Elder Letters

Email from Elder Carter dated April 26th 2010

Hey everyone!!

So good to finally be back on the computer. It feels like last week took forever, but here I am! Yes, last week was definitely one of the hardest weeks I've had on my mission so far, so I can't wait to see what the rest of my mission has in store... yikes! lol, jk

Yes, there were times when I wanted so bad for someone I knew to talk to. Last night's fireside with Brother and Sister Seamons from a branch presidency here at the MTC, had a lot of good points. They mentioned that a missionary is in a place he/she doesn't know, a companion he's never met, a language he doesn't understand and has never spoken, a whole new ward full of people you don't know and probably won't see again, a people that you have no experience with and no understanding of, and a purpose that you've never equaled the responsibility, dedication, work, and knowledge it requires. It's true, I have to open up to complete strangers for this to work properly. I'm not as trusting as I thought I was, but I find that I, for the first time, have actually dug down to the core of the matter, and know exactly what I need to improve on and what to do about it.

The last week hit me from every side with trial after trial after trial. Add on to that that I had to speak Chinese for an hour straight Saturday morning with the vocabulary of a Chinese adult, after only 5 and a half weeks of learning it. But here I am, still at the MTC on Monday morning, typing away to my far away family (yes, you are far away), and I continue to push forward with the work. After sweating, grumbling, breaking down, sighs, frustrated noises coming out of my mouth that I've never heard before, and after 100% nonstop study, I made it. Past another week. I understand why missionaries put down the MTC a lot. Like I said before, the field is 100% better, because after working on you for 3 to 12 weeks, you finally get to help other people. And for me I get to help them know who Christ is. 'Cause they don't even know.

I am starting to feel the anxiety of wanting to get out in the field. It rips at me every time we talk about Taiwan in any case of the word. Especially when we talk about the food. Every returned missionary and every teacher I have sighs, their mouths water, and their eyes roll back towards heaven in daydreams about the food. Not exaggerating. Ugh. The food looks SO good, too! And after eating MTC food (worse than Cannon Center, if I haven't made that clear) for 6 weeks, I'm getting trunkie- for Taiwan.

The week started with initiatories at the Temple and a long P-day where I didn't have enough time to write all the letters I wanted to write. All week I studied 8 principles out of PMG and translated questions, statements, scriptures, and other things into Chinese. I can find scriptures in the Bible and Book of Mormon now! It's easy! I can recognize several different characters now, even though we haven't been studying them. My favorite words are still Zai Jian! (see ya later), Ni Hao (hello), shenme (what?), ting bu dong (hear no understand), and weishenme? (why?) Lol. Love it!

Our teachers now speak to us 100% Chinese, and we get the gist of all of it. 24 new missionaries come in on Wednesday. 3 Sisters and 21 Elders. That's 4 new districts, and it's going to be very hard not to show off. :P

At our mealtimes, we sit together as a branch and it's interesting to see. All of the Chinese Elders and Sisters sit together and we are surrounded by the Japanese. SO many natives, and I never thought it would be so easy to tell the difference in Asians whether they are from Hong Kong, Mainland, Taiwan, Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Mongolia... etc. I can recognize all of those! Plus, Cantonese and Chinese are COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. I do not like how Cantonese sounds, but Mandarin has a certain flow to it, that can't be explained unless you are learning it. Korean and Japanese are similar, but thanks to Dad, I can tell the difference! :D

Not much to say, except that on Saturday, our TA went all right. We were successful, and felt good about it, but we weren't anywhere near where we had wanted to be. I was able to get to the First Vision, and FINALLY I felt like I wasn't focusing on speaking, but on teaching with the Spirit. We taught a real investigator again this week, and found out that he comes here a lot. Howard knows the church is true, but he just won't take the leap of faith and get baptized. It's a family problem. He's not sure what his parents will do. It was super interesting to hear him speak Chinese with us (he's a native Taiwanese). I can totally hear the accent now, and am excited to take it on. I think it's funny :P Even though the mainland speakers think it sounds feminine. Whatever. I think it sounds cool, (but I can see where they're coming from... :P)

Thanks Dad for the Dear Elder this week. You have no idea how much I needed that. It hit me so hard, and turned me right back onto the right path. It was powerful, what you told me. God is with me, and I can feel your prayers. Mom, thanks for yours too, as they both helped me realize that if there is a peaceful Spirit in my home, then I must be doing something right. Even Raquel commented on it.

Sorry to those people that I couldn't get on the letters last week! I tried, I really did! But I needed to write my family first and make sure I figured the things out I needed to this week.

