Do you like Queso?

Oh, the things we do to try and start conversations while contacting people in stores...
"Do  you like queso?"
"What?"
"Queso. We're having a debate... I like queso, and she doesn't. Do you?"
That's right, Sister Shell has skills. Hey, at least the guy started talking to us!

Monday: After emailing, we went to the mall. Because they have MALLS here! Then we went to Target (which I pronounce Tar-jay) because it sounds fancier, and I got some cute stuff with some gift cards from my grandparents :) Then, we printed some pictures at Wally World (aka Walmart) and made a hilarious Valentine's Day card that I'm totally gonna mail out to some people today. Just know that its going to be late and appreciate it.
We had FHE and they played a game called "Signs." A member named Jennifer wanted to sit out, so I sat by and talked with her. We decided that she can edit my books, which would be super awesome for me! And Kaylan, a YSA who is in nursing school, listened to my lungs and told me I'm not dying. So halleluyer!
That night, I went on exchanges. I went to Sister Wahlen, and we were on BIKES all day Tuesday, and it was a BLAST.

Sister Wahlen and Sister Shell

Tuesday: I felt like the quintessential missionary whilst riding my bike all over creation. Serious, I felt super awesome. It was just fabulous. We visited a sister who runs a daycare in her house, and yet still somehow manages to serve the missionaries lunch each Tuesday. Superwoman, right? Following lunch, we had a lesson outside with a YSA in their area named Luis, and it went pretty well. I think we were able to clear up a lot of things for him. After that, we ate dinner and I saw somebody from the YSA ward because their mom was feeding us! Connections everywhere. Then, we met a newlywed/part member couple and that went super well. I basically felt like a boss keeping up with Sister Wahlen (my mission "grandma") all day. And we had to carry our bikes over some railroad tracks at one point. LIKE A BOSS. #YOSO
And I was pretty much exhausted by the end of the day.

Wednesday: I was super sore, but oh well! C'est la vie! We went to "The Mission" again- that Christian group that meets at Lonestar. That went pretty well. I had an awesome conversation with a guy named Branden. He was asking about missionary work because he has several friends who are Mormons, who are on missions now. He even went with them to seminary a few times in high school! At one point, and I kid you not, he asked me, "So how many times do you have to go to church to get baptized?" Say whaaaaaaaat? Thank goodness for the Spirit, because it kept me calm when I was leaping for joy inside my heart. I wanted to say, "Well, the elders are right over there, and there's a fountain in front of the library, lets go get you dunked!" But I didn't. Because that's not how it works. After that, we went through one of the ward lists again and tried to track down some more YSAs. PEOPLE. Just go to church! Just go to church and get your records moved when you move.That is all I'll say about that.
We met an awesome member named Caroline, and had delicious stew for dinner. It was seriously good, and I was super proud of it, so I took a picture. I also had that Queso conversation with a stranger in Big Lots. But its a good thing we started talking to Juan, because if we hadn't, we might have missed the lady we were actually supposed to talk to! She's not a YSA, but she needs the gospel in her life like everybody else does, and she talked with us for about 15 minutes. She's prepared.
Later, we were supposed to have a member present lesson with an investigator named Erick, but he had to cancel on us. So, we got consolation ice cream at DQ and handed the drive-thru guy a pass along card. Is anything too awkward for a missionary? No, no it is not.

Thursday: We did studies and went to meet with the Elders. After waiting for a while we finally called them. Since they're the Assistants, President had them out doing some things and they'd forgotten to let us know. No biggie, so we went and worked on some stuff on the computers. We made a sample flyer (which we eventually scrapped) and an availability sheet thingy. Then, the Elders were finally back, so we met up and correlated. We ended spending hours in the Mission Office before and while the Elders were there, because Elder Frandsen had an awesome idea to make the flyer look like a mormon.org card, and I am apparently the only one who knows computers enough to do it. I think it looks pretty sweet, if I do say so myself! Thanks to my dad, who taught me tons about computers.

Sister King and Sister Shell and the flyer they designed.

President gave us permission to go to Sean's baptism, and said that our miles would be exempted since it was so far away! Halleluyer! He also asked us to type up a Church Tour outline sheet for the whole mission to use. Whaaat? We, of course, told him that we would type it up the very next day and give it to him. Then, we did weekly planning. Halleluyer. We had dinner with Alissha. After, we met Erick at the church and had a lesson with the Elders (since their going to teach him a few lessons too) and a member named Jackson. It went pretty well, and I think Erick is progressing pretty well.

Friday: We had an AWESOME District Meeting. Then, we typed up the church tour thing for President Pingree and dropped it off at his office in the Mission Office. Then, we volunteered at NAM (which involved a lot of moving desserts around, which just made me want to eat lots of chocolate cake and ice cream) and then went home and ate a yummy pizza. Then, we went to the Minute to Win It Game night, which was pretty fun, even if everybody was an hour and a half late. It was a good missionary opportunity though, and it was hilarious. The Elders got coerced into participating in the silliest looking game, and I must say that it was super hilarious. So funny. (See picture included).

Saturday: We went to Sean's baptism!!!
We had a miracle that morning too. We went outside to get in our car and leave, and Sheldon refused to unlock. We pressed the button again, and again and he didn't unlock. We stuck the key in the door, and it just kept perpetually turning and never unlocking. We worked on it for about 20 minutes, and like smart missionaries, decided to pray. After that, I stuck the key in the lock again and began to perpetually turn it. And I don't know why, but I pressed the unlock button while I was turning it. And just like that, the door unlocked! Sister King and I threw the door open, embraced each other, thanked Heavenly Father audibly SEVERAL times and hopped in and drove off.
Then, we got to the baptism and it was amazing. Almost all of the members of the branch that I know well were there. The Mitchell kids mobbed me when they realized that I was there. It was fun. Samara was the cutest- she didn't realize that I was there until after her siblings had already hugged me. She saw me, said "Sitter Sell!" and ran and jump-hugged me. After which she started "braiding" my hair.
Sean was a little nervous, but he was just so happy. He was glowing the whole time. The baptism was simple, beautiful and perfect. There was so much love, and it was just amazing. It made me so happy to see Sean taking that big first step back to Heavenly Father.

After we got back we went through another ward list, and had a member present lesson with a girl named Lauren. She seemed to like it, but was trying to process it. She agreed to read and pray about the Book of Mormon. Halleluyer! Then, one of the YSAs named Kevin took us out to eat at Olive Garden. It was my first time going there, and absolutely loved it. By the way, they have the best salads EVER. Yeah, who'd've thought I would've ever been bragging about salad? But it was good. So was the chicken alfredo.

Sunday: We had an awesome time at church, an AMAZING meeting after about the Why I Believe fireside, which is going to be super awesome and take lots of work, but I'm super stoked. Then, we had a lesson with Frank after church at a nearby park. That went pretty well. It was pretty funny. Frank is just... Frank. but, he committed to praying and asking if the Book of Mormon was true. He already loves the Book of Mormon, but we want to make sure he knows it is true, because then he'll know that Joseph Smith is a prophet. Otimo! We had a quick dinner, and then visited Janae. She's an amazing YSA who has cancer, and she's inspiring. I love her a ton. She's just beautiful.


I love being a missionary!!! Seriously, its amazing!!!
Can't WAIT until Brayden gets his mission call this week! I'm seriously so super excited!!!! My guess is either Brasil (of course) or Texas. Or heck, maybe Mongolia.

com amor,
Sister Shell

Sister Shell (Get It?)

Coordinating Companions!