White House

Here is the White House...doesn't change much does it? Apparently you can still go on tours but you have to write your congressman to get tickets...you do the same to get tours of the Capital.


Goals: keep all of you updated through my blog with pics and writing. I feel like it is a mission again that you guys all need weekly emails/updates, or even more so often. They will probably die down once we are in the schools because we won't have as much time to tour.

In the metro goal: I want to sit by people I don't know and hand out pass along cards!

First day at church today, WE HAVE SISTER MISSIONARIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't even tell you how pumped I am for that. I talked to one of them today and we swapped phone numbers. They even called me today to go to a fireside with an investigator but I didn't have a car so it didn't work out! boo...I can't wait to accompany them, go on splits, or whatever they want me or need me to do. I really want to take advantage of having missionary experiences out here and bringing up the church in any way I can and as often as I can! I LOVE being in a place where people don't know the Gospel and you can bring it up...it is soooooooo different in English though, weird I know. It is funny because I am naturally timid to bring it up and do it but then I think, "Jamie you did it for 19 months of your life..hello!!! OF course you can do it!"

We have 300 people in the singles ward here...huge! and we even have relatively small boundaries. I saw people there that I recognize from BYU, funny. Lots of people come here though to intern. Lots of people work on Capital Hill, are very successful adn ambitious. I was shocked to see so many Audi cars and VW's the the parking lot this morning. Our chapel is a half hour way next to Mount Vernon...SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOo pretty the drive. SO pretty! Tons of trees and just lush and green! B-E-A-UTIFUL. There is such a huge biking community here and amazing bike trails. I want to buy an old bike. I ran into a kid I know from my last BYU ward at the Lincoln Memorial...random, who does that right? Small world in the LDS/BYU world.

That pretty much sums up all the high points...just trying to get everything in before we have to start actually working...boo.

Lincoln and Washington Memorial

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These are my roomies...Chanel Wright, who is from Arizona, is the one on the left and she is my room roomie and then Leigh who is in the other bedroom in our apartment.
(notice above Lincoln it says "In this temple"...interesting...what is their definition of temple? Why would it refer to the memorial as a temple? hmmm...

So, first of all..if you are in DC don't ever ask people that work in the kiosks on the streets or any of the stores where things are...they DON'T KNOW! They have no idea and they pretend and get you lost! GET A MAP or ask other tourists! They are the ones that know!

Also, careful who you ask to take pictures...specifically clarify that you want the memorial or whatever you have behind you IN THE PICTURE...you wouldn't believe the crazies who have taken pictures for us and how they have turned out...is it really that hard? ay ay ay!

Ted Kennedy Motorcade

I will do better at posting pictures of my adventure...so here are a few things we have done in what seems like forever but has only been a couple of days...

The first day I got here we went to the Arlington Cemetery and waited for the funeral procession of Ted Kennedy. We waited quiet a long time in the fantastic amount of humidity that is here in DC...sooo hot. I have never sweat so much IN MY LIFE!

This is one of my roommates named Leigh, she is from LA and teaching History in the high schools.
Here it finally comes... notice we are on the bridge over the Potomac River between the Lincoln Memorial and the Arlington Cemetery.

I made it... the nation's capital? really? the east coast? what?

So no one has to continue worrying...

Just so everyone knows, I made it to Washington DC this afternoon. We left the house about 4:00 am Pacific Standard time and I arrived in DC about 6 pm Eastern Standard time. As I talked to people during my travel, I know they were thinking that I was some high schooler who was going back home to start high school again. To their surprise I have graduated college, lived in South America, and moving to DC! As I arrived to my apartment complex, Crystal Towers in Arlington, Va, I have already begun to see how different this experience will be compared to any other I have thus far had. The diversity is refreshing while the humidity is stifling! I brought a straight iron for my hair...let's just say my hair will NOT be getting straightened my entire stay here!

I feel all grown-up, that sums up the beginning of this new chapter of my life. We are in an apartment with two bedrooms and two bath, there are four of us. They are quite nice. No longer do I feel like I am living in college apartments, I feel like I should actually have nice/classy things and take pride in my living accommodations... the wonders of coming of age! Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be moving to DC, just showing up, not being familiar with the area, going off to the stores on my own, and teaching in an inner city school! Only the Lord knows and I can attest to that. I know this is where the Lord wants me right now, I just don't exactly know why. I know He has something planned and something for me to learn. I know there are people here that I need to interact from, help, serve, and learn from. I almost feel like I have left on my mission again...just this time in shorts, no name tag, and no companion...a bit different not having someone glued to your side...that companion came in handy and was an excellent security blanket at all times. Only time will tell.

I don't know what I am doing with my life after December. I don't know where I am going to live. I don't know what I am going to do. The sky is the limit. The Lord tells me that I cannot decide until I am here for a time. So, it makes me wonder...there is something here in DC that is going to impact my life so much that it is going to change or make me or help me or course me to make a decision one way or another. I have this feeling that it is something I have not thought about pursuing before... but maybe it isn't. I just know that this experience is going to impact the rest of my life as well as my perspective on life. So, here is to my 2nd mission. I pray that the Lord will give me the strength and courage to share the Gospel through word, deed, and example while I am here and be a true messenger and tool in the Lord's hand. I am so truly blessed and want to share those blessings with those around me. I know the kids in the school need the Lord's help in so many ways!

Only time will tell.

Graduation BYU

Summer...Family in Utah

Justin is our "special" family member, I think the picture speaks for itself.

One of the last hikes in Utah...

My friend Amanda...She rocks... she is the BEST Gospel Doctrine teacher I have EVER had!




To the Hot Pots in Spanish Fork...aka Nuddy Potts (lots of hippies go skinny dippin' in these hot pots.