Dec 9, 2013

Hey Guys!

 

I love the Pictures of the snow you guys all look like you are having fun haha I especially like the redneck kayaking pictures. It is crazy that is snowed like that and especially the fact that they cancelled church haha that does have to be a first. Sidney is awesome, I love that she barks at the nativity. It is weird that Christmas is coming up, it is so hot here. It is the wet season here too, so it honestly rains every day. It will be hot until about 4 or 5 o'clock and then it will storm. Yesterday Elder Wheatley and I got caught out in a rainstorm while we were on our bikes, I will attach some pictures but they don't come close to showing how muddy and drenched we were. Madi thank you for all of your letters, I got three of them this week! It is honestly really nice to get letters, I love them haha I have all of them in a crate under my desk.

 

 

This week was actually a pretty slow week. On Tuesday I had to go to a New Missionary Orientation Meeting, it was actually nice because they give you a little bit of time out in the field to see how things are and then they call you back in and tell you how they should be. The meeting was nice, I actually learned a lot about South Africa and a lot about the kind of work we need to focus and how to carry myself as a Missionary. Following the meeting though my companion and I were stranded at the mission office for about 2 and half hours. We need to bring in one of the mission cars to be taken for a tune up and to have the battery checked (it had trouble starting) and they took it to the shop while we were in the meeting. After we finished they told us it would be a while before they got the car back to the office so we could drive home, we ended up just doing odd jobs for the senior couples until the car came back. Then we got lost driving around Johannesburg for a while trying to find our way home haha. It was an interesting day and it kind of sums up how the whole week went. I did get to spend some more time out of my area this week though. I was in a Township called Etwatwa, it is where I had my first Kota, but I can't remember if I had told you all about it. I love the area, I told you guys about the kids there and how funny they are. It is always a humbling experience to get to go into some of the homes in the area. We honestly are so blessed to have all the thing we do. I am touched by the kindness and generosity of the people towards us when they have so little. The best thing about Etwatwa is that you just always get to see something weird. To be honest there are a ton of drunks in the Area and they always love to come and talk to the missionaries. I had this one guy who was probably about 90 years old kiss my hand about ten times while I was shaking his, I have had kids try to steal my shoes haha, I have seen rats bigger than squeaker (Love you Grandma), and I have met some of the most genuinely friendly and happy people in the world. I am blessed to be in South Africa and I am here for a reason.

 

So there are a few more things that I forgot to mention about South Africa in my previous emails. They Love KFC here haha, like seriously there are more KFC's in South Africa than I have ever seen. It is dang good though haha, and really cheap here. Also not very many people have washers and dryers (in certain areas), but we at least have a washer but we hang dry all of our clothes. I think you guys would like the keys here, I will send pictures, they are really old fashioned (South Africa has an interesting mix of old and new). I am still adjusting to everything but I really do love the people here, I wish that you all could see the things I get to see on a daily basis. The few pictures that I send just don't do it justice, I love you all and can't wait to hear from you again.

 

Elder Malloy

 

Dad-So I am sending home Christmas Presents today, sorry it is probably going to be expensive don't hate me. I got to see part of the Houston Texans vs Jaguars game this week haha, it was on at a members house that we has to swing buy to pick up something.

 

Mom-I love you, thank you for the gratitude journal and the scripture marker...You're the best

 

Logan- Nice picture of you in the Kayak...Love you brother

 

Taylor-Also nice picture of you in the Kayak, and thanks so much for your email, Africa has been pretty good to me so far. How are you and the rest of the family?

 

Abby-I love you Abby! Write me a letter!

 

Madi-I hung your picture of the family up on my wall by my desk. I love you moose!

 

Pim-You are still awesome, I bet you had so much fun in the snow. I hung up one of your letters on my wall too. I love you.

 

Sidney-I love you Squib, I wish I could see you barking at the Nativity.

 

Tara- Thank you so much for the email, I love hearing from the family! Letters are great and so are emails. I love letters because I can keep them, but email is faster and easier on your end. I am glad that you guys enjoy the blog, sorry this week is a little lame haha

 

Mom+Dad- I forgot to mention this is my last letter, if you get the chance can you please send me my brown glasses, my nike sunglasses and my nike pro-combat sleeves? I know those sound like weird requests and no rush on them. Thank you guys, I love you.