A new transfer

So, we got calls on Saturday and everything is staying the same with us for the next six weeks. I think I'll leave at the end of the transfer, October 7, but Elder D. thinks he's going to leave. Our ward mission leader thinks I'm going to be here for seven months, which would keep me here until December 30. But we'll see.

[Paragraph redacted]

I am so excited for the dates of the transfer. September 1 starts the best month, September 15 is when I can legitimately begin thinking of Halloween, September 29 all of your kids are in their twenties, and October 1 is the first month with a holiday in a while and starts a monthly pattern through April. October 6 my first companion goes home--wow, I've been out a while...

It has been gloriously cloudy and cool this week and at this moment clouds of darkest hue hang o'er me (see Hymns 121).[1] The best bad thing ever happened this week. We were walking home and we had brought our umbrellas because the skies were threatening. When it started precipitating we pulled them out. Umbrellas make me think of Mary Poppins anyway, but the way I was holding my umbrella and the way the wind was blowing caused my umbrella to pop out backwards, causing it to break. It was so funny. I felt like I was in a movie. Then I had to walk home basically with a bowl over my head, which doesn't stop rain very well, so my pants were soaked by the time we got home. But the umbrella wasn't functioning properly anyway, so now that it's completely broken, I get to get a new one. Last night we stopped at an investigator's house and visited a while, so we got to ride home in the dark and rain. It was so fun. Elder B. gave me the headlight to his bike, as well as the tail-light, but I haven't placed the latter yet (it doesn't work too well).

To answer another question, I don't have to speak much. My public speaking has extended to a few testimony meetings, two opening prayers (one was here and one was my last week in Mead), and a few halftime shows at baptisms (teaching the first lesson while the people change).

Don't stress too much about the package. I don't need anything you haven't bought that badly. What I might need are either a large supply of batteries, or more simply a plug cord for my CD player. I also would like some recipes. Honestly the contents of any package are pleasing.

We taught ten lessons to non-members this week, including first lessons. We only got two new investigators and one of those dropped us, but we weren't expecting them at all, and we have the potential for more this week.

This is a very choppy letter...

Love,

Elder Melville

After the above-mentioned rainstorm, I went home and changed into my pajama pants, prompting this awkward picture.

---

[1] “Misty vapors rise before me.

Scarcely can I see the way.

Clouds of darkest hue hang o’er me,

And I’m apt to go astray

With the many, with the many

That are now the vulture’s prey.” From “I’m a Pilgrim, I’m a Stranger”