Y'all'a'momons???

**So this is just some emailing back and forth that we finally did on Tuesday. I didn't get an actual 'email' so I pieced this together. He sounds well.  He likes both his companion and the new area. 

Hello Beautiful woman! no, I couldn't. It was mlk Jr. day, and the library was closed. I only have two 55 min sessions and I have 27 left on the first one. I might come back later for the second session. I really hope you get this on your phone! I love you!!! I miss you SOOO much!

(I had asked several questions that he started to answer.)

ok. so, yes. its hot. My shirts look rank. before long theyre going to look as bad as Hansen's.

Something funny..we were walking last night and we saw two thug-ish men walking toward us. they yelled, "y'all'a'momons. huh?" We said ya. They said have a good two years and kept going. They were dressed like missionaries. Well. like someone who was trying to make fun of a missionary. White shirts, khaki pants, and buttons instead of tags. We were a little weirded out. We found out later that they were going around talking to people about the bible. It actually depressed me a ton. I got super angry. That wasn't really funny. ok...We were walking out of the apartment, it was really dark, when I heard something crawling up a tree. I just thought it was a squirrel, but it still scared me. (the squirrels here are really big.) So I looked over and screamed outloud. There was this GIANT rat climbing up the tree. Turns out it was a possum. (they're pretty much r.o.u.s.'s, though. disgusting.) I sat there and took pictures of it while shrum walked around trying not to cry and being freaked out about it. he has a phobia of rats, so the possum was super difficult or him. 

 

What do I eat? Well we eat Subway. The members only feed us about 2-3 times a week. if we're lucky. So we have to get ourselves stuff. I still make a lot of chicken and rice. And I eat 4 eggs every morning. With a small cup of cereal. I'm not eating as well as I'd like, but it's whatever. I'm losing weight. a bit. I'm trying to copy Shrum's diet. So I'll trim up even more from that.

It is the hardest. Mom, do you remember the hill going up to Lexi's house. That's my entire area. Its so hard. My legs are getting huge. My pants are tighter. I hate my phixie, but I'm going to deal with it. (*His bike is a 'Phixie'.)  Its better for me. Shrum and I live alone. President doesn't really like putting missionaries together. too much fun;)  Ya, it's a wealthy area. I  literally live 10 mins away from LA. I really, REALLY like this area, though. This is the only place that I've seen this whole time that I would actually want to live. It's like Herriman up higher on the hill and like a small version of slc at the bottom. But it's like the gaslamp and the district also. I really like it. I think I told you in the letter. We have a baptism. Kind of. Non-active family that has a 9 year old who wants to be dunked. Its still good, though. The area is REALLY picking up. Moving really quickly. BOY DID WE WORK last week. It was hard, and strange, but we hauled.

 

Tarzana. I lived in Reseda, but my area was Tarzana. Do I like the area more? Yes. But the Tarzana ward was the greatest thing on earth and I miss it a ton. I'm in the Burbank 2nd ward.

Well, I need to go. I love you. I miss you a ton!!!!!!! I would really like a letter from clayton. I really miss him. I miss all of you. I'll talk to you next week. BYe.

Elder sharp

Anxiously Checking the Mail Each Day

Came across this picture today.  I seriously miss him!!

Headed.... To a 'Bike' Area

Hey Sharp Fam!

 

This was an interesting week. I knew it was the last one with elder hansen, but I didnt really think I would be leaving Tarzana. I said I was and I tried to convice myself that I was so that I wouldnt be too depressed when it actually happened, but it didnt work. Im leaving, and I hate it. I got the call Saturday telling me that I was headed to a bike area. I really dont even care about that part. My legs are going to get huge, but thats about all that will change. Im just sad to be leaving. I really never thought I could learn to love a place so much. Learn to love a group of people. (The ward. Im still struggling to love the people here in the valley. I dont have a specific culture that I can learn to love. Its just like learning to love people. Just PEOPLE. Everyone. Thats why I am having such a hard time with it.) In my patriarchal blessing, it talks about how I will grow a love for the people here like I've never felt before. A love I've never known. I thought that was funny. One of my spiritual gifts is that of love (also in the blessing). I thought that I had loved in all the ways. Except for parent stuff. Obviously, I was really wrong. I truly love the ward. I was telling someone in my email, "its like leaving home all over again. Like leaving a giant group of your closest friends." Totally how I feel. I absolutely hate this.

