Christmas in the mission field

It's been interesting to see how my perspective of my family as changed since I've gotten to see and compare with a lot more of them here on my mission. I never realized how sticky of a proposition it is placing 4 people together and expecting them to live in harmony - especially when we've got the genes we've got, huh? ;). The house I'm living in is kind of like a family right now. We all have our own agendas, sure, but it's a pretty peaceful thing - everybody in the house is part of the office staff. :P We all do very different things, and we work ourselves like dogs every day. We're always nipping at each other's heels verbally, but we still say "Oi, cara, te amo" at the end of the day right before we all hit the sack. It's been weird being in a tripanionship, but I think God wanted it to happen so I can compare to other small-group relationships I might have in my life later.

Dad, I've developed more sympathy and respect for the decisions you've made for me too, now that I see young boys with differing families, and the type of leadership that they can have. Even if sometimes we say you're a Scrooge, at least you do your darndest to make sure your boys have all the conditions for a good future. I'm just lucky I made enough of the good decisions...and now I gotta make a whole bunch more for the rest of eternity, I guess!

I know I'm a heckuva good secretary while I'm focused - and I'm getting better every day with learning to focus. I think this secretary position's my golden opportunity to help me get some good organizational essentials in my head now. :P I like to do things efficiently, and unlike any other secretary before on this mission (incredibly) I have computer science magic to help me out. I'm learning how to prioritize and focus my efforts in the best place - I've already lost a few hours thinking about making programming projects for retrospectively ridiculous things, but I believe I may develop some nifty solutions to some of the annoying work shortly to make life immensely easier for everyone in the future.

Shawn: Look out. You might have an entirely Linux-based house when we get back, excepting Mom. :P I didn't have much opportunity to talk to you during the call personally (since you wanted to wave a weapon around in the background O_O), but I can see you've been adding to your knowledge and have changed a little bit. How exactly I don't know...but we'll have at least 6 months to get to know each other again after my mission, huh? I'm looking forward to it, man. Who knows, if you're lucky and get called to Brazil, I can teach you some basics with the Brazilian across the street!

Actually, Dad, I did get a little stumped as to the call I wanted - I didn't want to talk about home because I technically wasn't even halfway through my mission! There's a difference in the Spirit when I'm focused on what I've got immediately in front of me - figuratively speaking. I wanted to leave something spiritual with you guys. I still think that was the most important of all the things I could have said to you guys - something to strengthen my own family, and if I'm lucky show that a mission is making a difference in who I am. But you already knew that'd happen, huh? I really am loving the time I'm having here, getting the know the scriptures, spending time with so many people who are trying to live the celestial standard.

I WILL, though, take a little opportunity to talk about the things back at home. I find myself caring less and less about Facebook and more about cool projects I could do with the nerd friends of mine. I already knew this before I stepped in the MTC, but I am one of the biggest nerds I know. And I let people know it too. Whaddya think, Dad? Your son's a huge nerd. But he thinks it's cool.

I'm so ridiculously excited for the Hobbit. I'll have to bring somebody along… was it good? Was it up to the quality of the LotR movies? Tell meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.

Returning back to the call: Actually, the reason I took the opportunity to talk a bit about my mission history and review the problems I'd had was to help you guys realize that I'm not gonna tell you guys all of my problems while I'm sending email, because the primary purpose of my emails is to give you the highlights of the second-greatest calling I'll ever have!...and personally because a little idle complaining was good. If I have something I'm having difficulty bearing something, of course I'm gonna ask you guys for help. But there are some things that I know I can/need to handle just here on the mission. President's a pretty capable guy, and technically he's entitled to receive revelation on my behalf if I have companion/area problems. There's tons of leadership to help me with virtually any missionary problem here. I gotta use that first - then I can draw from the collective strength of my family. Just remember that it'll probably be different when I get back home - a mission is different than any other part of your life, as you guys well know!

Well...those are all my thoughts for now. I always maintain a list in my planner, because I always forget little cool things if I don't - so have no fear! I hope that you all enjoyed Christmas, 'cause I certainly did - and that you guys won't be too fried after the bubbly at midnight. You guys ARE gonna do that...right? It's a fetching tradition. ;) Just don't get so fried you forget to write a week after! I love you guys, and wish the very best to y'all.

Erich