Dear Mom,

Awwwwwww, I miss you too.  And I don't like having to wait till chooseday either to write emails.  They're kind of a really exciting time of the week.  I'm glad you guys had a real holiday though, and not a bank holiday, whatever the heck that is.  Dad probably would've liked you to spend money on something other than flowers, like Book of Mormons to give out, but I bet he still liked the flowers.

Don't tell me that I'm coming home to chocolate mousse pie being gone.  I may not come home.

Stop verging, you wussface.  Just watch some more HGTV and you'll be fine.  Maybe tell Hank that he's an idiot.  He doesn't seem to care, and actually, he'll probably just like the attention.  Thanks for taking him on a walk.  I know he's an old fart, but I bet he liked it.  And he was probably tired the rest of the day, so it was probably nice for you anyways.

Hey! It's my birthday soon! Woooo! Don't worry about all the letters getting to me on my birthday, you know I've always liked a birthfortnight rather than a birthday. So I'm going to be nineteen! I can go on a mission now! I guess I'm a pretty old fart as well. Tamworth has a zoo, so next Monday, that's where you'll find me, and Elder Lewis and a couple more Elders that are our mates. (Elder Bass and Elder Hess) (Elder Hess lived across the hall from me at Utah State.)  It should be really fun, then I'll take your money, and Elder Lewis out to dinner.  Probably at a Chinese Buffet.  Dad'll probably come too.  He likes that kind of stuff.

My mission president is kind of teeny.  But his spirit is HUGE.  I would say he's probably 5'6'' or 5'7''.  That might be a little generous, I have no idea.  But he's awesome.  He told us not to put our arms around him cause it would make him look even smaller haha.  He ended up speaking for about twenty minutes in sacrament, because some one backed out at the last second.  So he had like zero time to prepare, but he gave a very powerful talk  on ordinary people doing extraodinary things.  He said, and I think this is a quote, "Don't worry about doing hard things, just start them, and be amazed when you've completed them.'' Something like that anyways.  I thought it was cool.  And Sister Rasmussen is the bomb.  She spoils us with sweets all the time.  She brought us a big bag of goodies when they came, and we had zone conference last friday, where we celebrated some birthdays, so I got candy last friday too.  Sweet. Haha get it?  That's one good thing missions are for, practicing your Dad Jokes. 

I'm glad you get to hang out with your children every once in a while.  I'm pretty busy for the next two years.. so I'm sorry, but I'll call you like.. twice a year.  That seems reasonable.  Adrienne can call you twice a day, I'll call you twice a year.

I'm glad tutoring is over.  You probably have like one million antiques roadshows to watch, and HGTV can never we watched too much, right?  I bet you'll just bum around and watch the telly all day, now.  Sounds nice.  I'm also glad that you're getting all boys.  Boys rule and girls drool. Wait, here's another one.  Boys go to Mars to get more candybars, and girls go to Jupiter to get more stupid-er.  Nice.  You have Lone Peak Elementary to thank for those gems.  It's my birthday this week, I'm turning nine. Again.

Okay.  I'll tell you all about Sue.  Sue was found about seven months ago by some Elders named Elder Filipe and Elder Graydon I think.  She's been in some sort of accident, I think, and she suffers with memory-related problems.  She's a single mom in her.. maybe fifties.. or late forties, she has a couple daughtors, and a grandson, I think.  She is a very very nice lady, she lives on benefits in a counsel house on the North side of Tamworth.  (Called Leyfields.) (I live in Glascote.)  She's had a few baptism dates, but either she wasn't ready, or she forgot.. haha yikes. but this one is different.  She's been coming to church every single week, and is excited to be baptized on June 8th.  The spirit has really been helping her learn lately and things are finally starting to click, she says.  She's very shy, but loves to learn.  So the baptism is only going to be us (Elder Lewis and I), the Bishop, and the Robbins (who is the ward misson leader and his wife, and her ward-fellowshippers.)  She loves learning about Christ specifically, so we read a lot of the Gospels with her, and teach her about His miracles.  She's great, and I really do think she's going to get baptized next week.  Elder Lewis has been trying to subliminally persuade her to choose me to baptize her, but I really don't care who it is, as long as she gets it done.  We're excited about Sue. She's awesome.  Pray that she wont be nervous and that she can remember the things we're teaching her.

