I love fall, it's the time of year when people start to get excited about upcoming holidays and start spending a lot more time with family and friends. There's just something in the atmosphere that seems to change this time of year, it's great. I could definitely live without the 10 feet of snow that comes along with this seasonal change though.
Life is pretty good. I still miss being on the mission from time to time though, walking down the little narrow Chilean streets that were brimming with houses that had uninviting 10 foot high metal fences blocking off the only way inside from the "pato malos". I miss visiting with the members, some of the most humble people I know of who strive to serve the Lord, albeit in their own odd way. I miss the wonderful Pinto Herrera family. They've gone inactive, and I've since lost touch with them. I wish I could be there for them, help them feel the things they've felt, remember the things they already know. I miss the Sopaipillas, the Empanadas, having girls adore me just for being gringo; I miss the soccer games/riots, the being scared for my life on September 11 - national day of rioting in Chile. I miss helping total and complete strangers as I saw them in the street. I miss having two hours a day set aside to study the gospel with the intent of helping people, not just myself. I miss making fun of people for sweeping the dirt lawn in front of their house. I miss the little churrasco stand in Los Carolinos. I miss having the streets turn into rivers when it rained. I miss the big yellow death machines AKA busses.
I miss everything about the mission. It was the hardest, yet most rewarding two years I will probably ever have in my life, and I am eternally grateful for that time. It changed me totally and completely - not my personality, but my view on life, my 'maturity' for lack of a better word; through the service of others, I came in a very real way to know and love our Savior. It's true that scripture in Mosiah that says that when you are in the service of your fellow being, you are only in the service of God. I came in a very real way to know of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and how important the message of the restored gospel really is.
But, life right now is good too. I have a wonderful family that puts up with me, really great friends that also put up with me. It's a little unnerving thinking what point I'm at in my life right now, I mean I've been home from my mission two years now this month (it really does go by fast), I'm supposed to choose a career and start a family...Yeah. I just don't feel ready yet haha. Maybe we never do.
Random quotes:
Larry: Dang! Daaaaaaaannnnnnnnnggggggg!!!
Shaun: What?
Larry: She hot man! Get her number for me!
Larry: Yeah, Danielle has ADD, but only for me
Danielle: Larry, it's because you mumble. You're the only one I consistently tune out
Larry: Dude Shaun, I asked her like a 3 minute question, and at the end she just looked at me and said, 'what?'
Life is pretty good. I still miss being on the mission from time to time though, walking down the little narrow Chilean streets that were brimming with houses that had uninviting 10 foot high metal fences blocking off the only way inside from the "pato malos". I miss visiting with the members, some of the most humble people I know of who strive to serve the Lord, albeit in their own odd way. I miss the wonderful Pinto Herrera family. They've gone inactive, and I've since lost touch with them. I wish I could be there for them, help them feel the things they've felt, remember the things they already know. I miss the Sopaipillas, the Empanadas, having girls adore me just for being gringo; I miss the soccer games/riots, the being scared for my life on September 11 - national day of rioting in Chile. I miss helping total and complete strangers as I saw them in the street. I miss having two hours a day set aside to study the gospel with the intent of helping people, not just myself. I miss making fun of people for sweeping the dirt lawn in front of their house. I miss the little churrasco stand in Los Carolinos. I miss having the streets turn into rivers when it rained. I miss the big yellow death machines AKA busses.
I miss everything about the mission. It was the hardest, yet most rewarding two years I will probably ever have in my life, and I am eternally grateful for that time. It changed me totally and completely - not my personality, but my view on life, my 'maturity' for lack of a better word; through the service of others, I came in a very real way to know and love our Savior. It's true that scripture in Mosiah that says that when you are in the service of your fellow being, you are only in the service of God. I came in a very real way to know of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and how important the message of the restored gospel really is.
But, life right now is good too. I have a wonderful family that puts up with me, really great friends that also put up with me. It's a little unnerving thinking what point I'm at in my life right now, I mean I've been home from my mission two years now this month (it really does go by fast), I'm supposed to choose a career and start a family...Yeah. I just don't feel ready yet haha. Maybe we never do.
Random quotes:
Larry: Dang! Daaaaaaaannnnnnnnnggggggg!!!
Shaun: What?
Larry: She hot man! Get her number for me!
Larry: Yeah, Danielle has ADD, but only for me
Danielle: Larry, it's because you mumble. You're the only one I consistently tune out
Larry: Dude Shaun, I asked her like a 3 minute question, and at the end she just looked at me and said, 'what?'
