Hello, One and All,
Happy Valentine's Day!
Especially to, yes, you.
Lubbock is producing yet more beautiful and lovely weather. You probably can't tell just by reading this, but there's a lot of sarcasm to my tone of thought. All that aside, we are having some very nice temperatures, and I'm going to miss them when the summer comes.
On Monday, we finally moved into the Mortensens' home. We stay in their basement, and it's HUGE! The main living room in the basement is honestly comparable in size to our whole house. It also houses the (currently unused) home theater system. Before we saw the place, President Robison warned us that "there are more toys there than Toys 'R' Us", and it's true. For example, there's a ping-pong table and an air hockey table. We haven't used either one, but one of these P-days we just might. There's also a fridge, sink, bathroom, and they bought us a hot plate, and built a shelf for our microwave.
Elder Northey is sleeping on a king-sized bed and Elder Rasmussen on a queen-sized. They've also let use their washing machine on P-days. Brother Mortensen can usually be found in the evenings on his recliner upstairs, watching westerns on TV. Sometimes, he falls asleep, and we walk by unnoticed. They're [the Mortensens] in the singles' branch presidency, and you can see why. They're really friendly and they love the missionaries.
Now, Elder Craven and his new companion, Elder King (who was just trained by the zone leaders last transfer) are living in our apartment. Until now, that companionship has been living far outside the ward (and their area) boundaries, so this will help save them a lot of miles. A new sister companionship (they cover the singles' branch) is now staying at Elders Johnson's and Rasmussen's old place.
Also, the Hansens arrived from the MTC. They had some car troubles in northern Utah, but they finally made it here safe and sound. They're really nice people and are excited to get to work. They've already served a humanitarian mission as employment specialists in the Philippines, and now they're serving another mission.
Elder Hansen is taking over Elder Johnson's job and will be in charge of referrals, supplies, and cell phones. Sister Hansen is taking my spot and will be the mission secretary. I'm going to be the financial secretary and Elder Rasmussen will have the record for the shortest time in the office. This process of musical chairs won't be immediate, though, since we have to train each other. It's obvious Sister Hansen hasn't had much experience with computers, but she can pick things up really quick, and she can use the mouse. If you have those two skills, you can get the rest, no problem.
Monday through Wednesday was also transfers. We got to meet the four new missionaries: two Sisters, one English Elder, and one Spanish Elder. We got to have dinner at the mission home (twice), and we ate lunch with the greenies at Lin's Chinese buffet. (That's the tradition for every transfer - when I came here, it was Golden Corral buffet, but President Robison apparently hates that place ;). ) Like last transfer, we were going back and forth, running errands all over the place. It's fun, but tiring.
Oh, and I did get my new card, and it does work. All the money I didn't spend has made me a very rich missionary (by missionary standards). I think I'm in second place, actually. Once I'm settled in the finances desk, I'll be able to check it every day, if I want.
I'm still kinda nervous about it - switching jobs, that is. I don't know anything about money, or banking, or chequing... and if I make a mistake, it's a lot more expensive... but, whatever. We each have our own little role in the world, and if mine is to make sure that the thousands upon thousands of dollars that pass through this mission is not utterly lost, then so be it. I'll take it.
I love being on a mission. It's tough - in many ways, ways that I never thought it would - but I wouldn't trade it for the best job offer, the best school, or any amount of riches in the world. Well, maybe a ten-digit figure - I don't know.
If ever you find yourself questioning your testimony, question the source of your doubt first. If you find half a leaf on a tree amongst the thousands of whole ones, it's more likely that an animal came by and nibbled on it, rather than the tree being dead.
The same is with the Church. It is true.
I love you! Have a Happy Valentine's day!
-Elder Brandon Wong
Something I wish I knew before my mission: how to cook quick and delicious meals. (Can anyone help me on that?)
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Hey, what's up?
We've been moving furniture here and there, and the office looks pretty different now. My room is now just me and my stuff. The useless one next door is now not so useless, with Elder Johnson's stuff there, and the other room now looks just as different as the others. Also, we're getting ready to move into a member's house, Brother Mortensen. He's one of the counselors in the Singles' Branch presidency. President Robison says it's a really nice house. So we've been packing our stuff as well.
