I'm finally in the field! It's really exciting and almost doesn't feel like it's real. The plane ride was really good. I sat next to a member who lived in Chicago, but is going to school at the U. He flies every week. He is getting his PhD in Public Affairs or something like that. I flew with 2 Elders and 3 Sisters. I spent the next while with them. Right as we got off the plane we met President and Sister Doll. Straight afterwards we put our bags in the truck, they left, and we took the Subway. I passed out my first Book of Mormon to Rob. Rob is 21, starts school next week, sells sun glasses at the airport, his parents are Catholic, he likes to run, ran track in High School, has lived in Chicago his whole life, really enjoys to read, and has family in Utah. He said he'd been to our giant, Mormon "church" in Salt Lake. So I explained that was the temple. He said it was so impressive. I told him there was one in Chicago and he thought that was cool. He asked me some questions about the Book of Mormon I was holding, what I was doing here, why, and I told the First Vision story and how the Book of Mormon came to be. He accepted my challenge to read 3 Nephi 11. I wasn't amazing and I can't wait to improve, but it was a really cool first 30 minutes in the mission field.
Next we went and ate pizza which was delicious and super filling. I hadn't eaten all day. After pizza we got a tour of Chicago and took pictures. The AP's filmed a lot of stuff and said they'd send it to you. That should be exciting. There are so many random things in that city. Afterwards we went to the Mission Office and had some orientation. I picked up my letter from you mother which was very nice. They said they prefer mail to go through the Mission Office because of transfers and things like that, but if you want my address it is 200 S. Hwy 59th Ingleside, IL 60041 Apt 109. You can figure out how to write that. So after the Mission Office we went to the Mission Home. We got to eat dinner with President and Sister Doll and the AP's. Afterwards we had our interviews and we went to bed. It's a really nice house and President and Sister Doll are so nice. Especially Sister Doll.
Today we woke up and did a few chores. Then we ate breakfast and left for more orientation at the Stake Center. I met my Trainer. Elder Dearingen from Ukraine. He was raised in an orphanage until a few years ago when he was adopted into a family here in the Washington. Somewhere near Spokain. He has 12 siblings and he is the 2 oldest. He speaks Ukrainian, Russian, English, and wants to learn some portuguese. He is very organized and is so on top of things. Apparently we teach more than any other part of the mission. I'm in Lakevilla, Illinois. Our apartment is pretty nice. It's just the two of us, but right behind our apartment is a pond. We have a car. We in a much nicer part of town. We also have a dishwasher which is really cool. I have to by a cheap blanket and pillow today though. I'm not sure how I'll do on letters though. I may be switching to mostly emails. Elder Dearingen says we have lots of investigators. They taught 40 lessons last week and his goal is 60. Apparently the members feed us dinner every night. We cover two wards. We also get free laundry and bread. Some member brings us bread every week. I'm really excited. We have a coordination meeting tonight and I think we may teach. I'm not sure yet... The Church has started this new program for new missionaries. There is this book we follow for the first 12 weeks. We have 2 hours of companionship study every morning. I'm not really sure what it's like yet. Or what my schedule is at all actually. Truthfully, I have no idea where I am right now. I have no idea what part of the state I'm in. I'm excited to be here though.
I really appreciate all of your support. I was so good to talk to you on the phone yesterday. I have no idea how long I'll be here. I'm just going to treat this like it's my final destination until then. I did get two emails from the Curitiba mission this week though which was weird. They're entirely in Portuguese. I think I may try and learn some Russian from Elder Dearingen. Apparently we have a Russian investigator. He'll pretty much do all the talking there.
Chicago has lots of spanish speakers. i hear them everywhere. unfortunately no Portuguese really. We'll see I guess. One of the AP's, Elder Castillo, I think was one of McCade Powell's companions. Him, President and Sister Doll say hi. They all spoke very highly of him. They said he was one of the best I love you all so much and I miss you. I can't wait to hear from you all. You are all so important to me. I can't wait for my first lesson. Eu amo voces e a igreja e verdadeira.
Love you too,
Elder Reeve Sudweeks
No comments:
Post a Comment