Monday, May 7, 2012
Letter #19 - May 7th, 2012
Dear non-interested readers,
I'm still alive, checking in from Hillsdale, Michigan. Things are going pretty good here in missionary land. I'll recap the last few weeks or something.
I went to back to Coldwater to see a baptism and it was way fun. I got to see Elder Fletcher, a friend from before the mission, and he was awesome. My last companion is doing so great. He's getting ready to go home in a few weeks so he's super ready for that business. The baptism went very well. It was a great feeling to know I helped somebody in that manner. I know she'll do fantastic.
Let's see. A story that happened. So we were in Lansing for a zone conference. Afterward, some missionaries and I ate at Chipotle and then we were walking around and found a record store. I got stoked. So, I went inside and started talking to the guy who was working there about music. We talked about everything from Grizzley Bear to Say Anything (he actually knew that "Baseball" was their first album, not "...Is a Real Boy."). Eventually, I was able to turn it into the gospel. We talked about Christ and the Book of Mormon and all of that. Before we left, he asked for a Book of Mormon. It was sweet. But, I didn't have one on me. So another missionary we were with was just like "I can have one in like 30 seconds." And just took off to the car. We got it to him. I remembered why I love this work.
We had some more finding success. I can't wait to see how things work out. I really don't know what else to say. I hope the summer is being prepared. Everyone needs to go like 100X harder than usual, I won't be there to pick up the slack. My friends need to jump off some cliffs for me. You know who you are.
Take it easy,
Damon.
Monday, April 2, 2012
Letter #18 - April 2, 2012
So, I have not a lot to report. So I'll just write some thoughts and things that have happened.
1. I wonder what Brandon Flowers' calling is in the church.
2. The Book of Mormon has a terrible ending. Everyone dies. Great book though 9.5/10. (Just kidding, 10/10)
3. I realized that my hairline is definitely receding. I'm over it. Should I become bald, I'll rock it with pride.
4. The mission is a short representation of your entire life. You're young, scared, and foolish. Then, you hit your teen years where you know everything. I'm still stuck in that phase. We'll see where it goes from there.
5. I wonder if people giving prayers at General Conference write their prayers before hand.
6. If I copy God's ideas in the eternity, will he be mad? (Deep doctrine stuff)
7. God had a chosen people in the Old Testament, why not in these latter-days?
8. I wonder if Ether died or was translated. Talk about a cliff-hanger.
9. I think we should start referring to my brother Collin as the Brother of Damon.
10. Will fart jokes ever get old?
11. I guess these would probably have been facebook statuses.
I'm out.
1. I wonder what Brandon Flowers' calling is in the church.
2. The Book of Mormon has a terrible ending. Everyone dies. Great book though 9.5/10. (Just kidding, 10/10)
3. I realized that my hairline is definitely receding. I'm over it. Should I become bald, I'll rock it with pride.
4. The mission is a short representation of your entire life. You're young, scared, and foolish. Then, you hit your teen years where you know everything. I'm still stuck in that phase. We'll see where it goes from there.
5. I wonder if people giving prayers at General Conference write their prayers before hand.
6. If I copy God's ideas in the eternity, will he be mad? (Deep doctrine stuff)
7. God had a chosen people in the Old Testament, why not in these latter-days?
8. I wonder if Ether died or was translated. Talk about a cliff-hanger.
9. I think we should start referring to my brother Collin as the Brother of Damon.
10. Will fart jokes ever get old?
11. I guess these would probably have been facebook statuses.
I'm out.
Monday, March 26, 2012
Letter #17 - March 26, 2012
This is going to be a little bit serious, a different tone, if you will. While thinking today, and emailing a friend that is extremely dear to me, I remembered many moments in my life. I reflected back to a song by the Killers called "All These Things That I've Done." Moral of the song, I've made a lot of mistakes, and I need some major help. The breakdown of the song says, "I've got soul, but I'm not a soldier." I relate to the Killers in many ways,. The lead singer, Brandon Flowers, is a member of the church that is active now, but wasn't exactly. I was spiritually inactive and really did resent the church, I have to admit it. It's sad to say I was half-hearted and took for granted the very thing and people who gave me life and made this all possible.
