Sunday, November 11, 2012

November 5, 2012 Email

Dear Mom and Dad,
Today will be super weird.  At two o'clock, I need to go to the...chuandaobu...oh, the mission office.  I'll be participating in a workshop for, you guessed it, being released!  I have no idea what we'll be doing.  I know there will be a workshop from one of the service missionaries (Sis. Anderson?) about finding work and going to school.  I guess they don't want us to become bums after the mission.  After that, we have a dinner and fireside at Pres. Bishop's home.  I know there will be some reflecting on our missions and stuff, but I'll tell you more about it next week. 
I'm trying really hard to stay focused and dilligent for the rest of my mission.  As a result, I've tried to make our schedule as busy as possible.  Poor Elder Chen.  We had Zone Leader council last week, that was really a great experience.  Its interesting, every zone leader in the mission gets together with President and the Assistants, and we discuss the needs of the mission.  My favorite part is President Bishop's share on doctrine.  He always picks a really interesting and deep topic, and encourages us to learn by searching the scriptures.  In the past, we've studied the Doctrine of the Priesthood and the Abrahamic Covenant.  This time, we studied the Doctrine of Names, specifically the names of Jesus Christ, and how everyone has a very important meaning.  It was really cool.
I'm super cool if you want to get a new computer and buy me a laptop.  Haha!  I've been thinking a lot about the computer lately, especially computer games.  My companion has made a resolution never to play computer games again.  Of course, he is 28 and a college graduate.  I'm not thinking anything drastic, but I do realize that I'm definitely an addict.  Sometimes I fantasize about constructing my empires at night when we get ready for bed.  Weird huh?  I've made my own personal resolution.  I've made a list of jobs I'm interested in, and I cannot touch the games until I've applied for all the jobs on my list.  I've also resolved to never play computer games until all of my homework is completed.  I feel like that's a good balance.
As it is my last few weeks in Taiwan, there seems to be a surge in member-Elder Leatham interest.  There has been an unusually large number of members interested in feeding us lately.  I don't oppose, I've grown very fond of Taiwanese and Chinese cuisine, especially if its home cooking!  If you think Panda Express is good, imagine what the home made stuff tastes like.  Of course, I've also grown a taste for fish head, blood rice, and stinky tofu.  If you throw octupus on anything, I'm totally game.  I've reached a point that I can eat anything someone puts on my plate...except for papaya.  I can't stand it.
Being the wicked political science student that I am, I occasionally follow up with members on the progress of the elections.  I won't tell them who I voted for, they presume I'm a Romney supporter.  Ha haha ha ha ha.  Anyways, they've said the same thing you did, Obama will likely win the election.  I can't believe its only a day away. 
I'm going to miss Taiwan.  I had a crazy dream last night about getting pestered by a white dude at McDonald's about our doctrine in relation to Coca Cola products and their results on our teeth enamel.  I ran away from him, and talked to two Phillipino's at the counter.  I knew I was still a missionary, my companion was there.  When I woke up, I tried to interpret my dream.  I had a hard time recieving any message from my dream, but recieved a very large impression: your time is almost over.  I've had some very crazy experiences as a missionary, and that's nothing compared to the miraculous things I've experienced.  And in two weeks, the experience is over, and I move on.  That hit me hard.  I need to stay focused and work hard my last two weeks, because they indeed are my last two weeks.  No extentions this time.
I love you and am equally excited to see you soon.
Your son,
-Elder Travis Leatham

No comments: