Bend the Slurry, Woman!

Do A Good Turn Daily: Chocolate and Snow

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Dear Parents, Mom and Dad/Dad and Mom,

I am not struggling at all. In fact, I am the happiest I have ever been. I am feeling more confident, I am starting to care about my appearance. I am feeling good. I feel as though I am expected to make changes to my interests and likes. I honestly have yet to see that. Rather, I feel as though I am making a change in personality. Like I said, I am feeling more confident and more happy. My interests have actually expanded. I am far more interested in doing my duties (family history, etc.) now. Yet at the same time, I still have my interests in criminals, history, writing, and other things. The point of it all, I am changing my personality and I have been hoping it is realized.

Well, I forgot my other planner, because this now past transfer has officially ended. Back to the highlights of what I can remember. So, last Monday (2/10), we worked very hard to get a ride to the library. Sometimes, member rides do not work out as well as we hope. We also found out, that the second set of elders were both set for a transfer. Tuesday and Wednesday were a blur; so I do not remember much. 

Thursday, it snowed during the night. We were expecting a dusting, but it dumped. We got up in the morning at 6 to go shovel some people's driveways. At first, we started with the snow shovel we did have (we only have one) and a broom. The broom was originally to sweep off the dusting, but it turned out  to be used to excavate cars. There was a foot of snow (or less) and it was not that hard to get it shoveled. Though for a time, with one shovel, I felt pretty useless. But, I could help to tell my companion, who knows exactly where this comes from, "Bend the slurry, woman!" (The Last Airbender) We worked from 6 to 10 in the morning, found two potential people, able to borrow a snow shovel, and get paid in hot chocolate. 

It took a while before the giant snow plows came to individual streets. I made my first snowman and snowwoman. (Today, they are currently headless and slowly melting.) One of the elders slipped and fell on the stairs. Apparently due to the accident, he actually cut his bum. 

Friday, it snowed a bit, not much. It stayed warm. My bike is currently in repairs, but luckily a member was getting rid of a bike, so I have some form of travel. (My companion hates to walk.) There were some trails in the woods we were using for a time, which was a lot of fun. 

Saturday turned to be the day of transfers, because of the snow. We got the two new people, which are Elder Malone and Elder Hathcock. I worked with Elder Malone; he was in my district back in Fredericksburg. I got to hear a transfer's worth of updates about what is going on in Fredericksburg. Yesterday, we relaxed, because somebody volunteered themselves to go take us around (for shopping, etc.). If we ever want to go anywhere, (a) a member has to take us and (b) we have to ask for permission. I am stuck in the house. And, I was so happy on Monday. Why? I saw a train... of deer in our backyard. It was amazing. So many pictures of deer. 

Monday night, was interesting. So, you know the house of hoarders? Well, we went back. We thought we were done and the house was locked up with the people gone. No, they still had more stuff they wanted and, due to our failure to warn the elders (due to the false celebration), we ended up helping them. This time without masks, because, well, it was put on us. We could have chosen not to help, but, hey, we are good people. That house has so many cobwebs, so much stuff. I mean, last time, it actually looked cleaner, but more stuff seemed to come. We took off our jackets, bags, watches and left outside. I know, stupid, but I would not want to have anything lost in the house and I would not want to have anything that has been in that house. We helped their son who is pagan. It was a good lesson of loving everyone and getting out of your comfort zone. (I still had to take shower, apply soap twice, and wash my clothes.)

Not much in the way of investigators. More tracting. Some new potentials to teach. 

All is well.

Love,
Elder S. Todd

P.S. I totally forgot. Thank you for the Valentines Day stuff. I hope you had a good St. Valentines Day. Still think about Al Capone when I hear St. Valentines Day. I am glad to have loving parents of whom I am so well blessed. Also, good CD choice, I heard it many times by my previous companion. I now have that, plus the two Mormon Tabernacle Choir CDs and the Essential Missionary Collection (Elder Longman gave it to me on Christmas). Also, when was the Roman Emperor Caesar assassinated? I was filling in my new planner and I could not remember if it was the 14th or 15th that he got assassinated. (March 14th) Because, I totally want to say to people, "Beware the Ides of March."

Further note on my bike. So, the person who is fixing it said that the wheel was loose, thus the gears were not engaging. I cannot take it off road, so no more trails. Hopefully, it is fixed. And the person who fixed it is a member who loves bikes, knows what to do, and it is free. He also put oil in it. So, we will see what else will go on.

