Hello Mother!

This week was good weather and bad missionary work.  We went out and got work done, but then got cancelled on or flogged by everyone and their moms.  That about sums up the week.  But hey, the sun's out, and I'm enjoying life.

To answer your questions:

It's Spring here.

I feel relatively better, but not by much, but I can't tell if that's because of allergies now.  My nose wasn't stuffed up for a few days when I was on the amoxicillin, and it's not as much now, but I have the occasional cough (five times a day?), so I'm not super sure what's wrong with me.

We are not winning the contest anymore, but we will.  We didn't get one challenge because we got cancelled on.  The challenge was to get a new investigator, and we rescheduled this guy three times, and finally he said he'd get in touch with us soon. Boo. Our appointment was for yesterday at five, and he cancelled at four.  The challenge ended at nine.  Lame.  The new challenge is to recite the first vision to five different people and we get a bonus point if we do one of them to a homeless man. Ha.

No Matt and Hailey updates.  One of these weeks I'm just going to send pictures of us and them at their baptism though. They're that close, even without being taught.

Pal is still good.  He couldn't come to church yesterday because he was working.  (He's a pharmacist.) But we're meeting with him tonight, and we're going to show him how to stop smoking.  By the way, I can totally coach people to not smoke now.  Cool eh?  So that'll be good, I hope he really goes for it.  I want him to get his answer so bad.

Other nationalities either flogged or cancelled.

We find people on the street most often.  We ride up to some one on our bikes and I say "Hello! How are you today?"  Most of the time they just stare at us until they're far enough to just say "Alright." and keep walking.  Some people stop, and give reasonable answers.  Then I say "We're the missionaries in Wolverhampton (or wherever I am at the moment (Willenhall, Wednesfield.. mostly Wolverhampton.)) and we're just out today asking people if they have a belief in God. Do you, sir?"  Then we get all kinds of answers and based on what they say we go from there.  Sometimes it's a "Hello sir!" "I'm busy." "Oh okay! Well, can we get your phone number so we can call you later?" Haha.  Sometimes it works.  You'd be surprised what information you can get when you surprise people.  I'm pretty sure I could steal everyone's identities if I needed to.

The weather is nicer.

I don't ever have sushi. I would have sushi, but there isn't any here.  Because they suck.

You did tell me that Julie is probably starting at Waterford, but I don't think I responded because I meet a lot of people that will probably call me sometime later.  Or probably would like to hear about God.  Probably doesn't really peak my interest anymore.  I'm a black or white kind of person these days.  I'd love to hear if she really does have the job.  You'd love that.

That was all the question marks. Now I'll address your statements.

Mom! I've been here a year now! Crazy!  This time last year we were at Tucanos! This time next year can we be there as well? In fact, as soon as I get off the plane can we go there? England doesn't know food.

But hey! Thursday is my year mark!  And yes. Things happen on year marks.  Elder Allred and I are going to get together and burn a shirt! Woo! (It's tradition.  6 Months: Burn a tie. 12 Months: Burn a shirt. 18 Months: Burn some trousers. 24 Months: Burn everything except what you're taking home.)  I didn't do the tie, and I wont be doing the trousers unless I have some ripped up ones. Which I might. I have a stained shirt that I'll be sending off this Thursday.  I think I'll probably go and get some Chicken Tikka meat with Garlic Mayo and Spici Chili sauce all over it from the chippy right by me as well.  Yum.

It's also Ange's birthday on Wednesday. That was a rough day a year ago.  If you get the chance, tell her Happy Birthday from me. (And probably you, too.)  I'm slowly getting more and more comfortable with my decision.  I still don't like it.  But I don't think I will, so I'm just getting over it.  That's all I have to say about that. 

I think it's funny how much you love Elder Dyches.  I've shaken his hand before.  Neener neener.

Did I tell you about Elder Toshira though?  Look up every one of his talks.  He is amazing.  He came and talked to us a couple weeks ago.  He's the European Area President, and he and his wife are pretty much the coolest.

Forgive Dad, it wasn't his fault.

This week was rough with the missionary work.  To be completely honest, we just were discouraged when we'd ride all the way out to some one's flat, and they weren't there, or they'd text us and cancel, then we have to go back to what we do for the rest of the day, which is find. And finding is pretty discouraging.  Probably one in four people talk to us, one in four of those stop and say more than three words and have a conversation with us, probably about 75% of those we make an appointment with, and of those, probably one in six hold the appointment, and then about 75% of those invite us back.  So we don't have super good odds, but it's about the best odds we have of all our finding, unfortunately.  So while you pray that I can find people to teach, will you also pray that I can overcome the discouragement?  Thanks Mom.

Peru will be so cool.  I'm way jealous.

You're right about Uncle Doug.  I was wrong.  (Soak it in.  This is the first time I've ever been wrong, and it'll probably be the last.)

I'm not as sure people even sort of care that I'm originally from England.  Thanks for the idea though!  I like hearing what you think people would like to hear.  Give me some more ideas!

The "Special Mission" that Hailey went on is pretty common over here.  They're called mini-missions and most eighteen year old boys go on one before they go on their real mission over here.  Basically they just go live with the missionaries in their ward for a week, and do missionary work.   It's fun.  I haven't got to do it with some one yet.  But maybe!

She'll go somewhere super cool though. I'm excited to hear where!

Does Jamey have an awesome beard still?

The divorce news is the best news.  I'm really glad that's final.  Is everything good with it? Tell me some details on it, please.

It sounds like your life is pretty good right now.  Keep it up.  Good lives are good.

Nigel.  He's the best car.  Not really, but he's super reliable, and I liked him a lot.  Sitting in the driver's seat of that car is like one of my most relaxed places in the entire world.  I miss driving a lot.  A lot a lot. Bikes are good, and my legs look really fit, but I want a car so dang bad.  Cars are the best things. I do love Nigel a lot.  How much did you sell him for? Ten dollars? Twenty?

That's basically my life right now.  I have the best present in the world for Eli.  Don't tell anyone, and sorry I'm just going to have to do it, cause it will make his whole life, but this kid in my ward showed me that you can buy one square foot of land in Scotland, and it gives you the title of Lord.  So he'll be Lord Eli of Sandy, or something like that.  He'll die.  I have to figure out when his birthday is though.  Cause I definitely have no idea.  I think it's in March sometime.  I email with his Dad every once in a while so I'll just ask him.

Anyways, I love you!

Have a grand week!

Love,

Elder Smart