February 28, 2011

Dear Amazing Family,
     This week has probably been the best week yet out here for me. We picked up 3 new investigators, which is awesome! The mission standard of excellence is three every single week, and this is the first time we've hit it, so we're super happy. Now we just have to keep meeting them, which is the hard part. :D It rained yesterday pretty constantly the whole day, which was not fun. It's hard enough to proselyte when it's nice outside, so when you throw in the rain it's a bummer. Koreans hate the rain, too, with a passion. They think it'll make you go bald, which is kind of funny. :D They also think that if you sleep with the fan on at night, it'll suck your soul out. That's not gonna fly if I have a Korean companion in the dead of summer, that's for sure!
      I finished the Book of Mormon this last week, too. That was pretty cool. I'm starting over with an attitude of studying for my investigators more for me now, because they're the reason I'm out here. we'll see how that goes. Today we went to an "american style" buffet, which tasted pretty awesome but wasn't really American style, except for the ice cream. I ate till my stomach was stretched tight as a drum, because even though it wasn't American style, it was really good. :D I left my list of things that happened this week at our house, so I don't really remember much else, but I'll just tell you about it next week.
      Happy late birthday, Mom! I realized on the 22nd that I could have wished you Happy Birthday on your actual birthday, and I'm really sorry I forgot. I hope it was a good birthday, it sounded like it was pretty laid-back. Don't worry about not writing me often--the more I live on my own, the more I see how complicated and busy it is, and I don't even have a job or a family depending on the money that job would earn. I love you, and I know you're doing your best. "All you can do is all you can do, and all you can do is enough." That quote got me through a rough time a couple weeks ago. So just keep doing all you can do, and rely on the Lord like me, and He will help us both out. You're a great mom, and I love you so much!
      I'm glad to hear about Camp Helaman and the Zone Leaders. If they are planning on doing the Missionary Slide Show again, let me know so I can prepare a testimony, or whatever else they want me to do. Good times at Camp Helaman...I miss them so. :D Austin, have a blast up there! It'll be so great being a zone leader. I never got the chance, so be sure to tell me all about it after it happens!
     It'll be cool to have a blog! The problem is, there's not much here to take pictures of that's interesting. Actually, the thought just came into my head that anything I take a picture of will be interesting, since I'm a missionary. :D I can only take pictures on P-day, though, and I forgot my camera today, so I'll send some next week. My companion doesn't want me to take a picture of him (he's really self-conscious about his appearance), but I'll try to get one before next Monday. When we played games last Pday, we just had two elders from another area come over to our house and play Settlers of Catan, which is a board game I played back in Utah a couple times. It was super fun, because I actually won one time. :D
     Speaking of my companion, things are going great between us now. Dad, you were right--it just takes spending some time together playing darts or pingpong and really talking. I'm still mastering the skills of living with one person 24/7, but things really are great right now. And I have like 10 more companions in the future to practice with. :D
     We haven't had snow since I've been here, actually. I miss good old Utah snow, though. It was tough to drive in, but I loved it so much! My companion emails his family too, but only his dad, so he doesn't take as long as me. We check the mail once every three or four weeks, it depends on when we see the zone leaders or go to the mission office and such. I'm excited for the packages! I really like the idea of sending me your letters, it would be so amazing to be able to re-read them. They give me lots of strength; thanks so much for writing me every week! I'm getting better with learning the rules and stuff--I'm learning how to keep from stressing so much. I actually haven't been trying as hard as I need to be with the language, though. I'm repenting of that.
     Austin--I'm sorry that things are hard between you and your friends. We get told all the time that we shouldn't go for relationships, but the fact is, they happen, and they can be really awesome! Just don't put too much stock in it. Coming on a mission has changed my perspecitives on that. Just be yourself, have fun, and be nice to people, and things will be ok. I hope that what I said helps you. Other than that, I'm glad that the play is going well! I just wish I could see it. That activity sounded awesome. Break a leg out there!
      Dad--I'm glad you had a good time ice fishing. I want to see that weird fish someday! Tell Paul that I could catch bigger fish than him any day. :D How is the newsletter coming? And your calling, too?
     Well, I have to go. I'll write more next week. I love you all, I pray for you every day!
~Elder Matt Dean