Mission Update -- 10/29/08

Here's an edited version of Elder M's email. We've been asking him to tell us about his investigators or people he randomly mentions in his emails, and he spent a lot of the email telling us about them (lots of really nice things -- they sound like wonderful people), but I'm not going to duplicate all of that here. So....here is the email with all of that removed.

Hola family,
It's been good to hear from you today! I'm here at the Gilman library at the same computer that doesn't write sometimes, so forgive me if half a word is missing! I had to sit here because this is the only computer that prints... And the man that lives downstairs from us is being evicted for 'gross overuse of water,' amongst other reasons, and wants a written statement that we live in the same house and are using water. We called the mission office, and they okayed it, so now I have to type up a letter head. Fun stuff!
I just got some letters today, which were fun to read! Thanks for sending them, and thank Sue for sending all those pictures! They were fun to look at. I can't remember if it was Mom or Grandma that was talking about the people here, and how I sometimes mention some random people like Grandma Willow. Sorry I'm not so clear on all the people we visit! The obscure Grandma Willow is actually one of the people we spend the most time with! I'll type up a little bit about everyone right here: [He gave us a little paragraph about each person.]
So there's the investigators we visit pretty regularly. We spend a lot of our time doing service for them, which has been a good way to strengthen their relationship with missionaries in general. We also spend a lot of our time doing service for less active members. One of the main goals of missionary work is reactivation. There are a lot of less active members in Watseka, so we go around and try to get ahold of them alot, which is a lot harder than it sounds! We also go around trying to find people, but most people around here are pretty cold towards the Church. It's really sad, especially since the Church did so much for them when it flooded. We get some one time visits, but get stuffed pretty regularly.
So work could be going better, but we're always optimistic! Especially because we recently had two missionaries return! Derrin has been home for a while now, but has been very sick. We still haven't been able to go out with him because he's had some bad tonsilitus, and is going into surgery to get his tonsils out! Phil's back, and we'll probably go out with him tomorrow! We went around town with him, and met his family (none of whom are LDS), which was very good. They're all nice, and very excited for Phil to be home. He's got more people for us to meet, so that will be awesome! People are infinitely more willing to have us teach them when someone else brings us to them.
Elder Adair and I have been doing alright this last week too. We both got sick, which hasn't been fun, but are finally feeling better today. We've bought and consumed a LOT of cold medicine! We didn't see investigators that much until yesterday, but no one want's sickos in their house... Especally not our older folks.
On Monday, we found out that there was a mall in Bourbonnais. This was ironic, because we had traveled to the next town into the city to get my coat. We had been told there weren't any good shops in Bourbonnais, but there was actually the same store I bought my coat at. Elder Adair had been dreaming of a coat he saw when I bought mine, so we went over there after District Meeting so he could get it. I got a towell because I left my second one at the MTC. My towell is HUGE! It covers from my neck to my knee, and wraps around me two times. It's pretty insane, but is soft and I like it alot. I still have to buy a beanie and some gloves, so I'll get those after Zone Activity next week. We have it in Joliet.
So, I also had Zone Conference this week. It was in Naperville, which is incredibly far away. Like three hours far a way. We had to wake up at 4 AM to get there. It was really good, but we were beat at the end of the day. Actually, in retrospect, I'm sure that's what got us sick! We're ok now, and have some good notes in our binders, so we're set!
I'm not sure what we'll do [for Halloween]. We're thinking about going to a member's house to pass out candy or something, but who knows. We'll have to pass out pass a long cards too :-) . The branch is not having a Halloween party... We just had two for the returning missionaries, so they're partied out for a while!
This Friday is going to be pretty exciting... Watseka made the playoffs, and it's their first game. It's against Central, which is up in Chebanse or something, so it's in our area. We watch the games with Mark and Nancy Clutteur, Derrin, and Pat. They should win because some big time player on Central just got injured.
Caitlin, good luck at your regional meet! Tell me how you do! Tell me how Homecoming goes too, and send a picture!
Dad, I'm glad you're reading the book of Mormon! You're going to beat me to the finish of it! I'm reading it really slow and in depth, marking a lot and writing notes and stuff. It's pretty fun, and definitely helps me to remember key points and doctrine.
Our temple trip is whenever we want. We just have to find someone to take us, and will go in the next week or two. There aren't many members that go from Watseka, so we may end up carpooling with the Bourbonnais Elders. We're pretty excited about going!
Well, I ought to write up this letter for Roger, our neighbor that's being evicted!
I love you a lot and am so grateful you're in my life! I love the Lord, and love to serve Him. I'm so grateful for my opportunity to share the Restored Gospel, and to see how it affects lives. I have a testimony that it brings families together, and am grateful we had it in ours. I know that the Lord died for all of our sins, and am so grateful for that. By ourselves we can only make it to the Terestial Kingdom... but we can all make it to the Celestial through Christ.
Love you,
Elder Bradley Edward McMullin