But, the difference is this: somehow, some way, I was able to overcome all of that. Then, I got to thinking, what would have happened if I hadn't have taken the route that I had taken? There's a Killers song called "Boots" that says, "I wasted my wishes on Saturday nights, oh what I would give for just one more." It reminds me of how I would go back and re-do it all. I would spend less time with girls, less time staying out late, and way more time at home with my family, way more time at church. I could have helped so many struggling youth, so many people who were in need of service, but I turned my back. Sadly, I can't deny the fact.
If I had taken that route, how would I be today? Would I be holier than thou? Maybe I wouldn't have been this way. In Alma 32 (the Book of Mormon for you non-believers), I was like them, compelled to be humbled. I couldn't sleep, eat, or even breathe normal. My heart rate was once 130 bpm, which is really not okay for a 19 year old that was in shape. But, luckily I was able to grasp onto the atonement of Jesus Christ.
Much like the band Fireworks, "I spend all my time, trying to find what I need, but I was biting the hand that fed me. It saw I was down but still looking up from the ditch, so it grew its nails out, it was just trying to scratch my itch." That is extreme truth. I was totally biting the hand that fed me. But, not anymore.
"So I stopped running, started walking instead. It was all in my head, nothing's against me. This war was more civil, I realized, I had to secede from both sides." (Fireworks, the song "Arrows"). That is Damon Chlarson in a nutshell. But, it's all done.
What's the point of this ramble of a blog post? I'm not entirely sure. I think it's just to say how thankful I am to be where I am today. Maybe I could've done this either way I could have taken. But, I didn't. For some reason, God let me take the long way, so I did. But, I'm happy now and completely full. My heart isn't black and cold, it just had a little bit of frost bite (bad metaphor). I thank my parents and my family for never giving up on me. I thank my awesome friends who helped me out a ton. "At least now I know that what I have was built by the people I love, you wished you loved anything the way I love my friends, now we're moving glaciers, I hope this never ends." (Fireworks, "the Wild Bunch")
As far as my mission goes, the more I go through this and personally progress, the more I revert back to being a little kid. So, I'm less afraid of what's to come. But, I won't be somebody I don't like. "I stopped searching for answers, I learned my lesson that life is just a rhetorical question." I still remember lyrics like a champ. Seven months out. Almost 1/3 completed. Crazy stuff.
Damon, out.
But, the difference is this: somehow, some way, I was able to overcome all of that. Then, I got to thinking, what would have happened if I hadn't have taken the route that I had taken? There's a Killers song called "Boots" that says, "I wasted my wishes on Saturday nights, oh what I would give for just one more." It reminds me of how I would go back and re-do it all. I would spend less time with girls, less time staying out late, and way more time at home with my family, way more time at church. I could have helped so many struggling youth, so many people who were in need of service, but I turned my back. Sadly, I can't deny the fact.
If I had taken that route, how would I be today? Would I be holier than thou? Maybe I wouldn't have been this way. In Alma 32 (the Book of Mormon for you non-believers), I was like them, compelled to be humbled. I couldn't sleep, eat, or even breathe normal. My heart rate was once 130 bpm, which is really not okay for a 19 year old that was in shape. But, luckily I was able to grasp onto the atonement of Jesus Christ.
Much like the band Fireworks, "I spend all my time, trying to find what I need, but I was biting the hand that fed me. It saw I was down but still looking up from the ditch, so it grew its nails out, it was just trying to scratch my itch." That is extreme truth. I was totally biting the hand that fed me. But, not anymore.
"So I stopped running, started walking instead. It was all in my head, nothing's against me. This war was more civil, I realized, I had to secede from both sides." (Fireworks, the song "Arrows"). That is Damon Chlarson in a nutshell. But, it's all done.
