Hi Elder Sam.
Greetings from the great white north. I just about forgot to write you In time for your time zone. I’m going to have to get used to this.
It’s been a great week. We are loving having Josh home with us. He is slowly adjusting to being home and went to the YSA ward today. He’s hoping to land a job too to help him keep busy and earn some doe along the way ($1000 to get the silver car fixed up so far. )
Ben is prepping for exam week this week and is writing 3 exams. English, Biology, and Math.
Abby and Mia have been practicing times tables as I’ve promised to take them out to Boston Pizza is they can do 100 questions in 5 min. Mia did it and now Abby’s turn.
Mom has been tackling sewing this week (mending clothes and hemming curtains, etc. and the girls have been following suite mending all the stuffed animals Coco has torn apart.
Mom was called as Primary President today and I’m being released as YM President next week. She’ll do great and I’m excited to support her.
After a goal setting FHE 2 weeks ago, Mia set a goal to do gymnastics again and she’s back at it! Proud of her for that.
Saturday was a busy day. Cody of course came over and before they could spend all day playing D&D, I had everyone help finishing off basement bathroom improvements. It was fun to be working together.
Mom and I had a good visit with the Depeels tonight and I remembered how much I enjoy visiting with good people. Relationships are important and help us share and support each other in the gospel.
Some questions.
1. Tell us about your companion a little.
2. What are your greatest triumphs and greatest challenges so far?
3. What is the branch your serving in like?
4. What’s the name of the area your serving in?
5. What is the music policy for your mission?
Have a great week, Sam!
Love you lots.
Dad.
From Sam:
It's great to hear about your week!
My companion is from Washington State and was homeschooled most of his life. he's been on his mission for 11 months and is an amazing companion.
The greatest triumphs I've had are how much people we're finding. We're stuck in our complex because our area is closed because of Cholera. The greatest challenges I've faced are how hot it is and how much people say they will do things such as seeing you for appointments or keeping commitments, but don't do anything or are not home because they don't want to displease you.
The ward I'm serving in is pretty great. We only had a 3 hour church yesterday, last week we were only allowed to do 1 hour because of Cholera. The ward mission leader is so enthusiastic and awesome. I love him.
I was serving in Bauleni North, but when Elder Hunter and Christianson went to reopen the Madagacar mission, we took over their area. Now we have all of Bauleni.
I'm still trying to find out the music policy for the mission. As far as I know, It's pretty relaxed.
I love you lots,
Elder Smith
From Josh - Famous:
You are famous my little brother, I went to institute choir and it was fun to see that I wasn’t referred to as Josh I was referred to as Sam’s brother, which was okay by me, if I could be the brother of someone everyone thought was awesome then I am happy.
How have things been going in Zambia?
Other then just that I went to a performance Shanika’s choir put on at Concordia university. I have a picture which I can send you in a separate email.
I love you Sam, I don’t know how much time you have to email and to motivate me to keep emailing you I will keep my emails short. Me and mom learned that your brain is more applied to tasks that take little to no effort, but as you build upon those tasks you can significantly change yourself.
Stay safe and eat as much as you can.
What do you even eat over there regularly? And how does it compare to food back here?
From Sam:
It makes me happy that people actually thought I was awesome. You don't really know until after you leave.
Zambia is awesome! The people here are amazing! The hardest part is that 99% of people say yes, and less than half actually mean it. I don't actually have a set time to email. I have lots of free time, I'm up at 6, leave the flat at 9, and get back at 7. Everyone here uses army time and a mission goal is "Be out by 9 and be back by 19", because the sun sets at 7 and there are no street lights, so it gets really sketchy at night.
I miss the food from home. I eat a lot of rice and a crap ton of peanut butter sandwiches. Me and my companion go through a regular sized peanut butter jar in a week. The thing I get for snacks are Lemon cookies and Chocolate. I miss all the snacks I get from home.
I find that I miss home a lot in the morning when I have time to think about it. What did you do to stay focused on your mission even though you missed home?
I love you so much,
Pictures from Sam:
Here's me eating a chili pepper from the bush that's behind our flat.
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