There is life in the desert!

It's just not that exciting. I know you have all been anxiously awaiting a new blog post from me and were terrified that I had been stung by a scorpion, got heat stroke and swine flu, and died of thirst in the desert. Well, none of those things have happened. And not much else has happened either.

Someday I hope to put up some pictures of the middle-of-nowhere, wild west town I'm living in. Until then, I hope you enjoy the few pictures I have managed to take. The first one is where I spend 3 mornings a week. The detention center. Isn't it a happy place? No plants. Deathly hot (it was 115 degrees outside when I went to church today). Just lots of dirt and barbed wire out in the middle of nowhere. There are over 1500 people housed in this center, with just two attorneys and a couple of interns from the Florence Project to try to help all the pro se people (the vast majority), so work keeps me really busy.


And everywhere I go, there are subtle reminders of home. It's a good thing I'm so busy at work because I know I'd be horribly homesick every single day if I weren't so busy. I especially miss the mountains when I think it's cool outside, and it turns out to be 98 degrees. Yes, it's basically always triple degree heat, so under 100 is cool. I pass this sign every time I drive out to the detention center, and it makes me tear up every time.


Fortunately, I get to go home for a few days soon, and the ward here has been really great. One thing that I really love about the church is that it is the same wherever you go, so going to church always makes me feel at home. I loved my ward in Costa Rica, and I love my ward here, too. They've been so friendly. The bishop invited me over to play games with his family one night, the Relief Society presidency paid me a visit, and I made the cutest blocks at Enrichment Night. Check out my beautiful Be Blocks!


The weekends here are pretty slow, and I'm not too eager to go hiking in triple degree heat with my crazy roomates. But I've had a good time hanging out with friends, going shopping, and being crafty. I've gotten quite a bit of knitting done, and since my Be Blocks turned out so well, I decided to try another project. I've got a double baby shower coming up for two of my fellow classmates. One just had a boy, and the other is expecting a girl. These are the fancy schmancy frames I made for them. Aren't they cute?


After my trip to Salt Lake for the 4th of July, I will only have 4 more weeks left. Hopefully I can come up with enough fun things to do to make it to the end. The weekdays go by super fast, but the weekends are so slow. I'm getting so much great experience this summer, and I love my work, but I'm really glad this is my last summer. I miss you all and can't wait to see you!