 

And leaving Elder Hansen is hard too. I know I will see him again, a few times, but that is like leaving all of my brothers again. But not quite as bad. I love him, but it doesnt compare to my brothers. Its weird. I really have no time. I emailed a few people and I have less time than usual. Transfers are AWFUL!

 

We went on two different exchanges this week. One with the assistants and another with a trouble elder from the district. Some people.. It was rough. I loved going with Elder Wright, though. He's the AP from Coleville Utah. Such a good missionary! I love him! I learned so much about talking with everyone and really bearing your testimony when you talk with them. That is, with true doctrine.  It's the only way that we'll be able to bring the Spirit to people. Im sorry, Im super distracted.

 

I'll talk to you later. I have to go. I love you. I'll write you tomorrow from my new address and tell you what really happened this week.

Elder sharp

What Does the Fox Say

Hello wonderful Family!!

 

It sounds like you guys have a fantastic week. Seeing the family, skiing, adding on to the house, buying the masks for the What does the Fox say? (I really wish you guys would have redone that. Also, I made that HUGE in our ward. Apparently they hadnt heard about it, so I showed it to C and everyone started watching).    It sounds like a blast.  

 

I miss Brigham soo much. Im not able to see the video that you sent to me. Sorry. Its on youtube and the computer wont even let me get on it. I really wish that I could have, though. What was the song?? I saw a little bit of the movie at the C's house. I read that and I was grinning the whole time. It made me so happy. That really is the greatest family. and she is a fantastic girl. I met her a few times, but if she's anything like her mother then she's the best any of us have ever found. I really love the Ws. E sent me a Christmas card. It was so nice to hear from her. Shes a gem. The fact that she is a master pianist doesnt shock me at all. Thats totally W. They are the best. I wish I could have heard them singing to Brig. What a hunk. That kid is going to get sooo many girls when he gets back from his mission. Cuss. Im jealous. 

 

Speaking of Brig, the papers. I dont know how I feel about that. I dont want to have to wait to see him. At all. But I also know how hard that is going to be on you and dad.  What are the other reasons that you dont want him leaving so soon? I feel like as soon as Preston comes home you'll be a lot better. Him being there is going to be so good. Haha:) wow. Thinking about his homecoming is making me get teary. I just think its crazy how quickly time is going. It has crawled by, but for some reason this week I've felt like I have so little time left. Its like a tiny bit of time before Preston gets home and Im only a few months after him. Crazy!!!!

 

This week was pretty good. I had a LOT of changing experiences. I learned a lot. We had another exchange with the ZL's. I went with Elder Schroppel. He is a good missionary. I learned how to really "teach when You Find" I had a lot of REALLY good studies, too. I found out that unconditional love is not the same thing as charity. Not even close. I dont know if I really have charity for anyone. That sounds terrible, but thats how it is. Charity is Loving someone more than anything else. Actually, I wont go into it. I could go on for a while. I've also been reading a lot about the fulness of the Gospel. And a bunch of other stuff. I cant WAIT to go home and talk to Preston about all the things that we've both learned out here. And you and Dad, because I expect to have long late nights when I get home. So ya. Study up;) I love studying the gopel. Its so amazing that we can never stop learning. I believe it, because I know so little, but its so crazy. No other Church is like that. We will one day know all, but never in this life and not for a VERY long time.  Anyway, I've been learning a lot. Studying is not bad. Its not like I have to work out and make breakfast to get a break from the Gospel. Those are actually just things I have to do until I can study. They're whatever. Studying is really when you grow your relationship with Father and His Son and learn about the incredible plan that they've set up for us to become like them. Thats one of the most important parts of the mission. Having good studies where you're really learning something, and making it a spiritual experience that making your testimony stronger.