We did sort of find some one else.  His name is Allen, and he's awesome, he's an artist and he's very Christian.  He does strange abstract art, but I tend to like it more than I dislike it.  He's a former investigator, and was found a couple years ago, I don't know how.  But I guess it ended up with him throwing the missionaries out of his house.  Haha, we can kinda see why.  Our first visit with him, he told us a story about getting stranded in Siberia, knowing no Russian, with no translators, and feeling very very alone.  He ended up leaving the room to cry, and audibly sobbed for about a minute out in the hall behind us.  It was almost humorously loud, so we almost laughed.  But both of us held it in, and realised that he must have gone through some pretty serious stuff.. We learned later that he was held at gunpoint, and they took his passport, but he got it back.  It's a long story, but anyways, I bet at some point something similar happened with the missionaries that found him, and they probably laughed.  He likes us, and we haven't been able to teach a lesson yet, but he wants to hear our beliefs, so I think we're going over there on Thursday morning.  He's going to love the gospel so much, if he accepts it.  He's cool, and I really like him, but I'm going to have to be very mature around him, cause he's pretty.. emotional.  And I think, probably easily offended.  Pray for me.  I'm probably going to need all the help I can get. 

Like I said, President spoke.  His wife didn't. Our district is in three different wards.  (Tamworth, Walsall, and Wylde Green)

And I absolutely loved hanging out with Houston and Megan.  That was soo so fun.  It was crazy talking to them, it made me feel like I was back in the States, and I was just out for a fun night with the family.  She brought me some Cheetohs and I love her for that.  We had a really good time together.  I hope she sent you the pictures.  I'll try again today, but only certain computers let me send pictures, and even then, only sometimes. 

The Rape is in full bloom.  It's really cool, we'll go on train rides and most of the way to places will just be completely yellow.  I have some pictures of that as well.

Kasandra and Jessica will be awesome.  You're right.  Two very opposite ends of the personality spectrum, but they're both going to be great missionaries.  (Tell Kasandra to write me, or get her email from her Mom, and tell me!)(You can do the same with Jessica, but.. I don't really think she'll care as much as Kasandra.)

What else?  We're getting a lot of less actives back to church! So that's awesome! Uhh.. I went on an exchange with one of our new zone leaders (the other two were transferred, one to AP.)  The name of the elder that I went on exchange with was Elder Eppel, and he's from Jo-Burg, South Africa.  He's really a cool cool guy, and we're excited to have these new zone leaders.  Before you ask, he's white. Haha but he has a very smooth accent and was just plain cool, I really liked him.

I love you! I can't think of anything else to tell you!  I'm going to try and send some pictures, but I'm sorry if they don't make it.. You'll see them someday.

 

Lerrrve you,

 

Elder Smart

 

PS Your baby is going to be 19! You must be an old fart like me and Hank.

Parents, 

 We attended sacrament meeting today in Tamworth.  It is always a blessing for us to spend time with the missionaries. Your sons are doing well and working hard. It is a very beautiful day with sunshine and higher temperatures.  Thank you for teaching your sons well and your sacrifice in the time they are away from you. 

Warmly,  President and Sister Rasmussen

Hi Aunt Rosemary!

