Friday, March 26, 2010 - Long week

Hello!

It's been a long week!
Going a solid ten days without a preparation day was a little tougher than I thought! Still, we managed to get through it without starving, or needing to do laundry early. The weather has been going up and down, too - a lot. We got hot weather (we took off our suit jackets), then we got snow! What an interesting place.

We also got mentioned in the newspaper. Mr. Beilue was very quick (not very surprisingly, I suppose). After he stopped us on the street and got our information, he called and interviewed us on Wednesday evening, sent a photographer (funny, his name is Michael Schumacher) on Thursday morning, and published on Friday. Elder Engstrom and I were on the front page of the "Today" section of the Amarillo Globe-News. We were pretty pleased with it. (We also learned that he later did a completely separate column on someone that we happened to be teaching) he did add some of his own interpolations - in fact a lot of what was written that wasn't a direct quote was slightly off - but overall it was very good. Also, if it was completely false, I believe in the adage that, for the Church, "any publicity is good publicity". To our surprise, many people have read it, and commented to us about it. It's cool to be famous, I guess.

Speaking of articles, I've been asked by Elder Hansen (who does the TLM newsletter) to write my departing article (a new tradition for all departing missionaries that he started). It's kinda tough "summarizing" my entire mission in two or three paragraphs. I guess maybe it wasn't meant to be. Anyways, I did my best.

Our special zone activity for Monday's P-day was fun, albeit really miserable. We went out to the Cadillac Ranch to take pictures. It was fun, but it was raining, and very cold, and very muddy. My shoes more than doubled in weight with the mud that was stuck to them! I'm glad we did it though, for memories' sake.

Our zone Family Home Evening afterwards was great. It was at President Barton's home, and we played some games (namely, "District Feud") and had a testimony meeting.This P-day was also good. We got to go bowling and we just had a good time.

In other news, the other Elders came over to sleep the night at our apartment. They said that the Spirit warned them (all of them separately and independently) to leave that night, and so they did. We are still unsure as to why, but we're all thankful that the Lord does talk to us, and warns us of danger, if we are willing to heed to His voice.

Also, would you be able to schedule a temple trip after I get home ASAP?

Love you!

-Elder Brandon Wong