Hey there family! Well it sounds like you all had a great week back home! Lucky ducks! I'm missing me some good ol Utah! Well I am going to get straight into my letter.
So starting
off this week we got transfer calls and it was such a huge shock to all of us.
Even our zone leaders were really confused. So Tuesday I said goodbye to some
of my favorite members and went over to the Hansens one last time. We hung out
there with Elder Willis and his companion. Then that night I finished up my
packing. Wednesday morning, Elder Willis and I went for 1 last run together
with bro Lambeth and Perilloux. Just 6 miles haha. It was hard. Then we said
goodbye to them and headed up to transfer meeting. It was a huge meeting! So
many missionaries. It was fun seeing everyone and hearing where everyone would
be serving. So President Hansen gets up there and starts to call off the names
and the places we would be serving. He said all of the zones and I was not
going to be in any that I thought I would be in. Then he said New Orleans south
zone. That is the zone I was in before in Algiers. Then he said we will be
opening up a new area called Tibadouma. Then he called me and elder Mellor. We
both had no idea about this. So we were pretty excited I guess. I was bummed
because the first thought that came to my mind was "no car" and it is
now the hottest time of the year. Haha!.
(Saying Goodbye to Elder Willis)
(Elder Olsen is one awesome missionary!)
So
we start on our way down here. We stop in Gonzales to grab some things I left.
Then we started our hour and a half drive to Thibodaux. The office elders had
no idea about our area so they said we would just cover a little bit of both
Thibodaux and Houma and we would be living in Thibodaux, but what they didn't
realize is it is 11 miles just to get to our area. And on bikes that would take
forever!! So they moved us to the Houma apartments the next day after we
unpacked everything. By this point I was fuming because I hate packing. Haha So now we are in Houma and our area is pretty
much just west Houma. We are looking for an apartment that is in our area. We
are still a couple miles out of our area so we have been doing a lot of biking.
So
we walked into our apartment and it smelt sooooo bad. It was a complete mess.
The Houma Spanish elders need to step up the cleaning! I have realized how big
of a clean freak I am. I walked into the kitchen and opened the fridge and it
smelt horrible. So I did some digging and guess what I found!! Some thawed
chicken that one of the elders said had been in there for 4 months.... I almost
threw up. So please pray that I don't die from some horrible mold or anything!
haha. Then next is the shower. I looked in and it is pretty much all black from
mold... So I asked when was the last time this was cleaned? They said they just
poured bleach on it. That doesn't do anything haha. So I am going to be
cleaning that today with the gloves and mask you sent me mom. Thanks for that
package! haha. Then I have just been cleaning and straightening up. Got to love
missionary life right??
So
then it was time for us to start going out to get some work done. Since both
Elder Mellor and I don't have a clue about our area we did some splits with the
Spanish elders. My new companion Elder Mellor is way cool. He is from Coalville
Utah. About 45 minutes away from us. He has been out 1 transfer more than I
have. A Cool kid and a hard worker! So
the Spanish elders have a car and we don't. We are the only ones in this area
that don’t have a car. Our area is pretty much as big as Gonzales! So if you
haven't noticed yet I am really missing a car!! haha. So the people here are
hicks. Straight Cajuns. Pretty crazy people. We met an older man that said he
was taken by aliens a few years ago. We do have 2 investigators who are pretty
solid. One came to church yesterday! We will be working and trying to get to
know everyone more this week. I am excited about that. The work here is pretty
good. Kind of slow, but that is all right. We will change that hopefully. We
are down here in the bayous though that is for sure.
Well
that was pretty much my week. Lets just say I have never prayed so much for
strength in my life. I won’t lie; I loved Gonzales and was surprised to be
leaving so soon. When I found out I was
getting transferred I was sad. I was questioning why. My attitude has needed an
adjustment. Haha But today in my studies I felt like I should read a little
missionary book of inspirational stories. I read about attitude and about
faith. This is all a test for me. I have changed my views and I am now trying
my best to have a positive attitude. It is hard. By far the hardest time on my
mission thus far, but I am making it through it. I can't let Satan dragged me
down. I have to be better than that. I am still praying though for a car! haha
just kidding. I am excited to get some work done down here though. Well that is
about it. My week was tough. But I am better now. Well my wonderful family have
a terrific week! I love you guys so much! I miss you like crazy. Tell everyone
hello for me and I love them. I miss you!
Elder
Smith
(Saying Goodbye to the Hansens)
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