Mom,

It's pretty crazy to think how close the year mark is coming up. I'm really not looking forward to the winter season. Last winter here was very mild. Hopefully it'll be like that this year too. Fortunately I'll only be here for one whole winter. The winter season after this I'll leave right when it starts. But, I have to make it through this cold coming up.

 

Thanks for the package! I'm really enjoying everything in it! I'm trying to enjoy it all I can and try to make it last. Thanks so much! Unfortunately, last week we didn't have much time after Ikea, so I couldn't find time to write some thank-you notes to both grandparents. I'll work on those today.

 

Next week is transfers. It's possible that I'll get transfered. Hopefully I don't. I like it here. But just so you know, don't send any letters to my apartment. Next week I'll know if I'm staying or leaving so I'll let you know. I really hope I can stay another transfer here. Great apartment Elders!

 

Wow, the whole Mitt Romney thing is crazy! Just the other day, we were visiting with this 16 year old girl who is a recent convert. She asked us what our stand was on the political side of things. I always want to clarify that the Church does not support any political party and that it encourages us to find out for ourselves who would be the best candidate for the Presidency. Then I tell them that I know that Obama has done some dumb things to the country so I'd vote for the other guy because he can't be much worse. The thing with the caffeine is ridiculous. Even President Jeppson clarified to all the missionaries that the doctrine behind the Word of Wisdom does not say anything about caffiene. It does not say anywhere in any doctrine that caffiene is against the Word of Wisdom. Doctrine and Covenants 89 says "hot drinks". That was later specified as "coffee" and "tea". People who think that Dr. Pepper, Coke, and Pepsi are against the Word of Wisdom need to do a little more research and be more careful on declaring what is the doctrine of the Church and their own doctrine. I've talked with other missionaries about this! haha.

 

That's a crazy story about Kyle! I hope he gets a cool scar on his hand. That'd be awesome!

 

Luke sent me an email 3 hours before he got set apart as a missionary! It's so cool to think that we're all on missions now.  Spencer emailed me a few weeks ago and was talking about having a man-night (that's what we called it when we all hung out). He was saying how fun it'll be to eat hot wings again and tell mission-stories. I'm super excited to talk with Luke in Spanish!! I'm super excited that at least one of my friends is learning Spanish! I'll be able to talk with him in Spanish so I don't forget it.

 

 

So this past week has been absolutely crazy! So to start out: There is a missionary companionship (Elder Kakiva and Elder Mills) that lives about 10 minutes away from us. They have the English ward split with the other missionaries that we live with (Elder Jensen and Elder Guymon) . So these four missionaries work a lot with each other because they work with the same ward. Well, Elder Mills had to go home for shoulder surgery, so Elder Kakiva came and is staying with us. So those three are all working together in two areas. Well, Elder Jensen got the chicken pox somehow! Crazy! Elder Kakiva, Elder Guymon, and I have all had chicken pox before so we're just fine. My companion on the other hand has never had it, but he had the vacination. Apparently, you can still be contagious if you've never had chicken pox before. So, Sister Jeppson, Sister Suzuki, and a doctor in SLC have told Elder Jensen and Elder Wettstein that they have to stay inside so they don't spread it. They have to stay inside until all of the pox on Elder Jensen are gone. That leaves me without a companion. So Elder Kakiva, Elder Guymon, and I are all working together in three areas! These last few days have been crazy because we're trying to coordinate between the three of us and our different areas. We're doing pretty good so far. Yesterday was pretty interesting. There's three of us and two churches that we had to go to. I don't know if you know, but we have to be with a companion at all times. The English ward and the Spanish branch are basically at the same time. Luckily, in the English ward, there is a returned missionary from Argentina. He just came back like a month ago. His name is Jordan Handley. So I called him up and asked if he wanted to be my companion through church and for a good part of the day. He gladly did so! It was an interesting experience to be the only missionary at church. Jordan was a good help though. He didn't do anything as far as setting up appointments because he's not a full-time missionary, but he talked to the members and taught really well during lessons. It was a really fun experience. I hope he enjoyed it. I did take him away from his family for a good part of Sunday, but he's already been home for a few weeks. He's working a lot right now, so he can't help out everyday, so I'm just working with the other two English missionaries. It's a lot of fun!

 

Another story: Elder Kakiva is Samoan and is from Hawaii. The other day, his cousin was in New Jersey and she wanted to take him and some missionaries out for lunch. Elder Kakiva and his cousin got special permission from President Jeppson so she could take out to lunch. She is also married to a starter-player on the 49ers from the NFL. She. is. RICH. I didn't get to meet him because he's practicing with the team, but I did meet her... at Longhorn Steakhouse. She bought us $25 steaks and dessert. I got a t-bone steak, medium cooked. SO GOOD! Wow. It didn't even need any steak sauce it was so good. It was a really good lunch. And dessert was pretty good too. Pretty crazy.

 

That's been about what this week has been like. I'm meeting more members from the Scotch Plains Ward around here. That's been pretty cool. I've also been teaching alone in Spanish to the Spanish members because the other two Elders don't speak Spanish. Fun! Also, President and Sister Jeppson made a surprise visit to our Branch for Sacarament Meeting. Jordan Handley translated for them for a while, until President Jeppson started getting a little sleepy and they both sort of zoned out. Haha! I can imagine that they are so tired all the time and not being able to pay attention because you don't understand what's going on is a little rough. It was great though. It's always awesome to see President and Sister Jeppson.

 

That's about it for the week. Love you mom! I miss you!

 

 

 Q of the W:

1. How was ikea? Were you able to eat there? I love Ikea so much. I recently went there by myself. I wanted to eat but felt dumb by myself. So I just had a 50 cent hotdog... Did you buy anything?

 

Ikea was great! The dining area is facing the Newark airport just across the freeway. I was watching the airplanes take-off while eating Swedish meatballs with Lingonberry jam. I bought some chocolate, some batteries, and another towel. Sometimes I take two showers a day and it takes a while for my one towel to dry off.

2. You forgot to bring your retainer! Do you need it? Or did you forget it on purpose?

 

I didn't even realize it. I guess I need it. Next time you send me something, you can include it.

3. How are you guys going to excercise in the winter?

 

We'll probably just exercise inside. Like do push-ups. A lot of missionaries have bought Iron Gym and have left them, so we can do pull-ups. I definately don't want to go running outside when it's like 10 degrees.

 

-Justin