James Harris wants me to give you his email, but I forgot his letter, so I will write it to you. Make sure he gets on the email list. Also, I need Guads, Cathryn and Dave's, Tersta, and Grandpa Carter's addresses so I can write them. And I would love to hear from any and all of them! Especially Mike and CJ and the fam in Cali. I'm missin' them a bunch, and working so hard for the Lord out here just makes me think of them.

I found out that we are most likely going to be flying through LAX in June, and then on a straight 14 hour flight to Taipei with a 2 to 3 hour drive to Taizhong. So, if Mike and Nise and them want to come say hey (if possible) that would be fun!

My branch president has told us that we can call as many people as we want at the airport, as long as we make the flight. He also told us not to study, and just to relax until we get there. I can't wait!!

The church is true. I've never been pushed so hard in my life, and I'm sure it's harder than it was in the Pre-mortal one, too. I even wrote in my journal last night after a companionship problem, that it's IMPOSSIBLE!!! It's hard to be working so hard, and also having a hard time seeing the blessings. I know they're there, I just am not recognizing them as well as I'd like.

I have a lot more respect for people who get married and stay married now. After learning to deal with a companion for just six weeks? I had no idea I am and was so unprepared for that kind of commitment. So I'm just glad that I can serve the Lord and learn how to do it right. :D

I love you all!! And look forward to my letter. It's a little crazy 'cause I wrote like three different ones all week and they all say different things according to my Spiritual progress last week. Shelby, your name is coming in the mail, and I will send the characters soon. Kong Yu Lan, is your name. Love you all! And I loved the Peter Pan picture-- Keep 'em comin'!!! 

-Elder Carter

Catching Up

Catching up on a few new letters from Elder Carter:

Email dated April 12

Heya!!!

This week was fantastic, and really hard. Like Mom said, there will be the downs. I love it here! It's blesses me so much and it is so easy to see all of the different blessings I get and can get from the work I do here. Some people may believe that you don't really do much in the MTC, but that's false. You do a ton! And I think they mean that you don't do much in terms of actual investigators, but that's false too. Everything we do here revolves around the people we are going out to find. I'm not learning this language as fast as I am because I want to for my future career. No one learns a language this fast, unless it's with the Spirit. In five weeks of work at the MTC, I am going to be able to teach Eternity saving principles in a completely different language. It's nowhere close to English. I don't feel ready to do that in two weeks though! :P I'm nervous, but not worried. God is with us and makes it easier for us when we need it to be, and the words come to our minds when we need them most. I believe I've started to find the true spirit of preaching. When we teach the Spirit is there like I've never known it could be!

The first and second lessons we've got down, and could teach them on the street if we needed to. Any principle! My part so far seems to be that I ask really good questions and really get to the bottom of investigators' concerns. I teach a principle here or there, but I really make sure that people's questions are answered and they understand the doctrine. I kind of retrace steps and question their understanding while my companions teach the principles first. I take my turn teaching, but I live with the questions and concerns.

I find it hard not to watch the investigator. They push that so hard and it makes sense. I don't understand how missionaries aren't super focused on the reactions of their investigators. It makes sense now, why so many people reject the missionaries. The TA on Saturday went smoothly and we committed him to baptism!!! (We aren’t sure what TA means, maybe Teaching Appointment? Regardless, he is referring to Saturdays when they role play teaching discussions with volunteer investigators. People from the area volunteer to come in and role play being interested in the church.) So exciting!

We're also making progress with our progressive investigator, and he seems to still be very curious, but starting to believe what we're teaching him. James is very engrossed with his bible though, and it’s hard to teach him out of that rut. But he's coming. We teach him the second lesson the next time we see him on Wednesday. 

Working with my companions this week has been tough. I think I finally found my zone of focus however, and seem to not cause so many problems with everyone now... ;) It's been hard with my companions, but we've worked things out and if I just focus on how to be one with my companions then everything comes easier, as it promises in my Patriarchal Blessing.

(We asked KJ if he was getting any packages, and this was his response) I have only received those two care packages, and I would love packages, and letters all the time while its cheap and while I can, cause other missionaries get like 10 a week, no joke. I won't eat a lot of junk food, but it will get eaten somehow. I've been pigging out on one of my companion's stuff, because he feels the same as me. We now have two week old cinnamon buns cause it takes forever to eat when we're all focused on not gaining weight. (I guess we’ve been falling down on the package sending…who knew?)

