3rd Letter From Joshua

hello mission fans!

this week has been all over the place.  Its really weird, cuz back in scottsdale I would have more to write about but for some weird reason my mind is just... drawing a blank, hmmm, it would be easier if we had more regular lessons.

unfortunately we lost an investigator, a kid named sergio who got cold feet we guess, he was very nice, but elder Major thinks he just got scared a bit and didn't wanna commit yet.  unfortunately that was our park day so we walked all the way over there.    so we had park day.... where we all park our cars and walk.. it was sunny and such which was sorta nice, but I like the clouds WAAAAY better.   On top of that I walked the whole day, so yeah I was sorta tired and then the next day was bike day!  I biked the next day.    I relate my dislike of bikes to sherlock holmes distaste for horses.  my companion zips by and I'm sitting there feeling like an idgit.

We met a wonderful investigator named Katisha, she has a boyfriend and they live together (can't wait for that discussion) she has had some unfortunate experiences with her old church which just kinda fell apart. something about the pastor getting a god complex or something.

Ashley and vadim almost broke up.  (Vadim: he is about under five feet, but is possibly the THICKEST short people I have ever met... his back was like... I dunno, a russian munchkin bane! but he had this soft quiet voice that didn't match, he also has a huge stab gash in his gut, (we know this because earlier he had walked out with just his pants on) me and anderson were walking away and I was like 'dude, you didn't tell me he was all scarred up!' and anderson was like 'well how the heck would I know?!' I said, 'you've met him before!' Anderson said,  'yeah, but not with his shirt off!') They almost broke up about her possibly cheating on him (she wasn't, it was a misunderstanding and he had gotten drunk the night before and had said some dumb stuff -shrug-)  no, ashley didn't stab him, it was an old scar.  

so me and sabin bonded this week even though I shot him in the eye a bit. (I shot sabin in the eye with my nerf gun ^^''' mine has more power than their disk ones so... it still hurts even though it was a few days ago... and I don't think it diolates anymore ^^'''')  but we'll see. he CAN be nice, but... 

I got to see elder taylor and williams. I missed those guys so much.  sundays are rough because 99% of the time I am not paying attention and we have TWO sessions we go to X.X but its nice.

okay, answering questions.

-pulls up list to look at them-

I am eating fine,.... ish..... either I eat something less than healthy or I don't have a meal XD I DID buy a bag of chicken breast so lunch I'm set.

99% of the time we are fed unless we get dropped in which case the member most likely gave us money to buy dinner.   (we bought 2 deluxe papa murphys cook at home pizzas they were okay.)

I WANT to lose weight but everyone keeps giving me healthfacts that just make it all seem kinda hopeless but I try -shrug- I wanna buy more breakfast items (an I hope my chicken breasts arn't freezer burn't)

in any case not 100% active, its ups and downs during the week and I tend to miss you guys but I'm not quitting.

we were let in by a 'liberty study group' one day and it was nice, until the guy asked us if we had any 'questions' about our OWN religion, he tried to pull the 'where are the swords and coins of the nephites' bit, and then tried to tell us that the tower of babel happened BEFORE noah, like seriously?!?!

then chuckled when we said that nephi was brought in on a boat, the guy was a total schlub (on that note I want to say that he was infact rather nice, but he was a schlub because... I'll explain in a bit) cuz navigations weren't made till I dunno a several years after christ.   I didn't say anything but after I was talking to major and I was like, 'if the lord can let a guy build a boat and put two of EVERY ANIMAL in it without being killed or mauled..... I'm pretty sure he can lead a freak'n boat.'  people are adapting there ways of fighting and dissuading us.  instead of 'bible bash' its 'dialogue' its bologna.  granted its his JOB to do this, he's a 'youth minister' so yeah not impressed.   there are those in life who THINK they are educated when in reality they are not.  just the way this man tried to teach proved that he had no faith in the lord and depended on his own knowledge of what was possible.  basically philosophies of men mingled with scripture.

it was crap -.- in anycase I was happy to disect that even though it irritated me.

I GOT ALL OF SAVANNAHS LETTERS!!!!!! 8D it was so good to here from her X3 I try to keep her in my thoughts during the down time or before I go to bed ^^

I have about seven minutes left so I will continue to answer questions.

I am alive, a bit depressed at times but I'll live.  I am a bit conflicted and confused often, but once I get my own companion I will be able to put my world back together again.  everything I knew about the spirit is kinda flipped all over and my understanding/reality is kinda blown around so I gotta work on that.

