4 Hour Hike, Exchanges and...Reflecting

Man, oh man. So this will be a very supersize email. Well, how do I say this....I ummm..started a new journal and am only writing spiritual things so that was cool. And I am going to start challenging all of you to do stuff. 
First Challenge. I want you all to read Alma 34:31-41 and tell me a principle you learned. I wait to hear all about it next week. Mine is found in verse 32 where it says..well, you will read it, but for me, it is knowing this life is short and it won't last forever, so I need to put my all in while I can. 

This week I have decided I WILL NOT go home the same person. I want to be better and I will be better. 

PDay Hike 

Monday we went on a very long, 4 hour hike and it was crazy hard! Very fun though, but here is the miracle. I felt prompted to bring extra water and by so doing was able to provide water to one of the Sisters who was getting heat stroke pretty bad. The Lord uses us! I also had a touching FHE tonight where we made cards for kids who won't live much longer. I filled mine with jokes to get them smiling before they are called home. One of my jokes was, "what is brown and sticky?....A stick. 

Shelby, you may be thinking you lost your brother, but we're still doing all night movie-a-thons and shopping. I am still the same, don't you worry girl! I will, however, be shining up the rough spots, as I hear you are already doing. Great job, Shel, I love it, keep it up. Hearing you're meeting with the Sisters made me so happy. I told everyone around me. I love you, Girly!!

With Elder Hubbard 

Tuesday was great. I was on an exchange with Elder Davis and that is where this all started. We were talking about how we want to fill our lives with good, not slop. So it was a cool day, it was spiritual. 

Wednesday was good. I went with Elder Hubbard, the blonde kid. Okay he is one of my favourite Elders. We get along so well, but he is having a hard time with staying out. He wants to so bad, but President wants different things for him..it is sad. On our exchange we taught the Stake President's son, Jake, and he is the living example of true repentance. He has given up the music industry and has given up friends and all this other stuff just to come back to church. He just inspires me. It was such a good lesson! We also had our recent convert teach us about hope and that was really cool. 

Elder Hales 

I realized I am only on Thursday and it is long haha. Thursday we went down to Oxnard for a life skills training by President and his wife. We were taught about communication and how to take care of our bodies and there was also a Spanish section and so I know more now, so that's cool. 

Friday we went to one of the Colleges to find YSA's but it was empty haha. But we did watch the football team play for like 5 minutes. 

Saturday and Sunday, both of these days I spent in reflection in just how amazing the Lord and our Father in Heaven are and how truly great the blessings are, that are poured upon us. I love the fact that He has given us the ability to chose whatever we want, but when we truly chose to use this life for good, like in the Alma chapters, we grow so much! 

Mom, Dad, Shel, Scott, I love you all so much!! MUAH. Keep doing great. Shel, you keep it up. Mom, I love you more than anything, you are my world...sorry, but this is way early, but mom gets the first HUG! (YES!!! I have it in writing now!! haha). Dad, I sent you a package, kinda haha! 

I love you all so much. 
Elder Routledge 

Me and Elder Hales...don't ask..

I chased this road runner.
I was like Wile E. Coyote, but he was too fast,
mom, he was too fast!