Letter #6

HELLO Mission Fans!  This is your ever exhausted, worn out and ever so chipper  ELDER SMART.

Let's sum up this week:

Spent time with Sabin for a big chunk of it which is ups and downs in its self . He is working on changing his ways, but he is a man of habit soooo fortunately major will be his ZL in Lakewood... or lakehood as they call it.

Had an EARLY park day and lemme tell ya, that was absolute MURDER!!!!!

Major was cool about it, he taught me how to actually USE the frigg'n Bike  whilst Anderson would just tell me 'if its hard shift down'  and 'whats there to learn its a bike!' 

In any case that day we visited a rather interesting Asian guy named vuong... or vern...which ever.  He taught us a lot of stuff about meditation.   When we asked him if he had read the Book of Mormon he said 'oh yes I have read your bible 4 times!' he then ushered us in so he could print somethings out and show them to us.... he had ALOT of really cool stuff in his house. He had  a ONE STRING guitar thing!!!!... I can't use that 'master of the one string' joke... cuz there actually is one... its a harmonic devise or something.  He said he couldn't play it or the violin anymore because he had a brain aneurism.... which he fought the pain away with MEDITATION????   He then did some things that major called 'muscle checks' or something, where he had me put my hand on my forehead (like a facepalm) and then tried to push my arm down.... he was a really tiny bald dude so that wasn't very hard... even though my wrists were killing me from biking.  Then he had me switch and put the back of my hand on my forehead (not like a facepalm) and then... with both of his hands and trying really hard, actually got my arms to go down... it was cool XD he also talked about ALOT of the other stuff that I used to do in BRAIN TRAINING!!!!!  I miss that ALOT cuz so far stress management is NOT my strong suit.  I 

had dinner with the Perazzes and let me tell ya, this man is COOL. He was knighted by the Queen of England for his bravery when fighting in a war that the CANADIANS were in.... CANADIANS!?!?!?! in war?? that's almost like an oxymoron!!

Let me tell ya... Yelm (a town in WA) is a death trap, that's where I was exchanged for the day, we literally had NO ONE to talk to or go... or see, except for members, which lemme tell ya was a drag.  We did  visit Clifsmith (which kinda sounds like Christmas when ya think about it) talking with him gave me a new sympathy for Sabin.   Sabin used to talk to him a lot when elders would come visit and try and cheer him up a bit cuz his companions were gits.

I was able to listen to the gqarden again!... its Ironic cuz everyones favorite song is the landlords part and the morning BEFORE the exchange everyone was talking about mission ghost stories, which of course gave us the hebejibbies ESPECIALLY with my OCD/ADD mix driving me NUTS as it is!

(gotta switch computers.)

Friday was nice but it annoyed me how much fun all the old guys have together.   I guess my only real gripe is that I don't feel as excepted here as much as I did is Scottsdale... and even then that was a bit cool at times.  I try hard but I swear Washingtonians do NOT get ARIZONA humor.   This week has been rather hard on me (yeah yeah more doom and gloom) But I think my worst days were in Yelm and on Saturday when we got our transfers.

blah this is all a mess!

okay, lemme try this again I'll answer some questions

I've eaten ALOT this week and its been a bit expensive which I have not liked.

I try to be careful with it because I only get so much and I don't want you guys to suffer financially, so I buy big things like a bunch of hamburger patties or a bag of chicken breast.

(I learned making ritz chicken is harder than I thought) I still kinda feel left out in my group so I am still kinda bummed about that, 

and of course I worry about my imagination but not as much now.  Still figuring things out and keep to the faith even when it feels impossible too.

OH! I'm getting transferred! To a place called Gigharbor, its supposedly a really nice ritzy place!  Honestly as long as I'm working and busy I'm happy.

I was in the bathroom when I got my call (of course) I had to hurry up but when I got out Elder Price the A.P. asked me how I was liking Lacey and I told him its nice etc etc.  So, he said that was cool and asked which I liked better the boonies the slums or crazy people places?   I told him where ever the lord feels I'm needed.  It really doesn't matter to me where as long as I'm working.  My new companion will be  Elder Jones a.k.a white hand book jones!

It was weird, after yelm I got kinda a mellow bitter vibe that made me feel kinda like when Dad is not in a good mood,  but I've kinda worked back my happier perkiness.

I met a guy named Ron Givins and he has sixty days to live, he's really cool but... REALLY hard to talk to.  He reads the bible CONSTANTLY but still wonders why he's got lung cancer.... its hard to teach him because A: HOW THE HECK DO YOU DO THAT??? Teach a guy who you don't wanna offend with simple stereotypical answers like 'oh have faith, it will be okay etc etc' BUT you want him to know its all gonna be good, that life WILL work out and that the lord will take care of him? he was so concerned about his family because his X is crazy and is all over the streets doing bad stuff.   Its a shame I won't see him before I go.

Love,

Elder Smart

PS: love you mom! bye!!!