby and couldn't.  FUN stuff now all the sisters know that shots are one of my worst nightmares. Que vergüenza!

I don't know why but Thanksgiving the last few years for me always ends on some weird bitterish note. C'est la vie. 

I also got a package from my mom. YAY! I just gotta say my mom and sis sure know me! Oh, it also had stuff for TG dinner sooo we are saving it for Christmas. FUN!

I also got new glasses. Too bad they don't work and I have to go check he prescription again. 

So like on Weds we had divisions, and I ended up with the "problem" sisters of the mission. Let's just say that was interesting...not bad, just different. Then when I went home my companion had bought me an american style chocolatecake donut! I love my comp!

We also did a service project on Sat as a zone- cleaning garbage in the park street thing. Uh yeah, right. This place has no end to garbage. But we cleaned as best we could. It was funish I guess lol.

Random. I miss eggnog. I also have to wonder if traditionally eggnog has alcohol to kill the bacteria in the raw egg. Just a thought...

Last night the other sisters from my branch came over and we took a "family" christmas picture. FUN! It was wild and afterwards our house was a WRECK! So Vally and I had to clean. Then I got a migraine. FETCH! I took migraine meds that Prez' wife gave me but they didn't help much. bummer. 

Well Friday I will be twenty...crazy! Next week I am going shopping with my mission aunt for my bday. FUN FUN FUN!

Well love y'all! Hermana Shingleton

Wake me UP!

Feeling my way through the darkness

Guided by a beating heart

I can't tell where the journey will end

But I know where to start

They tell me I'm too young to understand

They say I'm caught up in a dream

Well life will pass me by if I don't open up my eyes

Well that's fine by me

So wake me up when it's all over

When I'm wiser and I'm older

All this time I was finding myself

And I didn't know I was lost

I tried carrying the weight of the world

But I only have two hands

Hope I get the chance to travel the world

But I don't have any plans

Wish that I could stay forever this young

Not afraid to close my eyes

Life's a game made for everyone

And love is the prize

Well this week started of with a zone conference with a member of the 70 Elder Piper. It was interesting. I ended up being chosen for an interveiw with him. Cool I guess.

I keep getting these awful headaches so we ended going to the doctor this week twice, fun and so helpful. I think I have pretty much given up on medical care here. At least I now know the metro here pretty darn well. 

So the other day I had to wear a different pair of shoes that were open on top so you could see my sad tan-lines. The elders in my district made fun of me. They were all like, "Get a spray tan." Thanks, dudes! My tan-lines ARE crazy.

My comp and I got ornaments for our tree and lights so now we have a complete Christmas tree! It's so pretty! I love it so much! It makes things a bit more homey.

I'm almost 20, can you believe it!?! I'm not ready to be twenty, and especially not here in on my mission. It's kind of a bummer, but what ever. 

So when I was a kid, my mom would always sing a song like this "AY AYAY in China they never eat chile!" I now know that this song is actually called Cielito Lindo and it's a very important song to Mexicans, but it has different words. Ayayay canta no lloreis! lol look it up it's fun.

I WANT LONG HAIR! Random. Sorry.

Oh, and Happy Thanksgiving! I am going to miss it sooo bad!

So, I am probably getting new glasses. Fun stuff.

We have quite a few investigators right now that are AMAZING! The only thing is all of them have weird things that we have to work past, like one needs to get married to be baptized, but his wife doesn't want to get married. Bummer. So please pray for that. Well, love ya'll!

Stars

Growing old is getting old

I often find myself here thinking

About the birds, the boats, and past loves that flew away or started sinking

And it's crazy here without you Stars

This week...I GOT AN AWESOME NEW COMPANION! YAY! She rocks! She is nerdy like me, it's funny lots o people in the mission call her Velma like Scooby-Doo teehee! 

On the rough side this week was SOOO stressful! No one was in their house, I felt like crap, I wanted to cry, but couldn't.

My companion bought us tacos this week. Have I mentioned that I love tacos? Then we had a mini party with the other sister missionaries in our branch and we ate hot dogs, yum! The normal stuff but with avacado and tomatoes! 

I was part of a choir for stake conference it was a bummer. Then I had to sing a solo, but the elder who played the piano played a weird version of the song and I got lost and the sound system freaked out so it was a mess. 

This week my comp and I went and bought a Christmas tree! WAHOO! Now we just need to buy decorations! FUN FUN FUN!

It was also fun because in Stake conference Elder Andersen of the twelve spoke via satilite transmision and he spoke in Spanish, but boy does he have a french accent. Teehee it made me think of my dad.