Sorry about the mix up! Oh, can you dig out my pocket watch? It needs new batteries, but I'm getting sick of not having the time on me...(Aunt Raquel sent him a watch)

Love you!

More soon...

-Elder Carter

Email sent 4/19

(Note from the editor: This week it appears Elder Carter has been thinking a lot about whether he is well enough prepared to be on his mission. We are thinking this is pretty common among all the missionaries. We considered not really sending this letter out, but figured it is fair to show that there are ups and downs. Please note that we received his letter in the mail the day after this email and we really are sure that he is okay. Fascinating to see how much you can grow and stretch in such a short time.)

It's been hard. I've been worried a lot about things I don't need to, and not forgiving myself for things I've done before. I don't know, Dad, if you had problems with that, but considering you were the "perfect teenager", my guess is you didn't, and that you'd just tell me to forget myself and get to work. Well, that's what I'm going to do.

(More companion conflict)-This week came to an apex with my companions and we were getting pretty hot in the face. We couldn't figure out how to plan the week out in preparation for our investigators this last Saturday. We had differing veiwpoints, and neither would work for the other, and compromise could not be found. It's hard being in a threesome companionship, I don't know how many times I've said it. (Summary from the editor: I got pretty stressed and really needed to get the stress and anger out.) But one of my companions came up to me and gave me a huge hug and we both realized we needed to be unselfish and try to help each other.

Saturday's TA was probably the best TA we've been here. When you honestly seek to be one with your companion(s), you find that everything goes smoothly. Stop thinking about yourself, and move on. I was senior companion last week, too. ;) I've been humbled beyond belief, and I had no idea I was so unbelievably prideful before. How did anyone tolerate me? I learned this week from Brother Rice (who was Lone Peak Student Body President when I was a freshman, who went to Taizhong) that pride is the language of sin, and humility is the language of the Spirit. That is what it literally boils down to. When you sin, it's cause you think you're better than God, and when you listen to the Spirit, it's cause you are subjecting yourself to the will of someone else, God Himself.

We teach the first lesson this Saturday completely in Mandarin. So for an hour on Saturday morning, we can't speak one word of English. Yikes! We try to do that every day, but obviously that isn't as consistent as we would hope. Our district is behind in Chinese learning, because we don't SYL like we should. It's hard, and we just want to get to the field, where we KNOW we are going to HAVE to SYL. Speak Your Language. Dad, how did you do it? It's hard to write down EVERY word you don't know in a day and learn that along with the vocab for the weekly investigator situations, and learning the entire first lesson in Chinese. I urge all of you to obtain a copy of Preach My Gospel, and study it so you know what I am doing out there, and share some insights you might have with me. :D Hope the temple stuff is holding up, and sorry I'm not there to mow the lawn, or clip the trees... :P

(Then Elder Carter spent some time bonding with and giving advice to his sister. He ended his email with this note) As a representative of Jesus Christ, I can tell you right now, that if you do what your parents teach you, and if you continue to do this everytime you feel bad about something you did, He will tell you He loves you. And You will feel His hands hold yours and turn you around to wrap your sweet, beautiful spirit in HIs love. Remember that.

I love you all, more soon.

Loves!!

-Elder Carter

Mission Pics

See Elder Carter's Mission pics on "Flickr"

Click HERE

or go to the URL below

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kevin_g_carter/

I will update here and Facebook every time there are new pics.

Enjoy!

The First Vision

Well, Ni Hao!!!

 It's back to the keyboard once again! I loved it this week! Lots of hard, hard work, and a great break with General Conference. Never thought General Conference would be a "break" persay. Anywho, I know you've been conversing with Sister Brownell's Mom, she sent Sister Brownell a letter telling her about it, and Sister Brownell (Bei Jie Mei) showed me :P, I was a little worried.... jk!!!

It's all good, as long as you are good about it :P jk, kai wan xiao!

This week I memorized the first vision in Chinese and it was tough! Only half of our class got it, and the other half are supposed to have it by tonight or tomorrow night. The english translation is unbelievably complex and does NOT make sense. So, if you find me, with Chinese grammar, writing and typing English, then you'll know why :P here's a sampling of Chinese Grammar and how it would sound using English as a base:

I saw to the point of clarity one lighted pillar directly at my head on top, compared sun type light still bright gradually to descend down come until to rest at my body on top. Light stopped at my body on top at that time I saw to the point of clarity a pair beings stand at my on top direction type openness middle whose brightness and glory without a method to describe among which one being towards me spoke words called my name point other being said: This is my Beloved Son, Hear Him Speak.

