Week 46: The 2nd, 3rd, and 4th of July

Howdy Ya'll,

This was a fun week. Lotsa good stuff

We got to meet our new mission President! His name is President Evanson and he is from Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada. We had a big meeting where some of the zones got together and he and his wife just kinda gave some talks. I have an interview with him tomorrow where I'll actually get to talk to him, but he seems really chill. He's really motivated to just build on what President Treadway has been doing already.

We also ate good this week. We went to this place called Leatherby's in Orem where missionaries can get free food. Their main thing is ice cream though, which is not free for missionaries, but as we went up to pay for the ice cream a guy offered to pay for us so that was cool. I had an enormous ice cream sundae that literally destroyed me. I couldn't even eat the whole thing. We also went to this Korean BBQ place called Yummy's, and it was actually pretty yummy. Somebody paid for us there too. A member also got us 5-Star BBQ for dinner one night, which is just right here in Vineyard, and that was amazing. So yeah, if any of yall are following my food review of the Utah Orem mission, there's 3 more places to try. We also just heard that there's a new Don Joaquin's in Lindon now, so we're gonna start going there again too.

It has been so hot the last couple days. Biking in 95 degree heat is not fun, but a lot safer than biking in snow. Blows my mind how it used to be so cold and now it's so hot. Elder Toro is from Florida though so he says it just feels like home but without the humidity. Or the rain. Or the gators.

As always, the 4th of July here in Utah is super lit and lasts like 4 days. I've spent a lot of July 4ths in Utah, and now I'm still here but on my mission now. I legit was in Lehi last 4th of July at my aunt and uncle's house watching fireworks, not knowing where I would be reassigned to later that summer, and now I'm right back. No place I'd rather be though. People have been shooting off fireworks since July 1st, and I like just standing on our balcony and watching them every night. Last night on the actual 4th of July we walked up to an overpass by our apartment and watched fireworks being launched off all around us. Brought a couple Major Melon Mtn Dews so yeah it was a pretty awesome night.

We got to teach Sley again now that she's back from her trip, but she told us she wants to make some more friends, so she's gonna start going to the YSA ward and we're gonna pass her off to the YSA sister missionaries. We kinda knew that would happen sooner or later, but it's for the best. We got her a Haitian Creole Book of Mormon and she said she's gonna start reading every day now!

Andrew also got baptized on the 4th of July!! It was a really great program. Elder Thomas came back for it and gave a talk on baptism in Spanish because most of Andrew's dad's side of the family really only speak Spanish. Some of them actually flew in from Peru to come to this baptism. I gave the talk on the Holy Ghost. There were tons of people there from the ward too so that was great. Even though it was a holiday the ward still pulled up which was great. Elder Toro and I didn't even set up enough chairs there were so many people!

Basically we're just straight chillin'. We're doing our best with the heat, and we're keeping busy which is good. Almost everyone we talk to offers us some kind of drink, which we will always graciously accept. We still play pickleball every morning, so we're still straight ballin' too. There really is so much to enjoy about the mission, and so many people take themselves so seriously. Yes, our job is pretty serious, but some people expect too much of themselves or spend all their time worrying about others. The solution is literally to just stop worrying about things you can't control and then things just get a lot easier. Yes, you'll still have to deal with annoying people and you still have to be a nice person, but it really is pretty much just a decision to not worry about things you can't control. It takes practice, but you got this! Jesus will help too! He always does when you ask!

I hope you all have an excellent week!

Elder Snyder