Hej from Eugene, Oregon!

So it has been a crazy week! We got into Eugene and President Young interviewed Sister Grant and I together. He said, "We got a little bit of news. It's not bad, but... your visas came through! You leave next Tuesday for Denmark!" 

Of course we were SUPER excited, but also really sad because Sister Hale wasn't going to be coming with us! But a few days later hers came through too, so we're all off to Denmark tomorrow! We fly to SLC, then from there straight to Paris (c'est la vie! Is that almost right?), and then to Copenhagen! I feel so European already. ;) Har har har!

Anyways a LOT has happened and it has been crazy and awesome and sometimes embarrassing but I have learned a lot. Here's a couple of things that really stood out to me! 

1. I love Eugene. I LOVE EUGENE! Oh it is so great - there are so many different kinds of people all living in one city. We went to eat lunch at The Laughing Planet (they served sandwiches, soups, sort of Asian food bowls, and... burritos!), and within 10 minutes I saw a couple of hippies and two people dressed up in renaissance clothing. I love it.

2. It has rained almost nonstop since I got here! It's good practice for Denmark.

3. It's soooooo green and there are so many trees - it reminds me of Rapid City but greener and tree-ier.

4. Did I mention I love it? And could possibly live here sometime?

5. We went to Voodoo Doughnuts today. Oh yes we did. I got not one, but two doughnuts - the actual voodoo doll shaped one and the bacon maple one. I had to get both while I had the chance! They were delish.

Voodoo Doll donut and Maple Bacon donut

Donuts with my two new companions

6. Now to the amazing miracles/tender mercies/holy cow I'm really a missionary moments. On Sunday I met a really cute lady named Kimberly. She asked me where I was going and after I said Denmark she said, "Do you know the McBrides?" I'm pretty sure I almost passed out. I definitely started tearing up! It turns out she and Auntie Anna are really good friends, Anna had mentioned me before, and if Anna still lived in Eugene we would have been in the same ward! So cool!! Anyways we took a picture together and she sent it to Anna, who then sent it to my mom. Technology is great!

This is the photo that Anna sent to me (Hannah's mom)  it was a fun surprise to see it on Sunday!

7. Also on Sunday, the bishop asked us to visit a 17-year-old girl whose records had just shown up in the ward. We went to her house and knocked on the door, and no one answered. So we started walking away, but then we really felt like we should try again so we did - and this time Charlie answered! She was so excited to see us. I guess she has just moved into the area to go to school, her mom is a member, and she wants to go to church. We gave her a Book of Mormon and the numbers of the missionaries who serve in the YSA (young single adults) ward. It was so cool because if we hadn't acted on the prompting to go back and knock again, none of that would have happened.

8. I've started getting more and more comfortable teaching and testifying - and by that I mean I'm following the Spirit a lot more and it's not even really about what I say (because let's be honest - I'm a pretty awkward person!) but about how the Holy Ghost touches other peoples' hearts.

So all in all it has been a great week. I am learning a lot and getting out of my comfort zone. I am sad that I only got to be here in Eugene for 5 or 6 days, but I am grateful I got to come here! It has been a fun adventure. Now on to Danmark! Vi ses!

random photos of a Santa pencil that someone gave me!

Oh PS I have two companions again! They're really nice and very patient with me. They found out they would be my companions the day we got to Eugene, and I have to say they rocked the last-minute assignment! It's been so fun. Also, I took a picture of the santa pencil someone gave to me. It's awesome.