Out here patriots day is kinda a big deal. This state is ridiculously patriotic and every holiday to honor the awesomeness that is America is definitely to be cel-e-brated. So, the library wasn't open, and then on top of that we had a terrible tragedy in Boston and so emailing just didn't happen. yesterday was one of the longest days ever, and not very p-day-ey, but it's over now and i'm happy and healthy and safe.
We woke up at 3 in the morning (before the crack of dawn) and went to Lexington to a reenactment of a the battle of (you guessed it) Lexington it was super fun. all these red coats and patriots, fighting for freedom, smoke in the air and the sound of hollow gunshots. America I tell you. It could have improved if I was roughly 4 inches taller, because then I could have seen it, but the sounds were glorious. Sister J also gave a detailed description of the short battle for those of us that are height impaired much of which consisted of, "oh. they're mad."
Afterward we all went to a members home in Lexington where they hold a patriots breakfast every year for all the members that want to come. It was a lot of fun and there were so many people crammed into the most quintessentially New England house I've maybe ever seen.
We then went shopping and WENT TO THE TEMPLE! It was glorious. I've never been to the Boston temple, and it was very beautiful and a nice break from the world. I felt so good in the house of the Lord and so happy. we can only go when we have a holiday p-day, and so it is a special occasion and very much anticipated. I really loved it, and I needed that on a week that was busy and stressful.
We decided to go on the freedom trail in Boston afterward, which I thought was a hiking trail and is actually a history tour of landmarks in Boston. Very cool, and a lot to look at. the best way to it is via public transportation (which is kind of a duh for us, because we don't use anything else), but almost our entire zone grouped together and took the T whether they have cars or not. since I thought we would be hiking vigorously I wore a t-shirt and jeans, and it was actually very cold in the city. I was freezing, so I broke down and bought my very first BOSTON sweatshirt. It is red, white, and blue, and I think it is very fitting. Plus it was pretty cheap.
Anyway, the freedom trail was going great, until we heard and saw at least 10 police cars racing back and forth, with their light and sirens on. We knew something was up before our zone leader got the call. He had us all stop, told us that some bombs went off somewhere in Boston, and that the President (Packard, not the President of the US, just for clarification) wanted us out of the city. This was the first day that we had even been to the city for a p-day in a while. But we were all together, which was comforting.
We put our heads together, and tried desperately to find a way out of the city without taking public transportation, but all the T trains had been shut down. We ended up walking from Boston to Cambridge, across the river to the stake center. It was actually quite the hike - I was SO GRATEFUL that I picked up that sweatshirt. It saved me.
We finally learned that two bombs had gone off at Copley Square, at the finish line of the Boston Marathon. Runners had already finished, and some were going across the finish line when it happened, others had to stop their run suddenly and not finish. 3 people died from the trash can bombs, and more than 150 people were hospitalized, not to mention the marathon runners that were hospitalized because they couldn't receive the care from the marathon booths. Everyone had to disperse and stay out of large groups, the T was shut down, and people (like us) were stuck in Boston.
I was so grateful that we were in a group of missionaries, with our zone leaders and district leader.
We got home late, and crashed into our beds, tired from a 19 hour day, but so grateful to be safe and praying for those that had been impacted. We are praying for them now.
That was just yesterday though! The week was wonderful, but so, so much to do!
We are working on a Musical Fireside for every single stake in the mission. It is a lot of work. From scheduling the buildings, to trying to make a nice poster and flyer, to advertising with a youtube video, and an mp3, we are working really hard to get the word out and to really get people EXCITED!
Also we have 6 progressing investigators in one ward!
And we are working with so many members!
Here are a couple things from the GREAT THINGS journal:
1. Rode the Mattapan Trolley on Wednesday! It is so cute. Just like the olden days. There are some things about Boston that are just EXACTLY like San Francisco. Really.
2. Laura is ready to get baptized!!!!!! :) in May. we are SO EXCITED.
3. We met a girl on Friday named Felicia who is SO AMAZING. She has already read the Book of Mormon and when I bring up other people's concerns (as a teaching method) she bears her testimony to us of how she knows that those concerns are invalid. It's RIDICULOUS. so awesome.
I love love love you all! Keep me updated!
Love sister hrp
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