Year Mark!!

Hello Everyone,

Another week has flown by and I'm looking at my year mark right in the face. It's on Thursday. Then the downhill slide is next. I've already learned everything I need to know. How to study, how to teach, how to learn, how to ask the right questions, etc. I know how to find the answers I need for my investigators, my companion, and myself. The hard part is just sticking with it and doing what I learn. Walking the walk.
This week was as crazy as I thought it would be. Tuesday was our last District meeting of the transfer, but instead of going, we went to help a member with service. Their school is coming to a close and they were having a field day. Sis Martin was the PE coach and wanted some help, so we agreed. We got there, helped set up a couple of relay's and waited for all of the 6th and 7th graders to come. They fit both grades on 2 buses!! Not a very big school.
Elder Tew, Elder Rosenlund, Elder Chidester and I all did our best to run the relays and make it fun. It was hard. Some of those kids didn't want to do anything, and the teachers didn't care if they did anything. So they would sit on the swings, chairs or ground and do nothing. Sometimes it didn't matter, but when playing dodge ball, tug-of-war, or crab soccer they needed more than 5 people playing. There was also a lot of drama. I didn't know that there could be so much drama at that age. Boys were mad at boys, girls were mad at girls, girls were mad at boys and boys were mad at the teachers. It was terrible. Then to top it off, a random truck showed up at 10:00 and a middle aged fat guy came out and started to set up a stage. I had no idea what was going on, but apparently it was supposed to be a karaoke stage. He was the most obnoxious man I've ever heard. All the kids loved him though, or at least they loved to get up and singing. All of the other activities were pretty much done once he came. It was a terribly planned event, but we did our best to help out the Martin's. She was grateful we were there to help out.
Wednesday was transfer day. The night before we went to pick up everyone's stuff to take it to the mission home. Elder Brian, Elder Bond and Elder Buticofer all got transferred. In the morning we woke up at 6:00 and left at 6:30 to pick them all up, take them to TCC, and then to take those being transferred to the mission home. We picked up Elder Tidwell and Elder Chidester at the mission home and drove back to TCC, picked up Elder Marshall and took off for FAMU. We then took Elder Chidester, Elder Tidwell and Elder Marshall to a lesson appointment that Elder Chidester had at 10:00. Dropped them off there and left to go to the Ronald McDonald House to do service. Crafordville Elders came up and picked up the three-some and dropped FAMU off at home, then brought Elder Chidester to us to finish service at the Ronald McDonald House. We took lunch and our studies, then quickly drove back to TCC to help Elder Hansen and Elder Capel switch apartments. Elder Capel and his new companion are having surgery tomorrow, so they need an appartment where they won't have to walk up and down stairs. So we helped make the switch. We had to be back at the mission home by 4:45 to pick up Elder Prince and Elder Hamblin. We shoved all of their stuff into our Dodge Caravan and once again drove to TCC. Dropped off Elder Hamblin at TCC, took Elder Hansen to FSU with his new companion Elder Prince. Got everything settled there, then had to hurry across town to a dinner appointment that we thought was at 6:30, but it was really at 6:00. To top the night off, we went to the Tallahassee Memorial Hospital to give a prayer and a blessing to a sick non-member woman. It was the craziest day, by far, on my mission. When its my turn to play parent, I will know exactly what to do.
Our apartment is so different now that Elder Rosenlund is gone and Elder Shumway is here. They are very different missionaries and the mood has changed, in a very good way. Elder Rosenlund was more on the rebellious side. Elder Shumway just wants to work hard and he is so nice to everyone. Elder Chidester is getting used to being the one in charge, calling the shots and introducing all of the people. He has been very scared and spotty the last couple of days, but he will do well. Elder Tew, my companion, is ready to go home. This is his last transfer and he is very 'trunkie'.
So this letter is kind of fast and scattered, sorry. I'm sending the camera home today and the card is with it. I will also be getting a new camera soon. I love you all and pray for you too.
Good luck at youth conference!!
Elder Call