Hello All,
So, this transfer is literally the weirdest transfer ever. Nothing normal has happened :)
This email, I'm going to go through some of the experiences that I've been having out here. Some are fun, some are crazy, and others are just weird. But all are abnormal. I guess that's what you get when you're the beginning of a new type of missionary work.
I got my first letter the other day! It was wonderful. There's something about getting a hand written letter. Anyways, it was from Tori Sheffield, a good friend of mine from college. Best birthday card ever.
My writing skill is being put to good use. The president suggested that I maintain two blogs because my first one was pretty successful. I never thought that I would be a blogger. It's crazy. Now I'm researching how to get it out to a larger audience, how to make more effective blog posts, and just internet advertising in general. Pretty amazing. Make sure to check them out. One is geared towards members and the other towards non-members. Tell yo frieeends! (The non-member one isn't completely ready yet). [Note from Meredith: the blog geared toward members can be linked to via the button on the home page of this website].
My study is all over the place. It's led by the investigators that I teach, so when they have a question, I do a study on it. The most recent one was an entire study on Greek and how it translates differently than you would think (the new testament was originally in Greek, or at least most of it). I understand why they say you come back a scriptorian.
Finally had something thrown at me :) Clods of dirt, from behind a fence. Goooood times. "We hate you Mormons!" It's funny how much these people hate those who love them so much.
So, we have finally found some people in our local area to teach! We whitewashed into this area, [Note from Meredith: when two Elders open a new area it is called white washed] so it's been a tough start-up, especially since we only do area work for half the time of a normal missionary. I'm teaching two very interesting investigators. One is African, she is wonderful and has a lot of faith. She came to church with us on Sunday and had a great time. She found us because of a pass along card left at her door. This is why we use those. The second investigator is gay (we live right next to Brighton, the gay capitol of the world). That brings up
some very interesting doctrinal points. He's a really great guy. Hard teaching.
There's this thing called tag blowing where you can blow into your tag and it vibrates a note! Awesome, definitely mastered that last night.
Oh, it rained hard core the other day (and is doing it now, still). The weather is actually becoming English.
We lost Elder Sparks the other day to an Emergency Transfer, and I'm now in a tri. I thought it was going to be horrible, but it actually hasn't been that bad at all. We've had a few miracles because there have been three
of us together. It'll work out until the next transfer.
I'm used to a few English things now :) I can finally breath around cigarette smoke. Darn Utah bubble. Everyone smokes here. I finally look the right way when I come up to a street. So, my chances of being hit by a car have significantly dropped. I say trousers instead of pants, which is a very good thing because pants means underwear here. Haha, that makes for some fun mix ups.
And that's about it. It's been a very good week, and time just keeps flying by. I'm pretty sure it's just getting faster.
Love you all,
Cheers,
Elder Foster
So, this transfer is literally the weirdest transfer ever. Nothing normal has happened :)
This email, I'm going to go through some of the experiences that I've been having out here. Some are fun, some are crazy, and others are just weird. But all are abnormal. I guess that's what you get when you're the beginning of a new type of missionary work.
I got my first letter the other day! It was wonderful. There's something about getting a hand written letter. Anyways, it was from Tori Sheffield, a good friend of mine from college. Best birthday card ever.
My writing skill is being put to good use. The president suggested that I maintain two blogs because my first one was pretty successful. I never thought that I would be a blogger. It's crazy. Now I'm researching how to get it out to a larger audience, how to make more effective blog posts, and just internet advertising in general. Pretty amazing. Make sure to check them out. One is geared towards members and the other towards non-members. Tell yo frieeends! (The non-member one isn't completely ready yet). [Note from Meredith: the blog geared toward members can be linked to via the button on the home page of this website].
My study is all over the place. It's led by the investigators that I teach, so when they have a question, I do a study on it. The most recent one was an entire study on Greek and how it translates differently than you would think (the new testament was originally in Greek, or at least most of it). I understand why they say you come back a scriptorian.
Finally had something thrown at me :) Clods of dirt, from behind a fence. Goooood times. "We hate you Mormons!" It's funny how much these people hate those who love them so much.
So, we have finally found some people in our local area to teach! We whitewashed into this area, [Note from Meredith: when two Elders open a new area it is called white washed] so it's been a tough start-up, especially since we only do area work for half the time of a normal missionary. I'm teaching two very interesting investigators. One is African, she is wonderful and has a lot of faith. She came to church with us on Sunday and had a great time. She found us because of a pass along card left at her door. This is why we use those. The second investigator is gay (we live right next to Brighton, the gay capitol of the world). That brings up
some very interesting doctrinal points. He's a really great guy. Hard teaching.
There's this thing called tag blowing where you can blow into your tag and it vibrates a note! Awesome, definitely mastered that last night.
Oh, it rained hard core the other day (and is doing it now, still). The weather is actually becoming English.
We lost Elder Sparks the other day to an Emergency Transfer, and I'm now in a tri. I thought it was going to be horrible, but it actually hasn't been that bad at all. We've had a few miracles because there have been three
of us together. It'll work out until the next transfer.
I'm used to a few English things now :) I can finally breath around cigarette smoke. Darn Utah bubble. Everyone smokes here. I finally look the right way when I come up to a street. So, my chances of being hit by a car have significantly dropped. I say trousers instead of pants, which is a very good thing because pants means underwear here. Haha, that makes for some fun mix ups.
And that's about it. It's been a very good week, and time just keeps flying by. I'm pretty sure it's just getting faster.
Love you all,
Cheers,
Elder Foster