Houston and i had such fun afternoon with Colton. We were actually able to hang out with him and his companion for about 4 hours. We got to Tamworth around 3:00 and met them at the train station. They gave us a little tour of the city. They showed us the castle and the church (catholic, like a mini cathedral), both were small, but beautiful. We weren't able to go in because pretty much everything is closed on Mondays. We walked through the center of town where all the shops and restaurants are and through one of the parks. They took us to a big building called the snow dome (the picture of us by the lake is right outside of this building). It's an indoor ski slope. It's laughable, really. Not even as big as a bunny hill on one of our mountains in Utah. We watched the skiers and snow boarders for a while. They thought they were pretty hot stuff going off the little jump and catching a few inches of air. I'm sure it's so funny for Colton to see, he being the great snowboarder that he is. He and his companion seem to get a kick out of visiting and watching people, even though it's a tiny little hill, they wish they could try it out.

After that we walked over to a restaurant that Colton's companion, Elder Lewis, had been wanting to try. I actually think it was our only option. Everything is closed from about 3:00-6:00, but this place is open all day. We let the boys order whatever they wanted. This food may have been the closest thing to American food that they have had in a while. It was like an American/Italian place, with it's quality level being comparable to a place like T.G.I. Friday's, in my opinion pretty gross, but they seemed to like it. I'm sure it was a welcome change from all the potatoes and bangers they get to eat.

After Dinner we drove them back to their place so they could change and get ready to go out for the night. We gave Colton a couple of bags of Jalepeno Cheetos, which he was super excited about. We told him if he sends us a list that we can pick up some things for him from the American grocery store on base. 

His companion seems really great. He is enormous, Colton will be safe with him. They get along really well and were both saying that they feel like they have known each other for a long time and plan on hanging out in the future. They were talking about getting into fishing together. Fishing is one of the few recreational activities that they are allowed to do, so they might get some gear, so they can start doing that on P-days. 

It sounds like a tough area. From what they were saying they don't find many people to teach, it's a small city and everyone knows them, so there aren't many who want to hear from them. they have started trying to go out to smaller towns in their area where people don't know them. They are hopeful that that will help get the ball rolling. 

I'm sure you have already heard a lot of this stuff from Colton. Sorry if it's all old news.

We are about an hour and a half from him, so if you ever think of anything we could do, we'd love to help. Like picking something up and sending it to him, or things like that. It would be a lot cheaper for us I'm sure. Especially cause we have access to American shopping here.

Anyway, that's about it, I guess. Hope you are doing well and we can't wait to see you in July!

Love you,

Megan

Hi Aunt Rosemary!

Houston and i had such fun afternoon with Colton. We were actually able to hang out with him and his companion for about 4 hours. We got to Tamworth around 3:00 and met them at the train station. They gave us a little tour of the city. They showed us the castle and the church (catholic, like a mini cathedral), both were small, but beautiful. We weren't able to go in because pretty much everything is closed on Mondays. We walked through the center of town where all the shops and restaurants are and through one of the parks. They took us to a big building called the snow dome (the picture of us by the lake is right outside of this building). It's an indoor ski slope. It's laughable, really. Not even as big as a bunny hill on one of our mountains in Utah. We watched the skiers and snow boarders for a while. They thought they were pretty hot stuff going off the little jump and catching a few inches of air. I'm sure it's so funny for Colton to see, he being the great snowboarder that he is. He and his companion seem to get a kick out of visiting and watching people, even though it's a tiny little hill, they wish they could try it out.

After that we walked over to a restaurant that Colton's companion, Elder Lewis, had been wanting to try. I actually think it was our only option. Everything is closed from about 3:00-6:00, but this place is open all day. We let the boys order whatever they wanted. This food may have been the closest thing to American food that they have had in a while. It was like an American/Italian place, with it's quality level being comparable to a place like T.G.I. Friday's, in my opinion pretty gross, but they seemed to like it. I'm sure it was a welcome change from all the potatoes and bangers they get to eat.

After Dinner we drove them back to their place so they could change and get ready to go out for the night. We gave Colton a couple of bags of Jalepeno Cheetos, which he was super excited about. We told him if he sends us a list that we can pick up some things for him from the American grocery store on base. 