Interesting, huh? Now try speaking all of that in Chinese with tonal exchanges between words. It's hard to come up with that kind of speech on the spot, but I gotta do it sometime, so houtian (yesterday) is the best time to start. I have never, in my entire life, been more organized than I am right now. Crazy!!! I love it. My scriptures have become entirely colorful, and so has my Preach My Gospel.

We taught another "investigator" on Friday (Friday, not Saturday because of Conference), and for the first time, we committed her to baptism!! The Spirit was so strong in that room, there was no way we weren't going to. No one else got to that point, and a lot of the results of practice teaching depend on who the investigator is. Some people don't act the way they were told to act, so it messes up the game plan, but I think that's good practice anyway, so bring it on!

I've never been more impressed, prompted, or immersed with and in the Spirit. I guess that goes without saying, but I'm tellin' ya, NO ONE has ever given it justice. It is unbelievably powerful, and IT IS THERE!!! :D So true! I saw through God's eyes today when I went through the temple this morning, and as my eyes wandered over the faces of those around me, and as I strive to understand God's love for me and as I strive to receive and claim the gift of Charity, I saw those people as God sees them. They are His children, EVERY SINGLE ONE. And He loves them infinitely, and it is incomprehendible and outside of our ability to think and imagine. Mom, Dad, Shelby... my family, Mike, Nise, CJ, Katie... Nana, Grandpa Lee, Tersta, Sherman, Austin, Jared... Just know that He loves you, and knows you, individually. It's true! And you know it's true! Don't you ever doubt that.

I miss Bailey now. I love you all, and Bailey? Stop running away! I'll come home someday, I promise! You're freakin' the parents out runnin' that far... ;) Love you! I promise Mom, if you tell her that, she'll know where it's coming from. That goes for you, too Shelb. And everyone that is supporting me out here. Thanks so much! I love all of you, and so does your Heavenly Father. I promise. Don't doubt me. It's true.

Zhen Shi de. Zhen shi de, zhen shi de, zhen shi de. Wo ai nimen!!!

-till next time...

-Elder Carter

Missing the Dog?

Here is the latest email from Elder Carter.

Hey guys!!
And it's Pday again. hooray!! Man, it's been so busy. And we have triple the work this week. Blech. But I love it! So let me start by telling you that this week I had to do a couple more things for my visa.

Moving on...
I got that belt, I'm writing about 7 letters today to thank people and reply to other letters. I did get Shelby's letter, but I didn't get it until after I got Mom's. Weird, huh?
It's been a rollercoaster this week. Learning more Chinese all the time, and can keep up a conversation and understand most of what people say (at least other Elders). My teacher and I converse frequently, but I always have a hard time hearing it. This language is actually a beautiful language. I know almost every elder must say that about there language, but it's true! I forgot just how much I appreciate it.

Through prayer, faith, service, and hard study and work, we've been able to come out of contention, for a time. The firesides, and devotionals are fantastic, and I've never been more immersed in the Spirit. It's amazing how the Spirit brings people together. Next time I write I will bring my notes with me to share with you what I've learned through the devotionals, firesides, meetings, and conferences. Right now, I've just been focused on getting an entire email out. I have hardly anytime to write, and will probably soon start taking breaks. But not from the email. I just don't know if I can manage writing everyone right when they write me. If I do that today, I have 7 to write.

I get my haircut today! :D I was parting it for the first little while, but I figure I'm more confident if I do it Cali-style duck tail, and I was the ONLY Elder who even parted his hair in our zone. I'm not exaggerating. When I get out in the field, things will change, but I do things better when I don't feel like a dork. :P Not like it really matters, duck tailing is also faster and easier to do, considering we have no time in the mornings for anything.

We are so unbelievably blessed to have sisters in our district. They keep us in check and help bring the Spirit so much faster.

(I had some trouble this week with contention, so) I knelt down and begged for forgiveness and for humility. I asked, "Lord, Is it I?" Which came from my teacher from his missionary stories. Yes, I got rebuked. But not too badly, because I already knew that it was my fault. As soon as I asked the question, I got the answer, and I immediately got up and acted on it. And I am glad I did. I'm not very good at following Spiritiual promptings, but I recognize them a lot more here, and am working to be 100%.