Monday, August 12, 2013 - the Sun still Shines - Understanding People

Dear Parents (Mom and Dad/Dad and Mom),

Well, this week was okay, but that is just all right. All is well! Even when it is raining, the sun is still shining on the other side of the clouds. Lessons went okay and investigators are somewhat progressing. One of our investigators wants time away from us, but I understand, seeing as that he is dealing with the possibility of losing one of his last living relatives. You know, I have come to see that I put a lot of emphasis on understanding people, which I believe is a good thing. By understanding people, you come to find their needs and where they are at in life, which is when you teach people and not lessons. That there, is a big key, because people are so different. I talked to this man who came from Trinidad, who saw Hitler when he was little, and was a soldier and I see that he is a very spiritual man. His needs are totally different from another investigator who has doubts about certain things. With that article portion you shared, (http://www.realclearreligion.org/articles/2013/06/01/time_for_some_mormon_myth_busting.html) I do tolerate a lot of people. I have been blessed by the Lord with humility and optimism. Truly, there is hope for everybody.

Well, I talked to President Wilson, the mission president and had a nice interview with him. I did not have any questions or concerns this time around, but maybe next time. I looked at the blog and I figured I should mention the name of the mission president, seeing as his name is President Wilson, not President Bradley. Maybe his first name is Bradley, I do not know. When I saw that I thought I had the name of my mission president wrong and then I went to check. It is alright. I am glad to know that I am loved and missed. I miss a lot of people, especially my family. I think back on some things, at times, but I press forward. 

I miss you Mom and Dad, but the months are already going by. It is insane as to how fast time is flying by. I heard that you two are counting down the months already from a little birdy (23 months). All will go by as it should. I am glad to hear both of you, Mom and Dad, are doing fine. I am glad to hear that Mom enjoyed babysitting and that Dad is getting ready for what looks like his last year.

My companion, Elder Meibos (My-bus), is good. We are getting along fine and I have no quarrels with him. Yes, he is a bit odd, such as stating that it is okay to double dip and that it is okay to drink out of the milk jug (which if I ever need milk, I buy my own). But, he is a good person. He is a studious person and loves to make jokes. We support each other so that we can do the best that we can. If anything, we are united as companions and know what might be best for the people. When I upload pictures, which I am assuming to use the account that you sent, you will actually see him in a tie dye shirt with my zone leaders, Elder Braithewaite (who will be in the middle of one of the pictures) and Elder Felt. (We went to see the Chancellor Battlefield)(Missionaries have the morning and afternoon to shop, do laundry, and to sightsee. Virginia has a lot of historical places of interest to Seth.). And I know my pictures are not the best; I will do my best to make them look good.

I have plenty to eat. I do not eat much at the apartment, except maybe for lunch. Lunch, sometimes the members provide and most of the time the members provide dinners. There is good food here and fish(We still can't believe he eats fish since he wouldn't at home.). I do not complain or murmur for I have enough. The members are so kind. We talk to them to set up appointments and they offer dinner sometimes. Or sometimes, we talk to them and they bring up dinner and it is a free meal. Yesterday, the bishop's wife of the ward (local congregation, more than one congregation may utilize the same building) that I am in, gave us free food. She had wanted to give it away, because she had enough. She had a lot of food because one of their daughters got married and there was a lot of food and cake left over from the reception.

Sorry to hear about Chloe (his sister Bria's dog). I am glad that she is doing okay, but, wow, a foxtail up her nose. I wonder how that got there. Well, I am glad that it was not Carly (Seth's Boxer), but I am so glad that Chloe is doing okay after that. Hope the dogs are doing well and continue doing well. 

I helped with an interfaith service event where at one of the church buildings, they were giving school supplies and clothes to children in need (this was on Saturday). I helped direct traffic as cars were coming in, which was fun. It was not too busy. Most of the time I was singing hymns (specifically, Welcome, Welcome Sabbath Morning, Now Let Us Rejoice, Master, The Tempest is Raging) and some songs from Phantom of the Opera and Les Miserables (which is quite sad, because I do not remember most of the lines from the songs and I do miss the songs a bit). I waved to a lot of cars, because I felt great and a lot of people honked their horns or waved back. Then, it rained, or poured down on us.

All is well.

Love,

Elder S. Todd

One's only rival is one's own potentialities. One's only failure is failing to live up to one's own possibilities. In this sense, every man can be a king, and must therefore be treated like a king.
Abraham Maslow