...and why does everyone speak english?
So... I'm back! After taking a bus from Ubon to Bangkok, flying from Bangkok to Tokyo, from Tokyo to Denver, and then to Salt Lake City, I'm back home in Springville. Did I carry my package of American cereal my parents sent me through the entire trip? That's a really specific question, but yes. I did. It is really weird being back here. It kinda feels like I finished my mission, even though I'm still a missionary. But now I get to do whatever I can from a different spot!
PLEASE JUST TRY IT
I've been trying to bring some things I learned from Thailand back home with me. I showed my family the aloha pizza from pizza company and that was a big winner. I'm still working on getting them converted to eating with a fork and spoon, but they'll come around I'm sure.
CAN I RUN IN A SNUGGIE?
Utah is cold, y'all. Very very cold. Having spent the last month of my mission indoors, my rice cheeks got a little bigger. So I decided it would be a good use of time to go running. What have I learned after going on a couple of runs back in Springville? Utah is freezing cold. 30 degrees is significantly less than 105. Trying to breathe the cold Utah air is like trying to breathe in space. Impossible.
WORKING HARD OR HARDLY WORKING?😂😭
One of my biggest questions about this 2 week home quarantine was how I would spend my time. I have about 2 1/2 hours set aside every day for studies but that leaves a lot of time open in my schedule. So what have I done?
- played chess over Facetime
- read Calvin and Hobbes
- played lots of board and card games, only losing when I chose to
- practiced sitting cross-legged. Still working on that one.
- played a lot of guitar. Good news: I can play St Patrick's Day by John Mayer! Bad News: St Patrick's Day was 2 weeks ago.
- sang some hymns in Thai while my sister played piano. Including the Thai national anthem.
- added sriracha on everything I've eaten.
It's been an interesting week.
Quick spiritual thought! This scripture is a little hidden because it's in Omni, one of the bite-sized books in the middle of the Book of Mormon, but I think it's very applicable to the current situation we all kinda go thrown into. Omni 1:26 says, "And now, my beloved brethren, I would that ye should come unto Christ, who is the Holy One of Israel, and partake of his salvation, and the power of his redemption. Yea, come unto him, and offer your whole souls as an offering unto him, and continue in fasting and praying, and endure to the end; and as the Lord liveth ye will be saved." This verse really speaks for itself, but my challenge for everyone reading my email this week (that means you. Don't pretend like you arent being watched through your front camera. There's no backing out now.) is to find Christ! If you haven't reached out in a while, it's time! In a time like this when everything is a little nuts, there's always comfort and peace to be found in your Savior. And He is always happy to offer it. He is there for you, say a sincere prayer tonight.
LAST THINGS LAST
- it is very difficult to not listen to my Spotify now that I'm back home. Here's my profile: sharkwaffles27 go listen to my "peaches" playlist for me.
- I might try to learn to play piano this week. If any masters have tips for me, I'm more than happy to hear any advice.
- I woke up this morning thinking about good tweet ideas. The grind does not stop.
- whether you've read all of my emails all the way through, only read a couple, or just read the first few words and scroll through to see if it's worth it, love ya. Thanks for having my back through this first little bit!
เอ็ลเดอร์ ผลไม้ฝรั่งที่อเมริกา (Elder fruit guava in America)
Elder Barrett
