10 Jan. 2011

Family,

Last time I came to Guam, I realized that my permanent retainer was coming off. It wasn't a huge problem, but I didn't want it to become one. I asked the mission nurse to schedule me an appointment with an orthodontist, so this weekend I came a day earlier than usual to get all that taken care of. They filed off the old cement/glue and resealed it. Good as new.

Oh, so about 5 days ago, I got a package. My long lost Halloween package finally arrived. I guess it was sent parcel (which means it was shipped here by boat) and took almost exactly two months. I don't know why that's even an option. Who's sending stuff thinking, "Hm..2 months...that sounds reasonable." Anyway, I got it, and I've been enjoying the candy.

I don't know if I told you, but every month for Zone Leader Council, we have a "unity building activity." It switches off between a service project and some kind of fun activity. Once we went bowling, and this time we went miniature golfing. For service we installed a rainwater collection system for this family in Guam that doesn't have running water, and then we came back a couple of months later and it hadn't been raining, so we filled up the same family's water tanks with water donated by the mayor. The father, Brother Alik, is one of the most humble guys on earth. His daughter is actually a missionary in Saipan right now - she started the same time I did.

We're back in a threesome for the next while, so when I come to Guam again, the others will be coming with me as well. Since it's for leadership training, it would normally be just two of us, but we can't leave Elder Agalzoff by his lonesome, so he's coming along. He even gets to attend the training. Lucky guy.

One of my favorite parts about coming to Guam (other than the fast food and fun activities), is that I get refreshed. I get a few days away from Palau, so I miss it, and just want to go back and get to work. The months seem to go by so fast, it's like I never have enough time to get anything done. We set goals each week, and before we know it, the week is already over and we're setting new goals. I can't believe it.

I'm going to send my 8gb memory card home. I'm getting nervous leaving all the pictures from my mission on one memory card. I'm not sure of the best way to do this though. Hopefully it doesn't get lost in the mail.

Love,

Elder Barlow