December 28th Letter

Dearest Amies,

I got a frame fro the picture and sent it to David, so I hope it gets there because when we talked on Christmas it didn’t seem like it had arrived L Hopefully it will soon.

I did get the package! It’s a lot of fun. I enjoyed reading all the days of Christmas on each package. I got the box on Wednesday when we had district meeting (we usually have it on Tuesday though) and I decided that I’d open it on Thursday because I thought Becky would be sending me the gift rather than Elisabeth, but I saw “Grant Smith” on the other side of the papers and a different return postal code than is normal in Utah. No other name was on the box but mine, so I was really confused for a while. I opened the box and most of the gifts (“days”) on Thursday night since we had to be in the house by 6 pm and had fun guessing what each gift was. The deodorant was the easiest to guess. I got most of them right. On the stocking/tights I guessed socks, but that’s close enough right?

Sister Halladay was sitting there watching me open my gifts, probably thinking my family and I are weird as I laughed at each change in the 12 days of Christmas then relayed them to her and guessed each gift as I felt them. Helps that I knew what I’d asked for, so it was a bit easier to guess. I honestly thought that day 12 was going to be shoes. I felt the box and it felt like a shoe box, but I waited until Christmas day to open it Low and behold it was a purple sweater-type thing! It’s been keeping me nice and warm since I got it. It’s fits nicely and is the warmest thing I have as near as I can tell and goes very well with the purple ½ turtle-neck sweater you gave me. I may not be able to wear it back on Temple Square, but I can enjoy it here and after my mission when I‘ll be going to COLD Rexburg ID.

I’m may combine this letter with the family one because I want to answer you questions and I think the family will like hearing too, if you don’t’ mind sharing J

Question #0 I am not allowed to email. I‘ve just had two exceptions. 1- to let you know I can’t and 2 0 to let you know where to mail things. I’ll be able to email after March 31st 2010.

Q#1 Favorite Tracking Story…
Well we don’t tract a ton, neither of us like it and it’s harder to find apartments (or homes for that matter) without stairs and the physical therapist told me to avoid stairs. However we do it on occasion. One occasion was a Sunday night were we were so close to reading standards, and a very short amount of time, done the things we had planned and couldn’t go street contacting (or “walking”) because it was rainy and no one was on the street. We had not clue what to do. We decided to pull over to the side of the road and pray, so the next tiny side street came and we pulled out onto it turned off the car and prayed. Sister Halladay voiced the pray and near the end, she paused for a long time. I said own little prayer silently that she would be inspired about where we need to go. She finished the prayer and we sat in silent for a few moments, listening. We asked what the other felt and decided to go to an apartment complex near one of our investigators apartment (Kristina). We went to every door in the complex. Most weren’t interested and talked to us for more then 2 minutes and none were able or willing to make a return appointment. I think I mentioned this story in a previous letter so I’ll be brief with the rest. Just as we were walking back to the car, a man walking his dog came towards us, intent on going to one of the apartments we had just knocked or as near as we could tell. We stopped and talked with him and he agreed to meet with use and learn more and prepare himself to be baptized. It was our little miracle. Unfortunately we not really be able to talk to him since.

Q#2 – Did you like our gifts
Yup! Couldn’t you tell? J How long had you all been putting those things together? Who did what?

Q#3 What’s the ASL ward like?
It’s very English. I’m not sure how to describe it. I love it, but it’s different then the other deaf wards I’ve been in. It doesn’t help it’s the only ward from the Canadian boarder to Oregon and we can’t get to the largest group of Deaf near us because it’s out of our mission by 2 miles or so. Sadness. President Blanchard is doing everything in his power to keep things going, but he’s the only in the branch presidency that knows sigh language well.

It’s small and most of the people who go don’t live near by and can’t drive so it’s a bit hard because we want it to grow so on, but there is not a lot we can do. They are not really tight-nit like deaf wars normally are, but I love working with them. I’m still trying to figure out how to best help them…

Q#4 Do you teach many deaf people?
We’ve taught 2 people since I’ve been here. 1 - Michelle, was baptized on the 19th, but she doesn’t got to the deaf branch. The other, Katie, is a bit difficult. She video-phoned us on night at the beginning of my first transfer here and wanted to be taught again. Apparently it’s touch and go with her. She seemed to enjoy the lesson but her kids were distracting. She came to church and seemed to like it, but was still distracted by her kids. We had an appointment, but she wasn’t home. We tried to get in touch with her, but no luck. We still hope to teach her more, but we’ll see.

When we were out eating with a member we noticed 3 deaf men sitting close to use in the restaurant. After we ate I said to sis. Halladay “Should we go invite the to church?” She said “Sure, go ahead.” I’m sure my eyes got huge. I was expecting us both/her to make the approach. I was nearly shaking as we both went up. I started by asking if they were deaf. They said yes. We asked them if they had seen missionaries before and they informed us that they were Jewish and Celebrating Hanukah. They were really nice but weren’t interested.

Anyway. How’s all there? Oh Transfers – Sister Halladay and I are staying here and staying companions next Transfers are on the 9th of February, so life is good until then. I love you lots and the family lots and everyone lots n’ stuff. Be happy and find joy in the small things. J

Love ya! Love ME!