California Girl - Adventures of Hermana Hawkes

Hi all!  It was a bit of a whirlwind week; today has been the first chance I've had to even just sit for a moment and soak it all in. The beginning of the week was a lot of hurried packing, and by Wednesday I found myself in the middle of the California Desert in a trio! I am currently serving in Desert Hot Springs, which everyone shortens to DHS. That means I'm one of the three "DHS Hermanas" which just so happens to be the initials of my rival highschool. Not a fan.  Desert Hot Springs in and of itself is amazing. The Mountains are huge and breathtaking, and are a different shade of blue depending on the time of day. The town itself is pretty small, but it neighbors the wealthier tourist area of Palm Springs which has lots of Golf Courses and country clubs. I have seen not one but TWO roadrunners, a chipmunk, and several lizards, so can't complain on the wildlife. No coyotes yet.  The day after I arrived I picked up and headed out to 29 Palms on...

Hi all!  Well, the subject line is the giveaway. I'm being transferred and right now my coping strategies are brownies, keeping busy, and denial! I get this little ache in my heart even thinking about leaving, but I know it's right and I know it's time.  I'll be headed out to a little branch in Agua Caliente, where Hna Watkins just arrived from and loved. I've known the change was coming, President let something slip in interviews that gave me a hint, but it's still a bit hard to pick up when I feel I've just put down roots.  Missionary work is interesting. Just as you start to really understand the challenges of those you teach, just as you learn everyone's name (maybe that's just me), just as you start to feel really a part of a place, you move. I've been thinking about this a lot. One of the sad truths of missionary work is that although these people have been my whole world since June, very few of them are likely to remember ...

Hi all!  FIRST THINGS FIRST: Happiest of birthdays to Jordan. I still remember being six and all my friends would be talking about how annoying their brothers were. They'd turn to me and I'd just kind of shrug and say, "actually, mine is kind of awesome...really awesome." I hope it has been the best day, and that it has somehow involved breakfast cereal, Mike-and-Ikes, outer space, D.I. runs, and time to work on whatever new project you've been thinking about for weeks. Happy birthday to the person who'd delay his own math homework--hours sometimes--to help me with mine, likes to laugh in the greeting card aisle, practices harmonica at all hours of the morning, and who never fails to come in with the harmony part of "A Lion Sleeps Tonight." You're a punk, but also sort of the best ever. I hope it was the best day!  Here in Fontana, different parts of town have more Spanish speakers than others, so when we're tracting we ofte...

Hi all! What a week, I'm not even sure where to begin! I'm typing this with my thumbs (I bought a keyboard but it might as well be made of cardboard for how well it works) but I hope to type fast enough to squeeze everything in!  Monday we finally went to the Fontana indoor Swap Meet, where we found Asians selling backpacks and nail polish and baptismal dresses, and Mexicans selling bike parts and shoes and candy. We even found a tiny Indian salon. There were rosaries and keychains and acupuncture, and the whole thing was all in all quite the experience! The elders were all very impressed that we went, as they said sometimes it can be a little rough, but I think it was mostly hype. The only really sketchy thing was having to walk into a dark tunnel of piñatas just to ask how much one cost!  Wednesday we had exchanges, and I stayed in the area with Sister Chisholm (from Monroe Utah). This meant teaching an entire Restoration lesson in Spanish by myself, but I ...

Hi all!   First things first, I have to wish the biggest HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Mare. I miss you so much I could burst, and I'm constantly amazed by all you do and everything you are. I mean, you play soccer, piano, viola, are an officer, take AP classes, are good at math, know every good tv series known to man...what don't you do?? The best word for you is probably BRIGHT. I remember praying for a little sister every night before you were born, but you exceeded every expectation. I can't believe I get to be your big sis. You are one of the most genuine and kind people I've ever met, and yet also have a gift for roasting people when the opportunity comes. You make me laugh so hard I cry, and I miss belting Adele with you in the car at the top of our lungs. You always let me bake things with you, even with my baking track record, and I loved every one of our long talks or movie nights. Probably the only thing I don't miss is you hiding under blankets all over th...

Hi all!  So many little miracles this week. One of the highlights of Preparation Day is always writing, because I get to look back and realize all the little moments where the Lord's hand was guiding us. If missionary work has taught me anything, it's how conscious the Savior is of every one of his sheep, and that includes us missionaries.  This week we met with Meylin ("May-lean." I struggled a bit too I think I kept calling her Marleen). Her esposo, Maricio, had been taught extensively by elders previously, but was referred over to us because of the distance on bike. We expected to meet with Maricio, but on our very first visit, before we could say much of anything, he told us he wanted us to teach Meylin. As soon as we started talking with her, we knew she was someone very prepared for the gospel. In her words, "I've always prayed, but God was more someone I turned to when I needed something. He was the emergency solution. I want to c...

Hi all!  As our neighbor told us yesterday morning, "Just when you think Summer's ended over here it starts up all over again!" Summer in Fontana blazes on, but it doesn't phase Hna Watkins a bit! Hna Stanfield headed out to the desert this Wednesday, and Hna Watkins came out of the desert to us. She is pretty amazing. She's coming up on nine months, but served the first several of her mission in St.George. Being from Salt Lake, it was a surprising call. Several transfers in, she was reassigned to Redlands, CA, spanish-speaking, and headed straight for Palm Springs (sort of the middle of nowhere). In other words, she is a warrior. Not to mention she's a triple major in computer technology and information systems (something like that, it was sort of over my head to be honest). Hna Watkins is an incredibly dedicated missionary, and brought planning skills like I've never seen. I'm so excited to learn from her this transfer.  Getting a new co...