Ode to Georgia

Georgia, oh, Georgia. You're as sweet as a peach,

With your Waffle Houses on every corner and enough Hibachi buffets to feed Mexico,

Oh, how I love the days spent under your darkened skies,

Waltzing under those streaks of lighting and deluges that come without notice,

Or the days where the sky is clear and the humidity is as thick as butter,

If I rung out my soaked shirt it sometimes seems that I might fill a swimming pool,

Yet through the rain, sweat and chicken I find that the sweetest moments aren't glazed with sugar,

But with the smiles of strangers-made-friends that fill the hours,

The slightly awkward moments as you admit that you can't handle chili because you're white,

Or the seconds of utter confusion as you nod your head in agreement to someone who you can't understand,

Georgia, oh, Georgia. How I wish you had mountains,

Because at least than would I be able to know which way is North without my GPS,

Of course, you're still my favorite of the south eastern states,

Because my time spent with you has been the hardest and most rewarding of my life,

Would I trade these moments for gold? Well, how much gold are we talking?

No. Of course I wouldn't, I'd lose too much.

And after my battle is over and the accounts are settled I'll wave goodbye to one last sunset

And laugh as I reminisce on these two short years

Georgia, oh Georgia. 

-Elder Vance

Back to the Biking Basics

Letter written Aug 11th-

So is it raining where you are? Because we are getting soaked over here! Lots of thunderstorms lately. Very fun. Unless you're on a bike.

So this week I was able to reminisce in the old days of being in a bike area. My companion is the district leader and there was a big, two-day meeting for all of the mission leaders this past weekend. So for those two days I was placed with two other missionaries in a bike area just a bit to the north of my area. The elder in that area was brand new and myself and the third missionary with us didn't know the area at all so we had a fun time together trying to figure things out. Got stuck tracting in the rain, found a huge snake, ate fried chicken, fed some fish under this on bridge, and much more! Though not necessarily in that order..

Over all it was great! I got to know two missionaries I otherwise wouldn't have, seeing that I am a Spanish missionary and they were English, and got to get some good exercise on a bike again. 

I'm not excited for it to get cold this fall but I think we have some time to wait before than. :) Might be a little humid right now, but I enjoy it. Lots of people outside walking and jogging who we can talk to. Well, not the jogging people. They are too fast for us :(

Con mucho amor,

Elder Vance

p.s. My mission can no longer forward mail from the mission office to my address, so any mail needs to go directly to me. The address is:

105 Treecorners Pkwy

Norcross, GA 30092

Not that you have to feel obligated to send me stuff. Just letting you know in case ;)

Tttttttransfers!

It's that time of every six weeks again! Who is going to go where?? That is the big question. Well, for me and my companion things are going to be the same for a bit. We are not moving. But most of the mission is moving around. My 'son', Elder Chilcote, the one I trained, is going to be my Zone leader now! Oh, I trained him well, didn't I? 

So we got a family to come to church! Sweet, right? The only bummer is that they are an english family and they went to the english ward. Not a huge problem or anything, it's a good thing no matter which ward or branch they go to as long as they go. :) It was a family that we met while tracting a bit ago. They are from the Micronesian islands but also lived in Hawaii. So of course my companion enjoyed talking with them. They are really humble and ready to learn more about the Restored Gospel. And to prove it, they came to church! So it is looking good.

Now, our Spanish investigators is another story. Our family that we were teaching isn't progressing too much because we haven't been able to get in with them in a bit. Mainly because the hustle and bustle of school starting this week. Oh, by the way, school starts soon for everyone. Just thought you would like to know that. :D

Not much to report as of now but there doesn't always have to be. The work of the Lord isn't crazy exciting one hundred percent of the time. I mean, look at the sons of Mosiah in the Book of Mormon. Their mission was fourteen years long but the account we have is only a smidge of what all went down! 

Stay cool in that summer heat!

-Elder Vance