June 11, 2012 Email

Dear Mom and Dad,

Do you want to hear an interesting story?  Okay.

So, we decided to go visit this former investigator, we called him and he said we could stop by.  His name is Brother Li, but his record said "Li monk."  I was thinking, "man, that's a really interesting nickname.  I wonder why they call him that?"  So we find his address, and when we get there, we pull up to a Buddhist monestary.  And that's when I realized, "oh man, this guy is literally a Buddhist monk."  So we went up to his room, he's this little one eyed old man, and he looks exactly like a monk.  Orange robes, shaved head, everything.  By looking around his room, I could also tell he has some word of wisdom and law of chastity problems, it was a little suprising.  Anyways, he told us his secret: he is not a Buddhist.  He is Catholic, and believes in Jesus Christ.  He lives at the monestary because its a quiet and peaceful place.  No one there knows his secret, and he eventually wants to leave and become a Catholic monk.  Yeah, it was a super interesting experience.

Its been raining all week here, a typhoon passed the island the other day.  Its super interesting, the people here are terrified of the rain.  I swear, it starts to rain and people start screaming and running around and stuff.  It will be raining all week here, so we're making plans to stay busy.

Elder Dailey and I have a lot of fun together.  We don't have a whole lot of lessons right now, but we're being dilligent and we're having a lot of fun while we do it.  Because of it, we've been able to find some new people and get things going.  I swear, we are just smiling and laughing all day long, Taiwan is such a fun place.  Some of the experiences are so weird here, we feel like we're in a video game.  Kind of like Zelda, when you go around talking to random characters and have different quests.  For example, a month ago, Elder Powell and I had an investigator who was trying to stop worshipping idols, so we spent the day visiting daoist temples and asking which one would be willing to take an extra idol.  Hahaha!  That does not happen in America.

Hey Mom, thanks for standing up for me in Sunday School.  Being involved with campaigning, I met great people, and not so great people, on both sides of the aisle.  Its good to have opinions about politics, and when I read the scriptures, I do make connections with my political views.  Sometimes it helps me adjust my views, but sometimes it strengthens them, even if they may be considered liberal.  And its good, that's what I think.  But bringing it up in church is wrong.  I wouldn't even say mentioning experiences or opinions is always wrong, but it should never be derogatory to other people.  So thank you for having the courage of bringing it up.  (PS. I love mentioning that Pres. James E. Faust was the chairman of the Utah Democratic Party. Heehee. )

  Do you remember that time that I was asked to share my testimony in sacrement meeting about the veteran's day concert?  I mentioned that it was hard for me at first, because I disagree with the wars we are fighting.  But when we saw the pictures of the graves of American soldiers, I really felt grateful for their service.  After sacrement meeting, I had a few brethren come and talk to me.  Both of them also disagreed with the wars, but both were also proud of our veterans.  They were greatful for my experience.  It was a really special experience for me, it was the first time that I realized that there are members who have the same stances as I do, but were not overbearing or impolite with other members because of it.  It was a really good example to me.  I think it was Brother Faucett and Brother Ernie Osborne.

Sorry, I don't know Richie's release date.  Its coming up, its this month or the next.  May want to call and ask his parents, they would love for you to be there.  They still write me occasionally, I get letters from Cheyenne and Hadlee as well.  I sometimes tell people that I have a huge disfunctional family, because I feel like the Barnes and the Bairds are also my family.  And then add Braidyn, who is related to me.  Haha!  It makes me really greatful that I have so many wonderful people in my life that are as close to me as family.

Yeah, my official date is November 6th.  I have no intentions of extending, I still have goals of getting married as soon as I can!  If you know of any cute girls that want to start writing me, I have less than 5 months left.  That's not too bad of a wait...hahaha!  Question, how would you feel if I married a Taiwanese girl?  Just curious.  ;)  Hey dad, do you understand the term "Larry?"

Well, I love you both.  A lot.  I miss you, and I hope that the service I provide here is a good legacy for my family.

-Elder Travis Leatham