Apricots and Flat Hills

Hey everyone! Life as a missionary continues to be GREAT! Yes, it is hot and brown and dry here, but if I stand at a certain spot in my area, I can see my entire mission. It's beautiful. Plus, I can see all three temples in my mission! Oquirrh Mountain Temple is to the west of my area, while both Draper Temple and Jordan River Temple are to the east. I haven't had an opportunity to attend any of these temples yet, but it makes me feel peaceful when I see them. They are very beautiful with the mountains behind them.

A few days ago, in the morning when we were exercising, we decided to take a bike ride through our area. My companion informed me that the incline of our ride would be when we headed west up a hill. Let me tell you: that "incline" was flatter than the road in front of my house in WV! Biking here is WAY easier than it is back home. It's been nice, though, when I run into people who used to live in WV. They totally understand how much I miss the green and all the hills.

If there is one thing you should know about the area in which I'm serving, it's apricots. Tons of apricots. People pick them, eat them, can them, jam them, and turn them into fruit leather. I didn't know there were that many things you could do with apricots. Our landlord has at least two apricot trees out back, and the branches were so heavy with fruit that they began to break! By the way, I'm not sure if I wrote it in my last entry or not, but my companion and I live in the furnished basement of an elderly sister in our stake. She is super sweet and has a great sense of humor.

Also by the way, HAPPY PIONEER DAY!!! (July 24) I didn't know that this day is a holiday. When I got to my area, I kept hearing people talk about how they wouldn't be home July 24th, or they already had plans that day, and I was getting really curious about why it was so special. Turns out that July 24th is the day that the pioneers came into the Utah Valley.

One of my favorite things about missionary life is getting to serve others by weeding their gardens. I know that sounds silly, but it's just nice to be able to do something so small that makes a huge difference to some people. Since I've been out, I've studied the scriptures a lot more and prayed more frequently than before. And you know what that has brought me? Peace and calmness. Try it out and see if it works for you.