I sent ethan a letter that will hopefully help him.  CRAP! I forgot to write to village vista.  I will hopefully do that next week.

we have a car C.D. player.  also, I can email anybody so I wrote savannah a bit to ease her and make her feel better.  please help to assure her that I will be sending letters to her personally as well, infact those will probably have more length and meaning than the other ones.

remember to send corn beef hash!   as well as an auto nerf-gun XD

(the nerf-gun is debatable XD)

and tell savannah to PLEASE write me.   I really really like her in a missionary way..... okay you know what I mean.

THIRTY SECONDS!

okayloveyouallpeaceout HUP!

P.S. Happy birthday to the most wonderful mom in the world

I am so appreciative of all of your guy's support and look forward to mail and P-days so I can hear from you all.

love, Elder J smart.

2nd Letter from Elder Smart

heyo once again mission fans!!!

Its me, your ever beloved Elder Smart - here to write you another report on this weeks events.

So far we have had a week of major UPS and major DOWNS.

Upside, we got quite a few new investigators, and it was either this week or the last that I gave out five book of mormons.... Time certainly has lost its depth and perception here.   Gosh I can't even think of what to write right now.   Oh! I can answer questions!

For starts, food is up and down XD I didn't stock up on vittles the week prior and had to scrounge off of the left overs of elder white.    During this process I realized that A: I actually like smoked kippers....and second.... I think  you are SUPPOSED to eat anchovies with the bones in them.... over all I have been rather hungry.   

This next segment goes to tondi

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for the pumpkin cookies!    I still have a whole bag left and they take WAY longer to go bad than regular cookies.  I had had a rough sunday and was feeling kinda lonely and blue that day so I went in to eat some from what I thought was my last bag of pumpkin cookies, only to (to my absolute giddy glee ness) find ANOTHER bag that I could savor also I would like to ask how that hobbes is coming along XD

I got 2 letters this week.

One that mom sent directly to my adress, the second from the mission home  (we had splits with the A.P.'s and anderson and major forgot to mention they had stashed my bag and scriptures in the back of their car -.-' BUT they brought mail when they came over) yay! thank you momma!    BUT the rest of you are in trouble.  I still write you guys but I won't send if I don't receive comprende?!   In anycase, still nothing from Savannah - Are  you gonna go and marry Aaron instead??? Q3Q XD

In all honesty letters would not (hopefully) be to heavy of a distraction. if anything they would boost my confidence and I wouldn't feel as lonely on my bad days ^^ So keep'm com'n folks!

To answer dads question, it indeed feels WAY different from the six week.... the situations are different and they are not as strict which I constantly strain about because if they are so lax then how do we do our job??? 

ontop of that sabin WAS apostate (meaning he did a pissy Job at being obedient.) and its discouraging because he treats me like a greenie (which emotionally I am NOT) I try really really hard no to be a bugger -shrug- but sometimes I get rather depressed.

It says in the hand book not to talk about negative things about the mission and I'm not sure what they mean by that -.- I'm sure in A.Z. it would mean the strictest definition, but president weaver is WAY different. the weavers believe that the mission should be fun 0.0

I guess my only worry is that I will stop being me to fit in with my companions. (don't get me wrong they are great missionaries and guys, its just... they aren't quite like me XP) so I struggle to maintain who I am, the problem with a mission is that if you do not keep the spirit with you then it can completely destroy your association with religious and spiritual feelings, which I theorise to be the reason disobedient elders go inactive or apostate.

(on top of that there are times where I swear the field can drive you insane.)

I (on occasion) have to deal with my stress which builds up and of course gets my brain running and thinking things that arn't real,but I am aware of that so I'm still chill.

We had a great lesson with a lady named katisha... I forget that name on a regular basis -.- As well as Ryan thompson who I taught personally.

(it was funny cuz I used the dentists analogy and they thought it was funny and they took a moment to laugh and tease each other.   Who knew that people were still so scared of dentists XD... kinda like how I dislike ENTs now who like to cautrize your nose! 

I haven't gotten my bike yet, its probably at the office, I'll check with them.

HEY! did you guys know that Nate has kin down here?!?!?!   I met his brother during church during ward council.  He was like "and your related to the greenes?" and I was like, 'wait he knows the greenes? how the heck does he know that??' I had seen his folder say Judd and I had wondered if he was related and son-a-biscuit he was! the first thing i said was, 'wow... you didn't get any of nates gingerness... like at all....'  I had (for the longest time) been under the impression that nate was in fact part of a clan of hybrid leprecauns, so this was a surprise.  Just kidding!  

