Dear Family,
First of all, the exciting news: I can now send pictures again through email! Of course, today I completely spaced bringing my USB cord along with me so I can't send any today but I will be sure to bring it next week. Printing and sending pictures costs a lot here so I'm definitely excited that I can just do it through email.
Newton Aycliffe is a fun little town. Everyone in the town itself knows missionaries and all about the church. The only time that anyone ever stops to talk to us is when they have just moved in, and they still don't know who we are. Elder Perkins and I have decided to (of course) clean out the area book because it is an absolute mess, and visit everyone in there who is willing to hear our message still. After that, we will be traveling a lot to the outskirts of our area, to places like Bishop Auckland and Spennymoor where missionaries have been too lazy in the past to go. Apparently Elder Perkins and Elder Schneider (who I just replaced) made a trip out to Bishop Auckland just before I came in, and they had a lot of success finding new people to teach, so we're excited about that.
Elder Perkins is from Tennessee, and he is a lot of fun to be around. He's a little more relaxed than some companions I've had, which is sometimes a good thing and sometimes not. However, is he most definitely a really hard worker and I'm looking forward to the next transfer. He does talk quite a bit about what he's going to do when he gets home though, and so I'm glad that it's me stuck with him and not some other missionary who's super homesick, because it's hard for some missionaries to be with other missionaries who are going home soon. Doesn't bother me though, I just laugh when he tells about all the pranks he's planning to pull on the missionaries in his area when he gets back.
I can't believe Wal-Mart is finished though. That sure was fast. It'll be old news by the time I get back, just like everything else that's going on now. How is the stake center coming along?
I've got a question for you - have you heard of Jane Reaper? She is the daughter of the McKartles (at least I think that is their name). You know, the Patriarch in our ward that died just before I left. Well apparently she was in the Newton Aycliffe ward for about 3 years, but then she left to go back to the States when she heard that her father was not doing well. I don't even know if she's still in Oregon, but if you know where she is somehow, you should let her know where I am right now. That'll be exciting news for her, I think. She might know a Sister Orchard.
I'm not sure when you're sending the care package that Dad mentioned, but just so you know, the last package was pretty much perfect and I wouldn't change anything. Except for all the gum. I have enough gum now to last me for about a year. I don't know if Mom can get some ink refills for the pens she sent me, but if that is possible that would be great. Ink refills are usually cheaper than buying the pens themselves, if they even exist.
I hit my 6-month mark just last Thursday, and apparently you're supposed to burn a tie after 6 months. I don't know if I mentioned that at all before. So I might just burn one of the ugly English ties that I picked up in my last area, if I do I'll try to send you a video or something, or at least a few pictures. Elder Perkins insists on it happening.
Well, the ward here is great, the work looks like it's moving forward a bit more, and next week I will absolutely send some pictures of Beverly and maybe Newton Aycliffe.
Love,
Elder Alsop
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