Yes, Texas weather is going up and down all the time. It's probably the only place where it can snow, be 100 degrees, and rain, all in the same day. If you don't like how it is outside, just wait half an hour. It's also really dry here. For some reason, and I don't know if this is related, my nose has been almost completely plugged up for the last week or so. I don't know if dry air does that, but I hope it doesn't stay like that much longer.
By the way, I haven't gotten any post card yet. That reminds me: some time in December, Elder Goodfellow got some mail for me at the apartment in Midland. He forgot to bring it to the zone conference, and the second time he tried to bring it, he accidentally forgot it on the transfer bus. It's probably long gone by now. Too bad.
And, to my knowledge, I am not gaining weight. I weighed myself once in Midland and I was 135 lbs. Not too long ago, I tried again, and it was 130 lbs. It has since stayed that way for a while, so either I gained five pounds, and lost it again, or the scale was wrong.
Also, my missionary credit card isn't working. There were about a dozen cards that were deactivated the other day. Elder Rasmussen thinks it's because the company accidentally leaked the card numbers. Whatever the reason, I'm going to have to borrow or not spend until I get a new one.
Anyways, we're off to do some more moving. I love you! Talk again soon.
-Elder Brandon Wong
Something I wish I knew before my mission: how to properly budget
(which I seem to be doing rather well lately...)
We've been moving furniture here and there, and the office looks pretty different now. My room is now just me and my stuff. The useless one next door is now not so useless, with Elder Johnson's stuff there, and the other room now looks just as different as the others. Also, we're getting ready to move into a member's house, Brother Mortensen. He's one of the counselors in the Singles' Branch presidency. President Robison says it's a really nice house. So we've been packing our stuff as well.
Yes, Texas weather is going up and down all the time. It's probably the only place where it can snow, be 100 degrees, and rain, all in the same day. If you don't like how it is outside, just wait half an hour. It's also really dry here. For some reason, and I don't know if this is related, my nose has been almost completely plugged up for the last week or so. I don't know if dry air does that, but I hope it doesn't stay like that much longer.
By the way, I haven't gotten any post card yet. That reminds me: some time in December, Elder Goodfellow got some mail for me at the apartment in Midland. He forgot to bring it to the zone conference, and the second time he tried to bring it, he accidentally forgot it on the transfer bus. It's probably long gone by now. Too bad.
And, to my knowledge, I am not gaining weight. I weighed myself once in Midland and I was 135 lbs. Not too long ago, I tried again, and it was 130 lbs. It has since stayed that way for a while, so either I gained five pounds, and lost it again, or the scale was wrong.
Also, my missionary credit card isn't working. There were about a dozen cards that were deactivated the other day. Elder Rasmussen thinks it's because the company accidentally leaked the card numbers. Whatever the reason, I'm going to have to borrow or not spend until I get a new one.
Anyways, we're off to do some more moving. I love you! Talk again soon.
-Elder Brandon Wong
Something I wish I knew before my mission: how to properly budget
(which I seem to be doing rather well lately...)
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Saturday, January 31, 2009 - Snow & Ice in Lubbock
Hi! How's it going?
Things are going well here.
Tuesday, we woke up, and we were getting ready to leave. Elder Northey walks out to the car to put something inside, and when he comes back, he said, "you might want to bring your camera". I wasn't sure what he meant until I walked outside, and everything was covered with snow and ice! Tiny ice pellets were falling from the sky at that point. It stayed all day, and halfway into the next.
Tuesday afternoon, we got a phone call that our large passenger van rolled over. Elder Johnson was driving with Elders King and McKeen to an outlying town called Post for a baptismal interview, and it [the van] slipped on the ice. His Canadian driving skills didn't help this time, and it did a full barrel roll before landing on its side. They were banged up and had to make a stop at the hospital just get checked up. They're still sore, but they're all fine. Always wear your seat belt. Right after this, they parked all the cars in the Lubbock zone for the day.
Also on Tuesday, President Rose [previous mission president who completed his mission last June] called. He wanted the address of a departed missionary. He's gone back to being a lawyer, but he misses being on a mission. We were all happy to hear from him.