His companion seems really great. He is enormous, Colton will be safe with him. They get along really well and were both saying that they feel like they have known each other for a long time and plan on hanging out in the future. They were talking about getting into fishing together. Fishing is one of the few recreational activities that they are allowed to do, so they might get some gear, so they can start doing that on P-days. 

It sounds like a tough area. From what they were saying they don't find many people to teach, it's a small city and everyone knows them, so there aren't many who want to hear from them. they have started trying to go out to smaller towns in their area where people don't know them. They are hopeful that that will help get the ball rolling. 

I'm sure you have already heard a lot of this stuff from Colton. Sorry if it's all old news.

We are about an hour and a half from him, so if you ever think of anything we could do, we'd love to help. Like picking something up and sending it to him, or things like that. It would be a lot cheaper for us I'm sure. Especially cause we have access to American shopping here.

Anyway, that's about it, I guess. Hope you are doing well and we can't wait to see you in July!

Love you,

Megan

Hey Mum,

Sounds like the birthday idea went well.

Haha, obviously all that praise has gone to my head, have you seen the size of my noggin?  If you can't remember, just ask Aaron how big my head is.  I like his similes.  I think the last one I remember is, "It's the size of the freakin Titanic!" Sounds about right.

Missionary work is going! We got a new investigator (sort of) and he's really cool!  He's a former investigator, and he's really active in whatever church he goes to now, but he likes us, and we've visited twice with him.  The first time, he was telling us a story and got so emotional, that he left the room, and we heard audible sobs.  Sometimes missionary work is funny, but sometimes you have to keep a straight face.  I did pretty well.

The Lord's the man.  One of my favorite things I was told in the MTC was that "Heavenly Father and Jesus love us all equally, he just loves his missionaries more equally."  Haaa.

Frankfurt matches Gregory for some reason.  He's going to be a good missionary.  Eli on the other hand?  We should probably just keep him home.  Just kidding, he'll be okay.  Canada is going to make him sound so funny. He'll spurt off some of his proud, intelligent rants, and then add a big Canadian Eh?! at the end.  I think God has a pretty awesome sense of humour. Humor.  Well.. actually, humour, for the next 22 months.  And manoeuvre.  That one gets me.

That's very sad about Jan.  I love those two.  Give them my best, and I'll keep them in my prayers.  It would be cool to explain the Plan of Salvation to them though.

Thanks for telling me about your nasty nasts getting frozen off.  Actually we've had to go to hospital this week as well.  Elder Lewis is getting like the reverse of whatever skin thing Adrienne has.  He has dark spots that have been spreading over his body for a while, and we decided he should probably get them checked out.  I saw a skin tag forming on my neck the other day I think.. I was shaving at the time.. So.. I don't have a skin tag anymore.  Haha
Thanks for taking care of my dog.  And my niece. I like them both.  One more than the other. You'll have to guess which, though.

The Dowlings are rad.

I did hear about President Monson's wife.  That's way sad.  We had a cool stake conference, where we got to watch a broadcast that went all over the UK.  Our local seventy spoke as well as Elder Scott and President Eyring.  It was awesome, and all about how we should treat women, and how women should treat themselves.  It was very good.  You should look that up, maybe somebody wrote it down.  You'd like the talks.

So yeah! Megan and Houston came over and hung out with us yesterday! It was awesome!  I'll try and send you a picture, but it was awesome, and I loved it and I love them.  they're the coolest, and we had a good time.  They brought me cheetohs.  I think they were heaven-sent--The Truebloods and the Cheetohs.

Anyways.. Life's good. I'm a missionary. aaaaand.. I'm in England. So that's cool.

 

I love you Momma!