My mission aunt got sealed to her family this last week, she is awesome! I am so happy for her. It was partly mine and Hna.Turcios' fault that they got sealed- Fun, fun! Thought y'all would like to see this pic... 

Well here's to a better week this week! Love yall! Hermana Shingleton

I am a Princess on the way to my Throne...

I am a magnet for all kinds of deeper wonderment 

I am a wunderkind oh 

I am a Joan of Arc and smart enough to believe this 

I am a princess on the way to my throne 

destined to serve, destined to roam

Wunderkind

This week...I learned a lot. 

We had a meeting for all the sisters in the mission with the presidents wife. It was cool, we got to chat see friends and discuss important things. I ended up singing 'I Know that my Redeemer Lives' in Spanish for everyone while Hna. Luque played piano. FUN!

After the sisters meeting, we had interviews with the prez. That was a really neat experience. I learned a lot about myself, and the atonement. Wow. 

After that since we were in the neighborhood, my companion and I went and ate lunch with Hna.Cristina. It was almost like old times. teehee.

This week was really slow in the way of work; hardly anyone was home. SAD! But we just kept on trekin'. 

It's funny all the sisters are always wanting me to teach them how to use makeup. It's like no one knows how to keep it cool so they just don't use makeup, yuck! Well this week I helped Hna.Monarrez learn how to do her makeup a bit. I miss using my makeup skills to their full extent and have fun with it. I really miss GLITTER!

This week a Hermana invited us to go to her pozole stand and eat, well, pozole. Pozole is soup with puffed up corn, lettuce, oregano, cheese, lime, meat, etc. Its so good! It's my fave when it's cold out. YUM!

In church this week I sang 'Nearer my God to Thee' and my comp played the piano. FUN! Everyone said it was amazing. The stake prez was there and later he ended up asking me to sing in stake conference! AAAA!

Also the mission just figured out I can sing. While we were waiting for interveiws, my comp, and all the elders in my district had me sing a ton. It was funny to see their reactions, mouths dropped open etc. FUN! I am starting to become a bit famous. lol.

I bought a new shirt in the tiangues this week, it's a stormtrooper shirt, I am a nork and must be my fathers daughter. mwahaha!

Tomorrow I am getting a new companion wish me luck!

Love yall! Hermana Shingleton

Adventure is out There!

Well, hello there! This week was as always an adventure, but this time more than others. 

First of all Nov.1st is Dia de Muertos. FUN! As missionaries we couldn't do much, but I got to see some pretty cool stuff. If you want to know a bit what it's like look up´Dia de Muertos Zocolo Mexico 2014

For this holiday they make this bread called pan de muertos and can I just say it is so yummy! It's coated in suger and cinnomon. I really wanted to do something to celebrate so I bought some facepaint in the market and painted my face and then my companion painted hers. FUN!

I ended up doing divisions with my friend Hna. Luque it was fun and we made a record of 46 contacts in a day. WAHOO!

I had to get bigger foot surgery this week, yuck! Again without numbing stuff. The Doctor had to cut out a HUGE chunk of nail and then skin, let's just say I had a river of blood running down my foot. NOT FUN BOB! It hurt so bad. But as Hna. Abril always says ser valiente muy valiente! (be brave, very brave"

It was SUPER cold so I had to take some of the money I was saveing for skirts and buy a jacket, bummer. At least my new jacket is really cute. 

Random fact: sometimes I just want a good ol' fashioned American breakfast, like bacon, eggs, pancakes or waffles, donuts, things like that.

The highlight of this week was that I got to go to El Centro, the center of Mexico city! It was awesome and we got to see a lot of cool stuff, and I finally got to take a picture of la angel de independencia (basicaly lady liberty of Mexico) I got to go up into this huge tower thing and take a bunch of cool pictures. We went to the catholic cathidrel which is gorgeous, and I got to see some new pyramids that they just discovered under El Zocolo (basicaly Mexican time square) It was awesome!

Well thats it love yall! Hna. Shingleton

The Prayer

¨Home is behind you, the world is ahead...¨ J.R.R.Tolkein

I pray you'll be our eyes

And watch us where we go

And help us to be wise

In times when we don't know

Let this be our prayer

As we go our way

This week...hmmm...well I can't think of a word to describe it. It went slow and fast at the same time, I can't believe it's almost transfer time again. The week was a lot better than the last month has been. We found people to teach which is so good and it saves my feet. 

