Letter from Tacoma #4: November 23, 2015

Hahaha, oh what fun it has been to log onto this library computer and find more letters than just from Mom and Dad. It's great to hear from everyone else... well, almost everyone!

But wow, I'm already moving on to week 5 out here. It's hard to believe I'm almost at the end of this transfer, and even harder to believe I've been away from home for more than a month! Part of me hopes the rest of the time here just flies by and I can come back home to everyone, but another part of me that can only happen if I turn my focus and actions towards the people out here. I've been trying my best to do that, so I guess I'm starting to see one of many of the benefits from it.

Hey, Eric! Great to hear from you. Haha, but sorry, I had no luck whatsoever in finding you in that crowd... maybe if you held up your tuba a bit higher, but then that'd be too easy and what's the fun in that? That's awesome how you played in the veteran's day parade! Kind of makes me wish I kept up my practice with my trumpet and actually went into marching band. It seems exciting!

It's great to see Lori again, even in just pictures! Also, Go Fresno! (I've never actually been a fan of Fresno, but I still gotta root for them because of their name. Seriously, "Fres-no", It's just fun to say. Fre-sno, Fresn-o, I love it! It just rolls right off the tongue!)

Haha, thanks for the letter, Brandon! Glad to know you shaved... though I'm a bit skeptical since you never showed me any evidence that you did. Oh well, I think I'll just let bearded bygones be bearded bygones. (P.S: Nice job crushing Ryan in Smash Bros! And Ryan, come on! How'd you lose to Brandon with Lucas and everything?! LOL!)

Oh yeah, this week is Thanksgiving, isn't it? And that's when we all move out of the old house. *Sigh* Well, since we're in the spirit of gratitude, I'm thankful to have been able to spend the majority of my life and upbringing in that home. Even though I'm nowhere near home right now, I can feel the air of sadness in leaving it for a new place all the way here in Washington, and I'll truly miss that house... Heh, I'm getting a little teary-eyed now as I'm writing this, just by thinking this will be the last holiday my family will spend there. (There you go, Brandon, I have cried before, and I just about did now)

But now that I think about it, the circumstance kind of reminds me of when God told Lehi to leave his home with his family. True, it isn't because it'll be destroyed or anything, and nobody will be going to live in tents in the wilderness, but the same feeling can be had. Just think, this was where Lehi and Sariah raised their children with love and care; this was where their family grew; This was the home that Nephi, Sam, Lamen, and Lemuel all grew up in, with good memories of their own. No doubt they all felt the same thing about their home as we do now leaving our house... Heck, maybe that was part of the reason why Lamen and Lemuel were bitter about following Lehi into the wilderness. They were the eldest, so they would have had more memories there than Nephi or Sam, but I'm not saying that was the only reason. Their hearts were more upon their riches they left at home too. But hey, that's just a thought that came to me.

Anyways, despite the changes that are happening back home, it doesn't mean we won't be able to enjoy the holidays ahead, especially the one where we give thanks for all that we have and the blessings that we enjoy. Already, I'm excited for Thanksgiving out here! Our ward mission leader and his family are taking Elder Hansen and I to breakfast that morning, and for the rest of the day, we'll be going from member to member's homes, and sharing some spiritual thoughts and commitments while they share what they will from their tables in the spirit of gratitude. I honestly can't wait!

Though, still no new investigators yet, but we did talk to a few people who seemed interested, but we have yet to follow up on them. Actually, just recently we've been trying to track down some less active members, along with the help of some of the members. One of the members that have been helping us is Sis. Metcalf, part of the Relief Society Presidency. Just yesterday, she invited us over for dinner and then to talk about any less active sisters we've come into contact with. But when we got there, we were instantly met by her dog: the biggest, living, breathing chunk of canine flesh I have ever seen in my entire life! I mean, this dog is huge! Massive! If they tell us missionaries to watch out for bears in the woods, I'd tell them we're safe where we are, cause a bear would not come within fifty miles of this dog. The best part is that this dog has been appropriately named "Crush". Honestly, I'm just beside myself at how big Crush is. Just by standing on all fours, his head comes just and inch below my armpit, and when he growls or barks, it's more akin to a lion roaring or a thunderclap... or probably a hybrid of the two. (I swear, my ribs just rattled in my chest from a bark directed at me!)

But no worries, Crush is actually one of the most gentle dogs I've met out here. Ironically, Sis Metcalf was just telling Elder Hansen and I about how he'll find wild rabbits, catch them in his mouth, bring them back to the porch, only to let them go, completely unscathed but terrified. As the little rabbits hop away though, Crush will nonchalantly follow them, pick them up in his mouth before they get too far, and bring them back to the porch again. I was laughing so hard when Sis Metcalf told me this would keep going until she or Bro. Metcalf shows up and stops Crush from going after the 

rabbit again!

You really get to see some bizarre stuff out on a mission, like Crush as an example. I'll definitely be writing home about anything else entertaining that happens. Speaking of which, sorry Mom if you didn't like me mentioning getting guns pulled on me. I only say that in good humor, mostly because I know I wasn't in any danger during those times. I've only ever seen two guns while out here, one of which was from my Ward Mission Leader as a prank (I'll have to tell you about that one later. Kind of hilarious!), and the other was a regular guy who was a bit scared to hear someone at his door, but he knew about LDS missionaries and he realized he had no reason to be scared when he saw us. I'm sorry if I made you or anyone else worry, I wasn't being very sensitive, so I promise I won't joke about that anymore... except if it's a pretty good story, then you know I have to tell about it!

Anyways, I'm just about out of time, so it's time to sign off. I'll attach a photo below of Elder Hansen with Crush (Keep in mind that Elder Hansen is just a couple inches taller than me), so you all can get a good look.

I love you all! Can't wait to hear about Thanksgiving back home next Monday!

Thanks for reading!

Elder R. Austin Moe