Spice Cake

It's been a great week! Sister Szuch started it out (the week starts the day after I email in this case) by riding bikes everywhere we had to go on Saturday instead of using the car. Mostly this was because we were out of miles for the month. We wouldn't have been thrust into the dungeon or anything if we had gone over, but I kind of like a challenge, it seems. And it worked! But my bum ached for like 2 days afterwords. The problem with this plan is we had an appointment to do service with a member of the ward who lives on the other side of Seneca Falls, the other sisters' area. When we got to their house at the end of the 18 mile day, they refused to let us bike home, so we got a ride in their truck from their. I can't say I wasn't happy about that. Our bikes never did learn how to gear down from 6th gear. Yeah...

Most of our week was spent at the Visitors' Centers which continue to pick up in traffic. I really love giving tours when it's busy. Can I just say that? The VC has been a trial of my mission in many ways because switching focus back and forth from normal missionary work to VC work makes you a little crazy, and sitting around studying for hours when no one comes in also makes you a little crazy. When people come in though, I remember how much I really love people, and I get to talk about the sites here, which I love! It's great. I'm grateful I get to end my mission on a busy note instead of a Winter one.

This morning we got to go take a yoga class! Right before I got pink eye we went and helped this lady paint the studio because she was renovating it but was really busy. They are great! They live next to the Lindquists in the ward, which is how she found us. Before my mission I never really did yoga, and my only experience with it was like flailing and standing in funny positions. When yoga is done well, it is AWESOME. I'd like to continue to experiment with it in some capacity when I get home. I attribute most of this to Tony of P90X :) Thanks, Tony.

All the new Sisters seem to be doing well and everything is calming down from the craziness of this past transfer. I have not started packing yet, in case you were wondering...I don't plan on doing that for a few more weeks. Sister Szuch and I are livin it up for as long as is possible. I will really miss teaching about the Gospel of Jesus Christ here soon. I hope I get some crazy teaching calling in NC when I get back. If not I might start calling some of you randomly and asking to review a principle. Just when you thought I hadn't turned into a crazy, right? Ok I'll try not to do that.

Not too much other news for now I don't think- things are good. Britton had a relapse at smoking this week, but after a little bit of reassurance, he's back on track. Sometimes the worst part of quitting something or trying to improve is getting the motivation to try again once you relapse. He's a good kid. I'm grateful to know him, and I'm grateful for people who have the courage to press on!

Ok I'm out for this week. Have a cheery week!

Sister Raines

PS. Show me a piano falling down a mine shaft and I'll show you A-flat miner.