10 Minutes in the Day of an Elder

So this week.
We were on exchange or split Tuesday through Saturday. VERY busy we were. Elder I. his b-day was Thursday. And ya. We ate at a burger place in Amsterdam (we were on exchange there) with some of the other Elders. 

I've been feeling the need to explain/illustrate something, for you all to understand. It involves the morning wake up routine of an Elder. 


Now, first off, one should understand, the earliness of the hour that a missionary arises is not necessarily the issue. Rather, It's the consistency of said hour. Let me explain. I have woken up earlier than 6:30 many times before my mission. And although it was difficult at times I could do it. 

But for some reason, no matter how many times I do it, 6;30 here, remains a challenge... My companions and I often have wondered when the day would come, that all of a sudden, it began to be easy. Where the alarm goes off and you pop out of bed ready for the day. 

Never happens.

I have also waited for the fulfillment of the promise Mom and Dad always told me. That if you train yourself to wake up at a certain time then you would get used to it, and your body would just naturally wake you up, you wouldn’t even need the alarm.

Never happens.

Let me explain what happens instead.

5:47--- For some odd reason you wake up. Maybe you have to go the bathroom. Maybe your arm was asleep and numb, usually you don't know why. But either way, you’re awake. Of course, you’re not going to stay up, cause you cheat yourself of sleep, and you feel lonely without your companion...So you go back to sleep

6:30--- Alarm goes off. And I don't know if I can explain properly how much your body freaks out at you. Inwardly, you sob. It was just long enough since you woke up last that you fell back into REM sleep, so of course, you’re stupid groggy, and your body bemoans your awakening.

6:31--- You roll out of bed and turn off the accursed noise, because your comp never does. And that's when your head starts pounding. You curl up in the fetal position and wish that your consciousness didn't exist.

6:32-- Your second alarm, that you cleverly placed across the room goes off and you scream as you stagger over to shut it off. Just as you reach it, the phone alarm goes off. You yell enough for it to shut up, and your companion turns that one off. 

6:33-- Once again you collapse in the fetal position on the ground, honestly dumbfounded at how this can be so hard...

6:35--- You’re jerked awake suddenly by your first alarm going off again. As you stand, your legs cry out from the abusive position you had just held them in. You turn off the alarm and stomp off to the bathroom, as your head pounds mercilessly...

6:38--- After rubbing your face and yawning so hard it makes you stagger because of lack of blood to your head, you start brushing your teeth. 

6:40--- You’re still brushing the exact same part in your mouth, as you look at your destroyed self in the mirror..
In all honesty, it would be hilarious, if you weren't so dumb tired......


And that is the first ten minutes... Just to give you all a taste of the routine :)

ik hou van jullie!!