Hello Family!

So I like the idea of sending a general update of myself to everyone and then responding individually. It seemed to work out nicely that one time. That way I don't have to type the same information 3 or 4 different times.

As for Elder Rapata and I in Telford, things are fantastic! We have another dated investigator. We walked to church with him yesterday. He is the most intelligent person I have taught so far on my mission and he is only 14 years old. His name is Craig and he is taking a R.E. (Religious Education) class at his school, which is why his mom said he would be interested. He keeps telling us stories about how he already knows the answers in R.E. because of what we are teaching him, haha. We told him that he probably knows more than the teacher. We are teaching his mom as well, but she doesn't have quite the same commitment Craig does. He should be baptized on the 11th of December! Long time between now and then, but I'm still excited.

The other dated investigator is named Kara and she is the finance of a member's less active son. She is doing really great. She has lived a very rough life so far and she tells us about how happy she has been since meeting with us. She has felt the spirit a ton and loves to tell us about it. She should be baptized on the 18th.

It was a pretty good week overall because of the progress we made with Craig and Kara. We really struggled to find new people though. I haven't experienced success yet, so now that we actually have some, I struggled to schedule things correctly and keep the right mind set. It's tough to go from teaching people that accept everything you say, to out on the streets where people aren't quite as nice. So, our finding was actually the worst of my mission, but we will do better.

Other than that, things are just going well. Elder Rapata and I get along very well. We haven't had any real conflicts. Because we are both fairly new we have a very similar mindset and we mesh well. It's getting very cold. They describe the cold here as one that sinks into you, and now I get what they mean. It's pretty brutal. Especially with the wind chill on the bikes. Overall though things are great.

Love,

Elder Misbach

Good Ol' England

Hello Family!

First off, thank you very much for the emails, they are the highlight of my week. I don't have a ton of time this week for various reasons, so I'll send a few individual replies, but I thought I would try one big general reply this week.

I'm very glad that everyone seems to be doing well, I hope that everyone had a good Halloween. I'll send a picture that shows the highlights of how I spent mine. We had to be in at 5 because of all the stuff that goes on at night. It is kind of cool right now though, because fireworks are allowed during the week prior to Guy Fawkes Day, so we were able to hear a ton of them and even see a few. Basically I spent the extra time trying to get my "whites" to the point where I felt they were worthy of that title again, reading Jesus the Christ which is just amazing, talking to Elder Holman about the three Nephites and John the Beloved still being alive; Bigfoot; and how incomplete the Bible is, drinking some delicious strawberry milk from a wine glass because I was too lazy to wash a normal one (plus I felt like it was a special occasion), and taking a very lengthy shower. I enjoyed it quite thoroughly.

As for England, it is doing great. It is beautiful over here right now. The weather isn't too cold and the trees are gorgeous. I went on two exchanges this week, one was with my district leader and one was with an assistant to the president. (The assistants came because lately Elder Holman has really been struggling). Both of them were amazing. Elder Craig (district leader) and I taught a Rastafarian (AKA people who justify smoking weed by placing it under the title of religion) who was very interesting. He was very happy. We also went down the biggest hill in our area called Wombridge Way. I have very limited breaks right now so I always just use the grass to slow me down, but I failed to realize the wet conditions. My fenders have been gone for quite a while so I got DRENCHED in mud. It was intense. It took me quite a while to get my suit to the point where I could justify not dry cleaning it. My exchange with Elder Lunt (the assistant) was just amazing and spiritual. He leaves this week and Telford was one of his old areas, so it was just amazing.

Other than that there isn't much to say about Telford. Things are still trying to pick up, and we have a lot of potential, but nothing real promising yet. I should be leaving next week, but you never know what the Lord has in store.

I love you all very much, thank you for the emails and support. I wont be emailing again until either Wednesday or Thursday next week, depending on if I get transferred or not.

Love you!

Elder Misbach