What's the point of this ramble of a blog post? I'm not entirely sure. I think it's just to say how thankful I am to be where I am today. Maybe I could've done this either way I could have taken. But, I didn't. For some reason, God let me take the long way, so I did. But, I'm happy now and completely full. My heart isn't black and cold, it just had a little bit of frost bite (bad metaphor). I thank my parents and my family for never giving up on me. I thank my awesome friends who helped me out a ton. "At least now I know that what I have was built by the people I love, you wished you loved anything the way I love my friends, now we're moving glaciers, I hope this never ends." (Fireworks, "the Wild Bunch")
As far as my mission goes, the more I go through this and personally progress, the more I revert back to being a little kid. So, I'm less afraid of what's to come. But, I won't be somebody I don't like. "I stopped searching for answers, I learned my lesson that life is just a rhetorical question." I still remember lyrics like a champ. Seven months out. Almost 1/3 completed. Crazy stuff.
Damon, out.
Monday, March 19, 2012
Letter #16 - March 19, 2012
Well, I'm out of Coldwater. It's been a while since I've updated or anything. I'll try to see what I can say that's ambiguous enough to protect those that I may be friends with, but obvious enough that people can understand. I left Coldwater. I miss a lot of people. I don't miss some things about it at the same time.
I'm in Jonesville and it's so much fun. We actually live in a town called Hillsdale which is right next to it. But, I love it nonetheless. IIt's been going pretty good. My new companion is pretty cool. It's been a party pretty much the whole time that I've been here. We've been having tons of fun. We're doing good work too, so that's most important I suppose.
The weather is good. I got my first taste of humidity, of which, I'm not a fan. Is that proper English? I don't know, I'm losing it. I'm out of practice. Plus, I'm used to a mac keyboard and they rock. I hate this PC business.
Anyways, I'm almost seven months old. I don' t know how hte last month has flown by so fast. But it has. It feels like I'm entering a time warp. I'll see you all soon enough.
-Damon
I'm in Jonesville and it's so much fun. We actually live in a town called Hillsdale which is right next to it. But, I love it nonetheless. IIt's been going pretty good. My new companion is pretty cool. It's been a party pretty much the whole time that I've been here. We've been having tons of fun. We're doing good work too, so that's most important I suppose.
The weather is good. I got my first taste of humidity, of which, I'm not a fan. Is that proper English? I don't know, I'm losing it. I'm out of practice. Plus, I'm used to a mac keyboard and they rock. I hate this PC business.
Anyways, I'm almost seven months old. I don' t know how hte last month has flown by so fast. But it has. It feels like I'm entering a time warp. I'll see you all soon enough.
-Damon
Monday, February 13, 2012
Letter #15 - February 13, 2012
Everybody,
Well, it's Monday in Coldwater. It's a pretty decent day. Not too cold with a little bit of sun. Do you guys like it when I give you a weather forecast? I'm going to be that old man who sits in a diner and talks about the weather and what he used to be. What a sad life.
I thought I would update people, even though there isn't a lot going on here. Not a lot has happened I don't think. I'll try to think. We have zone conference in Kalamazoo which is the name of an actual city in Michigan. I'm going to give away Valentine's to all the missionaries in the zone, like the ones you do in elementary school. Those were the days. The biggest problem I had in elementary school was which girl I wanted to impress and which sport I was playing at recess. And how I was going to avoid Junior Joggers. Did anybody else that grew up in the Ephrata school system hate Junior Joggers? For those of you not indoctrinated with cardiovascular health from a young age, I'll explain Junior Joggers. During recess, lunch usually, you run around the track and get tickets. Three tickets were a mile in Columbia Ridge, the far superior elementary school to Grant, which was four laps per mile. (Yeah, I'm startin' that fight) Some teachers, I'm not going to name names, made you get at least one ticket during lunch. It was gay, because I wanted to play basketball. If you got a certain amount, you got a T-shirt. If you went above and beyond you'd get a 100 mile club thing printed on the back of it.
Overall, it was lame. But, I digress. Pretty much the same stuff in a different week here. Let's see. I've been trying to eat less pizza. Which is a sad situation. I miss Time Out Pizza from back home. The pizza here doesn't compare. Maybe it's because it's what I'm used to. Is pizza hut still in business? Should I burn it down when I'm home? Great, now I'm going to be in trouble for arson.
Anyways, things are good. I hope people are doing well at home. Sorry this is a waste of time update. Nobody's reading this anyway though, so it's cool.