I went to the foot doctor the other day because I had some yucky ingrown toenails, he told me it's due to having my feet closed up in shoes all day and walking like crazy. At home I almost NEVER wear shoes, so my feet are punishing me for not letting them be free. The doctor had to cut a huge chunk of nail out on both sides...without pain med stuff. Not happy, Bob, but it had to be done. They still hurt quite a bit, I told him I have been putting tea tree oil on and he was like, "Whoa ,you have that? That is perfect, keep doing that." So yeah tea tree oil is a SUPER good thing to have on a mission, I use it for all kinds of stuff. 

Wednesday we went to the hospital for a thing about my companion, it's about an hour away and that's traveling by metro which is the fastest way to go. Well we took all that time and spent all that money and the darn doctor wasn't even there! My comp was SO mad. So now we have to go tomorrow to a hospital two  and a half hours away to go see a different doctor. Fun, so I won't get to enjoy my P-day, but whatever. 

Thursday and Friday we did divisions (splits)...AAAH! My current comp, Hermana. Monarrez, went with Hna. Turcios, my old comp and the old comp of Hna. Monarez...the new comp of Turcios came with me. That was a good thing because she knows my area better than I do. We got new investigators, and I was feeling pretty good about the day. Then we had to leave to go pick up Hna. Monarrez and drop off Turcios' comp in my old area. 

The whole ride to my old area I was praying that I could see some of my people, or I as I like to call them my Mexican family. When we got there I gave Hna. Turcios a HUGE hug while yelling TE AMO TE AMO TE AMO! She is my very best friend here. Then I saw Sandy, Hna. Cristina´s daughter, and I gave her a hug too- we talked for quite a bit. My old zone was having a FHE and since we didn't have anymore lessons to teach back in my current area my comp said we could stay for it! YAY! Hna. Santos conducted the meeting and asked me if I could lead the music, and Hna. Luque played piano. I felt home. When I sat down, my comp asked for the numbers of the day. They weren't the best , but they weren't awful, but she flipped out at me. I then spent the rest of the meeting pretty bumed and questioning if I am actually a good missionary or not. It really hurt. After the talks, etc. my comp said it was time to go.

I stood up and saw one of the families I baptized I waved as I started to leave then I looked over at the corner and saw Hna. Cristina, I'll just let y'all know I practically ran over to that woman. She gave me a huge hug and kissed me on the cheek. Then she told me, "Hna. Shingleton, the new hermana is nice and all, but I like you better."  She started to choke up and said, "Hermana, out of all the missionaries I have met, I love you best. You're like a daughter to me." My eyes started to fill with tears. She then gave me a big hug and said, "We all miss you a ton here." Then she kissed my cheek twice. Then my comp said, "We have to go." I hugged Hna. Cristina one last time, and she kissed my cheek again and told me to be safe and I left blowing kisses to my other people as I went. 

This whole week I have felt pretty down and like I´ll never messure up, but that experiance made me remember my mom back home. Whenever I had to leave the house she ALWAYS gave me a kiss and told me to be safe. The whole ride in the combie back to my area I wanted to cry because I was so so happy and sad at the same time. It was so bittersweet. I then said a little prayer of gratitude because God is good and yes he definitly answers our prayers. 

I also received a letter from one of my old investigators, Letty and her daughter Lani, and that was really neat. 

Then today came...the time changed so we got up on time but we had to call Hna. Turcios to see if the time was right hahaha! And to wish her happy cumple meses. It's almost time for her to go home. CRAZY!  When we first became companions she was just turning a year old in the mission. Time has really flown.

Then we had to walk to church because the members we normally go with had left early, and we didn't have money for a combie. Yuck, it's far. 

Then we were sitting contently in sacrament meeting and one of the councilors in the branch came over mid-meeting and asked me to speak! AAAAAH! I have never given a talk in Spanish before and it had to last at least ten min. Well the theme of the meeting was attributes of Christ, so I got up and shared a talk about charity with only five min. or less of preparation. Fun. Let's just say I was praying like mad, but everything turned out great, and I even saw one hermana crying. Again God answered my prayers in helping me speak well and having everything run smoothly. 

Then we had to walk to the stake center and back which is SUPER far. I am so dead now. I think I am going to fall down dead later. 

This week has just been a week of testimonies to me that yes God is there and he hears and answers our prayers. 

Well I love yall! Hermana Shingleton

I'm on my way...

