The Long Letter

June 03, 2013

I am so sore. My arms and fingers hurt from typing. My collar bone hurts from my shoulder bag, Lopsided-Lara. My face hurts from smiling, I feel like Tour Guide Barbie. And I have the biggest bug bite ever on my leg, I really hope I won't have to get medical treatment for it.

Well I'm doing great. Last Monday my district met at Shreveports Mall, The Broadwalk, and bought new sunglasses. It was so weird all of us going into Rue 21 together. I felt like I finally have guy friends. Afterward we went to downtown Shreveport. There's a historic street called Texas Street which has lots of neat old buildings and a giant Methodist church at one end. We took time to go visit and take lots of pictures. So much fun!

Its funny how much the Elders feel like my little brothers. Yes, "little". They may be taller than me, but I'm older than them (first time out here I'm proud of my age). On Wednesday, Elder Earnshaw my zone leader, turned 21. I drew him a random picture of him riding a goat because he kept raving about the district picture I had drawn for him. He was so excited to have his own picture of himself. Sister Cox gave him "signed" Wendy's coupons, he teases her that that's her nick-name because she has red hair. (I try to keep the nick-name "Martha" away from me as much as possible, but Sister Cox's slips it in every now and then, no me gusta). It feels good to no longer be the only one who's 21 in my district.

Finally ate Gumbo then helped service the McCabe family. Great people. We worked in their garden picking green beans. Saw a cute yellow spider and mushrooms! They are such great people I love them alot. Saw my first snake with Sister McCabe when she was taking us home, She ran over it a few times before we realized the neighbors had already killed it. 3 foot copperhead.

I'm getting tan from tracting. I have lots of tan lines too but I'm putting on sunscreen so Its not too bad. Walked 3 1/2 miles on Thursday because we were running out of miles with the end of the month. Whew! Fun!

So my bag is super heavy whenever I have my sciptures in it. The pad on the strap does nothing and I have to have my sciptures with me always so that doesn't help either. Because its been giving me grief with my neck and shoulders, I made sure to buy a good padded backpack while at Target. It was a bit more than I really wanted to spend but its good quality and well padded so I think it was a good buy all around. I just need to get used to the pocket situation in it.

Also considering getting a bike... We'll see.

Scripture of the day: Alma 39:5 (replace your name with Shiblon's).

Love you all so much!!!!!!

-Lucky Lara