January 4, 2010

hey there fam!

sry i didn't email last week, i kinda couldn't, so i'll tell you more about that. beginning last sunday evening the 27th, there were riots outside our apt. and throughout the town. apparently there was one muslim man who had been killed in a bar, that saturday night before, so they buried him on sunday and then that evening is when everything started. the muslim boys got together and grouped themselves and started destroying things in the town, so it wasnt safe to go outside. so monday morning came and the police kinda settled things down, but the riots continued and we still couldn't go outside. it was pday and we were planning on having an activity as a zone, to go and play soccer, but we weren't sure if we'd be able to get out of the city. luckily things were calm enough for us to leave and then come back that night, so we were blessed. tuesday came and in the morning we went out and proselyted but then in the afternoon we had to come inside again cause the riots started again. so that's when they brought in the military and settled things down. so sunday night through wed morning, we were hearing gun shots, and things were kinda crazy, but in the end we're safe and so things are good now.

so that's why i couldn't email, but now him happy to be talking with you again. christmas was wonderful and i'm very happy that i was able to talk with everyone. um i already bought the mp3 player and also a memory card, for one of the elders here. so make sure you send both those things along with the calcium capsules, thanks so much.

i'm glad to hear my hand-written letter finally got to you, sometimes it does take a really long time in pouch.

thanks for answering those questions i had, dad, it cleared things up pretty well for me. so how was everyone's new year celebration? i hope you all had a great time and stayed safe. oh by the way, i'm now in a 3-some for companionship, because one of the other elders went home a few weeks early for school. so now i'm experiencing what it's like to have two companions. it can be difficult at times but i'm sure we'll get through it okay until transfer when a new missionary will come.

so that's all for now and i'll talk with you all soon. love ya!

- elder newbold