Man, this week has been crazy.
Someone identified me the other day as from the North. This is either a really good sign about my accent, or (more likely) a really bad sign of my English skills :) This week's letter is about all the crazy stuff.
First of all, the allegory of the Olive tree (Jacob 5). So, turns out, the master of the vineyard only calls for more servants when it's near the end...ooooooh, it's near the end. Or pretty darn close at least.
Adversity = adventure! That's what we learned in a conference the other day, and I'm sticking to it. It's really true, though, we've had some very hard times, but looking back they were quite the adventures :)
I had a fourteen year old girl offer me weed the other day. "Hey, Ginger, want a smoke!?" It was hilarious. We talked to her and her friends for a while about the gospel. Gave a pass along card. Just goes to show that teaching opportunities can come from anywhere.
There is a hidden chapter in Preach My Gospel. Only missionaries know about this chapter: Chapter 14, "Flirt to Convert". Some say it's the most apostate chapter in the book. Other's say it doesn't exist. Who knows. ;)
Every time we sing We Must All Press On, I've noticed a strange idiosyncrasy in the way missionaries sing it. At the very end, the bass's have a line that says: "We will obey." Elder Wright sings it like a robot, as do many missionaries I've met.
Another Hymn story. You know In our Lovely Deseret? Whenever we say "hark, hark, hark", we sing it like seals. Clapping our hands together and everything.
I've found the reason Elder Wright is so short. It's because he comes from a place in England called the Shire. Yes, there is a place called the Shire. In fact, it's right next to Rivendale. Who would have guessed I'd been sent to the Middle Earth mission?
There is an unspoken rule among missionaries about putting pass-along cards through mail-holes that have a dog on the other side. You don't. I, however, did not know this (unspoken rule and all), so I almost had my fingers eaten off. I let loose one of the most womanly screams I've ever heard. It was hilarious :)
I got permission from the mission president to start my English driver's licence! Pretty sweet! I asked him at a digital Zone Conference (we were skyping to America), and he said "you red-heads with leadership potential all need to know how to drive. Get it as fast as you can." He sure knows how to lift you heart (or make you prideful, hopefully not, though). But yah, it's pretty sweet because when I come back to America with it, it lasts until I'm 70 and lowers my insurance rate. Those English drivers :)
Last one. Funny story. A pair of missionaries ended up having the police come and do a search of their flat. It was just a random thing, happens around council sponsored areas. The police come in, see a map of the city with pins in it saying BoM (Book of Mormon). You can see where this may have gone :) After a lengthy explanation, they got it sorted out.
I'm pretty sure you just have to be insane to keep sane out here, you know what I mean? :) A mission is a great opportunity, and I'm really starting to enjoy it. I love it out here, and I'm becoming a lot bolder in talking to people. Pretty amazing, the Lord builds you in ways you can never expect, but that are perfect to you individually.
Alright, well, I've got to go. Wish I could tell you more, I wrote quite a few emails today, and it's not a normal P-day.
Love you all.
Cheers,
Elder Foster
Someone identified me the other day as from the North. This is either a really good sign about my accent, or (more likely) a really bad sign of my English skills :) This week's letter is about all the crazy stuff.
First of all, the allegory of the Olive tree (Jacob 5). So, turns out, the master of the vineyard only calls for more servants when it's near the end...ooooooh, it's near the end. Or pretty darn close at least.
Adversity = adventure! That's what we learned in a conference the other day, and I'm sticking to it. It's really true, though, we've had some very hard times, but looking back they were quite the adventures :)
I had a fourteen year old girl offer me weed the other day. "Hey, Ginger, want a smoke!?" It was hilarious. We talked to her and her friends for a while about the gospel. Gave a pass along card. Just goes to show that teaching opportunities can come from anywhere.
There is a hidden chapter in Preach My Gospel. Only missionaries know about this chapter: Chapter 14, "Flirt to Convert". Some say it's the most apostate chapter in the book. Other's say it doesn't exist. Who knows. ;)
Every time we sing We Must All Press On, I've noticed a strange idiosyncrasy in the way missionaries sing it. At the very end, the bass's have a line that says: "We will obey." Elder Wright sings it like a robot, as do many missionaries I've met.
Another Hymn story. You know In our Lovely Deseret? Whenever we say "hark, hark, hark", we sing it like seals. Clapping our hands together and everything.
I've found the reason Elder Wright is so short. It's because he comes from a place in England called the Shire. Yes, there is a place called the Shire. In fact, it's right next to Rivendale. Who would have guessed I'd been sent to the Middle Earth mission?
There is an unspoken rule among missionaries about putting pass-along cards through mail-holes that have a dog on the other side. You don't. I, however, did not know this (unspoken rule and all), so I almost had my fingers eaten off. I let loose one of the most womanly screams I've ever heard. It was hilarious :)
I got permission from the mission president to start my English driver's licence! Pretty sweet! I asked him at a digital Zone Conference (we were skyping to America), and he said "you red-heads with leadership potential all need to know how to drive. Get it as fast as you can." He sure knows how to lift you heart (or make you prideful, hopefully not, though). But yah, it's pretty sweet because when I come back to America with it, it lasts until I'm 70 and lowers my insurance rate. Those English drivers :)
Last one. Funny story. A pair of missionaries ended up having the police come and do a search of their flat. It was just a random thing, happens around council sponsored areas. The police come in, see a map of the city with pins in it saying BoM (Book of Mormon). You can see where this may have gone :) After a lengthy explanation, they got it sorted out.
I'm pretty sure you just have to be insane to keep sane out here, you know what I mean? :) A mission is a great opportunity, and I'm really starting to enjoy it. I love it out here, and I'm becoming a lot bolder in talking to people. Pretty amazing, the Lord builds you in ways you can never expect, but that are perfect to you individually.
Alright, well, I've got to go. Wish I could tell you more, I wrote quite a few emails today, and it's not a normal P-day.
Love you all.
Cheers,
Elder Foster