September 5 Email

Dear Mom and Dad,

Well, another great week! Let me tell ya all about it!

We have some really cool investigators right now. I'll tell you a little bit about them. Our good buddy is Xie Zhi Zhong, he's way cool. He's 20 years old, and he's a Gangsta! He wears a Gangsta hat, hoody, baggy jeans, the look. He also breakdances, which is pretty sick. The best part is, he loves church. His testimony of the Savior and the Restoration are super solid, and he loves the feeling he has at church. Brother Xie says it feels like a big family. He's had some issues with the commandments, but he has been completely willing to obey them because he has a foundation of faith. He's getting baptized this saturday.

Li Meng Zhe is hilarious. He is one of the only Taiwanese people that can pick up on American humor and throw it back at us. Its awesome. BTW, in case you didn't know, people that don't speak English fluently have a really hard time understanding sarcasm. Hurray for our culture! He still has a few faith issues, because he thinks there can be more than one path to heaven. But the great part is, he accepts that our church indeed is one path, and therefore, he accepts all the commandments and doctrine we teach. He has passed a baptismal interview, so we'll be helping him realize that God has one plan for all His children. His goal is for next saturday.

We have two super solid girls we are teaching. No worries, we keep all the rules. I'll tell you more about them later, but one amazing thing about working with sisters is their exercise of faith. Sisters often progress quickly and become very solid. I think its great!

This is the last week of the movecall! Crazy, its gone by really fast. There is a good chance of me becoming a senior companion or training this next movecall or the one after. However, I actually have no idea. Either way, its most important to always focus on doing my best and doing what the Lord wants me to do.

We have had some major changes in our mission. Did you know we do things a lot differently than most the world? One, the first time we meet someone on the street counts as a lesson. So our numbers show we have 200-500 other lessons every week. We originally did not do double contacting like most missions. Instead of the companionship talking to a person, we split up and talk to two at once. Thats how I was trained. Elder Boud is my first companion that does double contacting, and President Bishop has asked us to begin teaching the gospel 2 by 2. We have other ways of tracking investigators that they don't use in other missions. We have less language study time, have to part our hair, and interestingly enough, we are one of the only missions that does not allow naps in the middle of the day. What the heck are other missions doing taking naps during the day? The mission handbook also says to avoid eating out, and we eat out every single day. Its faster and costs about the same.

Went to the doctor today. My arm has been causing me grief, so I went to have it checked. I have tendonitis in my right arm, so I have to take it easy. Its bizarre, I've never been as good as shape, and at the same time, I've never had as many weird physical problems come up. I feel really blessed, because every situation could have been so much worse. I'm pretty sure that I'm going to have knee problems for the rest of my life, but not a problem! I'm grateful that I can give this sacrifice to the Lord.

I have not had a chance to eat dog meat yet. It takes an hour to get to that guy's house by bike, so we don't have a lot of opportunities to visit him. We've decided that if it comes down to it, we'll have to talk to Pres. Bishop about the dog meat. It is illegal here in Taiwan.

You know, my political views have made a few reformations while serving as a missionary. I guess I can tell you, you're not my companion or a Taiwanese person. My social views haven't drifted too much, maybe a little less outspoken. But my economic views are much more libertarian. Simply stated, I guess I don't think the government should have as much of an influence on our lives as I use to think. As missionaries, we never hand out fish, but we do teach people how to fish. You know what I mean? Maybe when I'm serving in congress, I'll be able to help things out a bit! Lets hope it doesn't take that long.

I love you! I sent you a post card, hope you got it. Please don't forget to talk to the West Valley City government about an overseas ballot, I'd really like to vote. I sent you guys a package with a bunch of stuff in it, I sent it last move call, so it should be there in the next few weeks. Tell Tori congratulations for me! Also tell her to go to church! I forgot, is Jenn having a boy or a girl? If I'm going to pick out a cool Chinese name for the baby, I'll need details!!! Let her know she's in my thoughts and prayers. Parents, I think about you everyday, and thank God for your examples as parents. I've met my fair share of crappy parents on a mission, you're doing a pretty dang good job. Have a great week!

-Elder Travis Leatham