We had quite a few bozo's when we went knocking... well I shouldn't say bozo's just meanies.  One opened the door after we knocked and stuck her head out and said.    "no one answered, take a hint!" then closed the door.... as we were walking away I was like "we knocked a second time... take a hint."

the other one was a stereo typical christian hate monger. first thing she asked us was what did john... something said (the lord gave his begotten son and etc) of course anderson was able to tell her except for the less important parts close to the end. she didn't make sense at first cuz she used that reference but her point was at the whole 'don't add to the bible' shepeal. -.-

she was rather turdish and avoided answering the question that if God gave her new scriptures would she take it.   then she went on about how she had heard the testimonies of X-mormons... psh, Ex-mormons don't have testimonies thats why they are X-mormons.

also, people up here have no concept of the difference of Solicitng and PROSOLYTING!!!! -.- obnoxious, however I was appreciative of the fact that there were several signs that said. 'no religious zealots' so kudos to them for the use of creativity and vocabulary.

I was surprised as I sat down to realise the man to my right smelled a whole lot like wet dirt 0.0 must have been a hippy or a tree hugger 0.0 far oooout duuude!

bugger I'm running out of time XP

I should probably end with some direct notes.

first of all the church is true.

second. for the love of all elders WRITE ME LETTERS GOSH DARN IT!

and third I love you all ^^

thats all I got for today folks.

Love,

Elder Smart

Letter from Joshua 3/11/2013

well, HEELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Arizona! hey there mission fans, I am BACK and better than ever.

last Pday was a wedsnday and I didn't have ANY flippyity dipp'n adresses on hand.

I have SO much to write and oh so little time to write it all @.@ so I guess I will just stick to the important parts.

I had GREAT companions at the MTC.

elder sterns and steed and my companion elder taylor.

me and taylor were... compatable but we weren't 100% buddy buddy.

my favorite was elder Steed, the man was FREAKISHLY up lifting and a just all around wonderful guy.

so, to explain the night that I called.

elder sterns had (after I was voicing my concerns) took me aside so we could talk one on one, he was very anxious to discuss with me what he wanted to say, but he felt like I should talk to the clinic guy here (kinda the MTC shrink if you will.) I was actually really okay with that, only problem was... we were leaving tomorrow XD soooo we went to the front office and we talked to the guy uo front, he then took us into an office where we talked and after a bit I kinda broke down. of course then my nose blew out and I got to bleed into a trash can for about thirty minutes XD its funny, it wasn't really gospel stuff I broke down about but more about how my life was and such. I guess one of the things I have wanted was to feel special... anyway, on to other things ^^ I decided I was gonna go anyway, I figured, 'heck if they were gonna send me home might as well go down try'n' so here I am.

as you will learn from my letters heading yourway I did infact have a REALLY rough couple of days being here. But I am slowly relaxing (hopefully that is a good thing.) I have yet to receive anymail from you guys Q.Q but if its all at the mission home then maybe theres more than I thought. ^^ haven't heard from savannah so either she felt I was whining or she already found a new guy or shes been busy XD.

I do infact have another adress that would probably get to me sooner I just... don't remember what it is.... one second.

4625 45th ave

apt m1 lacey WA 98503

anyway, we haven't really had alot of lessons.... at least not ones I would have countred in AZ. -.- things are... unconventional here XD brother and sister weaver are simply amazing. they encourage fun and love for their missionaries with everytime we speak to them, and despite my first impressions of my companions I am starting to warm up a bit ^^ I will tell you, when we had our transfer meeting... 0.0 it was crazy, we were singing, we were laughing and just... I felt the spirit cooking a pot roast in my... no that won't work... my stomach was on fire!!! and I was totally blown away! it was so... well what I thought could have been considered boarderline irreverent but there I was feeling the spirit stronger than I can remember so I'm feeling all @.@ where the heck am I!! the place was full of so much energy that I didn't know what to think or do or say.

course, by the time we were getting ready to leave I got really choked up because I had a thought Xp.... by the time I get home... Jessah will be too big to be on my shoulders... and of course I tried to tough it out.. but it was hard because my new companions lost me XD they were talking with elders they knew and all sorts a stuff and there was poor me trying not to cry all alone like a little kid who just said goodbye to his momma infront of the kindergarden playground.

furst couple of days were stereotypical they rained, but then all of the sudden we had like three-to four days of sun shine, I was like 'what the heck?!' but then the clouds came back and I was happy again.

I just came to the end of my stressful days, which lemme tell you... no bueno.

