June 11, 2008

Hey family, My preparation day is on wednesday now. I arrived in Chicago great. I was our travel leader for the nine of us going to Chicago. We had two elders with us that I didn't know. One was elder Call from LA, California and the other was elder Soares from Brazil. They are both awesome. I liked to talk to elder soares about soccer. Funny story about him though; his debit card wouldn't work at the electronic ticket booth and so we had to go through another. Then as we go through security he forgot he had shaving cream and toothpaste in his cary on. They stopped him made a big deal for a call for a search, and then they confiscated it. We got to make a phone call in the airport which was nice and I talked to my mom. elder soares talked a little longer and so we had to hury to our flight. There was a lady on the plane behind us that was pregnant so she had to go into the bathroom and throw up. You could hear her in the bathroom. When we got there my pres. met us and we were given a book of mormom and some pass along cards and we got on the L-train to go into downtown. I tried to talk to some people but this chinese guy was said he was trying to make some business apointments on his pda. The train was awesome though. Then we got into town and we walked around downtown for a while. The buildings and the city is amazing, there is some amazing architecture. Then we went to uno's pizzeria for some deep dish Chicago pizza. President Stoddard says that it is the best there. I liked the crust the best. Then we went on a tour of downtown some more. We say the Hancock building, the music ampitheater, and the giant metal bean in millenium park. The buildings once again were amazing, and the people so diverse. I have never seen anything like this. My mouth was on the ground. In the park my travel companion and I went and sat down with a couple in the park and just started to talk to them. He was a little nervous and told me so later. They looked nice so I felt alright. We talked and then I tried to teach them about the gospel, and they said, "Whoa, we are devoted christians we don't want anything to do with that, we have some lds friends who have tried to introduce us to the church so it's alright, but we respect ya." So we talked a little while longer and then we went around the town a little more, taking pictures of the huge sky rises and the statues and different sights. Then we got on another train to go to the mission home and then the mission office. We tried to talk to more people but it didn't work out this time either. This train was cool it was a double decker! On the first train one of the elders met satan! A guy introduced himself as satan reincarnate, and just went off on him...yeah i don't know?????? The elder said that it wasn't a very nice experience. We got to the mission office for some orientation, and then we went to the mission home for more orientation. Sister Stoddard is nice, and will give you anything that you need. President Stoddard is pretty funny; he gave us our interviews and then we ate dinner. We slept on bunk beds downstairs, that were so much more comfortable than the MTC. It was great. We woke up this morning (Wednesday) and ate breakfast and had some study time. Then it was off to the chapel for our transfer meeting where we would meet our new companion. My companion is elder Purdie, from Utah. He plays lacrosse, and football and is pretty funny. We are serving in the Norwood park area. Which is at the North end of the city! We're not downtown by any means but you can still see all the huge buildings and it's a cool area. My comp said there's a lot of polish people and hispanics here. After lunch at the mission home we headed to our apartment. It's pretty nice! It's also pretty clean. Then we headed out to get a bike. We got to the bike store and they had like nothing, all of the cheap stuff was ridiculous, and looked nothing like my comps bike and he paid like 400 or 500. The best thing we could get for all of my lock bike and helmet would have been $700, and so we didn't. We had this appointment at the library at 5:00 and I had no bike, and we had to hury. So my comp had a bike so I volunteered to run. He's like are you sure, but at the same time he was glad that he had an in shape comp because his last one I guess was lazy. I think we'll get along great! So I ran and he rode to the library. We got a lot of weird looks from people but we get that anyways. In fact two punks past us and yelled hail satan at us. The people of Chicago are so loving. I'm in the city part though so I'm happy. One guy even yelled out his car window, ya late for work. My comp just said oh no just missionaries. Here I am typing away, after this we are going to another bike shop to try and get me a bike , and then we have to go grocery shopping. I think my comp said that we have a lesson tonight! Yeah! I know for sure he said that we have one tomorrow! The humidity here is nice, I feel nice and moist! Anyway write me back. I get P-day again next Wednesday.
What's up with t-bone? I haven't gotten a letter from Zach and I've written him twice. Why don't you get on him about that.
The scripture for this week is Alma 7:11-12. About this scripture, I want you to know that Christ suffered all this just so that he could know "how to succor his people." Just so that when we are having a bad day he could sit down next to us for a while, be our friend, and say I know how you feel. That is yours and my savior. I love him so much. The Church is true and I am out here to find those elect people god has prepared for me. Those people that I made promises to in the pre-earth life that I would come and find them. I am out here doing my best. Heavenly father and Jesus Christ love us and I love the work already!
I got the bedding thank you so much it looks great, but I haven't used it yet. You're sending all the rest right? I need probably 700 put on my car for a bike and helmet and lock and stuff. Then President said that we need 100 to 150 for all times so just watch that for me. I think I might want my other backpack too but I haven't decided I let you