New Companion Week

My new companion is named Elder Vernon, he is from South Carolina, but his parents moved to England while he has been in the field. He is alot of fun and he is also the new District Leader. But he has never been in a walking, white area, so it is very boring for him to be walking everywhere and not having tons of members or investigators. It is really weird without Elder Barton, Elder Vernon has a completely diffrent approach to missionary work. Also Elder Barton is a legand in the mission, so some people are intimidated by me because he trained me so I have alot of his tendancys. I really miss Elder Barton though we became best friends. The week was alot of fun tons of finding time. Miss Cole is crazy, she is alot of fun but she isn't all there. I do not know anything about your other teachers, Austin. We have to be in at 9:00 so Elder Barton would have appointment or go tracking until then. But Elder Vernon is used to being in when it gets dark because he has only served in townships, so we are normal in by 8:00. Its a really different transition of companions. Its a pretty nice sized area, not that big though. It is more of a residental town, there are almost no stores or any thing. There is a placed call Retail Park, and it is a shopping center, kind of like the Walmart area on Greenfield and Mckellips. We get fast food every so often. Elder Barton and I never went out to eat except maybe on Monday. I have used all the Rand that you sent me but I don't need any more. We can drink soda if we want but some missionaries choose not to. They don't have diet Coke but they have regular Coke. I have not sent the card yet I am tring to find some time to do so. I don't need any goodies now, if I get transfered next transfer I would not be able to bring it with me because of weight. My ankle is doing fine, I do not really wear the brace to often only if it gets sore. I am still wearing my retainers somewhat often. I took my black suit to the Dry Cleaners, but I have not done the Blue suit because I only wear it at Zone Conferences. I iron every day. Two of my socks are getting holes in them, and one of my pants the metal clasp broke. I don't need any gravy or taco mixes. I did get the recipes that you sent and thank you very much for them, I can't make the Sweet Pork because we don't have any type of Mexican chillies. But we still can make salsa. Some books that you could send me are: The Great Apostacy by James E Talmage and also The Articles of Faith by James E Talmage. Both of those book use to be in the mission libary but got taken out. I know Elder Pauna, Elder Burridge,and Elder Cobia. I know about Elder Bond, Elder Hogg,and Elder Wild. I have lost at least twenty pounds. I need to remember to get you Elder Bartons Email address, when I do can you send him what you send to everyone else?

Love
Braden

What an amazing week!

Elder Barton went home today. He left for Cape Town this morning at 11:00. Today for p-day we are just going to hang out at the flat and play some games. I am feeling fine, I had the bug for about a week and a few days. Not bad at all. I did buy some pictures. Elder Pauna was in my MTC group, he served in mdanstane. I see him every once in a while. I am in the East London Zone. I get my new companion on Tuesday, his name is Elder Vernon. Elder Vernon trained my MTC companion. But I am still in Beacon Bay! We e-mail at an Internet cafe called Virtual Spot. We get one hour to e-mail. We are not supposed to have a video camera, but sometimes we can do it with our picture cameras. This week I got a letter from the family, and from Aunt Teddy. I don't need anything right now, and I still have some snacks left. The suit case is in the mission home. I only get a letter from them every other week. I met the new Mission President about 3 weeks ago. The weather down here is really humid and is pretty hot as well, but nothing is for sure the weather changes so fast that in three minutes it could be pouring rain.

This week was amazing. We had one investigator sms(text) us and say that she wants to repent and be baptised. We found another man who committed to live the word of wisdom in our first visit. Another guy found out that the Book of Mormon is true in one day. The down side to last week was we had to drop Papama Namba. Our star investigator, his girlfriend doesn't like us because one of the members offended her. I am really going to miss Elder Barton, we became best friends.
Love you all,
Braden