Dear Family,
Whats wrong? I never got an email from you this week. It must have not gone through or something. Anyways I will just let you know what is going on with me. On Thursday I was transferred to a place called Phoenix. It is an Indian area, There are about one million people in my area and a little branch of about 50 something people. The main religions here are Muslim, Hindu, and Christian. Most of the Christians are born again happy clappy. Its a tough area and I feel a lot farther from home now than I did before. Its good though, I'm really excited to be here. The elder I replaced here went home and he and my current company completely stopped working last transfer. They destroyed the boarding and there are no progressing investigators. After the transfer meeting President Mann met with me and told me what happened and told me to fix it, so I know what I'm supposed to do. The members don't really like the missionaries either so I have to heal that relationship. My companion is Elder Hodson from Cambridge England. He is one weird cat. He acts like Napoleon Dynamite, and he has insomnia, so he stays up till like 5 in the morning and sleeps in till 10 or 11. President told me just to do the best I can to help him get up on time. This companionship is going to be a struggle, but that is OK. This morning I have been cleaning the boarding and I almost have it put back together. Elder Clark went up to Swaziland; he is so lucky. I was hoping I would end up there but oh well, maybe later. Anyways I hope that I get and email from you next week. I got my birthday package and it is awesome. I love shirt and shorts you sent. I also really loved the pictures. I also received a package from the Whitings and Grandma and Grandpa, I loved those too. Anyways I will hear from you next week, thank you so much for your support and love, have a good week.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
August 10, 2008
Dear Family, Its good to hear from you as always, sounds like things are going well at home. I'm doing good and I have had a good week. On Thursday we had a combined zone conference with two other zones and President Bricknell came and spoke to us. He is a GA and used to be the mission president of the Pocatello Idaho mission. It was good to hear from him, but I am really glad that President Mann is my mission president. The mission as a whole is doing really well right now and that is something that everyone is excited about. On Saturday I was mugged again, almost in the same spot as last time but it was around 4 o'clock and in broad day light. I'm fine and so is Elder Kitili, all they took was our cell phone so I'm going to have to go to the mission office and get a new one this week. We find out what is going on with transfers on Tuesday so I will let you know what happens. That's all the big news from my side. I have only seen a few minutes of Olympic games on at a members house, I saw a swimming event and that's it. I heard that the opening ceremony was really cool though. Oh and one other thing, I won the car par award this for the month of July, it is an award given to the companionship that saves the most kilometers per month, this is my second time winning so hopefully I wont be sent to a walking area.
I can't believe all the changes that are happening around home. I haven't gotten the birthday package yet, hopefully I will get it later today. Tell Grandma and Grandpa thanks for the gift, I could use that money in my home account as soon as you can put it in. I did the math the other day and figured out that I spend about 13 American dollars on groceries every week, I will miss that when I come back to the states. Our beach party and braai turned out really fun last week and this week we are just back to a normal Pday. Spencer, your talk about being ready for a change brings back memories of when I was getting ready to go. I think that you are ready to get out on your own too. Just fulfill your church responsibilities and keep busy until you do go. Well hopefully I will have some good news to give you next week and say hi to everyone for me.
-Alex
I can't believe all the changes that are happening around home. I haven't gotten the birthday package yet, hopefully I will get it later today. Tell Grandma and Grandpa thanks for the gift, I could use that money in my home account as soon as you can put it in. I did the math the other day and figured out that I spend about 13 American dollars on groceries every week, I will miss that when I come back to the states. Our beach party and braai turned out really fun last week and this week we are just back to a normal Pday. Spencer, your talk about being ready for a change brings back memories of when I was getting ready to go. I think that you are ready to get out on your own too. Just fulfill your church responsibilities and keep busy until you do go. Well hopefully I will have some good news to give you next week and say hi to everyone for me.
-Alex
August 3, 2008
Dear Family,
Sounds like you are all doing well. Its hard for me to imagine what home is like these days. That is strange to think that Adam is married, I hope that works out well for them. I'm really glad to hear that mom really likes the scooter. I will wear a helmet for sure when I come back. Here in Umlazi there are tons of couriers who ride Yamaha Viragos, but they die a lot because the roads are so dangerous, so it has made me weary about bike safety.
I haven't recieved your package yet but I did get one from aunt Julie, it had some nice treats and some good pictures of the 4th of july parade and stuff, be sure to tell her how much I appreciate her diligence in sending me letters and photos. I saw a pic of Ryan at the parade and I can't believe how much older he looks. I think everyone else looks about the same. I also got an email from Brayden so that was nice.
Well the big news this week is that the new missionary couple arrived. They are the Johnsons from Idaho falls. This Sunday was their first day, and I had the assignment to lead them to the chapel in Umlazi. Elder Johnson had never driven on the left side of the road, and Umlazi is known for its terrible raods and drivers, so it was a challenge but we made it alright. Seeing them all bewildered, and disoriented made me thankful that all the greeness is behind me. Transfers are a week from this Thursday, so I will find out whatis going on the Tuesday before that. I'm getting pretty comfortable in the area so I am actually hoping for a change, but we will see what happens. Well today we are having a zone activity on Amanzinmotti beach, we are playing beach sports and having a braai, so Im really looking forward to that. Thanks for your emails and support, I hope you have a good week I will talk to you next Monday.
