Olá, meus queridos!!

I know, I know I often call you my dears in Portuguese. Deal with it. :P

So, Caldwell has been going great. Ready for the weekly rundown? Hope so 'cuz here it goes!

Tuesday: Our main goal was to find a library in our tiny town of 4,000. We went to a different area when we couldn't find anything (don't worry, still in our zone) to College Station. NO GOOD. Too many college kids and college kids only libraries. We went to a library in a place called Bryan after that. Sketchy. No good. Finally, we headed back to Caldwell to try and find a library there again. Turns out that the library is literally right in front of our apartments. No big deal. We can walk here. Its whatever... Awkward though. Yet hilarious. So we emailed and then went and met/ate dinner with the Gambles- the branch mission president and his wife. Super AWESOME people.

Wednesday: We went to a town we cover called Somerville. We visited the Binghams and the Farmers and then came back to meet with the Fosters. President Foster is our branch president, and his brother happens to live in Montgomery ward with his family! Crazy huh? Sadly, President Foster wasn't there. So we just got to know his wife and kids, and did a little object lesson with them.
Also, we FINALLY finished constructing our bookshelf! Blood and sweat went into that thing. Literally. They gave us a bookshelf to construct without any tools. We tried, and didn't quite finish. But we got tools from the Fosters and finished it. It is beautiful. We were quite proud of it. Are quite proud of it still!

The Amazing Bookshelf!

Thursday: I was OFFICIALLY out for THREE whole months! Crazy how time flies. It was weekly planning. Weekly planning makes us a little... CRAZY. We took some hilarious pictures of us giving up. For just a few minutes, not permanently of course. Then, we got a map. Halleluyer! (Thats how we say it here in Texas). We saw the Smiths/Moores who are AWESOME people. Brother Smith has a super long ponytail. His hair is longer than mine. And a rebel earring and tattoos. From his rebel years. But they are truly amazing and sweet people.

Sister Shell and Sister Jones Temporarily Giving Up

Friday: We had Zone Meeting and it was fun. Even if my zone is small-ish. There's an Elder in my Zone named Elder Wible (forgive me if I've already mentioned this) who is also a visa waiter for Brazil! In fact, I flew out with him. Anyways, we spoke some more Portuguese and it was fun to actually get some real practice in. Then, one of the little 18 yo elders asked if I took voice lessons because my voice sounded pretty. I just wanted to pinch his cheeks, he was so adorable and sweet! Then we came back and finished up our studies- they got cut short because we are so far away from EVERYTHING over here. Its awesome. In comp study, we studied the 2nd Coming. I AM PUMPED. Seriously, I have no fear at all. It is going to be awesome. and the righteous will prevail. Simple as that. If you are righteous, why fear? We finally met the Branch President that night, and told us that there are apparently tons of wild hogs here. He killed one a few weeks ago and showed us the tusks. Is that what they're called? I don't know.. Anyways, they were huge and terrifying. And you all thought that living in Texas would be much safer than living in Brazil, didn't you :P

Saturday: We were going to do mormon.org time, but the library here is apparently not open on Saturdays. So we went and visited the Mitchell family, who had already given us a referral and who we have an appointment with on Wednesday! Woot woot! I like their place. Lots of cows and horses, and babies of each! SUPER cute. Then, we ate dinner with their kid/daughter-in-law/grandkids and the Gambles.

Random stories that I don't remember which days they go on:
The other day, we were driving around and trying to find this lady, and we got chased by a small pack of dogs. Don't worry, though, Antonio kept us quite safe. He is more than a match for those mangy mutts. It was quite hilarious, really. Then, as we were driving away, we saw a water tower with this strange word on it. YEGUA. Sis Jones and I just looked at each other and said, "What in the world is a YEGUA??" Naturally, we envisioned up some terrible creature that haunts the night. Members have now told us that it means 1. Horse in Spanish (though I'm not sure if that's true or not) and 2. Indian. Sis Jones and I didn't fall for that, of course. We believe very strongly that the Yeguas have the humans living in Caldwell fooled about their true identity. So naturally, we drew a picture of one. I will send that with all my pictures. It is quite hilarious. And accurate, of course.

The newly discovered Yegua!

Also on Saturday: The Montgomery sisters called because I texted them, asking about Derrick and Brian. They have their baptism scheduled for September 14th at 5 pm. SO STOKED! I asked how the lessons have been going, and the sisters told me. They also said that a recent RM has been going to all the lessons and has really clicked with Derrick. Woot Woot! Jon Jarnegin is his name, I believe. Anyways. Here is what apparently happened when Derrick was talking about football on Sundays and how he might miss church.
Sister Elliott: Derrick! If Sister Shell was here, what would she say?!
Derrick: If Sister Shell was here, I wouldn't even bring it up!
SE: Yes you would! Pretend that you would! And when you did... What would she say?
D: *closes eyes, folds arms* Derrick. What is more important- eternal salvation or football?
Apparently it was hilarious. Jon started cracking up, asked if I'd really told Derrick that, and then said, "Couldn't have said it better myself! Its funny because I really WOULD have said that :P Then, later, this happened.
SE: So, who do you want to baptize you?
D: Sister Shell!
SE&K: *explain about Priesthood*
D: Okay, fine. Then I want Prophet Monson! Or Jesus!
What a character! haha, I just think its so sweet that he wanted me to baptize him! Anyways, I am SO SUPER STOKED FOR THEIR BATISMOS!!!

Sister Jones and I get along really well. This is her 2nd to last transfer, she's from Bountiful, UT and is awesome. I feel like we'd be friends in real life as well. We like to sing at the top of our lungs whilst listening to uplifting music in Antonio. The neighbors must think they have Broadway stars living next to them.

Sunday: I gave my second talk on my mission!! I found out about it the night before, and was going to write it down during personal study but didn't have much time because we had Branch Council. So I had a sticky note on it with 5 bullets, and managed to give a 15 minute talk. Apparently it was good, but I don't really remember all that I said. I know that the Spirit definitely helped me out! The stake patriarch was the other speaker, and I reallllllly liked what he had to say. It was all about obedience, both of our talks, and it was a really great sacrament meeting.
For the rest of church, we helped out in Primary because Sister Jones can play piano LIKE A BOSS. She is also really impressed with some of the piano music I have on my MP3 player that may or may not have been recorded by a missionary who may or may not be in Brazil. Anyways, their pianist wasn't there and their primary program is next week! So she filled in. And I am now known as the "child whisperer." Because I was able to control some of the crazier ones, and help out. I guess I've just had lots of practice with my super amazing and awesome little cousins!
We ate dinner with the Fosters and the Fosters. No, not the ones in Caldwell and Montgomery. There are two families with the last name of Foster in Caldwell in our Branch. One is the Branch President. The other is another family, and no they are not related. Although, Brother Foster is related to Ruthie Foster. Yeah, she's his big sister. No big deal or anything. I'm assuming mom (or at least Uncle Robert) know who she is. Singer, sounds amazing. Yeah, her brother just happens to live in a tiny town in Texas and is in my branch. Boy is he a crackup too! Some of his stories are just hilarious!

Well, I better send some pictures!! I love it here. A lot. The people are wonderful, the area is beautiful and there is work to be done.

Batizar todo mundo!! Eu amo vocês!!! Tchau TCHAU tchau!

Sister Kirsten Shell

PS We saw a peacock chilling on top of someone's car the other day. Who knew Texas was so exotic?