Elder Gibb has been wanting to switch to a service mission, but Salt Lake is being rather slow on this process. So in the meantime, a member here in Lubbock, who owns a large cotton farm, has offered to let him work there. So we've been ferrying him back and forth to the farm to work, and on two days a week, he works at the temple, cleaning inside, or on the grounds.
Anyways, never a dull moment.
Also, that's awful to hear about Patrick and Hamish. What's worse is that I heard about this [new rule in applying for a visa] a few weeks ago! I guess mentioning it wouldn't have made any difference. Apparently, the new rule says that it takes six months to get an R-1 visa. That's really dumb, and this country is really going to feel the consequences of it. Hopefully, it won't be long before they fix that. In the meantime, working a lot with the missionaries will do wonders for them, and for the mission.
Anyways, I hope all is well.
Get missionary work sparked in Montreal. Do it by example.
I love you
-Elder Brandon Wong
Something I wish I knew before my mission: the meaning of independent identity.
Things are going well here.
Tuesday, we woke up, and we were getting ready to leave. Elder Northey walks out to the car to put something inside, and when he comes back, he said, "you might want to bring your camera". I wasn't sure what he meant until I walked outside, and everything was covered with snow and ice! Tiny ice pellets were falling from the sky at that point. It stayed all day, and halfway into the next.
Tuesday afternoon, we got a phone call that our large passenger van rolled over. Elder Johnson was driving with Elders King and McKeen to an outlying town called Post for a baptismal interview, and it [the van] slipped on the ice. His Canadian driving skills didn't help this time, and it did a full barrel roll before landing on its side. They were banged up and had to make a stop at the hospital just get checked up. They're still sore, but they're all fine. Always wear your seat belt. Right after this, they parked all the cars in the Lubbock zone for the day.
Also on Tuesday, President Rose [previous mission president who completed his mission last June] called. He wanted the address of a departed missionary. He's gone back to being a lawyer, but he misses being on a mission. We were all happy to hear from him.
Elder Gibb has been wanting to switch to a service mission, but Salt Lake is being rather slow on this process. So in the meantime, a member here in Lubbock, who owns a large cotton farm, has offered to let him work there. So we've been ferrying him back and forth to the farm to work, and on two days a week, he works at the temple, cleaning inside, or on the grounds.
Anyways, never a dull moment.
Also, that's awful to hear about Patrick and Hamish. What's worse is that I heard about this [new rule in applying for a visa] a few weeks ago! I guess mentioning it wouldn't have made any difference. Apparently, the new rule says that it takes six months to get an R-1 visa. That's really dumb, and this country is really going to feel the consequences of it. Hopefully, it won't be long before they fix that. In the meantime, working a lot with the missionaries will do wonders for them, and for the mission.
Anyways, I hope all is well.
Get missionary work sparked in Montreal. Do it by example.
I love you
-Elder Brandon Wong
Something I wish I knew before my mission: the meaning of independent identity.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Hello,
What's new in Montreal?
There's a few things going on here in Lubbock.
One thing I forgot to mention last time: Elder Gibb, who has been serving in Abilene, came up here, and he's been hanging out with us. He's been a little sick lately, and has been needing to rest quite a bit. It's kinda unusual being three, but it isn't exactly a normal circumstance anyway. Sick or not, Elder Gibb is really cool to hang out with.
Also, I finally returned that garbage photo frame that I bought. It was refreshingly easy to give it back. We just walked into Best Buy (like, two or three months after buying it - ONLINE), put it on the counter, and, after presenting the original order number, they recharged my card. They didn't even open the box... it could've been empty.
We've also been going to Levelland and other random, boring-named interesting places like that.
Oh, and a lot of the Sisters in the mission have been getting bikes (to save miles), and we helped the ones in Lubbock get theirs. That was fun.
Anyways, I have to go. Elder Northey hasn't played basketball, pretty much since he got here - or since new year's, and he's going crazy.
Talk again later!
I love you
-Elder Brandon Wong
Something I wish I knew before my mission: good negotiating skills
What's new in Montreal?
There's a few things going on here in Lubbock.