Got to go soon, so just lettin' you know I love you. Tell Bailey! (Bailey is our dog) Started missing her this morning :( lol, it's all good. I love it here, and things can only get better. We have to have the first vision memorized in Chinese by the end of the week, and we have to wallsit until everyone recites it correctly. Yikes! It's good to hear from my Missionary buddies, and it's okay for you to send me their emails. Thanks for the support, I can feel the prayers, keep praying!!! Heaven knows I need it. :P The temple today was fantastic as I went through again. And we get to watch church approved movies every sunday night. It's a nice relief.

One more thing. Saturday was our first TA (Teaching Appointment) and we got to contact random people in Chinese for 15 minutes. Absolutely NO English allowed. Then we got to teach a 35 minute lesson in English. I feel pretty good about my contacting abilities (at least here) and our lesson went well. There are five companionships in my district, and each one taught a different investigator and two of the investigators we were teaching were REAL investigators!! AHHHH!!! Scary!!!

I'll write more about it in letter form later... talk to you next week! Love you!!

-Elder Carter

First Letter from MTC

If anyone would like to be on the email distribution list to receive Elder Carter's emails sent from his Mother please email her (Michelle) at "embeesea AT gmail.com"  of course, replace the "AT" with the @ symbol.

Here is the first letter we received from the MTC:

March 22nd 2010

Ni Hao!!

Wo ai nimen! It took forever for me to get my email set up this time. It's all good, but I lost ten minutes of typing time because of it.... The Lord's work moves forward, however.... :P

Moving on... :P

On my first day, I distinctly remember not looking back towards you guys as I officially entered the MTC. Within five minutes I ran into my buddy Elder Falkner from BYU. He is headed to New York, Mandarin speaking. He is in my district along with my two companions (yes, I have two companions) Elder Wheeler (wang zhanglao) and Elder Nelson (ning zhanglao). Elder Near, Elder Falkner, Elder Carmack (district leader), Elder Waters, Elder Rostedt (from Australia), Elder Jensen, Sister Brownell, and Sister Museus are all the missionaries in my district. My district is 11 strong (Elder Nelson's original companion was on the fast track, he's fluent, which is why I am in a threesome companionship). The other new district is 12 strong, and the entire branch is 40 strong. Yes, the new missionaries more than doubled the size of the branch. 18 of us are headed to Taizhong in June. The other district all have past experience in Chinese, and in our district? Nothing. Sister Brownell lived there for 6 months, Elder Rostedt had 2 years in high school, but that was 4 years ago for him, and I have a semester in High school. One of our teachers is a native, li laoshi, and she asked me if I had been speaking Chinese for a while. She was surprised when I told her that I only had a semester.

About my companions: Elder Wheeler is 21 and a 3 year convert to the church from Idaho. He gets to sleep in here. He's used to waking up at 4:30. He's smart, pretty discouraged about his language skills and often looks to me and Elder Nelson for help. Wang zhanglao (Elder Wheeler) has an unwavering testimony however, and we urge him to keep his faith. He finds motivation in the work, and jokes about what'll happen when they send him out and he can't speak. He's already way better than he thinks (and we're just a week in, too). Ning zhanglao (Elder Nelson) is from Nebraska, and he speaks the laziest English I have ever heard. In Ren zhanglao's (Elder Rostedt- the australian) opinion, ning zhanglao epitomizes the "American language". Bantering back and forth with ren zhanglao is absolutely fascinating. It's so much fun! He makes fun of us, and we make fun of him. It's like we're learning more than one language. Australian and Chinese. :P

Our companionship realizes that we have to work extra hard to stay close and get work done, because we have three members. But I've never felt closer to someone. I love it! Wang Zhanlao's testimony motivates me every day, and Ning Zhanglao's laid back attitude makes the day go by easier and less stressful.

About the language:

It's hard. I won't lie. But here's what we are doing already. We are speaking in Chinese everywhere we go, as much as we can, bearing testimony, saying prayers, teaching, and contacting in Chinese. In one week!!! I didn't realize I was speaking Chinese to the register lady at the bookstore, until I looked at her and she had a weird look on her face. I immediately realized that I was speaking Chinese and fixed it. The six-week missionaries congratulated me on having that happen already "hen hao!!" I can understand my teacher when she speaks normally in Chinese, and we help her with her English. It's awesome!!!

I now understand why missionaries say that there is no time to write. I have just over three minutes left. It stinks! There is so much I want to tell you!!! I love it here, and I don't miss a thing back home!! It's still weird how I'm not going to be home for two years though :D But It's all good!

Anyway....

I love you all! Wish me luck, and I will write again on my next P-day which is next Monday.

