Received June 28, 2010

Pic 1, a park we went to last week on pday

pic 2, outside of wimbledon last week

pic 3, just some picture of london or something

 

Alright, hello everyone, how are you? I'm doing good, but I have to email my mission president today, so I might not have enough time, sorry. So, this last week has been crazy, and I'm most likely going to forget half of everything that happened. I apologize, but I'm not doing it on purpose. :)  So, we just taught a bunch of people this week, so I'll only talk about a few interesting ones. :)

 

Okay, so we taught a lady from Brazil, and we aren't teaching her the gospel, we're teaching her English! :O It's a service thing, and I have no idea how to teach someone English. It's pretty funny, actually. I just sit there and say, "Yeah, yep. That's right! I understand." or any mixture of those words, really. So at least she'll know how to say those! :)

 

Another person we met, this time a member, is this older Scottish woman named Jane. She is hilarious, that's really all I can think to say about her. Oh, she had a tracheotomy in the past, so she has a hole in her throat, but it doesn't really make as big of a deal as you'd think. Umm, let's see, another person we are teaching is a man named Jim. We taught him once last week, and then two days ago we went over and he brought a friend too. Both of them are so cool. And keep in mind that they are from Ghanna, and also during prayers and talks and things they say "That's it." or things like that. It's so cool, I'm probably going to be doing that when I get home from my mission. :D

 

We had 8 people we're teaching come to church, so that was pretty cool because that's a lot of people! And they're all really cool people. I don't remember if I told you about Andrew, but yesterday at church something happened and he over reacted and now doesn't want anything to do with us anymore. But that's ok, it's his choice, and we can't force him to do things he doesn't want to.

 

Oh, I had to give a 10 minute talk yesterday too! They told me two days in advance, so that was nice. :D I spoke on prayer and I'll tell you, giving talks in church is a piece of cake after teaching people about stuff all day long. That's funny mom that we all gave talks on the same day! :)

 

I guess that's it! The world cup is a huge deal over here, if I didn't tell you already. People go crazy over it! And England got smashed 4-1 by Germany, so yesterday some people were a little depressed. :D Well, I'm doing very good, don't worry about me! Today for P-day we are actually going to inside Wimbledon and watch some of the games! It's going to be so cool and you should all be at least a little jealous. I love you guys! Thank you for all the letters and emails, and I wish I could respond to all of them! Some letters I just haven't had the chance to write back, and I'm sorry, and probably won't have time today to write them, so I might not have time until next week!

 

Okay, I probably fogot loads of stuff, sorry. But have a good day! Bye!

Elder Boothe

Received Today: June 21, 2010

Hi, I know it's only been a few days since I emailed last, but it certainly feels like more! Also, I forgot what I emailed you last time, so I might repeat some things. :)

 

So, I only had time to take two pictures, but I took them about 10 minutes ago, and they aren't that exciting. one is of my new watch. You see those three buttons on the side? yeah, only the middle one does anything. Also, right now it says the date is the 23. and earlier today it said it was the 22. So that's.... something special about it. :) The other picture is where I am right now. The two guys on the left are some other elders near our area, and they and some others and us are meeting up for p-day, and I think we're going to Wimbledon or something like that! I shall send pictures next week if I don't forget.

 

Alright, this half week has been crazy! The first lesson I taught to someone was so cool! Her name is Data, and she's African and she has two kids. At the end of the lesson, she wanted to be baptised! So that was pretty crazy. We're also teaching an English guy named Andrew, aged 51, who likes to joke around a lot, but he's a really good guy and he wants to be baptized as well. He has had a rough life, and so he wasn't too sure if he wanted to or not, but then he decided he wants to! I really feel happy for him because he could really use the Atonement to help comfort him with the things that happened to him in the past. Plus, I want him to have a lot of good friends, and he's become really good friends with a lot of people at the church.

 

Anyways, like I think I said in my last letter, there are so many types of people here!! Nigerian, Jamaican, Chilean, English, American, Chinese, Muslim, Indian, etc! Last night we had dinner with a Chilean lady who is a recent convert and her daughter, and she was so nice and friendly. She made some good Chilean food too, but I forget what it was called. Speaking of food, a few nights ago I had my first real African food! An investigator named Jim and his wife made us eat dinner. It was called Peanut Soup, and rice. It was good! They said it was mild, but it was still more spicy than hot sauce from Taco Bell or something. So yeah, when I have their non-mild food, I'll probably explode. Just kidding, I actually didn't think it was that bad.

 

Oh, church on Sunday was so different! We rode the bus there with Andrew, and we got there a little late. But when they sing hymns, they don't sing very loudly! I was trying to set a good example and squeak out the high notes, but that probably caused more harm than good. :) The majority of the congregation was African or Jamaican. The bishop is actually a Jamaican guy, and it's so cool!

 

Oi, and I just remembered: On Saturday we went street contacting and walked into the Carribean, basically. There was Reggae playing from every shop, and it was just really different! I saw dead chickens hanging in shops, and even a few dead cows, just waiting for people to buy them. It was just really cool.

 

So, hopefully I didn't leave much out. I tried to include everything, but I most likely forget a bunch. Oh, I just remembered something weird that some people might find funny, or maybe just I did. When I meet some people, they ask if I've been here before! Apparently I look like a missionary that was here before or something. I think it's just I have one of those faces! :D Also, they tell me I don't really have an American accent. One lady thought I was English, actually! I just thought that was funny. I guess that's it! I'm doing fine, and am excited to be out here experiencing all this different culture, and meeting lots of cool people and sharing the gospel with them. On the other hand, I'm exhausted, and nearly fall asleep every morning during study time. But I stay awake, so no worries. Also, the shower in our flat is terrible. It's just a tub with half a plate of glass that tries to stop the water from getting all over the bathroom, but so far I have not seen it succeed. But that's not a big problem.

