Sunday, October 21, 2018

Three emails from 10/20/08


Mayberrys and Hootervilles

I had thought you sent my package a while ago, so I was worried it had gotten lost in the mail or something. Our address is
104 E Second Ave #9
Ritzville, WA 99169

Thursday would be the best day for it to come, because we are usually home doing our weekly planning on Thursday mornings (the mail comes around 11:00).[1] Friday would be the second best day. Because I don't know what week you're planning on sending it I cannot give you further details about when would be best, but generally Wednesday would be third in preference. We asked our neighbors if they'd seen a package--she said she hadn't, and a few days later she told us--without us asking--she still hadn't seen it, but she was watching out for us.

It's interesting how small these towns are. The new investigator I mentioned last week said she knew one member of our church, but further discussion among members has revealed that half the branch knows at least of her. Several of the youth and parents know her 16-year-old daughter; at least one knows of the 13-year-old; another family has a Down syndrome daughter who goes to the same school as her Down syndrome son. One family has been close friends for years.

We also made it to another small town, Lind, south of Ritzville. There we met a 20-year-old who moved from England a year ago, and actually missionaries in Moses Lake had given him a Book of Mormon the day before we happened to be in Lind, where he lives. In Priesthood Executive Committee we mentioned him, and many people knew him. We also saw a less-active, and at least one person knew her, but didn't know she was a member, so he knew her but not through the Church.

It is not at all uncommon to see the same people many times a day in various places throughout the town. The noisiest thing in Ritzville is the train. (Of course, that doesn't say much; we live pretty close to the tracks.) There are lots of churches in the area, and they play patriotic songs on bells at various times throughout the day. (I hope they change their music for Christmas.)[2]

Well, the email's acting weird today, and I don't know how much longer I have. So, I'll close now.

Love,

Elder Melville

extra time

It seems I do have a little extra time but I don't know how much.

I got Kadee's announcement this week. Congratulations to them for getting m=
arried in St. George.[3]

I am always excited for holidays. For Halloween we are having a district me=
eting that night so we're not among the costumed people. We are allowed t=
o do fun stuff as well during the meeting. The New Year was the most fun =
holiday I've had so far on my mission.

I'm stretching anymore to think of stuff. Sorry. Good job on Allie knowing =
her phone number, goose![4]

Love,

Elder Melville

sorry, me again

OK, sorry this is the third note. I need to be more organized, too.[5]

We had interviews this week and President Clark told me I may be here for a while. I do feel like this is my area, more-so than East Wenatchee at least. There, Elder B. had been there seven months so I felt like it was his area, then with Elder D. it was his first time being senior companion so it went to his head, causing him to be mean and bossy and wanting to take over. Mead I have a special attachment to but I wasn't as good during my second three months there (Elder C. was a wicked, wicked missionary but I didn't realize it at the time). Next week we'll actually be driving through Mead (I think) to go to Zone Conference. That will be a nice reminiscence.


[1] My mom wrote, “Your package:  I am sorry that you have such a dilinquent mother.  I am not even close to sending the rest of the package.  It will be at least another week or two.  If you give us your address is [sic] Ritzville we can send it from here so it gets there on a specific day.  Just let us know what day of the week would be best.”
[2] They did, and I think they even played some Thanksgiving music.
[3] This is my cousin.
[4] My mom’s email to me had said, “Did you see that?  Allie just gave you her phone number.  She has always told us that she doesn't know it, but she just wrote it for you!!  She says to tell you, ‘I go to school, goose.’”
[5] My mom wrote, “What would life be like if I was organized?  Maybe if I live to be 100,,,?”

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