Jan. 19, 2009: First week in Tennessee

Hey, so you were right, my P-day is Monday. I got the jump rope and everything else, thanks for all that, including the letter. I spent the first day, last Monday, at the mission home and the mission office just sorta sitting around. Then Tuesday was transfer day and we got assigned our trainer and our area. My trainer is Elder Hansen from South Jordan, Utah, and I'm serving in the smallest area of the mission, and the area with the least baptisms, 3 last year. It's Hendersonville, Tennessee. It's comprised of two peninsulas and a little bit of mainland before it turns into Gallatin, Tennessee. Elder Hansen and his last companion, Elder Pearson, pretty much depleted the teaching pool here in Hendersonville for two reasons, the first being that President Hutchings was going to shut the area down if they didnt get 'enough' baptisms and because Elder Pearson was going home. So this week we've done a LOT of tracting. I'm pretty good at door approaches now because Elder Hansen lets/makes me knock all the doors. It's good experience and I'm willing, so it's not bad at all. The big tracting story of the week is that I knocked on Taylor Swif'ts door, if you know who she is. Her mom answered the door and said that they weren't interested in hearing about Jesus Christ... bummer.

So in our finding efforts we got 8 new investigators last week. One of them went into knee replacement surgery this morning and I gave him a blessing last night, and we met him on Saturday. His name is Hans and he's Catholic, part of the Knights of Columbus order. Then we're teaching Ed & Vicki. Ed is an ex-communicated member of one year who wants to get re-baptized and Vicki is his wife. They've both committed to stop smoking and are doing really well it seems.

Mom was wrong; it's cold here. But I still love you :) If you wouldn't mind, I'd love it if you could send a few things for me. First of all my jacket liner. Then if I could get some dark solid color sweaters with a V neck that would be awesome as well. They need to be solid and dark so they go with my slacks, and they need to be a V neck so they can see my tie. If you could also send some thermal pants that would rock as well.

Streets here in Tennessee are messed up!! I have yet to find a single road that goes straight. Not only can they not go straight but they're not based off any organized numerical or name system! Its completely random! There are even several streets here in Hendersonville that have up to 6 names, and then there are two streets in different parts of the town that both have the same name! It's ridiculous. So president has recommended that we get a GPS. Elder Hansen has one so we're fine for now, but speculation is unless they whitewash Hendersonville I'll be taking over the area next transfer because Elder Hansen has been here since the beginning of his mission in August. So if you could price some quality but cheap GPS systems for me, that would be fantastic as well. Elder Hansen has a Tom Tom and I really like that, but I also like low cost.

Thanks for your support and prayers. I love you all and hope you have a fantastic week.

Love,
Elder Carpenter