Viva la Vida

I used to rule the world

Seas would rise when I gave the word

Now in the morning I sleep alone

Sweep the streets I used to own

I used to roll the dice

Feel the fear in my enemy's eyes

Listen as the crowd would sing,

"Now the old king is dead! Long live the king!"

One minute I held the key

Next the walls were closed on me

And I discovered that my castles stand

Upon pillars of salt and pillars of sand

I hear Jerusalem bells are ringing

Roman Cavalry choirs are singing

Be my mirror, my sword and shield

My missionaries in a foreign field

This week was alright. We went to the Temple Visitors center with recent converts and investigators. That was a really good experiance. We talked a lot with one family of the blessings and purpose of Temples. I then played a temple geography game with some of the people in our group and they were really impressed that I knew where so many of the temples are, lol. 

I ate real tamales this week. They are alright, not my fave, but good. 

We worked our butts of this week, and I was sooo tired! I couldn't wait to go to sleep at night. I also had a cold which stinks, but I'm good now. Well that's pretty much it. Love y'all! Cassidi

Wildflower

I'm just a girl that needs a little sun, a little rain, an open field to play 

Hey, I'm a wildflower, growin' in the sunshine soakin' up the way of life I was raised in,

runnin' barefoot bloomin' in a summer shower, ponytail dancin' I can't help it. I-I'm a wildflower. 

HOLA PEOPLES! This week has been interesting. First off we got a microwave!!!!! THANK YOU PRESIDENT! We can finally can make popcorn in our own house, and pizza, etc. SOOOO happy!

All my life when I have asked my mom what there is to eat she has always replied with "pickled pigs feet" Well it just so happens that here in Mexico pickled pig and cows feet are a popular thing called "pata" Well this week I tried a tostada with pickled cows feet! it doesn`t taste bad just has a horrid texture like rubber, YUCK! I have no desire to eat that again, but hey I did it. 

This week I had the opportunity to talk to some American elders and sisters, MIRACLE! They never talk to me! But I found it SUPER hard to speak in English; I have never had an English speaking comp and I talk with Mexicans all the time so it takes a ton of work to speak English. I can sing in English perfectly, but talk...Heaven help me.

I've started reading the Doctrine and Covenants, and it's really interesting. There is a lot of stuff in there that I have really been wondering about. Can I just say though that I miss reading different books, I was always reading at home and here my options are...the scriptures, and the Liahona. It makes me miss the Ensign. Don't get me wrong I love these books, but I do miss variety. 

The other day my comp and I were walking down the street and a big group of Catholics passed carrying a huge Virgin of Guadalupe shrine. It was raining, and in the place of using their umbrellas for themselves, the people used their umbrellas so that Maria wouldn't get wet. NO MANCHES!!! They were also dropping daisy and rose petals, so my comp and I followed a good distance behind so that we could walk through the pretty petals. lol. 

My sister would be proud I am learning to do different things with my hair, and it's actually really fun.

Okay, best and saddest moment of the week... The other day we were in a lesson and it started to rain, like a river was falling from the sky, it was a ton! When it let up a bit, Hna. Turcios and I left and started for our next lesson, but the water was SUPER DUPER deep in parts, like up to my shins or more, and cars were having a hard time driving in the streets. When the cars would drive by it would make waves that would make our feet wet. At one point I saw the waves coming and I said hurry hurry! We were walking fast down the street where the bishop lives, and in one part the people had changed the cement in their driveway to tile, I didn't see it, it was wet, and I fell...HARD. I wasn't sure if I should cry or laugh, then I saw that their was a boy standing there, so I started to laugh. He asked if I needed help, I said no. He left. Hna. Turcios just busted up, she couldn't help me up because she was laughing so hard. Well after that my arm hurt and my head. On top of all this, I was sick and my nose and throat hurt. So then we went to the house of a Hermana, and she just laughed and, "So, Shingleton, what are we going to do with you?" Then, we got cleaned up and ate dinner. Then, while my comp was talking with the hermana, I accidently fell asleep on the couch. Nice...but I didn't even care cuz I hurt and felt so sick. Gracias Señor for good members who help us out. 

