This week's e-mail, first what he wrote to Dad:
I certainly understand how busy things can be. Some days we don't have time for anything it seems, between all our appointments and everything. But then time passes quicker, and well it's just kinda wierd. We've always got a lot to do, but time is an anomaly here. The days feel like weeks and the weeks feel like days. I think back on how long I've been out here and it doesn't seem like that long, but like everything else, back at home, was a long time ago.
How has it been being the volleyball coach? It's gotta be a new experience I imagine, and interesting, with it being kids Holly's age..... What a challenge.
Which Orchestra concert was it? Or are they still combining them all? Well, I don't think it matters very much anyways.
It's just so great that Marissa was baptized. Awesome. I wish I could have been there.
Being assistant scoutmaster, which group is that? The Deacon age boys?
Oh man, the Orchestra party was at our house? Orchestra parties are notorious for being full of loud rambunctiousness, more than any others (in reputation at least) from high school. That one I'm not so sad to have missed. We all have our trials to endure. Ha ha.
I'm doing well myself, we've had about a normal week. Just same ol' same ol' for the mission field. Lots of knocking. We did six hours on Monday. The mission goal is ten a week, and we're on average doubling that, but not meeting our goals on BoMs placed. It's a trial, but the ones that we do get out make it worth it. For example, we found a girl on Friday named Kelcey. On Sunday a girl from the ward told us that Kelcey had found her at school and asked a lot of questions about the church, told her that she'd been reading the Book of Mormon, and yeah. Prime investigator. Our 3 that we're teaching already were all over the board. Charlie had a setback, we thought he had gained a testimony but in actuality he meant that he beleived that we beleived it. I think we can work through it though. Bill and Betty made some great strides this week. They have been reading every day, something they haven't really done in their whole 2 years of investigating, and we got Bill to church for the first time in a LONG time. Betty wants to be baptized, she is clearly feeling the impact of the spirit in her life, and as such is trying to whip Bill into shape and get him to follow through with his commitments and get him to the same place she is. Awesome! Dennis, Kim, and Shannon are in the same place as last week unfortunately.
That's about it for our progress. Oh, and we had Zone Conference. That's the about 30-40 missionaries that cover my zone, which is one of 5 that correspond to the 5 stakes in the mission, where we take a day and listen to the President and his assistants, Zone leaders, and learn a lot about things we can do better on. The big one for me out of it was planning. We are crazy intense planners out here, every minute has about 3 things planned for it so we don't waste any time.
I'm probably going to have to ask you to share some of this with the rest of the family because of my time constraints on the computer, if you would.
Ok, so that's it I think. It's been a good week though. Full of hard work and setbacks, but also some of the best rewards and learning I've ever had. Such is the life.
I'm glad I had a great example in you to help me prepare to come out here. I can't tell you how much better some of the families we've talked with would have been if they'd all had a Dad like I did. I'm really learning to appreciate that out here.
Love,
Elder Robert Christensen
And to me, he wrote:
I'm running short now, so I'll have to keep it a little shorter this week, sorry. Dad got my updates, so you'll have to look at his email to get this week from me, sorry again. Oh, and the picture didn't work. I think it's pretty simple on the email system, it looks the same as the davis county school one did.
Time is crazy here. Like I said to Dad, the days feel like weeks and the weeks feel like days. It feels like I've only been here for a short time but that I left a LONG time ago.
That makes you respect librarians more doesn't it? I always thought they had an easy job until Nick started working there and complained about things like that. That is too bad about the pink eye though.
I think you took the smart route with PTA presidency. You get it the year it gets dissolved, Huzzah! All the glory of the title and none of the work right? I'm joking of course.
It's just so great about Marissa's baptism. I'd really like to hear from her about how she felt about it.
I haven't got into anything like Zach did, don't worry. I would probably tell you, just so that you didn't call the president all up in a fuss.
It snowed there??? I'd heard, but 6 inches??? Wow, it was 83 degrees here yesterday. The leaves are even still pretty much entirely around.
I'll admit I am a little sad at the volume of mail I've received, but mostly the lack of mail from friends. I've got something from pretty much everybody in the family at least once or twice, but only Brady has written me back. I sent out like 8 letters to friends, everyone I had addresses for, and only one person wrote me back! Grrrrr.
Not having been to the Salt Lake Temple I can't really say. But, the opinion around here at least is that DC is SLC for the 21st century. The same, but better. I guess I'll just have to see when I get back.
The transfer schedule is when we change places. A normal length of time in an area is about 3 transfers, and each transfer is 6 weeks. So, I'll probably be in Hampstead till the end of January. Elder Call will probably be here for one more. They usually have the Papa in the area one before the greenie, and leave one before so a weener can come in. Catchin' all the mission lingo? Sometimes however, they shotgun a greenie and a trainer into a new area. That's rough. Supposedly.
That is the irony about Bill and Betty. We've thought about it, and figured that it's best to leave the mention of marriage out of the picture until Bill has a stronger testimony. He's so afraid of it that we thought it would be best to have a support system in place, being backed up by the gospel and the church and ward, so that he feels safer and more comfortable, with further incentive to go towards it.
Alma and Amulek are great examples of missionaries. One thing I think is so cool is that you can see them play off each other, just like they teach us to. Each teaches to his strengths, working up to each point by laying solid foundations and everything. It's very cool. I love that about 2 Nephi 2 as well. It explains the fall and premortal life better than I ever could. Alma 34 (I think, it might be 32) is the only way I know to make sense of the laws of mercy/justice concept. The best example of a teacher though, is Jesus Christ himself. If ever I have a question on teaching something, he's the best example to turn to and the first place I go. I've been reading through the gospels lately and seeing just what how to go about it.Another thing to remember by the way, is that they were living in Amulek's house. I'll bet Alma did more than that in the morning. It's true about Zeezrom, he had quite a shock. But look where he ended up! A great missionary himself! When they went to the Zoramites, he was with Alma and his sons.
I dunno what to say about getting the others to write, I guess try doing it on Sunday. That's a perfect Sunday activity, and I don't know a better time to do it.
I know there's a lot to do, but I'm out of time now and wish you well for the week.
I love you all very much
Elder Robert Christensen
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bnlfan_1 made Dr. Who (David Tennant) and the Tardis and M did an angry Jack O' Lantern.