One thing I forgot to mention last time: Elder Gibb, who has been serving in Abilene, came up here, and he's been hanging out with us. He's been a little sick lately, and has been needing to rest quite a bit. It's kinda unusual being three, but it isn't exactly a normal circumstance anyway. Sick or not, Elder Gibb is really cool to hang out with.
Also, I finally returned that garbage photo frame that I bought. It was refreshingly easy to give it back. We just walked into Best Buy (like, two or three months after buying it - ONLINE), put it on the counter, and, after presenting the original order number, they recharged my card. They didn't even open the box... it could've been empty.
We've also been going to Levelland and other random, boring-named interesting places like that.
Oh, and a lot of the Sisters in the mission have been getting bikes (to save miles), and we helped the ones in Lubbock get theirs. That was fun.
Anyways, I have to go. Elder Northey hasn't played basketball, pretty much since he got here - or since new year's, and he's going crazy.
Talk again later!
I love you
-Elder Brandon Wong
Something I wish I knew before my mission: good negotiating skills
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Saturday, January 17, 2008 - Another week in Lubbock, Texas
Hi!
It's been another interesting week here in the TLM (Texas Lubbock Mission). This week, I was able to travel with Elder Northey to the two zone conferences down south. (I've sent some pictures of it.)
Last week, Elder Northey had to go with the three APs to the three zone conferences. This time, we got to go on our own and take our truck. So we would go to the zone conference, let Elder Northey give his presentation first thing in the morning, then we can drive off and visit people we knew in the area, and drive to the next location while the others were finishing (zone conference is almost an all-day affair). The first one was in San Angelo, and we got to visit some people. The second one was in Midland. Homer and Cruz (the one who got baptized last month) came by and visited us at the chapel. It was so great to see them; they're really cool people. We also had to run some errands for missionaries whose cars weren't working right. In those two days, we were on the road for about 15 hours, and covered about 1000 miles.
The day after getting back, Sister Sybrowsky, the Ward Mission Leader's wife, gave me a haircut. It was probably the first time I had clippers used in a long, long time.
Anyways, lots of fun, all over the place. Hope all is going well.
I love you
-Elder Brandon Wong
Something I wish I knew before my mission: how to sew on a button
It's been another interesting week here in the TLM (Texas Lubbock Mission). This week, I was able to travel with Elder Northey to the two zone conferences down south. (I've sent some pictures of it.)
Last week, Elder Northey had to go with the three APs to the three zone conferences. This time, we got to go on our own and take our truck. So we would go to the zone conference, let Elder Northey give his presentation first thing in the morning, then we can drive off and visit people we knew in the area, and drive to the next location while the others were finishing (zone conference is almost an all-day affair). The first one was in San Angelo, and we got to visit some people. The second one was in Midland. Homer and Cruz (the one who got baptized last month) came by and visited us at the chapel. It was so great to see them; they're really cool people. We also had to run some errands for missionaries whose cars weren't working right. In those two days, we were on the road for about 15 hours, and covered about 1000 miles.
The day after getting back, Sister Sybrowsky, the Ward Mission Leader's wife, gave me a haircut. It was probably the first time I had clippers used in a long, long time.
Anyways, lots of fun, all over the place. Hope all is going well.
I love you
-Elder Brandon Wong
Something I wish I knew before my mission: how to sew on a button
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Saturday, January 10, 2009 - And it came to pass in the 38th(?) week...
Hello!
How are things?
Minus 18 degrees sounds fun, but not as cold as usual... what's up with that?
It's been crazy here as usual.
Elder Northey has been out of town for a couple days this week, travelling with President and the assistants to zone conferences. He's been instructing everyone on bike racks - what they are, how to install them, the need to use them, etc, etc. Meanwhile, I've been here in the office, catching up on work. Elder King, one of the new missionaries (not to be confused with the other Elder King, the half-Japanese, Spanish-speaking, much older (mission-wise) missionary - there are a lot of name-twins in the mission), has been hanging around the office so that I would still have a companion. Looking back, I should have given him something to do, since all he had was to put his bike together and study. The next day, he didn't need to come, since I went with Elders Johnson and Rasmussen out teaching. We taught one of our investigators, who accepted the commitment to be baptized! I am really excited about that. She understands everything we teach, and even though she's busy, she reads the Book of Mormon on her own.
