November 15, 2010

Hey all!

 

     As I'm sure you know, I was transferred last week. I am now serving in a country town called Longview. The city itself isn't the smallest ever, and looks just like any other American town, but looks can be very very deceiving. Longview Texas is filled with some of the most country folk you've ever met. I love them all to death but I can definitely say that this is the first time since coming to Texas that I have experienced any culture shock. Everyone has their own brand of Texas accent. Some more fun to listen to than others. I love meeting new people because I'm always so excited to find out what they sound like! I'm learning to use the Texas twang in my everyday language and it won't be long before it sticks. (I told y'all I'd be pickin up an accent wherever I served, and that's what I'm fixin to do here in Texas.)

     My companion is elder McNinch. This name may sound familiar because he and I were in the MTC together. Being with him is like being with an old friend again. We love being companions. He is probably my best friend in the mission and we are both absolutely stoked to be paired with each other.

     The area is great and I love the people already, but we definitely have our work cut out for us here. The elders before us (and the ones before them) kept little to no records, and the ones they did are terribly kept at that. We are basically faced with the task of starting the work here in Longview, TX from scratch. We're up to the challenge though. We've been working our tails off this first week and we are very optimistic about what is to come. Expect big things from the area in letters to come!

     To Ty and Allie; it wasn't easy to get a part to stay in my hair, in fact I had to fight with it most of the way through my first transfer, but now it pretty much falls that way. I found out that if you don't wash the gel out of your hair until morning, your hair will want to stay however it's been for the past 12 hours or so! That may sound weird but it works. Now my hair parts easily with just a little gel.

     Elder McNinch and I have had some great experiences tracting out here already. We've encountered some pretty stiff southern baptists who just want to bash with us as well, but for the most part we've just met very down to earth nice people.

     Thanks so much for all of your letters, thoughts, and prayers. I love you all very much and I pray for your continued happiness and success as you strive to exercise your agency righteously and be an example of the believers in all you do. Until next time; be good, stay safe, and keep the faith!

Love,

 

Elder Michael P. Lyman

   Texas Dallas Mission