Well, it's Monday in Coldwater. It's a pretty decent day. Not too cold with a little bit of sun. Do you guys like it when I give you a weather forecast? I'm going to be that old man who sits in a diner and talks about the weather and what he used to be. What a sad life.
I thought I would update people, even though there isn't a lot going on here. Not a lot has happened I don't think. I'll try to think. We have zone conference in Kalamazoo which is the name of an actual city in Michigan. I'm going to give away Valentine's to all the missionaries in the zone, like the ones you do in elementary school. Those were the days. The biggest problem I had in elementary school was which girl I wanted to impress and which sport I was playing at recess. And how I was going to avoid Junior Joggers. Did anybody else that grew up in the Ephrata school system hate Junior Joggers? For those of you not indoctrinated with cardiovascular health from a young age, I'll explain Junior Joggers. During recess, lunch usually, you run around the track and get tickets. Three tickets were a mile in Columbia Ridge, the far superior elementary school to Grant, which was four laps per mile. (Yeah, I'm startin' that fight) Some teachers, I'm not going to name names, made you get at least one ticket during lunch. It was gay, because I wanted to play basketball. If you got a certain amount, you got a T-shirt. If you went above and beyond you'd get a 100 mile club thing printed on the back of it.
Overall, it was lame. But, I digress. Pretty much the same stuff in a different week here. Let's see. I've been trying to eat less pizza. Which is a sad situation. I miss Time Out Pizza from back home. The pizza here doesn't compare. Maybe it's because it's what I'm used to. Is pizza hut still in business? Should I burn it down when I'm home? Great, now I'm going to be in trouble for arson.
Anyways, things are good. I hope people are doing well at home. Sorry this is a waste of time update. Nobody's reading this anyway though, so it's cool.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Letter #14 - January 23, 2012
All right everybody, guess what? I have huge news. I'm staying in Coldwater for a fourth transfer. Which is alright, there are definitely people I cannot stand to say goodbye to, but I hope more happens this transfer. It's been a hard last few weeks here in Coldwater, MI. The weather has sucked, but we're through the worst of it and I've had a moderately good attitude. So, it snowed a ton and then it got 45 degrees and rained. The snow's gone.
The work is hard still. We're trying but not a lot is going on. I just have to remember that it's easy to work hard when the work comes easy. We're struggling to fill days but we're doing the best we can.
But, back to this week. So, I've been spending some time with this old man that's probably on his way out here pretty quickly. But, he's just kind of struggling in the hospital. It's kind of inspiring, sad, and faith-building all at once. I can't really explain how it feels to me. But, before I left yesterday, I said, "Hey (name withheld), don't have too much fun." He just smirked and said, "Oh, I'm chasin' the girls all around!" It made me laugh. He's a stud.
I was on trade-offs with a missionary who has had troubles. He decked his first companion. He ran away from one of his others. He told a little kid he was from hell. He's had a rough first 12 months. But, he went on trade-offs with me. The night grew on and it's about 10. I'm getting ready to sleep. He starts talking about his mission and his goals and this and that. He says some super inspiring stuff about consecration, taking baby steps to conquer problems, building faith, purifying our intentions. Yeah, it gets really good. He said some things that really changed my mission.
Then today, I get a voicemail from him. He said, in his southern Texas accent, "Hey Elder Chlarson, if chickens had lips, could they whistle?" I didn't reply. That reminded me of Justin Leighter. I hope he reads this. Somebody, tell him to read this. Wait, nobody is reading this anyways.
We visited this other big lady who's in this rehabilitation center. She's having an allergic reaction so she's scratching herself constantly. This nurse comes in and she tells the nurse to scratch her back. So, she gives the nurse a hairbrush. The nurse is scratching hard and she says to her. "What are you playin' in the sand? Dig. Put some muscle into it. Act like you're going to China!" Crazy stuff.
Well, we shall see how this week goes. Enjoy the real world everybody.
The work is hard still. We're trying but not a lot is going on. I just have to remember that it's easy to work hard when the work comes easy. We're struggling to fill days but we're doing the best we can.
