Dear Family,

Dad, I am glad that you are enjoying Spring Break. I hope that you get to have some good relaxing time. I have come to realize that it is good that we don't have that kind of break in our missionary work. I realized that my serving a mission is a once in a lifetime thing. I only get to spend two years serving the Lord in this exact calling. Even if I do a senior mission later on in life, it will not be quite like this ever again. I am glad that I get to spend all my time doing it. I can take a break when my time is up, which sadly is creeping ever closer.

So, I can't believe that Sunday was the 7th of March. 14 months since you guys dropped me off at the MTC. How does time move so fast? I also feel like my time in Connersville is drawing short. I need to work very hard with the time that I have left because I will eventually run out of time here. I need to help my investigators progress as much as I can while I still can.

I am glad to hear that the blessing went well on Sunday. It is odd to think that when my mission is over, I will be able to join in all of those kinds of things as well.

Your students were probably shocked to see you at their church. I guess that they realized that there is no getting away from you. Even outside of school, you will be there. I think it is funny that half the time kids don't realize their teachers have lives outside of school. For some reason, they almost think you live at school.

Everything is going very well with the missionary work here. Greg and Vicky are still doing well. They moved into a new apartment and we haven't seen it yet, but we are hoping to visit them tomorrow. They are planning on getting married soon, and hopefully they will accept all the rest of the teaching of the church. They drink coffee, and they smoke. So the Word of Wisdom is going to hit them a little hard, but if they truly are ready for baptism, then it won't matter to them. They will be willing to do whatever the Lord asks of them.

The Stephen's family is doing great as well. Stacy and Pete have finally decided to get married, and we are going to talk about a date for it tonight. I might be able to attend a wedding on my mission. I never thought I would be able to do that, but it would be cool. I find it a little odd actually, but did you know that we missionaries can, in addition to blessings, dedicate grave sites, and perform weddings. They don't talk about it much because it isn't something the church really wants us to worry about doing, but we are ordained ministers, and because of it, we are allowed to marry. It is really weird to think about it like that.

Another really cool investigator is a niece of our bishop. She is in her 30's or 40's and she has been taking the lessons for the past week or so. We taught her the restoration, and she had received her answer even before we finished our lesson. She is really a golden investigator, and she has already accepted a commitment to be baptized. It is amazing because she doesn't smoke, she doesn't drink coffee or tea, her only vice is her Pepsi she needs every day. I feel so blessed that we are teaching someone who is so prepared to learn. We are excited about her. The funny thing is that she is very sensitive to the spirit, so flood gates open up a lot with her, and she just starts crying. She is an amazing lady. I just hope that I will be able to see her baptism.

Our weather here in Connersville has been beautiful. It has been so nice and warm the past few days. It actually reached up into the 50's, and hopefully it is going to hit the 60's soon. I am so grateful that the very bitter cold is over with.  We may get 1 or 2 more cold spells, but I don't think they will get down to the low 20's again this season. At least I hope not.

I hope that Levi takes my letter to heart. I truly feel that those are the things that I wished I had done before I left on my mission. I would have been more prepared, and I wouldn't have had to use as much time out here learning it. But, I also think I wouldn't have appreciated it as much if I didn't do it this way. I just hope Levi doesn't put himself through the stress that I put myself through.

It is good to hear that Annie and Grandma are doing well. I hope that everything continues to work out for them, and that Annie is able to get her residency that she is looking for.

As you can tell, things are going well here. Life is good, and the missionary work is going great. I am trying to take care of myself. I have to go back into the Dentist next Monday to have him put my permanent crown in, and also to take care of another trouble tooth so that it doesn't go bad while I am out here.

Thanks for everything. Always remember I love you guys, and take care.

Love,

Elder Savage

      Elder Colton Savage

     1216 N. Central Ave. #7

     Connersville, IN  47331

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