July 27, 2008
Mom,
I just wanted to send you this emial for your birthday, I hope it was a good one and that you enjoyed the time with the rest of the family. Thank so much for the packages the emails, and everything else. I hope that you stay safe on your new scooter. I will talk to you again on monday
-Alex
I just wanted to send you this emial for your birthday, I hope it was a good one and that you enjoyed the time with the rest of the family. Thank so much for the packages the emails, and everything else. I hope that you stay safe on your new scooter. I will talk to you again on monday
-Alex
July 27, 2008
Dear family,
It sounds like things are going great around home. Happy birthday mom, even though it is a little late. I think that the scooter is a great b-day gift, just don't start a scooter gang of relief society moms and harrass the neighorhood. I have had a really good week too. Don't worry, you are not talking about home too much, even though I am excited to see the new batman movie. I am glad you enjoyed the photos, Sipho is 19 years old and lives just down the road from the chapel. He was a little nervous but he is very excited to be a member of the Church. Sipho has already introduced us to some of his friends to teach, and he recieved the priesthood on Sunday. The days are flying by so fast now, I have really gotten used to the area. I will definetly miss this place if I get transferred. Today I am going with my distict to an outdoor market run by Indians, its a really fun place, I bought most of the stuff I sent home in that package there. I hope I get that package soon, I ate eveything in my last package a long time ago. I could use one thing in the next package you sent, a compact hymn book, I have gone way too long without one. I am glad that you hear from Gardner now and then. I do have plans to guide him back to the Church. He emails me a lot and today he said that he is going to try and come by the house somtime soon. His band is doing really well, but he is staying in school and everything so that is good. Well I hope this week is as good as the last one was, I will hear from you then.
July 20, 2008
Dear family, I just finished typing my email to you and then it erased, I almost lost it for a minute, but I have cooled down. I will try to type it again the best I can. I have had a good week, don't worry about me getting sick. Something has been going around and working in townships isn't the most sterile environment in the world. Sounds like things are going good for you back home, I'm dying to see batman now. Scout camps and hikes and motorcycle rides, those are somethings I really miss about home.
I have had a good week. Siphos baptism went really well, I put some photos on photobucket so you can check those out. We are getting a couple in Umlazi so I am really excited about that. Our ward needs some changes and I think this couple will be able to make them happen. I will probably go to a new area next transfer though. The transfer is on august 14th so not too far away. My birthdday is coming up soon. Elder Clark's is on the same day so hopefully we will be able to celebrate together. Moms birthday is even sooner, that is exciting. I have been working out a lot lately with elder Ta'aga and I have put on some weight trying to keep up with this big Samoan. I think I am around 210 pounds now. Well that's about it from my side, I hope you have a good week, I will hear from you then.
I have had a good week. Siphos baptism went really well, I put some photos on photobucket so you can check those out. We are getting a couple in Umlazi so I am really excited about that. Our ward needs some changes and I think this couple will be able to make them happen. I will probably go to a new area next transfer though. The transfer is on august 14th so not too far away. My birthdday is coming up soon. Elder Clark's is on the same day so hopefully we will be able to celebrate together. Moms birthday is even sooner, that is exciting. I have been working out a lot lately with elder Ta'aga and I have put on some weight trying to keep up with this big Samoan. I think I am around 210 pounds now. Well that's about it from my side, I hope you have a good week, I will hear from you then.
July 14, 2008
Dear family, Sounds like it has been a great week at home. I loved the shot Brayden took at Spencer. I don't know what it is with making fun of Davis boys and their dates. I love how everyone was involved in Spencer's ordination. That support is really something special. I'm glad that Ryan's garage sale turned out as a success.
Everything is going good for me. I have been sick this week but I am feeling good today so that is good. Sipho is still on track for his baptism next week so that will be good. On Wednesday there was a nation-wide strike by the taxis and buses, since the only people who ride those live in the townships we were told to stay away from our area, so we stayed in town and played sports with the other township elders. I finished elder Kitili's training packet this week, that is a little program missionaries go through when they first arrive on mission. It is 8 weeks long. I'm pretty excited about that, my boy is growing up so fast. Time is just going by fast these days. I'm really excited about Spencer on his mission, For the pie thing I say he is going to The UK. On that note about the possibility of going to school for a little bit, every elder I have talked to who did that says they wish they hadn't. Well mom your birthday is coming fast, and mine is not too long after that. I was thinking about what I said about healthy food in my packages and I think that I want Reeses and Reeses Pieces in them. I can't deny them. The mission is really changing now, so many elders are going home and big groups of new ones are coming in. The mission is changing a lot but I think is it improving. Well I hope you all have a good week I will hear from you next week.
Everything is going good for me. I have been sick this week but I am feeling good today so that is good. Sipho is still on track for his baptism next week so that will be good. On Wednesday there was a nation-wide strike by the taxis and buses, since the only people who ride those live in the townships we were told to stay away from our area, so we stayed in town and played sports with the other township elders. I finished elder Kitili's training packet this week, that is a little program missionaries go through when they first arrive on mission. It is 8 weeks long. I'm pretty excited about that, my boy is growing up so fast. Time is just going by fast these days. I'm really excited about Spencer on his mission, For the pie thing I say he is going to The UK. On that note about the possibility of going to school for a little bit, every elder I have talked to who did that says they wish they hadn't. Well mom your birthday is coming fast, and mine is not too long after that. I was thinking about what I said about healthy food in my packages and I think that I want Reeses and Reeses Pieces in them. I can't deny them. The mission is really changing now, so many elders are going home and big groups of new ones are coming in. The mission is changing a lot but I think is it improving. Well I hope you all have a good week I will hear from you next week.
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