Week Seven

When Andrew doesn't send me e-mails I'm just going to send him random junk now.  And before I forget I have been informed that I'm not allowed to use the G-mail chat feature with you guys.  I'm not in trouble because I didn't know but yeah I can't do that anymore, sorry.

Also before I forget, I totally keep forgetting to tell you guys that there is a senior couple here, Elder and Sister Larson (I don't know their first names), and I found out that we are indeed related.  Elder Larson is a descendant of Mons Larson's second wife whereas we are descendants of the first.  I knew when they said that they were from Arizona that there's a chance we're probably related so I checked and we indeed are.  I asked them if they've met Theo Larson and they said they have at a family reunion.  So cool stuff.

I'm actually really beating myself up because I've been wondering for some time now why Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing was taken out of the Hymn book AND THAT WAS A LITERALLY PERFECT OPPORTUNITY TO ASK AND I FORGOT (the fireside with the music chairman Brother Klopfer).  My guess though is because most of the folk like hymns like Amazing Grace and such aren't in there anymore, and I think Come Thou Fount falls under that category.  Plus I don't think they knew at the time that it would be like one of the most requested songs by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

(Brian's note: The church has never given an official reason why some hymns were left out other than to indicate that they followed the spirit and there were too many hymns to include all of them in the book.)

So I'm finally on really good terms with my roommates now.  We always got along just fine but now we're actually really good at having conversations now.  And then I got the word on Wednesday that Elder Scotto and I are moving out...I guess that's how a mission works.  At least I will still be in the same building though.  Even though I have to haul my junk up two flights of stairs.

My roommates don't really share their stuff with me, which is totally fine with me because I'm a believer in buy what you want and then eat it.  So when they were freaking out about how much candy I had and trying to steal it from me it really upset me.  They were mainly just fooling around though.

For my birthday can you get me a pocket Hymn book?  Because I really want one of those.  Or you can just send me a gift card for Deseret Book and I can buy one there.  I'd like a blue one.  I'm planning to eat at Crown Burger for my birthday and I've already got a group of Elders that are willing to go with me.

Well we're not shopping at Wal-mart again today because of another freak snowstorm bursting out of the ether from nowhere.  Looks like it's another horrid Harmon's run!  (At least I have my own bags now.)

I got a letter from Mariah on Wednesday which really cheered me up because I wasn't expecting anything since you and dad were gone.  She's going on a mission to Helsinki, Finland in April.  To quote Patrick, "FINLAND!"  Because that's pretty much how I reacted.

Another thing I've been meaning to show you guys before I forget.  President Peterson (the mission president) gave a talk in the 2001 October conference that was pretty good, so I'll share that with you:

http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2001/10/our-actions-determine-our-character?lang=eng&query=wayne+s.+peterson

And he had an article in the December 2003 Friend:

http://www.lds.org/friend/2003/12/friend-to-friend-live-worthy-to-return-home?lang=eng&query=wayne+s.+peterson

A lot [of] missionaries say that they can see their mission president becoming a general authority, and my mission president already was one! Yay!

They're going to start assigning me to help patrons this week so I can finally say I'm doing that.  I still have to train for Ireland, Scotland, and Australia because I still only know how to do England and Wales, but since the majority of patrons are there for that they think I'm ready to start helping.

Anyway I finally have some pictures so here you go:

(Eric's roommates - Elder Simpson, Elder Scotto, and Elder Peterson. Elder Peterson is the district leader)

(Eric with Elder Davis, who is an assistant to the president. Eric didn't say who is in the background.)

(Eric says, "Elder Simpson asked me to take a picture of him being sexy...")

(Eric says, "This is Elder Simpson taking a picture of me with my camera and not getting the hint that I'm trying to get ready to go to bed.)

(This is Elder Tabor, who usually greets people as they come into the library.)

(This is where Eric works while he is being trained.)

(This is where Eric will work to help patrons.)

(Eric says, "The break room in the British Staff area.  There's usually about 1 or 2 Seniors asleep in here.")

(Eric says, "Another part of the break room.  This is where I blow my nose all day.")

(Eric says, "We have many shelves that contain what I believe to be the most boring books you will ever find. They have lots of useful information, but you'd have to be nuts to pick one up for leisure reading.")

(Eric says, "My side of the room.  Since I have two calenders the year will go by twice as fast!  That's how math works right?")

(Elder Scotto's side of the room.)

(Elder Davis petting an inflatable cat.)