"So I've been here for a week, but it feels like I've already been gone for a year. At the same time I feel like I just got on the plane this morning. I am so glad that I came here and although I wish I had gone earlier, I know that this is the right time for me to be here. It's been tough but I feel like I've grown more in this last week than the last 7 months of my life. My companions name while I have been here is Elder Waldorf. He is here despite having just recovered from a major head injury. He is awesome. He has some issues with memory still, but being able to work with him and feel his testimony when he teaches has taught me so much about patience and how to teach with the spirit. My new favorite scripture is Ether 12:27 because I can feel that grace making the things I struggle with easier. Dad might have a stroke when I tell you but exact obedience has become the thing that has become the most important to me during my stay here. Our branch president had a talk about the difference between Average Missionaries and Exceptional Missionaries and the that difference came down to 2 things: Exact Obedience and Hard Work. I plan and am being to the best of my ability an exceptional missionary. Continue to pray for me and my companion, I can feel it :) Like during Elder (Sam) Wong talk in Cantonese in the Saturday morning session, the faith of others can make the ones you care about whole. Thank you for the support that you have been giving!! Love you all!!
To the Fam: (This is the response to letters part) I just need to start off by saying that I started to cry in my residence hall when I say that I had a letter from Alaycia and Emma. So thanks for that, lost my man card AGAIN. But seriously thank you so much for all the letters and thoughts. Sorry that I can't pick up Alaycia anymore from school, I guess this is just a great chance for her to work on her marathon running :P. Tell Alex that a mission is the best decision I could have made and I really want him to go on one too because I can see it just making him 10 times better of the awesome person he already is. Thank you Dad for the encouragement that you sent me. I have a few quotes that I'm already piling up and you are up there :) Thanks mom for the letters every day. I think out of anyone in my district I have received the most mail!!! Thanks for the sweater vests and thermals, I was literally complaining all day before I got them that I really wanted a sweater and then I got them in the mail, it was like Christmas! :P Thanks for the General Conference package, I thought I wouldn't need the kleenex but every since I turned into Brother Johnson, I seen to cry at the drop of a hat.. or testimony. :) Hope everyone has been doing good in the week and a half I've been gone... It has not felt like a week and a half for me though :P Be safe and remember to love each other and pray always. HEARTS FOR EVERYONE <3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3"
To the Fam: (This is the response to letters part) I just need to start off by saying that I started to cry in my residence hall when I say that I had a letter from Alaycia and Emma. So thanks for that, lost my man card AGAIN. But seriously thank you so much for all the letters and thoughts. Sorry that I can't pick up Alaycia anymore from school, I guess this is just a great chance for her to work on her marathon running :P. Tell Alex that a mission is the best decision I could have made and I really want him to go on one too because I can see it just making him 10 times better of the awesome person he already is. Thank you Dad for the encouragement that you sent me. I have a few quotes that I'm already piling up and you are up there :) Thanks mom for the letters every day. I think out of anyone in my district I have received the most mail!!! Thanks for the sweater vests and thermals, I was literally complaining all day before I got them that I really wanted a sweater and then I got them in the mail, it was like Christmas! :P Thanks for the General Conference package, I thought I wouldn't need the kleenex but every since I turned into Brother Johnson, I seen to cry at the drop of a hat.. or testimony. :) Hope everyone has been doing good in the week and a half I've been gone... It has not felt like a week and a half for me though :P Be safe and remember to love each other and pray always. HEARTS FOR EVERYONE <3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3"