On Mon, Nov 11, 2013 at 11:55 AM, Colton Reed Smart ‪<csmart@myldsmail.net>‬ wrote:

Hey Momma,

I miss you too.  You like me.  People I try and stop on the street in the dark, cold, rainy nights, generally don't.  But I always think of Paul.  He's a better missionary than I am, but I'm working on it.  He says in Acts that he's happy to suffer shame, or pain, or suffer, for Jesus, because Christ did so much for us.  Paul is cool, and while reading through the Acts, can it be much more obvious that the laying on of hands is necessary for the Gift of the Holy Ghost?  I'm pretty sure that we are one of the only churches, if not the only church, to practice that.  Kinda narrows down the choices, at least in my head. But I guess if we're proving any church right, then I can only think of one that performs Baptisms for the Dead.. which is also found in the bible..  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints wins.  And will continue to win. Forever.  Cool.

Oh, Nigel.  What a character.  Will you send him over here?  I could use a car.  It's wet here.  There's a person named Nigel in our branch.. but he's got some.. learning difficulties? Is that the proper way to say that?  Whenever we visit him he just asks us the whole time if Eminem and Michael Jackson will make it to the Celestial Kingdom, which inevitably leads to him asking if he's going to make it to the Celestial Kingdom.  Those visits are.. fun.  He usually kicks us out when he's had enough of us, but then invites us back in before we've gone.  We usually just take the opportunity to leave.

I'm a dream child right now.  Music to my ears.  Favorite child? Definitely.  And now I know, all it takes is moving to a different country and only talking to you once a week through email.  Haha just kidding.  I miss talking to all of you.  I miss America.  Everything is so much cheaper.  I can't wait to get a 99 cent double cheeseburger and spicy mcchicken when I get home, and the best part will be walking away and not feeling like I spent my whole week's money at McD's.

Have I ever told you that I hate rain?  If not, let me.  I hate rain.  I know that's not the right attitude, or whatever, but I do.  It's cold, and wet, and awful.  I can deal with snow, and I can deal with cold, and I can deal with pretty well everything but rain.  I hate it, and it hates missionary work.  It also hates happiness, and fun, and puppies.  Okay, I don't know if it hates puppies. But the rest of the stuff? Definitely.

I don't have an umbrella.  I don't really know if I like them, because they're somewhat imposing when you're on a doorstep or approaching people on the street.  At the same time.. A soggy missionary isn't super approachable either.. I usually just wear water proof clothing with warm clothing underneath, and everything in my backpack goes in plastic bags.  Soooooo.. yeah.  I do sometimes wear a scarf as a kidney warmer.  I also passed that on to Elder Wrenger and he does it always.  We didn't get me gloves.  Probably best we didn't.  I think all I want is those little cheepos that we always get, and then I'm going to cut off the ends of the fingers.  Cause gloves are just a nuisance if they have fingers in my line of work.  I do wear a beanie.  I love beanies.  They're so comfy, in fact, before I bought myself a duvet, I wore a full sweatsuit with a beanie and my hood on, and that was pretty comfy.  I often change into that when I get home for the night.

I'm supposed to be happy and nice.  But I'm also supposed to tell the truth, so maybe I just wont say anything about the branch.  No, I'm kidding.  They're alright.  Some of them just aren't really concerned with their responsibilities.. which makes missionary work pretty hard.  Because some of the unconcerned are leaders, but oh well.  That happens.  We have a few families that I like here, but only one or two people like Tamworth ward.  I miss Tamworth.  I think if I get the choice, I'll want to go back there at the end of my mission.  Friends with the Branch President? I'd say we're associates.  He's a very busy guy.  He's finishing up becoming a General Practitioner, and has a young family and a new baby.. so I understand, but sometimes it's a bit frustrating.

Leamington is a nice city.  Things don't get stolen as much as you think.  Coventry is where my bike got stolen, and that's a mean city.  I am currently not stolen, nor do I think it will happen.  We're really safe here Momma, don't worry.  I think I'm going to get transferred out of here right before Christmas though.  In about four weeks.  We'll see, but that's just my premonition, I guess.

Elder Lewis goes home in about ten days.  It's crazy.  I barely could comprehend when we were split up, so I'm sure I'm not going to be able to swallow that he's back in the States.  He taught this family here, who is friends with one of my friends back home, and now has been proxy invited to one of my high-school friend's wedding, this person also happens to be Angela's best friend, so Elder Lewis and Ange will be running into each other pretty soon.  That's weird.

I am just now hearing about the huge earthquake and typhoons and stuff in the Philippines, and that makes me way sad.  That's not what those fabulous people need.  I hope all my missionary friends are okay.  I think they're out of harm's way.  I can't think of any I know in Tacloban.  Maybe this girl that I almost dated.  But I don't remember.  I hope my area didn't get hit too hard.  Those little huts that my children live in wouldn't make it.

Well, I have to get off for a few minutes.  I'll finish this email in about fifteen minutes.

I love you Momma!