What Is His Obsession with Possums?!

oh here I go again

writing a letter to my family

I cannot remember

this past week, but I will try and write it more.

My adaption of that song.  

However there is no news from the Mark. I did buy some Christmas lights, I am going to catch a possum and decorate for the family that I live with for Christmas. I hope they like it, they have possums here, I sent a picture the one who was chasing me... He bit my shoe, three times.

But this week we put someone on date for the 24th of December. But he has a smoking problem so hopefully he will stop tomorrow, because He cant for two weeks before his baptism. His name is Forest, so please pray for him, so he won't want to smoke. He knows it's true, loves reading the BofM but cant stop smoking.

We had two investigators at church this week, both home schooled and dont get out much. It was so funny, they are 12 and 15 and they dont have social skills, it was so so funny. We were introducing ourselves at young mens and they took 10 minutes to do that. They're awesome, Daren and Kyle, I love them they are so funny. The mom is doing pretty good also there, she is listening to the book of mormon online, she is in chapter eight. Hopefully that keeps going well.

And that about wraps up this week. But next week:

I will be going back to Manhattan for a Christmas party! That is were I was born, in the mission! And me and my comp, Elder T from my last district, http://www.ldsliving.com/story/73858-the-call-nati-talauega , and his comp get to go back early in the day to help set up, so that is a whole day in wonderful Manhattan! 

I love you more than I love possums, even with Christmas lights on them.

[The link in Brady's letter leads to a great news segment about Elder Talauega's decision to serve a mission. He's from American Samoa and lived in Brady's apartment in his first area. Brady really likes him.] 

New Area: Burlington, and More Problems with Pants

I don't have time again, sorry, we are mailing from the church lab and there are only two computers.

This week was good. We had a baptism, photos to come later. But the story of this week is one of destruction, and a deer. After the baptism, the Emporia elders were driving home... and hit a deer, going 55 mph.

They called us to go pick them up and then we drove down and then saw the car. It was destroyed, photos to come later, and the side panel on the front was destroyed. We looked at the deer and it just looked like it needed a combover and it would be good. But the best part was when the cop asked us if we want the deer, we said no then he radioed in "anyone on the roadkill list for a deer?" They have a roadkill list!?! So awesome! People can sign up and get the roadkill and eat it!  So cool! I promise I will be more assertive next week making sure I have more time. Love you, and I didnt even get to email dad or anyone else.

Con amor, Elder Daines

I got more time so I am writing more, the come back time. But I have been thinking about what I want for Christmas, and I was thinking just like pants, I ripped another pair, and ties. And music.

My new area is burlington. It is super small. We live with members and they are cool. 

I dont know if I said this yet, but in my last area, everyone was in the military, the jobs I heard were: tank driver, demolitions, and all types of military jobs. Now it is all in a nuclear power plant. I hear, crane worker, operations and stuff like that now. Burlington is super small, by the way. 30 minutes to walk across the entire town. 1 and a half hours away from Topeka, which is the zone I am in, so lots of driving for stake conference and training and stuff.

One thing I have been working on recently is being more bold in my teaching. Like if they don't agree with something, going straight out and saying it. For example, if they dont believe in the book of mormon I would have said, "Moroni, a writer in the book said that...", now I have been saying "Moroni, a prophet of God wrote that..." Get the picture? We had a training from the APs and president about that.

Bad Jokes, More Possums, and Silly Pets

This week I broke my ankle... just kidding. I couldn't decide how to start this letter so I started with a lie. Missionary like, yeah?

Well this week was good. We have a bap on saturday, this time for sure. My second so far then. She is Kristi. I dont really know much about her. I just got here. 

But his week was cold. everyday was below freezing. One was about 18. Right now it is 31 and I forgot my jacket at home. (Burlington.) I have that nice one from dad and a member gave me less nice one for everything else. I forgot them both. Walking around in the cold. 

We had some good lessons. Lots of less actives here are getting better. Our investigators are alright. One family we we're meeting with is a dad and a boy. Dad left church after he got divorced and boy hasnt been in 7 years. The dad doesnt really take us seriously and keeps making jokes the whole time. Kinda hard to teach with him, the son is really good. Asks lots of good questions that we can then expound on. This last lesson, the dad got a phone call and had to leave, and we had a really good 2 on 1 talk with son. It was really good. Spirit was strong and he said he would come to church on Sunday. But unfortunately, he got called into work. 

That package saved me. I was almost out of Zyrtec. I had two more.  The members we live with have about 5 cats. And two awesome dogs. And two possums that come every night. One is bigger and passive. I could easily catch him again. And the other is little and rude. He chases me and bit my shoes and everything. I want to catch him, but I dont think I will... one of the dogs is a husky. She is so fun. Loves to play chase and run and run and run. But she is super obedient and loves to snuggle. One of the cats, Meriska, doesnt like to play chase. She is a kitten. I always say her name like the vampires in van helsing. Then I chase her. I usually beat her eventually. She slips on the wood a lot. I love chasing her. She doesn't.