Dear Lyzette,
I'm so sorry for not writing sooner! You have no idea how busy I've been! Remember finals week? You know, that week when your dog got sick, the car broke down...yea, that week.Multiply that by ten! It's crazy! My family dropped me off, I said goodbye, and my head has been turning left and right ever since! I'm learning all the basics about teaching others, and I have to say, it's a bit scary. I thought I knew all there is to know- boy was I wrong. It's nice at the training center here, certainly one of the more pleasant places I've stayed. Oh! My partner's name is Tom. Erm, or rather, Elder Johnson. That's going to take some getting use to.I'm sorry for the short letter, but we don't have that much time to write. My laundry is about done, and then it's off to dinner and then more practice teaching! I hope everything is going well!
Love you,
Ork.

Dear Lyzette,
Thank you so much for your letters! Don't think for a minute that I don't read every one of them! I just can't write a long response, so I hope you forgive me for that.I started writing this when I was still in the Training Center, but I never got a chance to send it! So, this is my first official preparation day in the field.Holy cow. Since when did this happen? My partner seems to know everything! Then again, he's been here for over five months. I wonder if I'll help coordinate this area after a few transfers...Anyhow, not much time left. We have to go grocery shopping in a few minutes. I guess no more mac and cheese every day for lunch.Oh, we have a car, thank goodness. I feel sorry for the other missionaries- they have bikes....It was 90 degrees today.Haven't taught anyone yet, but then again, it's only been three days. Gotta go! Love you!
Love you,
Ork

Dear Lyzette,
Thank you for the banana bread! It's a nice change, seeing as how my cooking is...well... you remembered what happened with the popcorn, and the eggs...yea.It's been a few months, and I know my letters haven't been that long, so I'll try to explain a bit here. We found a family that is interested! The mother and father seem a bit more interested than the kids (then again, being teenage guys...I can see why.) I'm the one helping in the area now, since my last partner got transferred. My current fellow missionary is a newer guy...well, relatively speaking. He entered the Training Center a few weeks after me.Oh, in other news, we got chased out of a yard today...by a chihuahua. In my defense, it sounded a LOT bigger when it echoed from behind the house....It's crazy....I don't think it has sunk in that I'm on a mission yet..even though I'm like...a fourth done already.
Weird.

We have a few people that are interested, which makes up for knocking doors a lot. It's a lot harder than I thought...even after a few months.Uh oh. I think----yep, the garbage disposal is making demonic noises again. I think it's possessed.
Love you!
-Ork

Dear Lyzette,
Over halfway there....jeez. I can't thank you enough for the letters and the random edible gifts! It's really nice to come home and find a package, especially on those days when it's been raining....I'm in a bike area now, so lots of exercise! Lots, and lots, of exercise. I mentioned it a letter...ish ago, and I attached a picture. I got to baptize someone! That family I mentioned a few letters ago? They dropped off the grid for a few months, but when they became interested again, they requested I come back for the baptism! I might get to go back in another month or two to baptize their sons, who are now also interested.I've mentioned it before, but I can't state enough how awesome this has been. It's been hard...but times seeing someone's face light up when they realize the message we share is true...it's just...awesome is the only word I can think of to describe it.
Bike broke down today. Had to walk all the way home. Five miles. On the bright side, talked to a random guy on the street, and he seems interested! We'll see how things go. We're going back in a few days.Signing off, and thank you again for all your support.
Love you,
Ork.

Dear Lyzette...
Guess what? I got to baptize those two guys I mentioned a few letters ago! We have this area going really well- the members of the church like us, I think, because they've introduced us to a few of their friends to teach!Apparently, other missionaries don't have it this good...lots of door knocking. We haven't knocked a single door all week! Woohoo!I'm starting to officially get into the mission 'groove' I guess. Going home is coming up...it's weird- I'm excited, but at the same time, it's really fulfilling to be here...not sure what to think.Remember how I use to be so nervous when you ask questions about the church, and I was so-so on the answers? Not anymore! It feels...really good to be able to answer questions with confidence.
Well, gotta go.
Love you (as always,)
-Ork

Hey. Lyzette.
Things have been crazy this past month. I've been helping some other missionaries get ready to manage the area- and ensuring that the members of the church are ready and willing to help them. So far, we've got lots of potential people to investigate, and a few people that seem genuinely interested.Oh, by the way...
I love you...and I'll SEE YOU IN A WEEK!!!!!!!!!
-Ork.

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