Dear Family,

I don't know how it is possible, but I hit my six-month mark today. I can't believe that it was that long ago. I still remember the ride up to the MTC so well. It seemed like it was all a dream, and it didn't hit me what was happening till about the time they split us apart. It just can't have been that long ago. I can now tell you that time really does fly by. My mission is going too fast, but I just hope I can make the most of the time that I do have.

Our 4th of July was basically just another regular missionary day. We did go and talk to some members at the parade. No one else looked like they wanted to talk to us there, but at least we were able to show that our church does support the country. In the parade here, there was this really funny lady on a motorcycle. It was all decorated patriotically, and so was she. As she road down the street, she belted out the Star Spangled Banner with an opera voice. It was really funny. We also got to stay out late and watch the Fireworks. They were only a couple of blocks from our apartment. Other than that, everything was about the same as a normal day.

It sounds like you had fun up on the mountain. I have to say that I will probably miss the mountains the most out of any other thing in Cedar. I don't really like just being able to see forever out here. It almost seems too open. I hope to be able to play some games out here. We can actually play them on P-Days. I just haven't had a companion yet who would really want to play them. Our P-Days are fun though.

You can tell that Mom does get some of her talents and hobbies from Grandma. She is really getting into this quilting thing. It is cool that she has found something that she truly likes to do. I can't believe that Christmas was over 6 months ago. I remember when you gave her that quilt kit. I was looking through my pictures from then and I remember it like it was yesterday.

The weather has been very nice here for us as well. We have only had a few days of over 90-degree weather. I haven't really had to worry too much about sunburns either. It has been very nice! The 4th wasn't all that much fun though. It sprinkled all day, and we were out in it. The worst of it was right when we started to bike home for the night. Our last lesson ended at about 8:40 p.m., and we started to bike home. We were on the north side of town, and our apartment is about 1-2 miles south of there. We only got about 20 ft. from the last house, and the heavens opened up. I don't think I have ever biked in so much rain. It was everywhere. My shoes got so soaked that the polish started to leak through to the inside. It actually turned my toes black. I took a couple of pictures of it. Luckily, I can just shine the shoes back up, but my toes are still a little black. I didn't know that it could do that. I still think I would rather have the rainy weather than the hot weather though.

As for the work in Bedford, it is going well. We have been able to go over to Thor’s house again. It was a really good lesson, and his wife Heather finally opened up to us and told us her problems. We are making really good progress with them. I hope that everything continues to go well. Thor is a great guy. We also had the chance to go over and teach Ashton and his fiancé, Bobby-Joe, yes that really is her name. Ashton is doing OK, but Bobby-Joe had some really good questions. We were able to answer them, and she even wanted to know where she could get a LDS version of the Bible so that she would have the footnotes to compare to the Book of Mormon.

Also this week, I had my interview with President Corey yesterday. He is a great man. I don't know what this mission would be like without him. He just always has the spirit with him, and you can feel it when you are around him. He is one of those men who are always very calm and quiet spoken, but there is a lot of power behind it. He has been a great support to me.

As you can tell, things are going really well. Life here is great, and the members treat us good. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask, sometimes I don't know what to write about. Tell everyone at Albertsons hi for me.

Thank you for the support. It is nice to know that there are people back home who are cheering me on. Hopefully, I will be able to make you all very proud. Thank you for everything.

Love,

Elder Savage

P.S.  Tell Grandma thank you for the present. I think that she is trying to spoil me.

    Elder Colton Savage

    1805 ‘O’ St. #2

    Bedford, IN  47421