But, back to this week. So, I've been spending some time with this old man that's probably on his way out here pretty quickly. But, he's just kind of struggling in the hospital. It's kind of inspiring, sad, and faith-building all at once. I can't really explain how it feels to me. But, before I left yesterday, I said, "Hey (name withheld), don't have too much fun." He just smirked and said, "Oh, I'm chasin' the girls all around!" It made me laugh. He's a stud.
I was on trade-offs with a missionary who has had troubles. He decked his first companion. He ran away from one of his others. He told a little kid he was from hell. He's had a rough first 12 months. But, he went on trade-offs with me. The night grew on and it's about 10. I'm getting ready to sleep. He starts talking about his mission and his goals and this and that. He says some super inspiring stuff about consecration, taking baby steps to conquer problems, building faith, purifying our intentions. Yeah, it gets really good. He said some things that really changed my mission.
Then today, I get a voicemail from him. He said, in his southern Texas accent, "Hey Elder Chlarson, if chickens had lips, could they whistle?" I didn't reply. That reminded me of Justin Leighter. I hope he reads this. Somebody, tell him to read this. Wait, nobody is reading this anyways.
We visited this other big lady who's in this rehabilitation center. She's having an allergic reaction so she's scratching herself constantly. This nurse comes in and she tells the nurse to scratch her back. So, she gives the nurse a hairbrush. The nurse is scratching hard and she says to her. "What are you playin' in the sand? Dig. Put some muscle into it. Act like you're going to China!" Crazy stuff.
Well, we shall see how this week goes. Enjoy the real world everybody.
Monday, January 16, 2012
Letter #13 - January 16, 2012
Hello outside world, I'd love to give you some crazy new fun information... but there really isn't any. I've been here in Coldwater for four months now, and I'm pretty ready for a new area. We get our transfer calls here pretty soon, Friday, and I've got my fingers crossed. I feel like I'll probably stay in Coldwater one more transfer. Which makes this six months in my first area.
My companion is doing alright. He's pretty interesting. We're polar opposites and it's okay. We're on week six together. We've had some good times and some bad times, which is pretty typical. It's funny how being with a companion works. Right when you get really comfortable it's time for transfer calls. But, knock on wood, I know I'm staying. I'm preparing myself.
Honestly, if I do leave, it'll be hard. That crappy apartment has become my home. I'll miss the people here a lot. There are some people I've grown really close to over the course of the last three transfers. But, we'll see what card President has up his sleeve. He's a wild card so you don't know what to expect.
The people of Coldwater are not too excited about me knocking on their doors, still. Not finding a whole lot of success, but that's part of the mission I guess. Sometimes I wish I was in South America dunking people every week. But, I'm in Michigan where everybody hates Mormons. It'll happen though, I just need to have faith.
I can't really remember if there were many fun stories that have happened. Sorry. I feel like I'm not very cheery in this post. I'm doing good overall, I'm just super tired today and I don't have a peppy attitude. I just want to sleep for a year. Hopefully this week brings some excitement so I don't seem so dull and lifeless. It's safe to say I've aged a year this week.
Damon, out.
My companion is doing alright. He's pretty interesting. We're polar opposites and it's okay. We're on week six together. We've had some good times and some bad times, which is pretty typical. It's funny how being with a companion works. Right when you get really comfortable it's time for transfer calls. But, knock on wood, I know I'm staying. I'm preparing myself.
Honestly, if I do leave, it'll be hard. That crappy apartment has become my home. I'll miss the people here a lot. There are some people I've grown really close to over the course of the last three transfers. But, we'll see what card President has up his sleeve. He's a wild card so you don't know what to expect.
The people of Coldwater are not too excited about me knocking on their doors, still. Not finding a whole lot of success, but that's part of the mission I guess. Sometimes I wish I was in South America dunking people every week. But, I'm in Michigan where everybody hates Mormons. It'll happen though, I just need to have faith.
I can't really remember if there were many fun stories that have happened. Sorry. I feel like I'm not very cheery in this post. I'm doing good overall, I'm just super tired today and I don't have a peppy attitude. I just want to sleep for a year. Hopefully this week brings some excitement so I don't seem so dull and lifeless. It's safe to say I've aged a year this week.
Damon, out.
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