-Elder Smart

We were able to Skype with Colton on Mother's Day!  He is doing great!  We had a nice chat. He didn't really write a letter to post this week since we spoke yesterday.  His 19th birthday is coming up on June 2nd.  If anyone would like to send him a card or write him a letter, he would love that.  His address is:     Elder Colton Smart

                     30 Furness
                     Glascote
                     Tamworth
                      Staffs
                      B77 2QG
                      England, UK
or his email is:   csmart@myldsmail.net  and it is okay for anyone to email him now.  The brethren said.
He would also like to be part of your prayers.  English people are reluctant to listen to missionaries.  Please pray for the people to listen.

Mum!

I don't think the pink trees have bloomed yet.  The white ones have.  They're my favorite. I'll try to find out both their names.  No raping fields.  Thanks for not missing a week. It really helps.  I thought I put the times of skyping on last week's email.  I must not have.  I will be signing on to Elder Lewis's account, and I'll call you.  I need to know what your account name is though, so I can reach you.  I'm skyping from my Bishop's house and we get two or three hours each to skype, so we'll have some time.  You can meet Elder Lewis and maybe my bishop and his family.  They're super awesome.  I hope you can meet them.  I will be getting on around 3:00 or 3:30 England Time.  So you should be ready at 8:00am. It's not four am but it's early ish.  But that's my time slot.  It wasn't thirteen appointments, it was thirteen potentials.  So people that talked to us on the street that generally said we could stop by their house, or give them a call.  some of them canceled, and we've had a super busy week this week, so we haven't really gotten around to them, but this week, including today, we're going to go out and get ahold of them.

Taylor's going to Santiago? That's awesome!! He's going to be so great.  Does that mean that Lexi knows what's happening with her life? Is she getting married?

The Ericson's moved?!?! What?! That makes me incredibly sad.  They're some of my very favorite people.  Where'd they move to? BOO. Tell them to move back, or I'm coming home.  Not really. But tell them I'm super mad at them.

Nope. I haven't bought anything.  I think I will get a pair of shoes soon though.  And I'll probably get another suit when it gets cold, but I just don't even use my one suit except for Church and District Meeting.  So.. I don't really need two right now.

What I did need, and bought, were football cleats. Soccer football. We play a lot on P Days.  I actually really like football. I always thought I did, but now I have a reason to.  I've decided that I'm going to support Totenham.  They're a London team, and I think they're cool.

I'll get you those pictures next week.

I'm glad that you like working in the temple!  I thought you would get to do something cool like that.  When we come back to England after my mission can we go to both temples? that would be sooo dang cool.  There's one in Preston and one in London. 

You look very fit (hot) in your Capital clothes.  I think that's way clever haha.  I'm way sad that I'm missing those movies while I'm gone though.  I loved those books.

I'm sort of bigger, not fat. Cmon. And it's because of the delicious chocolate.  Nothing like the poison that America calls chocolate. I eat a lot of sweets. A hell of a lot. That's not even sort of swearing here. Nor is damn.  My bishop said it over the pulpit. In his testimony.  I'll probably come back saying both of them.  That's okay with me.  Probably not with you, though.

I like all food.

Members feed us a lot. You can stop asking me that one.

Sister Dowling is a wonderful cook.

My patriarchal blessing says that I'll wake up in the night knowing that I've been conversing with angels.  That definitely hasn't happened yet.  But I do dream.  and I like dreaming.

I don't dream about Dad very often, no. So you don't have to be jealous.

I see President about every... fortnight? We do our district meetings in the chapel right next to the mission home. and yes, I write him every single week, right before you, so I wont forget.

Write a list of every question in the whole world you can think of for me, so that I can tell you over skype.  That would relieve these humongous emails where I only answer questions the whole time, and I could actually tell you what's happening in my life.  Haha, that would be great.

Okay.  I'll talk to you on Sunday.  I love your guts. Remember to email me back and tell me the name of your skype account and the email it uses.  Then just be ready at 8am your time.  That's when I'll be getting on.

I love you!

 

Elder Smart