 

I have lots more to say, but I'm out of time. I love you guys!

Elder Sharp #2

Goooood Week!!

Well.....After skyping emailing is the Worst!!!!!! Hate it.

I really dont know what to say. Especially after reading the two amazing letters from you and Preston.  They were so good.

 

OK. Well this week was really nice. We went caroling like twice with the Williams and the rest of the posse. That a group of three families in the ward. The Rs, Cs, and Ws. They are like at least as close as the furious 4 used to be. They go on vacations and stuff with each other. Its cool. They're all SUPER wealthy, so they can do whatever they want all the time. Anyway. We went with them. Ill write you about the experience we had. It was cool. So we ate really well all three nights. Christmas eve we ate at the Ws. So good. I flipping love that family. So funny. We watched the nativity. Have you ever heard of that one? Its super long. Just the story of Everything that leads up to it. Christmas was the greatest. I am looking forward to skyping in May. Its going to be so good. You're right.. It wasn't the most ideal thing to have the ipad, but at least it worked out. I miss him so much. Its hard. I got off and wanted to just sit there and cry. I almost did. But that would have been a little awkward for the Cs.

 

It was interesting to watch hansen do his. I love him so much and I'm so grateful for the chance to be his companion, but I think I'm ready for the transfer. Its not for another two weeks and I'm grateful for that, but I want to go somewhere where we can actually baptize. I really need that. Working so hard and seeing so little result  for the last two months has been taxing. I REALLY hope I get sent to Van Nuys. That would be the greatest thing ever! I hear that they don't EVER have to go tracting because they're always getting member referrals and teaching lessons. That would be so nice. GIVE THE MISSIONARIES REFERRALS!! That's such a wonderful thing to do. Please do it for me. I could go anywhere, but I really hope that its somewhere super poor and ghetto. That would be SO nice. Its not too dangerous anywhere around here, so I want to go to the worst areas we have. I don't know though. There are so many rich areas in the mission. I know for a fact I'm leaving, though. I feel it and so does the rest of the district. If I didn't leave that would mean that Hansen would leave and that I would become the District leader, and I really don't want that to happen. But I don't think that it will. But we'll see what happens. Ill tell you how it goes.

 

The rest of the week was alright. We worked and knocked. And we went on two different exchanges. That kind of sucked. I went to the area in the mission that is the #1 porn city in the world. Chattsworth. I was with a brand new elder that didn't really know what he was doing, so I had to lead and find and do everything on my own. AND we were on bike. It was terrible. I don't really like doing exchanges. Whatever. We went to church, taught the lesson for the youth and watched Saturday's Warrior in church!! In the cultural center. The bishop was teaching the lesson. SO good. I was laughing out loud the whole time. So were half of everyone else. Whatever. SO FUNNY.

 

Oh ya. I got a package from Brianna. SOOOO AWESOME!!  She is the greatest!!  Ya. Its really weird that she's actually leaving. And alexis and kelsi and emma and everyone. And its even funnier to think that they're all going to be back before I am. That is really strange.

 

Ya, this week went really well. We found a few new investigators. We always do each week. Now we'll just see how long they last. Usually we'll get 2-3 every week and then we'll lose them a week later. People just don't want to stick with it.

 

OK. Elder Hansen just looked up the whole gay marriage thing in Utah. That has been a huge thing. I really cant believe that. It honestly makes me want to cry. How could a the court system over-rule that even though there is no possible way that the people would vote that in. Whats the story on that?? I honestly want to cry right now. Utah is like my home. My own little paradise. My pearl away from all of this filth and ...evil. It hurts to hear about it. 

 

Ok. I have to go. LOVE YOU!!! I miss you so, so much. I'm glad I'm here, but I wish that I could be home right now. You are the best! 

 

Elder Sharp#2