October 24, 2011 Email

Dear Mom and Dad,

Well, it happened. I've stepped up: I'm currently serving as Senior Companion and District Leader. Basically, I'm going to be a little busier. Haha! Technically, I went senior last movecall, because I had two temporary missionary companions, but at the time, I didn't know if it was permanent. ANYWAYS, my days as a junior companion are long gone.

My new junior companion is pretty awesome. I have another Taiwanese companion! His name is Elder Wang, I think he's from Taibei. Honestly, I haven't talked to him much yet, not a lot of time! But I can already tell he is super dilligent and a hard worker. He's on his fifth movecall, today I start my seventh. So we are a pretty young companionship, but have enough experience to be able to have a lot of success. I'm really looking forward to this movecall, I can already tell Elder Wang is going to push me into becoming a good senior companion.

Today is the national games of Taiwan! In Zhanghua! AND ITS FREE! What on earth, this might be a really interesting P Day! If we go see the games, I'll let you know how it goes. I did hear a little about the golf the past week, I dong know where Yangmei is, nor does Elder Wang. Its probably a pretty small town up north. Apparently the best woman golfer in the world is Taiwanese, at least that's what they say. The weather is really nice, its warm weather with a nice breeze all day. Its funny, people are starting to wear sweaters and jackets, and its still in the 70's and 80's. But I'm starting to feel a little cold once and a while, sometimes I wear sweaters around the house.

Hey, here's a Christmas idea! Do you remember those Idahoan potato packets you can buy at the grocery store? Yeah, if you want to send a bajillion of those, that'd be great. I might need new slacks in the next little bit, I was thinking about finding a suit, because we're not supposed to have coats in the winter. Its pretty easy to find cheap clothes here. Tell me what you think. I also need new running shoes, I lost mine last time I moved. Hahaha!

Hmm...you can paint the house anyway you would like. Haha! The houses in Taiwan are all pretty ugly, its all cement and tile, because of flooding and earthquakes. What color are you painting my room?

Hmm, what else to tell you...I got a letter from Cheyenne and Hadlee, that was really nice. Hadlee is so big, I can't believe she is 2 years old. I don't really see white kids ever, maybe two my whole mission. Just a lot of little asian babies, they're really cute. The little kids here are really funny, and we like to play with them, so it sucks that we have to be really careful around kids.

We had stake conference last sunday, it was really good. Nothing like Utah, they film a broadcast and play it all over Asia, and then have a half an hour of talks by the Stake. We heard from Elder Osgothorpe, Elder Perkins, Sister Dibbs, Bishop Burton, and Elder Richard G. Scott. Elder Osgothorpe (?) talked about his brother in law who was inactive for about 50 years, but had a faithful home teacher who sent him a postcard every month for 22 years. Crazy huh, talk about magnifying your calling. Elder Perkins addressed a common concern that is heard in Asia: "When will we have a temple?" I've heard there is land picked out in Gaoxiong which will eventually be used to build the temple. Elder Perkins said the members need to keep baptismal and priesthood covenants, pay a full and honest tithe, and make sacrifices to obtain temple covenants, in order to recieve their own temple. I could see them announcing the Gaoxiong Temple in the next 10 to 20 years. It would be cool, because that is my mission.

Elder Gong of the Seventy will be visiting our mission in a week or so. He actually served his mission in Taiwan, I think it was our mission. We're all pretty excited, its always great to have general authorities come visit the mission.

In closing, I need to follow the guidance of Elder Scott. Mom, I love you, and I'm so grateful for everything you have done for me. I hope that as I continue serving as a missionary, I will become a more humble and patient son, and more willing to serve. I hope the way I treat you will reflect the way that I will treat my wife and my daughters. I've gained such a greater respect for women on a mission, especially for my own mother and grandmothers. Dad, I love you too. Thank you for always being an example as a good priesthood holder, and by always showing great respect to your mother and to mom. (fist bump.)

-Elder Travis Leatham