Happy September :D

Dear Everyone,

Hey, the temple was great today!  It was really the spiritual re-charge that I had been needing.  I love the peace that is there and the silence almost hurts my ears because of the noise that I am so accustomed to.  After we walked out of the temple, we met some missionaries that still are in the CCM.  I asked one of them if he knew an Elder Despain.  He said that Elder Despain was his district leader, so I asked him to go get him for me.  Right about then, our bus to leave started to take off.  I haggled an extra two minutes and right then he came running up and we got to talk for a few minutes!  It was kind of weird to see him to be honest - but way cool as well!  He had that excited, pumped up, new missionary kind of feel that is kind of like a breath of fresh air.  He already knew a little about my area, so we talked a little about that.  He asked me a few questions, and then we had to take off - but it was really fun while it lasted!  I didn't get to test out his Spanish or anything like I wanted to, but he seems to be doing really well.  How cool would it be if I could train him this next transfer?  It is a decent sized group, so chances are that I might train - so we'll see I guess.

     
So, apart from the temple, the week has been pretty crazy.  It turns out that our now in-active secretary was paying the bills for the house with the tithing money, so that brought out some pretty huge problems.  I had phone calls and a visit from the church offices in the Capitol so we could try to patch things up.  Turns out that things are so much better when you just do them right the first time... with all of that, the temple, missionary meetings, and stake conference, we almost don't even have time to proselyte - which is pretty disappointing.  I know that I shouldn't feel bad because it is all necessary stuff - but I don't really like it.  Especially when we have a zone meeting or have to go to the Capitol and have to spend the night at other missionaries houses. Sleep-overs just don't seem quite as fun when bed time is at 10:30!

     
So about the hurricane.  It was coming over to us supposedly, so we got a warning call from the zone leaders and they told us to make a quick 72 hour kit and take it easy in the house if anything got too bad.  The hurricane didn't really hit us too hard over here - we kind of got a little bit of the outside I guess.  Super hard winds, black skies, and tooooooons of rain - but nothing too bad.  Luckily where I am now, we have paved roads and a drainage system, so there weren't really any major problems.  Kind of a close call though I guess.

     
So about the church being new here.  Yes, it wasn't here before.  A few months ago, it was only available in a city about an hour from where we live.  I got an e-mail from Jordan Williams today!  First time I have talked to him since the MTC which was pretty awesome!  Tell Nana Happy Birthday and I am going to write her a personalized real letter, even though it will be a little belated.

     
Yeah, this place is really expensive . . . I am trying to live well, but sorry if I take out more money than usual.  Thanks for everything and I will talk to you next week!

Love, Elder McBride

A picture I found from around Easter time when the Dickerson's were there