I asked him some questions about his new area, and he wrote a letter about his week. Both follow:
Q: Tell me about your new companion (name, personality, where's he from, etc)
A: Elder Schiess! DL. AWESOME! From Manti UT. Yes another UT comp. Out of the 8 that I have had, I have only had ONE not from UT. But he is a TON of fun! So far we get along GREAT!!!
(To our UT friends...we are not biased against UT peeps. I promise!)
Q: Tell me about the new area (it looks more upscale on the map) - weather, neighborhoods, etc. I think you have now been as far east, south and almost west (except the islands) that you can go in the mission.
A: Weather has been chilly. I am on a bike again. And I have noticed that I am OUT OF SHAPE! hahaha I will get used to it again though. It is more upscale. Very few Apt complexes. I think....5 or 6 and the rest is Suburb housing but nicer houses. The ward hasn't had a baptism in 2 years. We have 2 sets of missionaries in the ward. Name of the ward is Harbour Pointe Ward. There are 2 sisters and 2 elders. The sisters also have 2 visa-waiters. (missionaries waiting to receive their Visa to leave the US) They are waiting to go to Australia. The missionaries here are AWESOME! As is the bishop and the ward mission leader! EVERYTHING is great!!! The area more west than me is the Oak Harbour 1st and 2nd ward and the Pencove Ward. And I haven't served in the most North yet. That is the Blaine area. Prob. wont get there but I might get close. I have served the most south and the most east though. TRUE! :) On Sunday, I got to see the 2nd counselor in the Stake Presidency, who was in my ward in my first area. He was visiting our ward.
Q: Where are you emailing from (church building? library?)
A: Library
Q: What did you do for New Year's Eve and New Year's Day?
A: New years day was a regular day. New years eve was transfers and had to be in at 6pm (right after transfers).
Q: Are you the junior companion or senior companion? How long as your comp been out?
A: I am JC to the District Leader, but Elder Schiess is very nice and treats me as an equal. He has been out almost 14 and I have almost been out 11....That's weird to type for me.
This week's letter
SO!! This week has been Crazy! Monday I was in Burlington (Sedro-Woolley) still. We did the usual P-day thing in that area. Email. Bball and then I went to the Sedro Apt and got all my stuff and shoved it into the Burlington car so I could pack that night at their apt. We had dinner with their Ward Mission Leader and then home to pack for the new area. 4 1/2 months, 3 months, 3 months...I see a pattern haha, just kidding.
So anyway, on Tuesday we had brunch with Seth, Jocie, Avery and Kinley (a family they have been teaching). Then went to see a few people. Time flew by to 2pm and it was time to go...Got a ride from Bro. F. We drove down to Mill Creek and got my new comp Elder Schiess. He is well...he is a big boy. 6'4" or 6'5" and weighs 250...Yeah...he is WAY bigger than I am haha! He is AWESOME! After we exchanged and got everything in the car, we came to our place and dropped the stuff off. We then went to see a Less Active member in our apartment complex which is like 15 buildings (its big). His name is Seattle and he is...yep, Samoan! We have already had a dinner with him. Biscuts and Gravy....He is a WAY good cook too.
On Wednesday we had meetings and then Bishop's for lunch and then a meeting with him. Then we went and got some stuff for my bike and went to see a Less Active lady. Then we went to see people and tract and boom! Dinner time. (Time is flying by!) This whole week we didn't have dinners set up except for the one with Seattle. (I teased him asking if I should send a box of mac & cheese.)
Thursday we went to see a few people. P.S. There are a TON of hills in this area. More than in Lakewood Ward. Had a lesson with our investigator Jerry and had a member, Bryce, with us. After lunch we went out to go see more people and tracted and had a spontaneous dinner but planned lesson with a Less Active family.
Friday we weekly planned and helped an older couple in the ward take down their Christmas Tree and decorations. Same thing again after that, tracted and tried to see people. Dinner with Seattle that night (Thursday). Had a lesson with our investigators Liz and Mark. They are very prepared! They are in their late 20's and are interested in the Gospel. They have a little girl named Rocky, she has to be younger than 3.
Saturday we did a lot of service. Helped the Scouts put trees they picked up through the neighborhoods into a chipper and shredded up the trees. Tracted and tried to see people and then went to the Morrisons. He is our Ward Mission Leader and Sis. Morrisons birthday was a few days ago so we had cake and chili (fed us a spontaneous dinner).
First sunday was BUSY!!! So this ward starts with Priesthood and Relief Society 1st at 12:30. Then goes to Sunday School and then to Sacrament meeting. (The LDS Church schedule is a 3 hour block, of 3 different meetings. Many US wards/congregations have Sacrament Meeting first, where everyone is together; then they break into classes for Sunday School - men and women/boys and girls meet together...youth are broken down by age groups; and the third hour is classes broken down by gender, so the young women meet together, the young men meet together, the adult men together and the adult women. This ward that Chris is in does it in reverse, likely because they share the building with other congregations.)
After church we had a lesson with some Less Actives and Bishop. Had dinner after that with the Burnsides. Bro. Burnside and his family is from Scottland and his mom (who lives in Scottland) said if I ever want to go to Scottland I could stay there. BOOM! Do you want to go on a trip to Scottland?!?! Hahaha! (I asked Chris if we could go to Scotland WITHOUT him. He didn't reply.) Had a lesson with a lady last night as well. She is an investigator but told me my name was bogus. There was other things that led up to it and the meaning but I thought it was funny. First time meeting someone and she thought my name was bogus! Nice! hahaha! I think this is a very long email and I will stop there haha.
I have learned this week truly how much this ward, companion, and time in my mission is going to help me let my mission change me. And I am excited!!
Love you All!
Love,
Elder Udall