I'm on my way from misery to happiness today 

I'm on my way from misery to happiness today 

I'm on my way to what I want from this world 

And years from now you'll make it to the next world 

And everything that you receive up yonder 

Is what you gave to me the day I wandered 

I took a right, I took a right turning yesterday 

I took a right, I took a right turning yesterday 

I took the road that brought me to your home town 

I took the bus to streets that I could walk down 

I walked the streets to find the one I'd looked for 

I climbed the stair that led me to your front door 

I'll do my best, I'll do my best to do the best I can 

I'll do my best, I'll do my best to do the best I can 

To keep my feet from jumping from the ground dear 

To keep my heart from jumping through my mouth dear 

To keep the past, the past and not the present 

To try and learn when you teach me a lesson  The Proclaimers

Well this week was what ever. We ended up going to the doctors at the temple for my companion who has been having some weird problems, and know what?! I know how to get there and back all on my own now! YAY! Thanks Hna. Turcios for teaching me how!

It's been REALLY cold in the mornings and at night lately, helps me remember that it's fall, I prefer cold to heat though. 

I think my feet may fall off if we don't get any new investigators to teach, I am so tired of walking. 

Last week a super good friend sent me a talk to read, so I printed it off and read it, and boy did I need it! It's called " In the Strength of the Lord" By Elder Bednar It's beautiful and it talks about the enabling power of the atonement. The members in this ward give us a TON to eat at lunch here and I just can't eat it all, but I have to or my comp gets mad. Part of this talk talked about an experience of a handcart rescue team, and how they prayed for the strength to be able to eat the little, crappy food that they had. So I started doing that, praying for the strength to eat the food they give me and boy is God good. It's getting better. Thanks for the talk!  :P

So my companion walks SO fast, and the other day she asked why do you always walk behind, and I was like because you walk really fast. Then she said well maybe you  need to learn to walk faster, and I was (in my head) all like maybe you need to learn to walk slower. UGH! That was rough.

Another interesting thing that happened was my companions health issue got worse so we ended up going to the hospital, where they told us we would probably have to stay over night. NOOO! So then they gave her an IV and took a TON of blood and the nurse had me help say what?!? Weird. In the end we were only there four hours, thank goodness. On the way we ended up in my old area so that we could catch the next bus, it was fun to see familiar sights. We also bought donuts and hot cocoa YUM!

Well I have 9 months in the mission today! YAY! Halfway through! SWEET! 

Oh note to y'all, I love getting emails, but I miss and could really use real letters. I can't send any right now, but could y'all send some to me? They help me stay happy and motivated. So if you can please, please, PLEASE send me cartas!

Well love yall! Hna. Shingleton xoxox

Random I miss cheesecake and chocolate chip cookies. 

Mi Ancla Tu Seras

"Anchor"

When all the world is spinning ‘round 

Like a red balloon way up in the clouds 

And my feet will not stay on the ground

You anchor me back down 

I am nearly world renowned 

As a restless soul who always skips town 

But I look for you to come around

And anchor me back down 

There are those who think that I’m strange

They would box me up and tell me to change

But you hold me close and softly say

That you wouldn’t have me any other way 

When people pin me as a clown

You behave as though I’m wearing a crown

When I’m lost I feel so very found

When you anchor me back down 

Well, I got sick yet again. I was out of action for a day and then it tapered down to just a yucky cold. Can I just tell y'all that I am sick of being sick. I really don't understand why I get so sick all the time.

My comp and I are on a sort of diet, breakfast is only fruit, fruit, and oatmeal or shakes of fruit and oatmeal. We have to eat whatever the members give us but we are trying to be healthy, super hard when living in Mexico. The nice thing is that fruit is más o menos (more or less) cheap. 

This week was rough. All of our appointments kept falling through so we walked around contacting people like crazy. Our current record in one day is 43 people. By the end of the week we had contacted about 123 people and the mission requirement is only 15 a day. I have been dead tired, I just die at night, and my feet kill. Then, when I sleep I get nightmares- so much fun.

My companion is good, it's just been rough getting used to each other and our different styles of working, teaching, and just living.  The branch I am in seems pretty neat; the people are really friendly. 

Saturday we had a branch talent show...that was an interesting experience. It was so boring. I ended up having to sing and play my guitar as the first number. It was kinda fun because everyone thought  I was going to sing in English, and then when I started singing in Spanish they where all like, "Say what?! I think the people here are surprised at how well I can speak in Spanish.  I know I'm not that good, but I'm getting there. 

Last week my comp and I went to the mall. I couldn't buy anything because I didn't have any money, but it was nice to see "civilization" again lol. We got to eat American style pizza and donuts, that was super needed. 

