Dear Elder Bolton:
Do not flip out when you receive a letter from me. It might be unusual, but, here it goes.
It may go something like this: “One bright day in the middle of the night two dead soldiers stood up to fight, they drew their swords and shot each other. A deaf policeman heard the noise and shot again the twice dead boys.” What does that have to do with my letter? It got your attention, right?
Well here it goes. It does not seem like you have been in the mission field for this amount of time. One more month and the first four months are gone. I would assume by now you have adjusted to the climate, food and culture--especially to the food. Food wise, which ones are the best liked and which ones are the least liked?
When I went to Denmark, eating buttermilk soup or col sko (a buttermilk drink) raw fish and etc. were not my favorite things to eat. However, by the time I was just a few months into my mission I could sit down and eat or drink them all, and enjoy them.
People-wise how is it going? Do you do a lot of tracking or do you get a lot of referrals? Ben was telling us that you had three baptisms already. That is great!
Is it one family or a combination? What doctrines caught their eyes? What income level are the people in the area you are in? Are they rich or poor or is it a combination?
While I was in Denmark, we averaged about 130 missionaries. We averaged about 90 baptisms a year. Some missionaries would baptize a family, so when you calculate the figures there were a lot of missionaries who, after two and one half years, went home with out any baptisms. My first companion was one of them. We worked hard for six months. I believe we were one of the top tracking companionships for the number of hours spent tracking.
I was by chance in the mission office, which was in the south end of the church building, and as I walked past the chapel door I could see a missionary in the back of the chapel with his head bowed down. I recognized his hair. When I got to him, I could see that he was crying. I sat down and asked him what was the matter. He said he was on his way home and, after two and and a half years, he had not even baptized “one snot nosed kid.” He was referring back to a story told by a general authority who happened to be the kid that a missionary had spoken of by stating that “all I did was baptize one snot nosed kid.” Today they only have sixty missionaries in all of Denmark. As far as baptisms are concerned, their average is about the same.
I noticed in your letter that you stated how the Lord puts us in various positions and we then receive challenges through that particular calling. Wait until you come home and, down the road a bit, you are called to be a bishop. Now days the stake presidency trains new bishops. Back when I was called to be a bishop they handed me the bishop’s hand book and I had to learn what was in it. There was a lot of fasting and praying on my part. The Lord blessed me in many ways. Some day I hope to share some of them with you.
Every thing here is going as usual. After next week, we will be out of the grandchild sitting, except for emergencies. Rachel will be going to kindergarten. We were up to her fifth birthday party and the going away party for Ben. However, two Sundays ago we had all the Utah familes at our home for a combination “see you later” party for the Ohio Trauntveins and for Ben.
Enough for now. If If I tell you everything now I won’t have any more to tell you later on. Know that we love you and admire what you are doing.
Love grandpa T.
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