December 2010

December 2010

Monday, October 1, 2012

Derek Letter 10-1-12


This was the only picture this week. We were biking in St. George when we saw some alpacas in someone's backyard. I thought you guys would laugh at the sight. 


Family,
October has begun and that means only one more week of wearing short sleeves outside. Once general conference starts, we have to wear suits everywhere because it starts getting chilly around here in the mission. It really feels like the seasons here are much more defined. For example: leaves start changing colors, it starts getting cooler earlier, and football is in full swing. Speaking of football, I wanted to remind you that I don't want any more sports updates for the rest of my mission. I have realized that they have become a distraction and tend to pull my mind away from the work a little bit. Thta little bit is all it takes for the spirit not to dwell in my teaching. As for my teaching, it has been better and better ever since I left the MTC and especially since I finished memorizing  all 5 lessons and the baptismal interview questions. All I need to do is just pass them off then I will be able to drive!!! I should be able to pass them off later today. (That was cool. The tornado siren just went off outside the library. Don't worry, I think I'm safe.) It sounds like the ward has been going through a lot in the past few years. Our branch just launched the new branch mission plan to the members so that we can get a little more work. The third hour yesterday was all about that. I think it will benefit the town as we move forward in making this branch into a ward one day. Also, the ultimate goal is for our new small building to become a stake center. I think that will be tough but I think we can do it. Dang, you definitely had a busy Sunday yesterday. Our branch didn't do a fast and testimony meeting. I think we'll do that in the second week in October...I hope. It wouldn't surprise me if we didn't have one at all. Oh, so in church yesterday I saw some of the worst parenting in my entire life (the worst has all been on my mission so far): This sister was sitting in front of us with her grandaughter and literally beating her up in the pugh instead of taking her out or at least do what toddlers do. All her grandaughter was doing was talk a little louder than normal and be a little fidgety. Uggh, parents like that make me sick because the spirit totally left the room when that happened. Ohwell, it's over.

Hey, those were some good pictures of that van they drove to Seattle with. I hope the animals are fine with it, haha! I'm sure you're glad to be alone for a little while. Just to let you know, I did get Cody's letter last MOnday and responded to him this morning. I don't know if I'll send it because I haven't finished it yet. I'l try to do it sometime tonight after I write in my journal. If not, I'll finish it next Monday because P-Day is the only day I'm allowed to write letters. Also, you DO NOT need to get me another watch. I found my old one in the trunk of our car. There was one other thing I wanted to say but I didn't get to it. Anyways, I saw that Michael got his call to Tahiti. What an experience that will be for him. We had some one open their call this past Saturday. He is going to the Rosario, Argentina mission and should collide with Michael in the MTC when he almost leaves. Hopefully it won't take that long to get the visas to them as it has been in the past. About Sister McMullin, that totally does surprise me too, but I won't say anything more than that. I loved going over there and home teaching her family with brother Hatch. There are some people in the branch who also have problems that they talk to the branch president about. Of course, there's this one family who hates him and will never go back to church until he's out as branch president. Yes, it was because he offended them about a personal matter. I'm sure he didn't mean to offend them, but whatever. Are you going to transfer Dallin's records to Seattle? That would put his name on the roster so that the missionaries there could talk to him. Sorry if that was a rude thing to say about the sisters here. It's just their reputation among the other elders around the area. I should honor them better and strive to respect them for taking time out of their lives to serve a mission. About transfers, Elder Clare and I are together for at least one more transfer. We'll see when November rolls around.

This past Saturday, Wamego had their annual Oz Fest to kick off October. Since this is the town where the Wizard of Oz originated (hence the line "we're not in Kansas anymore"), there was also the last living Munchkin there. We could've taken pictures but we had more important work to do. Since it's October now, that means I will get my ballot. I want to be able to get it as soon as possible to be able to have time to mail it home to you first. Or do I mail it to the people who do it? I don't know, whatever. I'm really looking forward to general conference this weekend and hearing from the prophets and apostles about the subject of life, especially the priesthood session. How was the relief society session? Oh, I forgot to ask you: Does Sister Beebe need any more pictures of my flat stanley? Congratulations on making a decision to Caitlin! I hope it'll be fun living in DC and being able to see Greg a lot more now! Oh, man. I am really tired right now. Anyways, I know I am missing a lot of stuff to say to you but I just can't think right now.

Love,
Elder Sutherland


PS: "Running, I better start running. Running"
"btthhhh"
"Sprinting! I just need to Start Sprinting! [Crash!!!!] Sitting. Sitting. Bleeding."
"Btttthhh"
"Who's there?"
"bttthhh"
"Okay, that's enough."
"bttthhhh"
"I'm warning you."
"bttthhh"
"I'm a sponge!"
"bttthhh"
"AAAAHHHHHH"
"bttthhh"
"Oh. It's only you...Well that solves my balloon problem but I have a bigger problem. You don't understand a word I'm saying, do you? Balloon bttthhh has bttthhhh enough bttthhh air bttthhh thanks bttthhhh bttthhh bttthhhh bttthhhh. Oh, I get it. Balloon travel. Thank bttthhh you bttthhh!"
"You're welcome."
...
"Don't worry, Spongebob. I'm coming back for ya."

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