My comp and I riding in a moto-taxi

There have been many times in my mission that I have wondered if I am even making a difference or helping anyone. Well, the other day I was feeling sad, sick, and alone, and I remembered that Hermana Abril had given me a letter before I left and told me to read it whenever I get sad or disheartened. So I pulled it out and started reading. Can I just say that I sobbed like a baby, it was exactly what I needed to hear. I had no idea the whole time I was in my last area that I was making an impression on people/her like I guess I did. It's funny too because I was scared of her when I first got to the area and now I can say she is one of my best friends. 

This week I have been really thinking about prayer, and getting prayers answered. Sometimes it's hard for me to recognize answers, but I can testify that prayers are answered, and God definitely listens. Sometimes He doesn't answer the way we want or in the timing we want, but the thing is He knows best- He is GOD, He knows us and those around us better then we know ourselves, so when He answers, it's always in our best interest. Sometimes His answers hurt, sometimes we feel like He isn't there for us, but we need to just remember it will all work out in the end and someday we will look back and see clearly His hand in our lives. We just have to put our trust in Him and go with HIS flow. Mi ancla tu seras. 

Well I hope yall have a good week! Love yall! Cassidi

Let me Wipe Away the Tears From Your Eyes

And in her mind she'd drift away

A secret place to steal away

Don't you cry, don't you cry

Let me wipe away the tears from your eyes

Erasure Phantom Bride 

When she was just a girl

She expected the world

But it flew away from her reach

So she ran away in her sleep

Dreamed of paradise

Every time she closed her eyes

Life goes on

It gets so heavy

The wheel breaks the butterfly

Every tear, a waterfall

In the night, the stormy night

She closed her eyes

In the night, the stormy night

Away she'd fly. 

Paradise Coldplay

Well, I survived a week in my new area. My new comp is Mexican American from Illinois. It's kinda rough because I went seven months without English and now it's just easier, but I want to keep speaking Spanish because I can't afford to waste my seven months worth of work. 

The new house is cute, and the two best parts are one I have a laundry machine, YAY,  and two, the shower works! NO MORE buckets with a water heater thing! MWAHAHA!

My second day my comp had a meeting back in my old area, so I ended up going to another area with Hermana Santos, my first comp on, divisions - like old times lol. 

I ended up going and printing out a bunch of pics and hung them up on my wall, it helps me feel close to "home". Not so lost. 

I have really missed marshmallows as they are kinda hard to find, but I found some and bought them, FUN! To bad graham crackers don't exist here. I miss s'mores. 

I finished Doctrine and Covenants this week! Wahoo! Next stop The old Testament...or the new? IDK.

It was the Jewish holiday, Yom Kippor, the other day so I ended up thinking about repentance a bit. It was also interesting because they made a weird round about reference to it in General Conference when they talked about doing family history, so that our names can be written in the Book of Life lol. I'm a geek.

Well, this week was rough... I have been double homesick.  One of my biggest fears in this life is losing those I love. Through all this, I have really come to appreciate the plan of salvation, and eternal families. 

Can I just say that music is really important? It can help emotionally, spiritually, etc. I am thankful God gave us such a pure way to express feelings, MUSIC!

Well, General Conference was great, it was really neat that people got to share their talks in their own languages, the translators voice in English was driving me CRAZY, so when people spoke in English we went to the chapel to listen in Spanish and then left to keep listening in English. I really thought it was cool how much they spoke about Christ, his mission, and who he is as a person. 

Well random fact of the day, 40 more posts and I'll be home! crazy!

Adios...oops hasta luego! (Someone once told me never to say goodbye.)

"People who cry are some of the strongest because they aren't scared to share who they are or how they feel." - A very good Mexican friend.

Moms are important

I have an excellent father

His strength is making me stronger

God smiles on my little brother

Inside and out

He's better than I am

I grew up in a pretty house

And I had space to run

And I had the best days with you Taylor Swift

This month has been rough and I constantly find myself missing/wanting my mom. I also keep hearing and learning things from the woman around me about being a mom and the importance of moms. So I want to take this opportunity to say thanks to my mom for everything. She is an amazing person and a great example to me. 

I am also here in the mission learning how I want to be when I am a mom, and that it's no easy thing. 

To all you other chickas out their take advantage of the time you have with your mom, love her serve her, etc. She has given a chunk of her life up for you. 

Love you MOM!

Fun...

