Monday, September 7, 2009

Hello!

I don't have time to write much; I'm sending pictures and getting pictures, etc.

Anyways, it's transfer time. I knew for sure that I was staying. During interviews, President suggested that Elder Tuttle would be leaving and that I would be getting a new companion. Well, things change and we're both staying. I'm kinda relieved; I'm not a big fan of not knowing who I'm serving with. This means that Elder Tuttle is spending yet another transfer in Abilene, the end of which will bring him 15 days short of a whole year. With the exception of three weeks in Lubbock, he's been in Abilene his whole mission. Also, Elder Allred is a district leader now, and 2nd ward and Sweetwater are now their own district again.

We finally got supplies in Nepali - namely one book: Gospel Principles. They don't have the Book of Mormon in Nepali, but they have Gospel Principles. Anyways, we used it on Saturday. We had our friends read it and then translate it back to us as best they can. That way, we can still follow along, and know that they are paying attention and understanding what is being taught. It's a good thing there are pictures in there, or we'd be totally lost.

Speaking of getting lost in translation, I translated Fast and Testimony meeting for the Sisters' investigators. It was horrible. I knew over ten years ago that translation was not for me and this proved it. Not only that, some of the stories that people tell in testimony meeting are ridiculous. Seriously, you're only supposed to bear testimony of the Saviour, the Church, the Prophet... share uplifting experiences, etc. This one lady talked about "diabetes shoes", which I had no idea what it was, let alone how to interpret it. We need a member who knows French to move to Abilene; that's all there is to it. All in all, it was a good meeting, though.

Did I tell you that our van got rear-ended? It did. We were sitting at a stop sign and this college student came up and bumped us in the behind. So on Friday we had to get an estimate on the repairs.

Speaking of vehicles, I got an email from Elder Northey. He was telling me all the crazy things that have been going on since he went home.

Oh, and we did a lot of service. We helped demolish an addition to an old house, and this week we helped with the cleanup. Rather, we did the cleanup. The lady got this big dumpster and we filled it three times.

Okay, I have to go. I'm trying to send videos, but it's slow going.

The Church is true!

I love you.

-Elder Brandon Wong