8/16/10

Hola!

Hows it goin? Im doing pretty well here. We just started a member missionary work program and hardly have time to tract anymore! Not that im complaining. Its been really good though getting to know all the members. It was harder before to get to know them when we never really visited them as much before. Im doin great on money though! I still have $100 left of my "pros" money and the months already half way over! Thats a record! We had dinner given to us every night this week! My new comp and i are getting along great. At first i was pretty worried because he is the district leader that i didnt get along with before. But we have both changed a lot and we are having a great time. Im loving Ocala!

This morning we played soccer again which was fun right up until the end when i got the wind knocked out of me! Ow!!! Someone from the other team passed it to the center about 20 ft from their goal. He passed it about ten ft in front of the other player and i was about 20 ft away fromt he ball but i lunged forward cause i saw a chance to score (the other guy wasnt too fast) and he got there just before i did and put his hip out to protect the ball as i threw my legs forward to hit the ball. I kicked the ball but because my legs went first my chest was at his hip level and my right lung slammed right into his hip at full speed. I couldnt breathe for about 30 seconds but then it went away fast. Needless to say we decided to stop playing after that. Ouch! Im good now though its just a little soar. It wasnt quite as bad or intense as i made it sound. Sometimes i get a little carried away when i tell stories. lol. Dont worry im being careful about how hard i play. But i probably should have listened to your advice dad and not gone for it. lol Uncle Doug sent me a belated birthday card with a gift card to Olive Garden so my comp and i went there for unlimited soup, salad, and breadsticks. Delicious! Tell him i said thank you!He has been out for 3 months less than me and is the district leader. Hes learned a lot since he was my leader before and hes doing a good job. He is going to a 3 day leadership training in Jacksonville so ill be with a set of english elders for 3 days. We will have to do english and spanish work so we'll be pretty busy.

As for my bike i will probably send it home cause i doubt i could get much money for it selling it to a missionary. Plus it will be nice to to have a mountain bike for college. Im not sure when ill send it home. Ive just been transferring with it. Ive used it here and there for trade offs or when our car was in the shop. Ill probably wait till the beginning of my last transfer and send it home in case i need it. Its a pretty nice bike.

What day does Rachel start school this fall and also the spring semester. I cant go hom the 29th of dec. now because Pres Barry found out you have to tell Salt Lake 6 months in advance to buy a ticket within 7 days of Christmas. I feel good about the 5th though. Would that work with Rachel going to school? Its still up in the air though so we'll see. I have decided 100% that im going to wait till the fall for school. I feel like it will be too rushed to start it then and i want to take some time to really research out all my options better and make some future plans and then go for it. I still want to be a pilot but ive changed a lot and i want to make sure ill have a solid future career and find a good back up plan as well. I would love to do something where im able to learn languages and see other countries and cultures. Ill figure it out when i get home though. Woah i didnt notice i had a second email from dad. -Pause to read...- I think that sounds like a great idea dad. To sit down after i get back and make a plan to stay worthy. Its easy now but i have worried once in a while what it will be like and how much harder it will be at home. I think the temple will be a huge key. I can definitely see how easy it can be to fall into old habits or just get lazy. I am loving my mission but i have also been really excited to face all the new challenges of life when i get home. Im short on time this week so next week ill make sure i tell you about a few things about what ive learned on my mission. Have a great week everyone!

Love,
Elder Carty