Tuesday, January 11, 2011

3 January 2011

I'M ALL PACKED! It feels so weird... I feel like I'm gone already and it is kind of hard. I have been saying goodbye to people and it is slightly depressing. Last night was rough. We had an amazing day tracting and also teaching after church. I felt super productive, and then when we went in to plan it was rough. I realized that I had just completed my last proselyting day, since today is p-day and tomorrow I will be chillin' and going to the temple. I was so down and out. I was talking to my new companion (Elder Lee from Bakersfield, CA) and telling him to take advantage of the time he has. I almost cried last night.

Well it is going to quite odd to leave a place where 25 degrees is warm... Y'all are all gonna have coats on and I'm gonna wanna strip down hahaha. The last snowstorm has taken forever to melt off the roads... we just saw a car that got tipped on its side on the way up here. I am so glad we have a set of good tires now.

Grant is so ready for baptism. We also have another baptism set up for February. It is sad to see all the work going on, but I have some work to do in CA now. I gotta get some friends who we can get to church when I get home.

There's a lot of sad people since I'm leaving... A lot of people look at me as an extra son it seems. It is sad tho to see people cry and all. lol Well I guess its life. I have a couple cool presents I'll have to show ya and stuff...

I'll see ya in a couple days. I can't wait to give you guys all big hugs, but It will be sad to leave this place and people that I love so much.

My mission has been the greatest experience of my life. I have learned so much about myself and I am super happy to have had this opportunity. I thank all of you that have helped support me in doing something I love. I cant wait to continue to share with people how much god loves us. I know that Christ is my savior and he loves me and has gotten me through a lot of hard times. I know the the book of Mormon is God's word and that he can enrich our lives if we simply read from it. I love all the leadership opportunities I have had and all the experiences that have helped me learn.

I love you guys and I'll see ya in less than two (days that is).

Love,
Elder Thomas Stevenson

Sunday, January 2, 2011

27 December 2010

Hey everyone.

It was so awesome to talk to y'all on Christmas. Today I did get the package. The bread and brownies are kind of hard, but it was exciting to get. They wrote on the box that they received it on the 17th.

Yesterday we had an excellent Christmas present. We went down to Aurora and Elder Guenther got to confirm someone he taught previously. The mission president is a bit more lax on that than the last. I was supposed to baptize someone in Highlands Ranch when I was in Lakewood (which is about half the distance of yesterdays adventure) and President Christison told me no. I thought it was odd, but I am glad my companion got this opportunity even if mine was denied me. The changes going on in the mission are phenomenal and exciting. I really think that with how things are going and how the caliber of new missionaries has improved that amazing things are about to happen here in Colorado.
Tomorrow I get Elder Mikkola up here with me and Elder Guenther. He is a bit ridiculous now. That's the missionary that I retrained in Buena Vista and he is now our Zone Leader and has turned into a very weird individual. Its only for a day though. Then both of our new companions are coming from out west, and we do have an appointment in the afternoon with Grant (the guy who's getting baptized) so that should make up for it too. I hope we get a cool missionary who is a good teacher and a personable person.

I am pretty excited to be able to see everyone again... It feels like its been forever and I feel like I really don't know anyone from back home anymore. Colorado feels so much like home now that I don't know how I'm gonna cope with the return to CA. The political and economical state of CA is kind of troubling. It will be slightly interesting to see if I can even get a job, but I think it will be fun to be back in school and try new things.

I cannot believe how quickly the time has gone, or the fan club I've developed. It seems as though everyone wants us to come over and there almost isn't enough time in the day. I love how a mission makes you perpetually tired. I swear teaching is so spiritually draining that it makes me want to fall asleep all the time. Christmas was an awesome day. The book I got is called "divine signatures" by Lund and I have started to read it. It seems like it will be a great book to use for examples in teaching.

Well you guys have a great week... next week is my last letter and it will be so soon that I get to see ya. :P

Loveya,
Tom

20 December 2010

It is quite odd to think that I only get to email you twice after today. It's going to be an interesting couple weeks. I'm finally starting to feel better too... just after I recovered from strep I picked up the common cold that's been going around. Its been an eventful time for me. I think the devil doesn't want me to finish my mission strong. I don't know why else all these roadblocks would arise. We have so many cool things going on right now too. We are teaching a new referral that we just committed to baptism that is so ready for the gospel. He is a resource officer for one of the local high schools, and has had exposure to the church by that medium, and also used to date a member of the congregation. The way the spirit felt at the lesson and the way his prayer went at the close tell me that he is ready. The openness in conversation as well as the searching questions seem to be pretty good indications as well. But we'll let you know how our appointment tonight goes when I call on Saturday.

I cant believe that two weeks from wednesday I will be at home with you guys. I'm kinda scared for tuesday of that week since I will be the only one with an exit interview and at the dinner with the mission president. Oh well though. By the way I have a district meeting tomorrow and will be meeting up with Carrie then at a more central location. So she may be able to fit my bike box and a luggage piece she said, which will be very nice.

I sent a nice letter regarding the employment outlook for Facilities Services to the management there today. So we will see what happens with that. It would be nice to work there again, low stress, controllable hours, and a decent pay nonetheless. That would be the ideal situation, but I kind of doubt there will be openings. Other jobs may require a car. Speaking of which, have you thought about getting a new car and passing the Sonata down to me? Idk just a suggestion, but you may have other plans and that's ok.

So starting next tuesday, at transfers, I will have a new companion. There will be three of us for the last week, which will be kind of nice to arrange to visit people in previous areas on my last couple days, because they can stay together and as long as I'm with a priesthood holder it will be ok. Cassidy Grigg said he didn't have any pictures with Eliza from when they were near each other. He said that he's not much of a picture taker, but he did take pictures of tourist attractions. If she does want some of those, I could have him send some. We will be at his house when we call on Saturday, so that will be a simple accomplishment.

So how is Eliza coping with being home? I think it might be easier to cope with than being perpetually sick, but I am starting to feel better. I will be a weird adjustment. So the Stake President wants me to wait a day to be released?? Looks like I have to wait an extra day to have a hot date. lol That's going to be an odd adjustment too. Oh well. So are Alex and Eliza still talking? Whats the deal-io with them? hmmmmmm what else to talk about.

I don't know what else to tell you. You want to hear stories, but its all the same old same old for me, so the stories don't seem exciting to tell. So if you guys end up getting a phone before I come home for me...all the android powered phones are pretty sweet, but not pressuring into anything. lol Well thanks for everything. The only book information I have as of yet is pasted below from one of my professors. Hopefully we can find it for cheaper online. Well we'll talk to you guys on Saturday.

Love ya tons,
Tom