Random Acts of Blogging

(To the famous Bon Jovi tune) "Whooooooaa I'm half-way the-re....WhooOOOAA livin' on a pra-yer!!" That's right. Guess who has less time in the mission than time she's been out? Me! I know when elders (guy missionaries) reach their half-way they celebrate and burn things, but I feel like sisters (girl missionaries) just freak out with introspective questions like, "Who am I? Am I the person I want to be yet?? Why not??? Have I done all that I could???? Am I perfect yet?????" And then on the brink of implosion with the mounting pressure of questions, all you can do is eat some blended frozen *banana "ice cream" because you're on a meat-dairy-egg-soy-corn-flour-sugar-free diet because you share food with your allergic companion, and it's the closest thing to junk food that you have. Is anyone else feeling the anxiety??!!??

To be honest, I have had a couple of those rocky, soul-searching moments. Then I am reminded that I am (and YOU are) a person in process. (pronounced PRO-cess--like the Canadians say :) ) Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin, an apostle of Jesus Christ, summed it up perfectly when he said:

"Oh, it is wonderful to know that our Heavenly Father loves us—even with all our flaws! His love is such that even should we give up on ourselves, He never will.We see ourselves in terms of yesterday and today. Our Heavenly Father sees us in terms of forever. Although we might settle for less, Heavenly Father won’t, for He sees us as the glorious beings we are capable of becoming.The gospel of Jesus Christ is a gospel of transformation. It takes us as men and women of the earth and refines us into men and women for the eternities."

I believe in this.

Everything is still awesome in the city! I've been around to witness groups of people congregating for anime conventions (lots of people in furry costumes), Folk Fest (calling all hipsters!), Heritage Days (Jai Ho! and lots of good food!). Edmonton really is a diverse and beautiful city. You should visit sometime.

*Banana ice cream is just frozen bananas blended up to a soft-serve consistency. It's delicious!

Love you all!