ADDRESS UPDATE and MTC dropoff

Here is the final Missionary Training Center address for Elder Carter:

Kevin Gregory Jr. Carter
MTC Mailbox # 104
TAIW-TCG 0603
2005 N 900 E
Provo, UT 84604-1793


We dropped him off at the MTC in Provo, UT yesterday. His Grandfather was in tow to take pics. Here is one.

Mission Addresses

My address at the MTC:

Elder Kevin Gregory Carter Jr
Taiwan Taichung Mission
Provo Missionary Training Center
2005 N 900 E
Provo, UT 84604

The MTC address will get a PO Box number when I enter on Wednesday. Keep in touch for updates.
When I reach Taiwan, this will be my address:

Elder Kevin Gregory Carter Jr
Taiwan Taichung Mission
#498-11, Wu Chuan Road,
Taichung 404-46 Taiwan

This address is the same for packages and letters. Make sure you ONLY send through the postal service, or it will take forever for it to get to me. My address might very well change once in Taiwan, so keep your eyes open for updates. This site will also be the main place to keep up with my mission. My Dad will continue to post as I update the family on where I am, and with pictures. So keep in touch!!! and wish me luck!!! (Facebook is also a place to go for limited updates)

Here I Go, Finally

Following in His footsteps, and in my Dad's, I leave March 17 to serve the Lord in Taiwan. Wish me luck. I'll see you all soon, and keep in touch! I'll post my Mission addresses here and on Facebook, soon. See ya!

A Future Still in the Waiting

Yes, it's here. Finally. This is the future. See it. Love it. Live it. It releases sometime after I leave for Taiwan, and I will not be able to enjoy the companionship of this piece of art as my own. But I assure you that upon my return, it will be part of my life. In Taiwan, the Factories of Fate and Destiny stand strong. Their product will ship numbering in the hundreds of millions. I will be able to see them and watch as people enjoy their wonder and brilliance. But I will wait patiently for edition 2 or 3 when I get back. I can't wait. I just know it's going to be fantastic. Apple does it again. Way to be, Jobs. Keep it up. I hope you become immortal and never die, because without you at the head of Apple, I don't know how it'll keep it's status of Celestial Glory. God uses Apple merchandise. The better Apple gets, the better our lives get, not necessarily because the new product makes our lives more efficient, but because God has it easier running the planet with his iPad. Can't wait to hold my own. Sigh...

Moving Forward

Well, I have a job at Walmart, but it doesn't start until mid-February. So I'll have 4 weeks there. Tomorrow I have a 4-hour interview for a call-center, that I hope I get. Last week, I interviewed for a job at a private insurance company, and got it. But they forgot that we had discussed the fact that I would be gone mid-March on an LDS mission. They told me I got the job, only for me to remind them of my departure. I keep looking for work, and it's slowing down. I am starting to really re-kindle my mower tune-up business, while I wait for something else to happen. I have just about 50 or so days before I leave, and I can't wait. It's not enough, but it's too much. It's gonna take forever for that day to come, and yet it'll come way too fast. But I'm ready. I'm not worried about anything after that day other than doing my best and bringing as many souls unto Christ as I possibly can. Videogames I love playing are being released in sequels all around me and I can't do anything about it. I have a short supply of novels I can read to keep me busy, and the television shows my Dad and I keep up on week after week. I have little projects I am trying to finish before I head out, and, of course, I won't be able to finish them. When I go to the theater, I see previews for fantastic movies that come out after I leave. Apple decides to launch new devices right before I go. I've decided that I am going to be excited for what is available when I get back. I can't wait to go, I'm hunting for things to do, and yet I have too much to do. There's not enough time, but there's plenty. As I am attacked on every front by the adversary, I find solice in the Atonement and in my family. One of my favorite quotes comes from the movie "Meet the Robinsons". "Keep Moving Forward." Like Adam of old, that's just what I'm going to do.

WALMART

I got a job. :D It is overnight at Walmart, so not the most glamorous of careers, but definitely worth all the stress, pain, and overwhelming effort (I know, it wasn't a ton, but it felt like way more than that ;P). So, here I go, turning Nocturnal, and making a bunch of money. Full-time. 5 days a week. Yay. :D

URGENT: JOB SEARCH

Hey! Anyone! I am looking for a job! If you know of anything that would take a temp, that would be great! I leave on an LDS Mission on March 17, so I can work 'til March 16. STARTING ASAP!!! Let me know! I have extensive experience in retail and guest service! Plenty of food-type experience and I have the determination of an angry wasp! My Food-handler's permit is current, and I will be the best worker this employer had ever seen. Sign me up!