EHEM. Today is my halfway mark in the mission. Tomorrow I will be officially over the hill! :) I sometimes wonder if time is flying by for all of you just as it is for me. My companion and I made chocolate chip and oatmeal cookies (from the mix you sent, mom) to celebrate. And we ate at McDonald´s, but that has kind of lost its appeal and excitement. haha. It´s more expensive here than in the states! Besides, since I have taken up cooking as a sort of stress relief activity, I can make more zazzy meals in my own kitchen.
One of my favorite go-to side dishes is what I call 50/50 mangu. Take equal parts green plantains and sweet plantains, peel them and boil them. Drain the water, then mash. Add a little cold water and butter to taste. An optional twist is to top it off with red onions sauteed in lime juice or vinegar. Que rico!! :) I learned that dish from my companion, who learned it from her companion before me, who learned it from the companion before her. Talk about traditions. haha.
I eat a lot of eggs... also we make tons of juice. I love oatmeal juice. You just stick some plain rolled oats in water (I´d go with Quaker) in the fridge, then after a couple of hours you blend it and pour it through a fine strainer. Add some sugar or stevia to taste and you´re all set! Some great variations are adding a little fresh lime juice or passionfruit (chinola) juice. So good!
The other day, we made pasta with the elders... I foolishly listened to my companion who told me I should make TWO BAGS of penne pasta. hahaha. There was food for like a family of ten! I topped the penne with cheese and bacon. Bacon in pasta is now a must. lol. I also made legit garlic bread- having crushed my own garlic and chopped fresh parsley. It was good, but I won´t add so much parsley next time... that herb bites back!
I´m gonna break this letter up with photos of the delicious food we made. Here is the pasta with garlic bread and 50/50 mangu with onion and fried eggs.
Anyway, I had a really awesome experience this week. I got a letter with a Utah return address, and I was like GREAT NOW WHO´S GETTING MARRIED. haha. But it was actually from...... Sister Bramwell!! The sister missionary who taught Grandma Lou and Grandpa Bud slash former mission president´s wife of this very mission!! How amazing and emotional it was to read her personal account of their conversion and her experience teaching them... my own family history and gospel legacy right before my eyes. She told me about her life, how she and her husband were called to serve here in the DR, and how her own granddaughter served in Denton! What a special blessing and sweet tender mercy it was to receive that special letter, I have thought so much about the family in this week, especially with it being the week of our Independence Day. I thought about where I was a year ago, mission call received and relaxing in Red River with aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents and even more extended family. It has been a very special week, indeed.
Here are the predictably perfect cookies and my nails that I decorated to match yours, mom. :)
Well, I suppose there really isn´t too much more to add!! Things are going well. The mission is turning out to be a very important and unique experience for me, and I am ever so grateful for the effect it is having and ever will have on my life. I so strongly encourage all to share their testimonies freely casually with those that surround you. You will never know a sweeter experience than inviting someone to come unto Christ and witnessing them accept that very invitation. I hope you all have an excellent week!
Hermana Harden
Scripture of the week: 2 Nephi 26:14-16
The cookies all ready to eat and myself-- a photo from this very afternoon!
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