'm gonna swing from the chandelier, from the chandelier

I'm gonna live like tomorrow doesn't exist

Like it doesn't exist

I'm gonna fly like a bird through the night, feel my tears as they dry

I'm gonna swing from the chandelier, from the chandelier Sia

Well this week is interesting. We started the week off really well with a FHE with Hna. Abril and fam, and Hna. Cristina and one of her daughters and our amazing little investigator family. It was really neat and Hna. Latticia(investigator) was in tears by the end. Then we ate SUPER YUMMY bread, and then we talked and laughed our guts out. 

I also learned to make arroz con leche. YUM! Thanks Hna. Cristina for teaching me!

I couldn't eat chocolate all week until Thursday, that really sucked as I love the stuff, but i'm really trying to take better care of myself.

It was the Jewish new year Rosh Hashanah this week. It was a bummer I only got to eat an apple in celebration. My family always eats really good on that day normaly.

Saturday I got to go to the General Women's Conference, I miss hearing the general authorities talking in English, but hey, at least I somewhat understood this time around. It was a bit sad because it made me want to go to the temple, too bad I can't. 

Sunday was the Primary Program in our ward. That was interesting because no one in the ward plays the piano, so the kids had to sing with an iPad, and they kept singing faster than the music LOL. Also our investigator, Lani, got to participate, SOOO CUTE! 

They also had the moms of kids in the nursery carry their kid and say a part...interesting. But overall it was neat. 

Alas, this week ended on a super SUPER SAD HEART WRENCHING SOUR NOTE...I'm getting transfered tomorrow! NOOOOOO! I love my area, the people, and my companion. It's aweful because Hna. Turcios is going home in December and there is a chance that I won't see her ever again. When I heard the news I got really dizzy and Hna. Cristina had to catch me. Then I spent a good looong time sobbing. I will dearly miss this area, but especially the friends I have made here. Hna. Cristina made me promise to visit after my mission. I will be working very hard to keep that promiss. 

Today has been weird and is slipping away all to fast, I hate it! I don't want to leave! Come what may and love it! Packing is a pain after living in the same place for 7 months. I could really use prayers right now. 

Well, love yall! Hope your week is better than mine is currently turning out to be. But I am trying to stay positive-ish. adios Hermana Shingletonxoxox

Bulletproof

I'm bulletproof, nothing to lose

Fire away, fire away

Ricochet, you take your aim

Fire away, fire away

You shoot me down but I won't fall

I am titanium- david Guetta

Well yet again I have been sick, but this time SUPER sick. I have had problems with my stomach and super bad headaches, so on like Thursday I think it was we went to the temple to the doctor there- stomach infection. Nice. So we went home, and then the next day I woke up with a HUGE migraine, I couldn't even move. I tried to get up, and I was super dizzy. It hurt so bad that when I got to the bathroom, I barfed. My companion went downstairs and asked Hna. Kristi if she could go and buy my medicine. I had to be brave and get up and get dressed so that we could go to the doctor... again. I went downstairs, and Hna. Kristi started to give me meds. I hurt so bad I couldn't even open my eyes and I just started crying. Can I just say that I really missed my mom in that moment. Then we headed off to the doctor in the car of a member, but the doctor sent us off to the hospital... not sure why, but whatever. When we got to the hospital I had a hard time remembering Spanish, and I was super dizzy and wanted to toss my cookies again. I also forgot my birthday and said I was born in '49 not '94- nice. Then the doctor came and just said the same as the doctor at the temple, except he prescribed a higher dose of meds.  Yeah right! Then they decided to give me a shot for the pain, as if I wasn't dizzy sick enough, and then I found out that here in Mexico they give shots in the butt! SUPER FUN! I have no desire to live that again.

I also now can not eat chocolate, things with grease, lunch meat, etc. So what am I supposed to eat? It's a pain. 

Yesterday we had a FHE with our new investigator family and Hna.Kristi and her family. The little girl wanted to wear my name tag, so I let her then she said, "Ok, I'm Hermana Shingleton and you are Hna. Lani (her name)."  Then Hna. Kristi said that if Lani was me, she had to give the lesson, so that's just what Lani did- she gave the opening prayer and then gave the lesson on what she learned in primary that day and then was all like, "And now my companion, Hna. Turcios, will share a bit", and then my companion shared something. Then Lani closed the lesson and had me say the closing prayer. SOOO CUTE! 

I'm almost done with reading the Doctrine and Covenants.  Yay! It´s really neat, I've learned a lot from it. Next stop... El Milagro de Perdon (the miracle of forgivness) in Spanish! That will be an adventure!

Well that's pretty much my week. love yall!