Letter #51 . . . Church is True, Book is Blue!

Hey fam and everybody! 

Missions are good. Life is good. Funny story . . We were at the church syncing up one day and had to go to the bathroom . . the men's was incredibly stinky. So, naturally we went to the girls and did our business... It's not as stinky in there. Thought nothing about it. As we were playing basketball at the church later on in the week, this really angry old lady in our ward came up to us (since I've been out I've noticed every ward has one), and said very confrontationally, "Can I ask you boys a serious question? Are either one of you transgender?!" We assured her that, to her surprise, we aren't, and actually have been males for most of our lives. :) "Then why in the world did I see you boys in the girl's bathroom a few days ago? I saw you walk past the window while I was sitting in my car outside..." She then let us know she let the counselor in the bishopric know. So yeah, now the whole ward is probably hearing rumors that we're transgender...#WelcomeToMaryville :)

We're finally starting to teach some solid people! We're teaching Jacinda and Cassie, who are going to the college up here, and Taylor who's a sophomore in high school. They're all former investigators that haven't had much time in the past for us, but now they're ready to take lessons! Not gonna lie, Cassie is super cute. Cutest girl I've talked to in a year hahaha. She's on the soccer team at the college, and is majoring in chemistry! Nicest chillest girl ever, she reminds me of Lauren! Her best friend is the bishop's daughter Tessa who now is married in Utah. Mom, go check out the Bishop and his wife on Facebook. Laureen and Christopher G. They're the coolest people I've ever met. Laureen reminds me of you, mama!
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We had a lesson at the church with Taylor, she's a little younger, 16.
We taught the Restoration and she loved it. She's so solid, it's
unreal!!! In the past she's talked to her LDS friend Matt in our ward
about the church, and says she felt something very different than
she's ever felt. It's a huge testimony builder watching her progress. 

Transfers are this week, I hope I stay so I can continue teaching her.
She's a missionary's dream! She brought her violin to be strung and
tuned by Elder Griffiths, and she named out songs and I played them on
the piano! It was so fun just getting to know her and hanging out and
being friends with her. She says we are, "a lot more normal and cool
than she thought we'd be" hahaha yay. :)

Happy Birthday Joshie! Holy poop, I can't believe you're 12. Thanks for your emails dude, you make my day every time I get one. I love and read them over and over. I'm sorry I'm so bad at responding tho! Just know I will soon, and that I read and love them! Josh, Spence and Britt, I will respond to your letters soon. Y'all are the best. Jake I'm so sorry I was so bad at writing you when you were on your mission. I feel like an awful human being haha.
I'm reading the Book of Mormon again and I'm in 2nd Nephi 2 right now. I get so much more out of it every time I read it. I've noticed I'm so much happier when I'm consistently reading it. 
 
I've been studying a talk a ton called Prayer by Spencer W. Kimball. 
So much good stuff in there. Everyone of you NEED TO READ THAT. 
One of the cool things said... "A certain seminary teacher asked his 35 
youngsters the searching question, “Did your family have their prayer 
this morning?” Of the 35, two had had their prayers; 33 families had 
been too busy, too late, too hurried, or too disinterested. Why should 
we pray? Because we are the sons and daughters of our Heavenly 
Father, on whom we depend for everything we enjoy--our food and 
clothing, our health, our life itself, our sight and hearing, our voices, 
our locomotion, and even our brains. Do you not realize your 
dependence as you stand in perfect health with your opportunities? 
Do you think that they are of your providing? Do you give to yourself 
your breath, your life, your being? Can you lengthen your days by a 
single hour? Are you so strong without the gifts of heaven? Are your 
brains made by self, and did you fashion them? Can you give life or 
give it prolongation? Do you have power to do without your Lord? Yet I 
find that many fail to pray. We are commanded to do so by our all-
wise Heavenly Father: “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of 
God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall 
be given him.”

Much luv, church is true, book is blue! Till next week!

- Tan