I got that thing in the back of my throat like mom always talks about where she feels like theres something in her throat and she can't swallow it (I do believe its just stress, cuz its gone now.) and I head ache that I was just informed never really goes away... so when I get home I'll be like 'why the heck does my head feel so weird?.... oh yeah, because it doesn't HURT!' its not really bad today, so either I got used to it or the clouds are working miracles.

PLEASE send more mail!!!

I gots all the ones (minus on which I lost T.T) from the MTC as well as dads hand written one and darcie and oranges.

(savannah ask here which adress I should Email orange from) I plan on sending darcies mom one XD reunite our family ties if you will.

I will most likely call her Auntie gina cuz... well I just gina would be weird since thats my moms name..... well moms.... anyway ya, I got alot of pictures from the MTC I swear it snowed ALOT those first few days, but then it was weird cuz close to the end when it started raining I was like 'wait... where the heck did those bushes comefrom!!' I swear they pop right out of the ground... LIKE DAISIES!!

heh... mooshoo reference X3

anyway ya, the rules are actually WAY more lax here, I can write letters anyday of the weeek as long as its not during preach'n hours.... I can't spell proselyte okay!! e.e we had a companion in the MTC who was our district leader called elder Walker... so of course we made some chuck norris jokes XD but he was pretty awesome... even if he did eat nothing but fruits and veggies and make me feel all self concious without even meaning too -.- but he was really smart too so I made a couple of 'walker' jokes.

Elder walker is so awesome... when he miss-spells a word? all the dictionaries in the world auto correct.

or elder walker is so awesome... even rabbits think he eats too healthy.

the first one was a bit of a hit XD.elder williams was kinda like Jaime from mythbusters only with hair and was more active in being funny XD we also had alot of ssiters that I miss XD sister rodrigez sister sheranian sister oslur (AH-slur.... but I called her aushwitz... which we all agreed was kinda horrible XD) elder sterns was actually really amazing. his life had been one of horrible proportions, he had been through SEVERAL foster homes as a child, been in an a mental institute as well as a rehab, he had done things that he definately regretted, but had turned his life around so amazingly... partially thanks to a girl ewe

not to self, I need to give a catalog of all of my emoticons so people don't get confused so the following are all emotionally letter based faces.

^^

=)

=3

X3

0.0

e-e

-_-

-.-

ewe

T.T

Q.Q

X.X

-3-

... if they need explaining ask someone who can, like savannah XD speaking of her its time for the stuff adressed to my friends... well some of it is general as well XD hayden, send me a letter ya mook! XD darcie, you will not distract me so you can talk about other sutff in your letters ^^ Orange, you can send pics of our characters, just don't send me fluffles unless its cute stuff not the other stuff XD Savannah I miss your art Q.Q and I copper is sending a letter so ya ^^ you all will not BELIEVE the stuff I can do here!

mondays we can play zombies

(so mom I need you to send me that Vulcan nerf gun X3 an lots of ammo.... and pumpkin cookies!!!) I absolutely LOVED the two packages I got from tondie with the pumpkin cookies X3 (the sugar cookies were awesome too!) however the other cookies got old before I could eat them all Q.Q now I has milk and will be able to consume to my hearts delight X3 X3 also, things that are aproved on P-day.

DnD... and pathfinder.

which I have a confession to make... that unfortunately sounds really inviting T.T I'm becoming a nerd XP I am doing alright with my companions, there are Elder major (musically talented nerd/popular guy/ evangelical spokesman.) elder anderson. (steady farm dude who likes to joke around) and sabin... he treats me weird cuz I'm a greenie -.- my eating habits are all over the place XP last I checked I was 242... granted I was wearing my full suit then so most likely its 238.

I'm figuring out how to lose weight XP maybe caveman diet.

jeez I'm running out of time 0.0

okay, so tell Aaron to buck up, live it up while he can.

tell ethan to PULL HIMSELF TOGETHER!!!!

and maybe slap him around a little bit.

tell mariah to man up! she's freak'n mariah smart, she doesn't take crap from nobody so she shouldn't from herself and for pete sakes hit the stupid ball! XD she can pretend its me or something.

tell Jessah moo I misses her Q.Q

and I miss you momma most of all.

I will be sending dad a letter as soon as I can explain my experiences.

aaaand... um... well the WATAC has a blog XD so you might see me XD I miss and love all of you so...

peace off! HUP! -flays to the side off his chair.- do do do do do do.... oh for pete sakes, SEND ME MAAAAIL!

love you all x3

Elder J smart. ^^