Letter from Tacoma #98: September 13, 2017

Hey, family and friends!

So, start of the new transfer! I got my new companion, Elder Scow!... And I completely spaced and forgot to take a picture of him... oh well, you'll get one next week then.

Sorry that I'm emailing on Wednesday, rather than Monday, but last Monday we had a mission tour taking the place of P-day. It was really cool, because Elder Benjamin de Hoyos of the Seventy came and spoke to us. He's originally from Mexico, and he's still learning English, but he still gave a way good training about effectively finding people. He really emphasized visiting members and teaching them the missionary lessons, so that they can feel the spirit of missionary work and have it with them when the opportunity to share with their friends finally does come.

But yeah, I'm enjoying being with Elder Scow. He's probably the most charitable companion I've ever had. He just loves everyone and he's very sincere... but on the flip side, he's still pretty new, and he has a lot of questions that he keeps asking me. I enjoy it, but it is A LOT of questions. I'm sure we'll have a good time this transfer.

I'm also a DL. Last week I got to conduct a full District Meeting. And to my surprise, the AP's showed up for it. That was great, because they had a lot to contribute to the meeting, and I think it really helped improve it. Then later that week on Friday, I went to Tacoma for New District Leader Training. There were a lot of great things taught about servant leadership, and I'll be sure to apply them

Unfortunately, this week went by way sloooooooooow! Ever since transfers, I've just been feeling these constant aches and random pains everywhere in my body. They've made it hard to work, since I'm on bike again this transfer. The pain just saps my energy, so I've been dead tired all week. Don't worry about me, though. I'm busy working it out with the mission nurse. She thinks I might have Fibromyalgia, and my body is reacting to stress with chronic pain. It makes sense, but the problem is that normal pain relievers, even in larger doses, don't really help. So she's way confused about that. But we're working on it

But because of that, I've had to go back to the apartment a few times each day to rest until I'm feeling good enough to work. It really sucks, because I feel like I'm not getting enough done, but if I didn't rest, I wouldn't be coherent enough to do the work. So basically I'm starting to feel a little useless. At least I'm getting nearer to the end of the mission, so I don't have to feel that way for too long.

Oh yeah, but in the midst of me being miserable like that, I got a package from home!!! Thanks Mom and Dad! The snacks and the card were what I really needed at that point! I miss everybody so much, so getting things like that really make me feel closer to home. I'm so glad I have such a great family to support me while I'm serving.

Here's a few pictures from a more recent time:

My last two companions taking pictures of sheep right by where we parked to go tracting. It was a pretty funny sight.

Our District last transfer​:

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Found a bush with a face!!

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And something fun I wanted to do for my last few emails: I want to send home my six favorite songs to listen to out here, one each week in each of my emails. 

Love you all!

Thanks for reading!

-Elder R. Austin Moe

Wa-Tac Missionary