March 7, 2013

Dad and Family,

     I decided to rewrite this letter.  I got confused as to where I was in the first one.  I've been pretty busy the last little while and I've barely had time to write in my journal.
     So I can't remember quite everything I've told you so far.  But I was moved to my apartment on Feb 14.  It's in a city called Dublin.  The apartment is really nice.  We have a clubhouse with a gym and a computer room.  It makes it a lot easier to email and work out.
     The city of Dublin is a wealthy area.  There are huge houses and lots of millionaires.  I don't know if you or the boys know who Urban Meyers is.  But he lives around the corner from us.  As does Jack Nicklaus, one of the worlds best golfers.  In fact, he lives on a golf course right here that he designed himself.  The P.G.A. President's Cup will be held in September (maybe it's October) on his course.  And if I'm still in the area I'm allowed to go watch it.  (The actual event is too expensive, but I can go to the practices.)
     Anyway, the area is nice.  It's a tough place to tract into though.  The people are all pretty content with where they are in life right now.  Which means they don't care what we have to say.  We still haven't found anyone to teach.  Tracting seems to be pretty much good for nothing around here, so we are really trying to work with the members to find people (that they know) to teach.
     We have been able to meet witha lot of the ward members and go over their family mission plans.  But we still haven't really found any families to teach from the members referrals.  It's a bit furstrating.  But in time will find someone.  And I still think the ward is our best route to finding.
     The ward is really great here.   Everyone is super nice and really cool.  Lots of them do cool things too.  Like on Saturday (the 9th), one ward member is making us breakfast and then having us help him build a plane.  A "hobby of mine" he told us.  There are also a lot of members with guitars.  So I've been able to play a little.  We have also had members sign up to feed us dinner every day except 2 days ago (Tuesday) so far.  The ward mission leader is really cool and it's been fun working with him.
     Also, you may or may not know we had a car in our area.  And according to the members there has been a car in this area for as long as they can remember.  But some sisters came into an area that needed a car, so they took it from us.  Oh well.  We do a lot of riding now.
     Alright, a few random thoughts.  First of all on my mission, the Tommy Emmanuel CD is not approved.  So what I owuld like is if you could send me good arrangements of hymns and primary songs.  I'm pretty sure you already have some acapella stuff.  And then anything else you can find that isn't cheesy.  Also, what was that western called that we watched that opened with the train station scene and (silence), and the cowboy trying to get rid of that fly?  Also... I would really like it if you kept track of movies that come out that look even somewhat good.  If that's not a big problem.
     And finally, a story.  The other day my companion and I went to our clubhouse to use the computers for emailing.  However, both computers were in use.  So to pass the time we went to the vending machine out back to get Coke.  It cost $1.25 per bottle.  I just got regular Coke.  Then my companion got a Cherry Coke.  But when he pushed the button the machine started shooting out Coke!  Not only that, but it sprayed out quarters as well.  In the end, we got $2 back in quarters and five cokes (including the one I purchased).  Basically we got 5 Cokes for 50 cents.  Nice.
     Tell everyone hello.  Hope things are going well. 
                                Love you,

                                               Jamison