Surprise Letter

Wow. Only 3 days in the field? It already feels as if I've been out for months! Boise is really warm and sunny (most of the time), and everyone I've met is super friendly. My companion right now is Elder Lee; you should have already received a photo of me and him. He is really nice, and he wants to be an automobile engineer when he returns. He only has seven months left to make his mission complete, but he said that he only focuses on his work. He is really a great guy to get along with. We are currently serving in the Meridian area, which is super small; it only takes a few minutes to walk or bike to anybody's house. We are living with a family with the Powells while the bathtub at our normal home gets fixed. There are four other missionaries living there as well (it's a big house), and they are all very kind.

On my first day, we met a nonmember named Lisa. She was the absolute nicest person you would ever meet, but she has to take a lot of pills every day, and her cousin just barely made it alive through a massive car crash. I really felt that there was a connection between us as I talked about some of my experiences and feelings. I felt really blessed to be in the right place at the right time. Today, we will be teaching a Catholic woman named Teia. She was also kind to us when she agreed to listen to us teach her. Also, don't worry about me starving, because we have a dinner with members nearly every night, and talking to them all makes me look forward to church this Sunday.

I can talk to you all on Monday, and the usual time is about 2 hours long, so you'll have plenty of time to ask me questions, but if I don't respond to you immediately, it usually means that I'm busy. I'll tell you the email time when I know it. :) I had only a half hour to talk today, so please don't respond to me until Monday. Get your questions ready! I promised myself I wouldn't cry at all, but sitting here makes me feel the love you all have for me. Talk to you on Monday!

Presidential Letter

Dear Missionary Parents,

How thrilled Sister Winder and  I were to greet your son and to welcome him as a temporary  missionary in the Idaho Boise Mission.  What a blessing it will be to our mission to have him serving here to the assigned field of labor.

After arriving at the mission office and conducting a brief orientation of the mission, I had the opportunity of interviewing your son in an effort to become better acquainted with him and to feel of his spirit.  As a result of this interview, I felt impressed to assign your son, as a companion, to the most obedient, most skilled, and hardest working missionary in the mission.  You can be assured that this companion is one of our mission’s very best.

We are confident that your son will have a very positive experience while serving in the Idaho Boise Mission.  We know he will strengthen his skills, increase his knowledge and testimony of the gospel, and establish an increased measure of love for all of our Heavenly Father’s children he will assist in teaching.

We have attached a picture of your missionary with Sister Winder and myself and also a picture of him with his trainer, Elder Lee.

May the Lord’s choicest blessings be with you as you sustain your son and pray for his continued welfare.

Faithfully yours,

President John Q. Winder

Idaho Boise Mission

Sister Hodgkin

Idaho Boise Mission

Dropped Off