Hey Family and Friends!!
Okay, to start i would like to apologize about my letter last week.
Things were super hectic and i was just happy to get it done. This
week i have a better feel for what i am doing out here so my brain is
able to think a little more normally! So i am sure you all have many
questions about my area and companion and all that good stuff, so i
will explain my life out here as best i can.
So i forgot to say in my last email, i am in an English area. We are
covering the Wenatchee River Ward, which is three seperate towns. It
is a pretty big area. Good thing we have a Car! There are a ton of
Spanish speakers up here because pretty much all it is, is big farming
areas. The reason me and elder Hansen dont get to teach spanish is
because they have Sister missionaries in the ward as well. So
basically we have all the english work and they have all the spanish
work. It is kinda cool because we have been able to work with the
sisters a lot, exchanging referrals and such. I am finally getting the
hang of missionary life in the field. It is so much better than the
MTC. The days have seriously been flying by. The only hard thing is
that because i am in training we have an extra hour of companion
study. So a typical day is wake up at 6:30-excercise, eat, get ready.
8:00-personal study. 9:00-companion study. 11:00-language
study(Thankfully they still let us study the language). 12:00-lunch.
1:00-Serve and Teach. 9:00-plan for the next day. The studying part
goes by kinda slow sometimes, but the rest of the day flies.
We have been doing a ton of service lately. We found a couple that
doesnt want anything to do with the missionaries, but they had a ton
of wood that needs to be chopped. So we have been there four seperate
times chopping wood for them. They still dont really want to hear our
message, but they said we can come over anytime we want. This is just
in two weeks too. I can already see their hearts softening. I really
havent had anyone swear at me or chew me out yet. I am kinda looking
forward to the first time.. Mostly just to see what my first reaction
is. (I will probly start crying). The people up here are all super
nice. They have a lot of problems in their lives, but they are all
very nice. The ward we cover is awesome as well. There are some funny
people in it. Last Sunday me and Elder Hansen taught a gospel
principles class and yesterday we spoke in church. So most of the
people know who i am by now. The hard part is learning all their
names. Especially because half the ward is related some way or
another. About a fourth of the ward has last names Webb or Smith
because there are a bunch of brothers that all live in the same ward
and have their own families. So that has been fun to decode.
Elder Hansen is the man. We get along so well!! I dont think we would
have been that great of friends in high school because we have
completely different interests(he doesnt like sports but is huge in
singing and playing the piano). However, we are really becoming close.
We spend a lot of time joking and keeping things light, but when we
want the spirit in our lessons it is there. I have learned a lot from
him. He has some awesome mission approved music we listen to in the
car, and i am pretty much hooked on it. Not all mission approved music
is boring! Who knew?
My Story of the week is when we did exchanges with the Zone leaders on
Friday. I went with Elder Decker in his area and Elder Davis came to
our area with Elder Hansen. Me and elder decker taught one lesson,
went to our dinner appointment, and then got in a car accident. It was
elder deckers fault, he tried to do a UTurn but didnt check if there
was a car behind him. We were there for two and a half hours figuring
everything out. No one was hurt but there was a lot of damage done on
both our mini van and the 2013 Honda Civic he hit. So the one thing i
learned in my exchange with the zone leaders: Check your blind spot.
Thanks for all the love and support from home. I pray for all of you
often. I love what i do. Look for missionary opportunities around you.
Love, Elder Doman
