Week 5...Learning Patience in Camp Hill

July 8, 2013

Hello Family…

Well this past week and today has been kind of rough.  For some reason this morning I was really homesick.  Walking in this heat is definitely going to be the death of me.  It is hard walking around all day long not really talking with anyone.  That with the heat makes both of us really exhausted…emotionally and physically.  It has made me thankful for a car and AC because most of the people don’t really have AC and if they do it is usually just a fan or a tiny swamp cooler.  We have not really tracted a whole lot since I have been out.  We have set a goal to tract 5 houses a day for the week.  So hopefully we can find some new investigators by doing that.  It is not Elder J’s favorite thing to do so he doesn't ever do it.  I have determined a mission is probably the hardest thing I have ever done in my life.  There are seriously days I wish I could just come home but then I realize that instead of the hardships of a mission I would have the hardships of life (school & marriage).   I read a talk by Elder Uchtdorf  (Continue in Patience http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2010/04/continue-in-patience?lang=eng&s=1 )about patience and it made me realize how impatient I can sometimes be.  It made me realize how much I want things done right then and there.  But he talked about how you just need to rely on Heavenly Father and let things work in his time frame.  So I know that things will start picking up if I’m just patient and rely on the Lord’s time.  I finally met the bishop yesterday; he’s been out of town for a while.  He is big into missionary work.  Also, I feel dad's pain of being in meetings all day on Sunday and I miss being at church with you all. 

The sisters and elders went to give a guy that has tuberculosis a blessing last night.  It was kind of freaky.  We had to put these special masks on so we weren’t contaminated.  That was attractive; I will try and send some pictures.  The man with TB is a potential investigator and he is in the Harrisburg walk area.  But the hospital he is at is in our area.  We are not really sure the whole situation because he seemed really drugged up and out of it.  I don't really think he knew who we were either.  Elder Johnson and I and Sister Andresen and her comp were there.  I think we should be fine though.  We just put a super fancy surgical mask on since it is an airborne disease.  We were all freaked out that we were going to get it.  We are fine now, it is just the thought of being in the presence of TB.    It was safe, I don't we would have been let in by the nurses if it wasn't. 

 
         The little black quote book you sent has been helpful.  I have looked at that book numerous times.  That is how I survive.  But in the down times it is sometimes hard to not think about you.  
 

I really am doing good.  Unfortunately, there are just those plain and simple hard days.  But I get over them and just start the new day.  But I feel like this is Heavenly Father’s way of making me a better person/missionary.  I think the hardest thing is walking everywhere.  Also, the culture shock of being disconnected from everything and being out of the loop.  Oh well such is life.  Also, I keep forgetting to tell you I started the BOM again when I got out here and I'm already starting 2 Nephi.  I don’t know if Sis. Doane told you, but I saw her at SLC airport when I left. 

Here are a few questions for you…

1.      Are there any fires in Utah?  I’ve heard that some other states have had some.

2.      Have you had any big summer thunderstorms/rain?

3.      Send me some pictures of the construction & progress on 13^th east.

By the way, thanks for the pics of my missionary plaque, it looks sweet!!!  I wish I could see it in person. I keep forgetting to mention that the fireflies are pretty cool out here at night.  Love you, miss you and can’t wait for all of the letters and getting your package.  Also, I would love some pics of the Draper temple because the temple is 2 hours away.  I miss being able to go to the temple.  Unfortunately, I don’t think I’ll be able to go until I get back.  I know on my laptop I have some saved under pics.

I think we are going bowling for Pday today so that should be fun.  I can't wait to hear from everyone and get more letters.  Also, it is pouring rain right now while I'm writing this.  I am so glad I am at the library right now and not walking because everything would be drenched.

Love,

Elder Muir

Below are the answers to your questions…

1.   How was your 4th of July? What did you end up doing?  Well it was pretty boring but it was nice and relaxing.  We were out trying to visit people but no one was home.  So we pretty much walked in the heat all day long.  Also, we had district meeting.  Then we were told by president that we could come back to our apartment and clean and have a break for the night.  If we would have had a dinner apt. with a family that night we could stay out with them.  Unfortunately, that did not happen for us.  I wish we would have had a party as a zone or something like that. 

2.   In the pictures you sent, it looks like there is a bench press or weights behind you? Do you have exercise equipment in the apartment?  Yes, we do but I've determined walking everywhere is my exercise. 

3.    Did the Kinderchocolate survive the heat/mail? Yes, it survived and I got it Friday. 

4.   Also, the cute little hedgehog is the souvenir that Derek brought home for you. I was going to put that in the box also, but Derek wanted you to have it :)  Yes, it survived I like it. 

5.   How are you doing on stamps/stationery?  Good, I will let you know if I need more.  Something I could use is rolls of quarters for laundry. 

6.   How often do you see or communicate with the sisters or other elders?  I see them at district meetings for the ones in our district.  But Sister A and her companion I see all the time because they are our ride for some places. 

7.   What did you do on your last Pday?  Not tons, honestly I don't remember. 

8.   How was the haircut/lady? And how was dinner?  She was nice, I just got a trim because supposedly I can't go any shorter than what I am at right now but President is coming down to do interviews Friday so I'm going to ask him if I can go shorter if not my hair is going to be the death of me.  The food has been good so far. 

9.   Tell us about your ward and the members. Have you met any members that you have really hit it off with?  Yes, there have been a few.  One is the F family.  Also the T family.  They are from West Valley.  She is out here for work.  We had dinner with them on Saturday.  They are probably going to be a regular too.  They have a daughter but I don't know how old she is and a son that is 14 and another that is meg's age. 

10.  What about teaching/investigators? Are things going any better? What about the less active family that you said you were meeting with weekly (long walk to their house)?  Teaching is going so so.  Really the only teaching I have been doing is to the one that is really far away.  Most of the teaching is less actives.  Not any new investigators right now but like I said in the other email hopefully with the tracting we are going to try we can maybe pick up a few. 

11.  Have you done any teaching yet?  I have done a little but not tons. 

12.  What are you and Elder J studying right now?  Really just the training manual.  Then we read scriptures and PMG

13.  Have you had any cool/spiritual experiences that you'd like to share?  Well last week Elder J and I were really starting to get down on one of the days since it was hot and no would answer their doors and out of the blue the zone leaders just happened to call and we started talking about how the district needs to keep positive. 

14.  What were the highlights/lowlights of the week?  High's have probably been church and the low was probably finding out that the one guy had TB.  We are all scared we are going to get it. 

15.  Have you lost weight?  I don't know because I have not had a scale.  But the picture that was sent from that first day makes me look awful because I had not slept in 24 hours. 

16.  What's the best/worst thing you've eaten so far?  Nothing really bad yet but I’m starting to get sick of mac and cheese for the nights that I don't have dinner appointments.  But the spaghetti that the F family fed us was really good. 

17.  How's the weather been?  Really hot and humid.  About 85 to 90 with 60 to 70% humidity.  This is the first week I've felt humidity. 

18.  Can we specifically pray for something/someone?  That I can be more patient and not homesick. 

19.  Did you see/learn anything new this week?  I have learned sometimes how impatient I am. 

20.  Are bikes in your future? Do you have to buy one or will a member provide one?  I'm not sure yet.  Don't need to buy one yet.  But right now we don't have enough going.  Bikes would make us see everyone we have in a few days then we would be bored the rest of the week