Transfers

So I've made it back alive again from London today, sorry I had to use the mastercard for that because I'm literally broke because we went into London for zone conference last week and it consumed all of my cash and I haven't gotten it back yet :P But all of my travel is reimbursable at least. So yeah... my legs hurt from carrying my companions bags all morning... but at least I'll have some nice calves to look at when I get home :)

So I'll improve on my email from yesterday, as I sent that in haste from a member's phone but I just wanted to make sure that you guys knew that I'm ok. I just had some good food and now I feel like I could sleep for a while... but unfortunately I have the whole afternoon to work with my new companion.

Actually I love this kid. Elder Maynard is from my last district and he's a pretty good guy, so everything is going well. Just need to get his bags unpacked and hopefully he'll be feeling homely here soon. Elder Maynard is from Bountiful, Utah... so he's just around the corner just like a few of the other companions I have had. He's been out for about 11 months, so a fairly newer guy... but he's the new district leader here. Supposedly I'm to help him out with his duties since I've been a previous district leader but I don't think president is going to make me a zone leader, well I'm not extremely disappointed about that because it just means additional responsibilities on top of everything else I already have to do. So I'm happy with where I'm at.

Yeah, only two transfers and a little more to go. August will be around the corner in a heart beat. My birthday on the other hand, is just in front of me. Not exactly sure what is going on for my birthday but I'll find something fun to do on that day. Members will probably take good care of me, so don't worry to much about me :) I'll probably just buy a new suit or something and a pair of good posh shoes to come home in, so I can dazzle all the Utah girls back home... that is if I ever where a suit besides Sunday. I'm gonna need a wardrobe change when I get back. Some serious Ross shopping or something :P I miss that store a lot.

Well its a bit weird to here that Mark is going to make it home before I do. I can sympathize with his position though, I've never found missionary work easy. I was pondering it on the train ride home and was thinking about how much more difficult it would be for me if I went to Thailand or someplace that puts me out of water. I'm not sure how much better I'd fare than him. Sure I've been depressed before, but not so much that I completely wanted to quit, besides I'm most of the way there anyway :P No reasons to stop now. I want Mark to know that I want him to be happy with what he's done. The last thing I really want him to feel like is that he's wasted the last four or five months, because that is what I've been afraid of feeling like when I was young in the mission field. I still don't find it easy, and I'm not the best missionary either, but I'm happy that I came and I learned something. I've grown up a bit. I'm manned up a bit more. And I'm definitely a lot more grateful for everything that I have. Makes me really appreciate the wonderful family that I have.

Well I hope the week is going well for you guys. Hopefully I'll catch up on some sleep tonight, because my companion was packing till two in the morning yesterday and kept me up most of the night because he "couldn't sleep". Mostly just nervous for his move today I'm guessing. Well I'm mentally alright, just a little haggard at the moment... so I'm not on the verge of a mental breakdown. I'm just gonna let my companion do all the teaching today and let my mind shut off just a little bit :P Nah, I'm just kidding. Duty calls and I've got stuff to do.

Love you guys,

Elder Bradley Smith