Speaking of which, I recently heard from other missionaries that two people I was helping to teach down in Midland and in San Angelo have both been baptized in the last week of 2008! Two people that wanted to be baptized, but weren't planning to in the near future, very suddenly, choose to - in the same week of each other! And to think that I could've gone a long time without finding out - possibly my whole life. This also goes for any of our efforts - none of them are wasted. We're told that the average convert has about seven contacts with the church (through friends, coworkers, etc.) before joining. Be one of those seven.
Next week, since I won't have as much to do, I should be able to go with Elder Northey to the zone conferences down south. It should be fun.
The Church is true. I know it. You can know it too.
I love you!
-Elder Brandon Wong
Something I wish I knew before my mission: how to ride a bike more
How are things?
Minus 18 degrees sounds fun, but not as cold as usual... what's up with that?
It's been crazy here as usual.
Elder Northey has been out of town for a couple days this week, travelling with President and the assistants to zone conferences. He's been instructing everyone on bike racks - what they are, how to install them, the need to use them, etc, etc. Meanwhile, I've been here in the office, catching up on work. Elder King, one of the new missionaries (not to be confused with the other Elder King, the half-Japanese, Spanish-speaking, much older (mission-wise) missionary - there are a lot of name-twins in the mission), has been hanging around the office so that I would still have a companion. Looking back, I should have given him something to do, since all he had was to put his bike together and study. The next day, he didn't need to come, since I went with Elders Johnson and Rasmussen out teaching. We taught one of our investigators, who accepted the commitment to be baptized! I am really excited about that. She understands everything we teach, and even though she's busy, she reads the Book of Mormon on her own.
Speaking of which, I recently heard from other missionaries that two people I was helping to teach down in Midland and in San Angelo have both been baptized in the last week of 2008! Two people that wanted to be baptized, but weren't planning to in the near future, very suddenly, choose to - in the same week of each other! And to think that I could've gone a long time without finding out - possibly my whole life. This also goes for any of our efforts - none of them are wasted. We're told that the average convert has about seven contacts with the church (through friends, coworkers, etc.) before joining. Be one of those seven.
Next week, since I won't have as much to do, I should be able to go with Elder Northey to the zone conferences down south. It should be fun.
The Church is true. I know it. You can know it too.
I love you!
-Elder Brandon Wong
Something I wish I knew before my mission: how to ride a bike more
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Hi!
How's it going?
Things are going great here. Temperature's going up and down, as usual.
On my nine-month mark, I got to go to the temple! It was a great way to start off the new year.
The outside [of the temple] is just like Montreal's, only reversed. The inside, though, is actually rather different. All the zone leaders, the APs, and President and Sister Robison were there. I loved every minute.
We also had transfers, too. We got to instruct and hang out with the greenies before they headed off to wherever they're serving. this transfer, they're having eight of the ten zone leaders train a new missionary in a group of three. I also got to say goodbye to all the departing missionaries all at once. I knew a lot of them, including Elders Maughan, Andersen, Wellington... it's kinda strange thinking that I might actually never see any of them again.
The work goes on. It's been a crazy week. We've been all over the place.
The Church is true.
I love you!
-Elder Brandon Wong
Something I wish I knew before my mission: good tie-trading skills.
How's it going?
Things are going great here. Temperature's going up and down, as usual.
On my nine-month mark, I got to go to the temple! It was a great way to start off the new year.
The outside [of the temple] is just like Montreal's, only reversed. The inside, though, is actually rather different. All the zone leaders, the APs, and President and Sister Robison were there. I loved every minute.
We also had transfers, too. We got to instruct and hang out with the greenies before they headed off to wherever they're serving. this transfer, they're having eight of the ten zone leaders train a new missionary in a group of three. I also got to say goodbye to all the departing missionaries all at once. I knew a lot of them, including Elders Maughan, Andersen, Wellington... it's kinda strange thinking that I might actually never see any of them again.
The work goes on. It's been a crazy week. We've been all over the place.
The Church is true.
I love you!
-Elder Brandon Wong
Something I wish I knew before my mission: good tie-trading skills.
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