We also found a new family this week who are just golden I am so excited to be teaching them! I'll keep y'all updated on them.

Well That's pretty much my week. 

Love y'all! 

Hermana Shingleton   xoxox

p.s. I miss nature and fall in the country.

Never Grow Up

Take pictures in your mind of your childhood room

Memorize what it sounded like when your dad gets home

Remember the footsteps, remember the words said

And all your little brother's favorite songs

I just realized everything I have is someday gonna be gone

So here I am in my new apartment

In a big city, they just dropped me off

It's so much colder that I thought it would be

So I tuck myself in and turn my night light on

Wish I'd never grown up

I wish I'd never grown up Taylor Swift

Well this week was nothing special, but I guess I did do some interesting things. 

For one I ate an alote..I think that is how it's spelled. It's the corn from Nacho Libre! YUM! It's SOOOO good! "GET THAT CORN OUTTA MY FACE" lol. I think it's one of my new favorite things. First it's boiled like we are used to in the states and then it's barbecued. With lots of lime it's amazing!

The sad thing is after a while here some of the food get's gross, and turns to ash in your mouth. Sad day. 

I've said it before, and I'll say it again- missions have way of messing with your sense of time. Like the song above I now realize the importance of relishing and treasuring every moment that you have with your loved ones. Man, I wish I'd never grown up...but at the same time it's good. 

Random fact... I have a huge craving for keifer. I have no clue why. 

Lot's of guys here have no respect they whistle, etc. at us. Can I just say YUCK?! It makes me remember the line from Nacho Libre- "I don't like the way those guys are looking at you." "HEY! Don't you know that she is a nun!" lol Sad.

Well Love y'all hope you week is amazum!

SUMMER

"summer, summer, SUMMER! WHAT TIME IS IT?"

Well this is the last week of vacacions here in Mexico. People are starting to get ready to go back to school and start working again. I am just stuck in this weird feeling of "I WANT TO STUDY AND BUY BOOKS!", but no, I'm a missionary...*sigh* things are relatively the same. I will be glad though when it's fall, I hate the heat. 

Transfers are next week...I am hoping nothing comes of it but quien sabe (who knows) I will be sad if I have them because por fin my comp and I are friends.

In case y'all ever wonder, money is important, and food is important, and por eso I miss working. Weird I know, but I miss honestly working and then being able to buy things I want/need. 

This week I got asked to say the closing prayer in Relief Society or sociedad de socorro, and I realized I don't think I remember or have the ability to say a prayer out loud in pure English...Weird. I have such a hard time speaking English. I's the strangest thing. I write a ton so I don't forget too terribly. 

This week I got to use my violin that I got like four months ago for the first time! YAY! Pobre-sita mi compañera. lol. But I'm happy and she hasn't complained yet, but I forgot a ton. Sad day.

Today I will explain two foods that I love here

Fresas con crema: 

Strawberries

Sour cream

Lechera

Mix YUM!!!! I love this!

Tinga:

Chicken shredded

Onion sautéed..a ton of Onion

Chipotle chili muy poco(a tiny bit)

Simmer everything together and LISTO! Ready!

Eat on top of tostadas which are tortilla chips but big like a small plate. 

First spread sour cream over the tostada, then the tinga, then cheese and salsa and YUMMERS! This is my favorite Mexican food of all!

It's been really weird we haven't seen Hna Kristi ALL week. I am worried she is dead..no, but it is super strange.

Today I was a bit crazy and dyed my comps hair...and mine! My comp says I look like Snow White nice..LOL...but it's pretty.  I'm worried my family will call me "Madam Mayor" even more now. lol I guess it fits- my comp says I laugh like a witch.

Well I don't have much to talk about this week, it was kinda boring.