 

Alright, that's quite long enough of a letter, you are probably bored already. So, I love you guys! Bye!

 

 

Eric's new Flat!!!

Flat C, 233 Streatham High Rd.

Streatham, London

SW16 6EN

England

June 17, 2010
Hey, I am in  my first area! I 'm in the Brixton London area which is south of London, but I'm not sure where.  google it....

 

I'm doing great, but I am a little nervous. My companion is Elder Muller (but the u has those dots above it), and he is from  Switzerland! So that's pretty cool. I've been to our flat, and it is hidden between two shops, we're surrounded by shops! It's pretty cool, but I'm so dazed and confused right now my companion probably thinks I|'m an idiot! :D

 

Oi, I forgot about the mission president! President Shamo is so awesome. He is so happy and makes jokes like you wouldn't believe! But he's also a very spiritual man and knows exactly what he is doing. I'm excited to have him as a mission president. ok bye!

A few minutes later:
So, We all left the mtc yesterday, and stayed at the mission home on the london temple grounds last night. This morning/afternoon, we got our new companions and assigned areas. I'm in Brixton, as I said. I'm nervous a little, and I'm going to be riding so many trains and buses and maybe even some undergrounds!  Today so far, it is about 4 30 in the afternoon, and I've been in a van, then a train, then a double decker bus. yes, a red one!  And I got a transportation card for the next two weeks, to cover all that. We went to our flat, and then unpacked, and now came to a little computer cafe thing. It's a really small place, with about ten computers, that look so torn up and old! But it works. After this, I guess we're going to go mail some letters that I've written. I've gotten all the letters that were sent to the mission home, ... So, I'm sending some letters today, so they should be there in about 5 or 6 days. I didn't have time to write everyone back, so sorry. But I did get a few written. :)

We are going to meet with a guy tonight, and I'm hoping I don't mess things up. He's had a hard life recently, so I hope I don't do anything to offend him or something dumb. Oh well, I'll just have faith.

I'm so excited to be out here! Give me a month or two, and I'll actually have an idea of what the heck I am doing. Hopefully. :) Alright, gots to go! Love ya, bye!

 

1 me in front of the london temple

2 when we found out our new companions. that was the coolest and funniest thing ever.

3 me and my new companion, elder Muller

4 the bedroom half of our flat

 

Week 3: Eric's Last Words (to us) Before Leaving the MTC!

Ok, it's the last night before I leave the mtc! Didn't have time to read all the emails, but i'll respond next week. i have no idea what day, but I will! I love you guys, and am having a GREAT time! I'm feeling the spirit so strongly here, and I don't remember what I wrote in my last email, but I want you to know that it IS a positive experience! Put that on the blog or something. :) ok love you, bye!

Week 2

Hey mom and dad and whoever else is reading this! Alright, I don't have a ton of time, but I'll try to remember things that happened and tell you about them. :)

So last Friday we went to Manchester Station, a train station, and tried contacting people on the street. It was so hard, but I talked to a few people, and a few of them talked back. :) It's so hard though, I can't wait until it gets easier. (It gets easier, right?!) So yeah, talking to people is hard, but kind of fun. This Friday is when we go out and knock doors! And that's going to be hard too, I just know it!

I'm still doing good. Getting a little discouraged sometimes, but that's to be expected. I get over it and just get excited to get out of the MTC and into the REAL world of England! Speaking of the real world of England, we went on a little Church History Tour this morning and went to the River Ribble and Downham! You'll have to look those up because I don't have time to tell anything about them. :D But it was cool. I'll send pictures.

June 2, 2010

Hi Everyone,

Here are a few excerpts and pictures from Elder Boothe!!!:

The food is GREAT! I don't know what half of it is, but it's all delicious! The best so far has been either breakfast this morning (English muffins, bacon, huge sausage and eggs) or the time we had chicken and rice and this delicious sauce! The chef is really funny too, so whenever we eat, we always get a good laugh from him. Alright, second answer. There are two people that I know here. Elder Dan Hales, and Elder Riley Hanks. But neither of them are in my district, but that's alright. Alright, third question: Yes, my canker sores finally went away just this morning actually! Just in time for the delicious breakfast I talked about earlier.... :)

You're right, I don't have a lot of time, but I hope I can make this email a good one :)....

Our district leader is a guy named Elder Tonga, who is Tongan, but he is from New Zealand and has that accent! :) He is a very spiritual and very funny guy. His companion is Elder Whitehead, who also is a very spiritual and funny guy. My companion is Elder Keck, and he is actually related to Elmo Keck, the old choir teacher that all you sisters had! I think he is his great uncle or something? I'm not sure. He's a good companion, and we get along. He's very brutally honest, and I like that about him. And he hasn't said anything to me so I guess I haven't gotten on his nerves too much yet. :D Everyone else in my district is awesome too, but I don't have time to type all those names....

... I love you all and want to hear from you! Keep emails kind of short maybe, because I don't have a lot of time to read emails. But you can make letters as lengthy as you'd like, because I've got loads of time to read letters. ... The rules are that anyone can email me (family, friends, enemies, etc.) but as for now I can only email family. So that's what I'll do!

picture 1 me and elder roe and everyone at the slc airport.

picture 2 coast of ireland

picture 3 me, elder johnston, elder keck.

picture 4 somethinme else, don't ahve time bye!