We really enjoyed reading our mail this week. Thomas is assigned to Gateshead up near the Scottish border. We really loved traveling in that area in August of 2004. The green rolling hills can surely bring peace to the soul and a smile to my face! I don't think we ever saw so many sheep in our lives as we did during our drive through the UK! I can really picture him walking those hilly streets in the cold and rain. Good thing he's from Oregon!
Dear Family-
So much to talk about and seemingly so little time. Now that I'm out in the field we head down to a library and use the computers there for an hour, it's the maximum they allow. So twice the time for email, if we feel like using it all.
So, first things first. I haven't recieved the care package yet but I wanted to make a note about it, if it's not something you're doing already. At the mission office, they made a really important point - don't ever list the contents of a package you send to a missionary. Just put "gift", or something like "toys" because if you list what is in the box specifically they will tax you a ridiculous amount. One missionary had to get a camera sent from home, which cost his parents roughly $100 to purchase. They sent the camera over and listed the package to be a "camera" and the missionary receiving it was taxed 90 pounds! Way more than the camera was worth. So they just warn us to tell whoever wants to send a package that they list it as something generic like "gift", if you're not doing that already. I hope you did that for the package you sent me, yikes if you didn't.
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So, time to report. On Wednesday morning, early, all the Leeds missionaries (18 of us) headed up to the Leeds mission office where they briefly told us about mission-specific rules, such as part in the hair, shoulder bag, etc. and they also told us about the whole package thing. Not too much exciting stuff there, just lots of sitting and listening, and an interview with the mission president, President Stock.
After that we went to the mission home where we were served lunch, which was absolutely delicious. We had some sort of barbacue shredded chicken burgers, potato salad, fruit, and for dessert an amazing English pudding that was semi-heavy so I ate all the remnants that other missionaries didn't want. It seems to be a very common dessert idea to have some sort of bread-derivitave like a muffin or crumble cake, crumbled up in a bowl and topped with custard (which is basically hot American "pudding"). It's really good and I think it's something I'll keep with me my whole life, once I learn how to make it.
My first proselyting area is Gateshead, way up near the Scotland border. They have a VERY DIFFICULT accent up here that the missionaries call "Jordey". It's pretty much a thick Scottish accent. The people here are very nice, however, but also very fixed in their religions. Church of England, Roman-Catholics, and Atheism seem to be the only categories of religion here besides Muslim (who we're not supposed to teach) and a large community of Orthodox Jews around our flat (who won't speak to us, even when I yell "Shalom!"). We have quite a few investigators at the moment and the hardest part is definitely getting them to church, but I am really coming to love the people here very quickly, and feeling so sorry for them every time they wave us away. I've hardly noticed the time fly.
My companion's name is Elder Johnson. He's from Utah and he's only been the field for about 7 1/2 months, a very short time to be a trainer. He walks fast, which is sometimes difficult for me because of asthma and they fact that around Gateshead the people love to build EVERYTHING on enormous hills. At least there are buses going to far away places, so it gives me a chance to rest after an exhausting 2 or 3 hours of walking around street contacting on these gigantic hills everywhere.
I forgot my camera at the flat so unfortunately I don't have any pictures for you guys. I have taken a few of the flat and the area around, but I seem to have forgotten to take pictures of myself anyway so they probably wouldn't do too much good.I'll send some pictures next week for sure. One positive thing about the hills everywhere is that we have a great view of the whole valley sometimes. It's quite a sprawling residential area, and when it gets dark you can see lights everywhere in the valley. Sometimes I just want to stop and look at it, but we have to keep moving.
One person who I thought I'd talk about is an elderly lady who she insists the missionaries call "Mama Ives". She's a member of the church but she hasn't gone to church in a long time due to her old, sick dog that she always has to take care of. His name is Andy, he's coming on 18 years old, and I'm pretty sure if Mama Ives left him alone for more than 2 hours he would definitely move on. But she loves having the missionaries over every Sunday night, and always sends them away with a few bags of food, including some quiches that she makes herself, which are delicious. Right now I'm working on getting her the sacrament each Sunday because for some reason no one has even thought of bringing it to her before, even though it's been months since she's been to church. I talked to her about it last night and she said she would love it.
I've heard this comment from quite a few people we're working with, so I think I'll pass it on - people think I look like a native Englishman or Irishman, right up until the point where I start talking. So at least I don't stick out like a sore thumb, like I'm sure I would if I had been called to somewhere like the Tongan mission. I'll have to work on my accent a little more, apparently. Like I said, it's way different up here.
We had a baptism last Thursday, right after I arrived in the area. I can't claim any credit of course, but it was a great experience to know what I can do as a missionary. His name is Chris and he works with disabled children for a living. He is such a great guy and it's no wonder he accepted the gospel, he's practically been living it for the past few years. There aren't many people here in England who live close to the standards of the gospel, but every once in a while you come across someone who you know has been prepared by our Heavenly Father to accept the gospel and what we have to say, and every time that happens my testimony grows just a little more. It's hard work, but it's wonderful work.
So, in summary, I'm doing just great over here. I'm loving the work and I'm catching on really quick to the customs and everything, so nothing to worry about just yet. No sickness, though plenty of sniffling colds. My hair is still deciding if it truly wants to part somewhere in there. My llama is still alive, though no scarf yet, and he watches over me when I sleep so I know that I'm safe. Apparently we're going to golf with a couple other companionships as well today, so that will be fun I hope.
I have run out of time. Good luck, stay safe, and encourage everyone to send plenty of letters. It's a measure of how cool you are over here. :)
Love,
Elder Alsop
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