First week out in the field

Dear Family,

          All is well here. I am doing great. The day we got here we were able to go to the liberty jail, and Indepence visitor centers. We also got to go see the new temple here. It is so beautiful. Then i got my first area. I am serving in Topeka Kansas. Even though it is the capital(at least i think so) there sure isn't much here. I am living with an 82 year old member out in a place called Montara which is some old town where military people stayed. He is so hilarious and will say whatever he feels like. We get lots of weird, and crazy comments out of him. Being here is pretty much like being out in the middle of no where... out in the middle of no where!! I miss the mountains back home because it is so flat out here. We get a car every other week, and then are on foot the other weeks. We track around Montara talking to less actives, and trying to find new investigators. My companion is Elder Frost from Mesa Az. He only has six weeks left so this is his last transfer. He is really great, and helping me learn a lot. Each day is a new adventure having lots of people tell us no they don't want to listen because they have their own religion, or what not. My first day we were out trying to visit less actives and one house the people peaked through the blinds, hurried and shut them and pretended they were not there. We got a pretty good laugh out of this one. But some less actives are so nice to us. Last night we went and visited one who gave us Cinnamon rolls, and had us sign the bottom of some table that they call the missionary table. The best part was that the dad has an Angel Moroni Tattoo on his arm! The ward i am in is really nice. It is the Lake Shawnee ward. They are so friendly and we have a dinner appointment every night.... I hope it doesn't make me too fat. I haven't had any BBQ out here yet which is kinda sad but i deal with it. I am planning on sending home some pictures next week if i can figure out how I'm going to. Thank you for all the letters that you guys sent to me. They were sure different... Dad, Kristy, and Tyler... My companion saw them and said "i already love your family, that is so awesome." They took me forever to read and i sounded like a weirdo reading it out loud. Thanks again for all the support you guys give me. I love you all back home, and it was so great to talk to you this past Wednesday. Being here for only a couple days has had it's hard times, but also the enjoyable times. I just have to remember during those hard times who i am really doing this for. I love you all.

Love, Elder Daniel Shurtz