June 26th, 2012

I think I figured out how to send an email to a group.  Sounds like life is great in Utah. I'm not getting used to the weather here. It's humid and hot and there are never any clouds. NEVER. The palm trees are cool but it gets old after about a week. 

I feel clueless most of the time because Elder Mercy doesn't really explain what's going on or where we're going. We just get in the car and go. He'll sometimes put in an address on the gps but usually ends up taking it down, a couple miles before we get to our destination so I'm lost when it's most important. but, it's getting easier. deaf people are just like everyone else. and that's not really a compliment but i felt like saying it anyway. I haven't seen any really nice cars here. but most cars are above average I guess

That bat story is very interesting. I wish I could have seen it. I have been able to play the piano kind of often so it's not completely fading but it is fading. My fingers forgot a lot of songs already. it's true. 

In the homeshare, I just wanted to emphasize the lack of room I have to put my things and to do anything. P day is not long enough. There needs to be another 6 hours or so for it to feel like a real "Preparation". OH well. That's a mission I guess. We finally washed the car today. It was dirty. the bird poop is gone now.

I found a book in the library called "Blood of the Prophets" by Will Bagely. it's about the Mountain Meadows massacre and stuff. I read the first couple chapters but it's a huge book and most of it seemed anti-mormon. The author in the book says that he is proud of his "mormon heritage" does that mean he is mormon? or just his ancestors? I think he is not mormon. at all. He also says, that (now i'm paraphrasing) "Everything in this book may or may not be true, and there is not enough information to prove it" So...the whole book is a waste?? I think so. Anyway, I haven't heard the church comment on it at all, but if I'm going to preach the gospel, I should know the history...at least that's what nancy said.

Dinner...every monday we have dinner with the Egberts - a hearing family in the deaf branch. Tonight, we are going to a buffet with Bro. Egbert and no one else in the family. haha. every other night, is up to us. Sometimes, we get people that say "oh yes, sure sure come eat" but more often it's "..." and we are on our own. So today, we went shopping and bought some food. I bought top ramen. . . yay.

I would like a picture of the family and the dogs. 2 of each. at least. and...I don't care if I have any tangible pictures of myself. I prefer not to though. one of my AP's is not very nice. he does not understand the Deaf Program as being different from everything else. our weekly goal for random people we talk to, is 80. Everyone else's is 140. The AP thought that 80 was not enough and that we could do much more. He kindly raised our goal to 140. I think he goes home pretty soon so too bad for him. It's not really his mission is it? But yes, we could be talking to more people...even though we can't really . . talk. 

In the MTC the days were long and the weeks were short. here, it's the other way around. The weeks take forever to get through but each day goes by too fast. we don't have enough time to do everything we need. 

I have a bad feeling about being a trainer who doesn't know anything about the area or who we teach or any of that. My trainee will hate me. I found out who he is already. he is from Utah, and he is deaf. That's all I know. Oh and I think he is white...

Everyone was always warning me of California drivers. They are bad. but i can handle them. I drove a cop car remember? The real world is anywhere outside of Utah. Or utah valley anyway. 

I was put on the spot to interpret for stake conference. So I did. I felt like I would have received an "F" if i were graded on it. But nobody will tell me that it was bad. I know it was. Oh heck just give me the truth.

I bought a new tie. It's very plain but i like it. it's grey I think. I can't really tell. and i bought a camera case. It was a dollar. This is a boring email I know I know, but it's all I can give right now. k bye