Wednesday, May 19,

Man, I don't really have a whole lot on my mind, so I'm just going to write what comes into my head.

First and foremost, I'm so stoked for Elder Eric Green and Elder Taylor Caldwell. Mom and Dad, please get a copy of at least this part to their parents. I hope that you all realize, Craig and Dianne, Cary and Charla, how incredibly great this is. Your sons are about to go through something that can and will change their lives. I have felt myself change for the better and learn some things that I never realized that I lacked. For the both of them, the reality of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and the real, tangible fact of the Plan of Salvation, will become more a part of them as ever before. I promise, because it has done so for me and countless others. As parents, I'm sure you feel an amount of concern for them, I would be surprised if you didn't. God, however, has promised that so long as they are faithfully doing the work, he will be on their right hand and on their left, before them and behind them. Everything that passes to them will be for their good. In a revelation in Liberty Jail, Joseph Smith was told that if all the elements combined to hedge up the way, even if the very jaws of hell gaped open before him, that all this would be for his good. The Son of Man hath descended below them all. When they need encouragement, remind them of that. Especially the last part. Christ suffered it all alone, so that we wouldn't have to. We always have Him. Eric is one of my closest and most consistent friends. He has a very willing heart, knows the meaning of hard work, and a very humble, yet solid personality. He will touch many lives the way that he is, and will grow to an unshakeable resolve in the things of Truth. Taylor is definitely my longest friend, and while we weren't able to spend much time together for a while, I always will feel that him and Eric are brothers to me. Taylor is someone that is easy to feel comfortable with, he also knows how to work hard, and is willing to act when needed. No one will compel him to do something that he doesn't feel is right. I know that he will draw close, in a very personal way, to our Savior in his time on the mission. The both of them will be tools in our Father's hands, and will come to a love for the people whom they serve. I'm so excited to hear what goes on with them, and I hope I can get both of their mission home addresses so I can keep in contact with them.

Also, I've been reading the Ensign Conference issue. I hope you all have been too. There is a lot that focuses on the family. It also has many promises about family home evening. It's an important thing, which I have come to value much in retrospect. I remember very well the family home evenings which we did have, and I know that more will help to strengthen the home.

So I don't really know what to write.... This past week went really well, except that a lot of appointments fell through. We worked really hard, though and things were really great. We had exchanges yesterday and monday with the Zone Leaders so it was an awesome reunion with me and Elder Witham in Bloomingdale once again. Of course I had to pass by Joe Motta and a couple of the other families in the branch because they've missed him terribly, and it was really fun to talk to all of them and see how much my old trainer has grown in this past transfer. He taught me quite a few things to work on personally and the exchange overall was just an awesome time.

Oh and I also had my 6 months yesterday, so per tradition got to burn one of my ties. That was fun!

Elder Green