Elder Finch: January 4th

This week has been going great. Our baptism on Saturday went great. It is amazing how after people are baptized, their life seems hundreds of times better.

Hno. Benito, the guy we baptized on the 26 has changed a lot. He use to never smile. The first to times we taught him, he didn't smile once. The first time I ever saw him smile was the Sunday before he was baptized. I saw him at church so I walked out of my way to greet him (which I guess is really in my way since it's what I'm supposed to do) I smiled and told him I was excited to see him at church, while shaking his hand. He smiled back. I was a little surprised. Now whenever he sees me, he smiles. On his baptism, after he got a picture with him, the guy that baptized him, Elder Urry and me, He asked if he could get one with just me. That made me happy.

Hno. (Bro. in Spanish), Hno Rangel looked a lot happier after he was baptized too. He always was a happy guy, but before, he looked like there was always something bothering him, and now it is gone. He knew he was supposed to be baptized for about a year, he was just too caught up with soccer.

On new years, we had to be in our apartments at 6:00pm for lockdown. South Carolina gets dangerous on New Years, because a lot of people drink and stuff. During that time, we played Risk. It was a very interesting game. People outside our family play a lot more offensively than our family. It makes the game more spontaneous. We still went to bed at 10:30. I was very happy that night that dad gave me earplugs.

My companion and I started running last week. We run 2 miles a day. I don't know what got him to change his mind. Maybe a New Years resolution. We started on Tuesday, so a little before New Years. I am happy to be able to run again.

Elder Urry got a free bike so we were back up to 2 bikes, but then my bike got a flat tire. Today I am going to by some of those tubes with the patching gel in them. Hopefully that will help. The biking elders have been walking a lot lately.

I have some surprising information. Do you guys remember when I got the flue shot, and then got really sick little latter. I don't think it was the flue shot that got me sick anymore. About three weeks ago while at a members house, we had deviled shrimp (rice, red peppers, jalapeños, and shrimp.) That night my stomach got way upset, and my skin started to brake out a little. Then last week, Elder Poll bought some shrimp. I ate one piece, and the same thing happened. The day before I got the flue shot, I ate some shrimp with Mom and Dad; and I felt way sick the next day. Whenever I went out to eat with Steve White, and we ate sea food, my stomach always got a little upset. I thought that was normal. Anyway, I think I am allergic to shrimp. It took me a while to make the connection because I love seafood. Anyway, that is my surprising information.

That is about all I have to say for today. Thanks for all the e-mails :)

I love you all,

Elder Finch