California Girl - Adventures of Hermana Hawkes

Hello all!  This week I think I really needed some Adele. Don't worry, I've been coping with peanut butter and different versions of "Be Still My Soul." It was a crazy one!  This week Hermana Ballard arrived, and I couldn't have been more thrilled. She is absolutely amazing, and keeps saying, "This isn't too much like the MTC!" which makes me laugh. Like usual, I had enough misadventures within the first 24 hours to give her a good taste of exactly what she'll be dealing with.  It all started after Book of Mormon class, when I realized the road we usually take to get home was closed. This wouldn't have been a huge problem if it wouldn't have been late and night and in Palm Springs, where I always seem to get lost. To make things worse, our maps on all 3 devices was malfunctioning, and Hna Ballard isn't too much better at giving directions than I am (right and left are confusing). As a result, we ended up making f...

Hello all-- We like to go hiking for exercise some mornings, but we've decided to rethink it. Just the other day we had started up into the hills when a pack of coyotes set off howling! You should have seen us speed walk back to the car! Gave me shivers, but happy ones. I've always wanted to hear a coyote.  We've started what I have decided to call the "Johnny Lingo approach" with the branch. There is a whole lot of gossip amongst many in the branch, so it's a tough atmosphere to introduce new, nervous people into! My thinking is, if we treat members like they are a "ten cow wife," they will "become a ten cow wife." We've started texting people the morning before we bring someone new to church, telling them that we specifically thought of them as a great member-missionary and someone who could help the person we are teaching feel at home. No massive change (haha yet!), but people definitely rise to meet your expectations ...

Hey all! I finally saw a coyote today, definitely a coyote and not an ugly dog, so I think I could basically call it good here and die happy. We went hiking this morning (the trail was Kim Nicol Dad) and a friendly Canadian "snow-bird" (people who winter down here) pointed him out. We came home with choya cactus skeleton and pockets full of rocks, which is why Hna Ciarlante and I get along! We also watched an old man on a little 3 wheel bike, carting all his groceries, go through the intersection as if he were in a car. I love DHS. So, so much.  We spent almost the whole week either with Juana or with her extended family and friends. A little crazy, but so good! We watched "Joseph Smith; prophet of the Restoration" with her, Enrique, and Diana, and she hated it! Anytime anything bad would happen she'd say, "Ay, ninas, que FEYO!" and stomp out of the room in her Winnie the Pooh slippers. Enrique didn't kn...