Put the Guard on Your Fan!

This week has been awesome! I guess I should tell you about how I destroyed my big toe on Tuesday. I have to start with the night before to help you understand a bit better. We were on a three-way exchange so we all came to our apartment to get our companions back. Elder Parker is a district leader so he was on exchanges with another companionship and I was with Elder Moli whose companion was on emergency transfer as of that day because a missionary went home. Elder Moli went with someone from his ward eventually for a few hours and I went with Elders Foulger and Anderson, so basically, everything was super messed up.

We were in the apartment relaxin' and waiting for everyone to get back. Eventually Elder Park, who Elder Parker was on an exchange with, noticed that our fan didn't have its guard on it, so the blades were just exposed. He started going on about how we were the stupidest people ever because we didn't have a guard on it. We explained that when we got it we just wanted to put it together really quick since it was hot, so we disregarded the instructions. We couldn't figure out the guard so we just didn't put it on. We told him didn't matter, because everyone in the apartment was a responsible adult and wasn't stupid. (See the foreshadowing in this?)

It was already slightly ironic because Elder Parker and I both had already accidentally cut our arms with the thing, but Elder Park was finally somewhat satisfied so we dropped the matter. Elder Moli spent the night that night since his companion was transferred and he needed somewhere to live for a bit, so that's why he was there.

We woke up and exercised then ate some breakfast. After breakfast we had about 15 minutes before studies were going to start.  I was talking to Elder Moli and getting to know him a little bit. All the while I was just messing with the fan with my toe and slowing it down til it would stop. Why was I doing this? Because it was something to do when I was being super bored. You just can't help but mess with a fan when the blades are exposed! There's no denying that.  Anyway, I eventually got tired of that so I just rested my foot down by the fan on the table. Elder Moli said something that reminded me to do something at my desk. I don't remember what it was, but there was something. So as I swiveled in my chair and pulled my leg off of the table the fan caught my toe and gave it a pretty good whack. I tried playing it cool because of that conversation we had had literally 10 hours ago. I jerked back pretty good, but I felt like I was doing pretty well just talking to my roommates and laughing about what had just happened. I felt something cool on my toe though, so I looked down and I was bleeding all over!

I hobbled over to the counter for some paper towels to clean it up. I was super worried because we had a meeting we had to be to in 45 minutes or so. The bleeding wouldn't stop and it was time to go, so I finally just wrapped a paper towel around it, put on a sock to hold it in place, put on my shoes, and started walking through the pain.

The bleeding did eventually stop, but the pain is still there. My toe nail never did turn completely black, but I think it's dead because it's slowly turning a gross pale color now. I love biking because that doesn't hurt, but after walking 2-3 miles my whole toe starts to hurt. Anyway, I'll be fine! It just adds a little bit of adventure!

Last Monday we went shopping at Walmart. I found something absolutely amazing there that I haven't found anywhere else. It's Blue Diamond almond milk, vanilla flavor with a touch of honey. It is seriously the best thing in the entire world! You know how the milk tastes after eating Golden Grahams? That is exactly what it tastes like! It seriously is the best tasting liquid in the world! It's super expensive but it's way worth it. It's like $3 for a half gallon carton, but it only lasted for 2 days because of how good it is! The best part though is I got 5 dozen eggs, 2 dozen tortillas, some eggo waffles and toaster strudels along with that milk. I got to check out and some girl, maybe 20 years old, came up and just stuffed a $50 into the machine before I even got my credit card out then she told me to keep the change! It was super awesome! I love the members here! They are so supportive of missionaries and missionary work! I've had things paid for me like 5 times already, it's crazy!

For Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy fans, Tuesday was my 42nd day. Tuesday was the day I killed my toe. Coincidence? I think not!!! Haha, anyway that day we also had Elder Moli with us. He went on an exchange with a kid who just got his mission call a couple of weeks ago after our district meeting. This kid gave us a ride back to our apartment, so that was super nice.  When we got out I thought, "Oh no! I think I left my iPad at the church where we had district meeting!"  We unloaded the bikes and were about to head back over. When I was getting in the truck I looked up and there was my iPad. I must have sat it up there while I was helping load the bikes into the bed. It was a miracle that thing stayed up there, because this kid drove just like any 18 year old would. Tires squealing around corners, screeching every time a stop sign or light came up, slamming the gas every time there's an opportunity. I love being able to see miracles everyday out here!

Wednesday was a pretty interesting morning! Elder Parker loves to cook, so he made some taco soup for zone training. It was all going fine at first, it wasn't until he began sautéing things that it got bad. First he started with the bell peppers.  It just made the apartment smell like super strong peppers, but that was fine since I like the smell; then came the onions. It just stunk, but if you got within probably 7-10 feet of the stove you were crying. Finally the grand finale! We sautéed some sliced jalapeños!!! The air began to sting our eyes! We ran to the doors and opened them all up! Our throats began to burn, we could hardly open our eyes because of how bad it was.  One of us sneezed every 7-10 seconds, and there was constantly someone coughing.  It was awful! I'm sure the neighbors were walking by thinking, 'Wow, that entire apartment is super sick!' It was pretty bad, but in the end it was very worth it! That was seriously the best taco soup I've ever had! (Sorry mom) I can get you the recipe though if you want it!

Not much else really happened the next few days that's too terribly exciting. But today, (Monday the 13th) has been pretty sweet so far! So we went on a hike to watch the sunrise! In order to get to the trail head and up to the ridge on time we got up at 3 am. It was pretty fun! We were picked up by Elders Long and Speth at 3:30 and got to the mountain at 4:45. The hike up was pretty good. We went to a place called the wind caves which is basically a giant thing carved out of the mountain by wind. Up above the wind caves we hiked clear up to the ridge where we waited for the sunrise for about an hour. It was really cool and a ton of fun! I'll send you some pictures of it! Elder Foulger got some cactus stuck in his arm and foot, but other than that everyone was fine!

Sunrise over Apache Junction and the edge of Mesa

Elder Parker is watching Elder Foulger (left) do Tai Chi at sunrise

Elder Speth made a bed out of the rocks.  Just waiting for the sun to rise.

Elder Anderson can't get enough of his Mormon Messages

Elder Foulger hiking back from the ridge

Check out the wild honey bee nest.  That thing is enormous!

E. Foulger decided to throw rocks at it.  He gathered a few pieces of wax.  Don't worry, we were fortunate and nobody got hurt too badly!

We watched the sunrise from that ridge above my head

Well, have a good week! If you've never played the game BANG! I would highly suggest it! It's a ton of fun!

Love,

Elder Mullins