First! Let's
start with all the changes! I'm absolutely loving my new area here
in Poplar I am actually on another reservation! I went from one extreme
to another! So, Pine Ridge Reservation reminds me of a 3rd world
country. Poplar (It's on the Fort Peck Reservation) is more like a super
run down town. You actually feel like you are in the U.S., but it looks
like no one should be living here. It's pretty crazy!! So,
according to all the records, Poplar has under 1,000 people living
here. That is a lie. There are like 3,000 people here. No
idea why no one knows that. it might have something to do with the whole
reservation thing, but I don't know. We cover a little past Brockton and
halfway to Wolf Point, and up close to Plentywood, and not much farther
south than Poplar. I was only supposed to have 1 new
companion, but not anymore! The reason is (story time), first off, there
are 2 sets of missionaries in Poplar. Monday, Elder Larsen and
Samplina were walking down a street at night, and Elder Samplina got hit by a
car. It dislocated his ankle and broke his tibia, so he was sent home
after being life flighted to Billings, and we got Elder Larsen!! Elder
Payne is from Preston, Idaho (he knows Elder Wilde! That's too funny!),
he is 18. Elder Larsen is from River Side, California, and he is also
18. I'm in a trio with (get this) 2 other drummers, but to make things
even more fun, we all put special emphasis on Tenor drums in the drum
line. I don't know who's idea it was to put us together, but they either
have some great plan in store, or they had no idea what they were doing, cause
this will either be a super stinking awesome companionship or we aren't going
to get anything productive done. There is no middle ground.
But! We've all made the goal to make it productive, so It'll be productive!!
My new address is
P.O. Box 305 Poplar, Montana, 59255.
Church yesterday
was good! We have a small but strong Branch. There are about 30
people on average I am told. The church is in Poplar on the East end of
town.
Well, as far as white
washing goes, it's super hard. First, the Elders before us left a
note. It was about as vague as it comes. We weren't too happy about
that. One of the nice things, is that one of the old Elders here is our
Zone Leader, so we can call him with questions when we need to. We have
what's called "The Area Book" which has records of the people who
have been taught by past missionaries and what they have been taught, and that
book has saved us already a few times!
Well, as for training,
I'm not going to be teaching Elder Payne much. He already knows
everything. This guy is a super good teacher, he knows his stuff, and man
does he love everyone! It'll be a super interesting experience for me,
trying to teach a missionary that already knows as much as I do haha! He
really is a stupendous missionary.
So, the
responsibilities of a District Leader are.... Well.... I'm not really
sure... I have a District meeting every Friday that I prepare a
training for, the missionaries in my district come to me to ask questions, they
report to me how their areas are doing, and that's about all I know so
far. They changed a lot of stuff when I was called as district leader, so
I have no idea what I am supposed to be doing. I may be getting filled in
soon ish, but the problem is that everyone else who has been a district leader
has had different responsibilities than I do now. So! In other
words, I am now flying by the seat of my pants (any one know why we say
that? I sure don't. I would love to find out.)
AH! I'm already
out of time! Love you all dearly! My commitment to all of you is to
make the choice every day to be happy. It is a choice, not a circumstance
you are placed in.
With appropriate
affection (hehe)
Elder Carter V
Me and my new
comps! Elder Payne (Middle) and Elder Larsen (right)
More pics
1)This is Johnny's family! From Left: Christ (Janices son) Me, Johnny, Janice. Love them, and will miss them so much!
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