I’m super nervous to finally be out here but it'll be great.

October 6, 2010

Hey Family,

Well I guess you already know where I’m at.  Florence is so beautiful.  My new companions name is Elder Barker. He's actually from Trenton and was a senior when I was a sophomore, I didn't know him before though.  Yesterday was pretty crazy, the flight was great.  It was sweet flying over Oregon; i didn't realize that there were so many little lakes all over the place.  We landed and met the Mission President there and his wife. We went to their house for lunch then had a little orientation, then drove to Florence.

We had dinner with some of the ward members last night and that was way fun.  So far the biggest thing that's taken me back a step is just the difference in how the church is everywhere.  I knew it would be different out of Utah but I guess you can't really know how different it is until you get out.  We already have a lot of appointments for today so that should work out nice. The said they've been having quite a bit of success here so that's good.  It is mostly a town of old retired people though, but we'll straighten them out -no problem.

Not gonna lie I’m super nervous to finally be out here but it'll be great.  My biggest problem still is teaching.  I just can never get the words out of my mouth the right way, it sounds great in my head but as soon as I open my mouth I get all flustered.  The thing that has probably helped the most when I get down is definitely my patriarchal blessing; it just brings me right back to where I need to be.

Hope all is going well back home.  My new P day is Monday so that's probably something you should know. I haven't asked about the temple yet but I’m pretty sure I’ll be able to go a few times.  I think that if I get moved to Salem some time that the president lets us go to the Portland Temple to so that would be way cool. I did get the bedding and it is so comfortable.  Thank you for all the letters -you guys send keep sending them.

Love, Elder Stephenson