June 27 Email

Dear Mom and Dad,
This week was a pretty crazy one, but first, I'm glad you had fun on your trip to Europe! I'd ask if you brought me a souvenier, but since I wouldn't be seeing it in a year and a half, it doesn't really matter. Do you believe next week will be my 8 month anniversary? A third of my mission is completely over, I can't believe it. That's interesting you almost got your passports stolen, I bet the crime is a lot worse in Italy than in Taiwan. First off, the government here doesn't really take much crap, with China being across the straight. If you get caught smuggling drugs, you can be executed. Guns are illegal here. The other is the culture, its all based on respect and honor. I usually leave my bike unlocked for hours at a time, no problem at all.
Well, for this week. Elder Jensen was called to be a trainer, so Elder Jackson was moved to Gaoxiong. That friday, Elder Eliason and I found out we would have a duantuan (temporary missionary) serving with us for 5 days. But when the trainee, Elder Hoover, had spent a few days here, he decided he didn't want to be here anymore. He said he was homesick, and I think he had some things to repent of. SO he is now on a plane back to the states. Instead of closing Elder Jensen's area, I am now his companion, and Elder Eliason is serving with the duantuan, Elder Lin (Lean). When Elder Lin goes home on friday, I'm not sure what is going to happen. Most likely, our areas will combine, and we will be in a threesome. But one area could close, or they could have someone else move here. The problem is, we have a short on missionaries, because a few have gone home and not many come on during the Summer. So, we'll see what happens. Either way, its been exciting times here in Tainan Dongqu.
Let me tell you about my companion, Elder Jensen. He was born in California, but raised in Alabama. He is very much a Southerner. His dream is to become a venture capitalist, like Mitt Romney. He's very good at money and such. We get along really well, so the next week should go really well.
There is a bajillion Carefour's in Taiwan, its basically like Walmart. I didn't have very good raingear, that black coat is very thick and not very water proof. So I had to buy a rain slicker. I'm doing fine from the crash, nothing I couldn't fix with duck tape. By the way, it took us 4 months to find duck tape in Taiwan, silly. Anyways, Giant is a really big bicycle brand, and they have stores all over Taiwan. There is a lot of bicycles here. And they have free tune ups, thank goodness.
I really am glad I was called to be a missionary, especially here in Taiwan. Its funny, all day long I see my companion and Taiwanese people, you definitely get use to it. Whenever I see a white person, or even the occasional black person, I feel really uncomfortable. Its really the only time I realize that I live on a tropical island in Southeast Asia. I could take a boat to China. Weird huh? I definitely feel at home here, Elder Hoover made me realize that. Even though I love you, I love America, and I already have plans for when I return home, there is no way that I want to go back to America right now. This is home. President Uchtdorf said we should feel homesick when we arrive on a mission, and we should feel homesick when we leave. Its really weird watching the old missionaries go home, its hard to believe that the mission will actually end. And yet, it goes by so fast. Dad, when you were a missionary, did you ever think to yourself, "wow this is not what I imagined being a missionary would be like."?
I've eaten some really fun things as of late, let me tell you everything I've eaten here. Stinky tofu, thousand year old egg, eel, duck brain, duck tongue, squid, octopus (head and all,) pig ears, liver, snake, fish eggs, fish eyes, stomache, these little crunchy fish they put in stuff, fishballs (I think,) plus a few thinks I'm not so sure about. The only thing I can't take is the stinky tofu, and sometimes they give you fried pig fat, not happening. Everything else is good. Ooh, I can't eat papaya. I'll take duck brain over papaya any day.
Thought you might be interested.
Mom, Dad, I love you. I know sometimes it may seem like that I'm playing a lot here in Taiwan; in reality, its a lot of work, its really hard, and its not always fun. But I love it. Watching my new friends recieve baptism and endure to the end is a great joy. I've made friendships here that will last my entire life. I'm really thankful for this opportunity.
Love,
Elder Travis Leatham