1st week in the field!

Hello my wonderful family! I am finally out in the field in Klergsdorp, South Africa! My companions name is Elder Albertson, as you already know, and let me just tell you what an amazing trainer he is. I am truely blessed to have such a great trainer. We get along great. He enjoys working hard and keeping all of the rules. He is an amazing example to me and is teaching me how to be a great missionary. He is also the district leader and has been out in the field 21 months (lucky) and I will probably be his last companion. He knows almost every language here. Klergsdorp is a very diverse area. There are a good amount of both whites and blacks and we teach and go to rich areas and poorer areas. We are on a biking area and we only get a car two days of the week. The other days the other two elders Elder Smith and Elder Bais, who was in the MTC with me, get the car. They serve in a township called Joberton. Where I am isn't a township, but it's pretty urban. Our flat is right next to a member named Brother Jubber, an old Afrikaans member who owns the flat and works at the temple throughout the week. We are about 2 hours outside of Joburg. We have been teaching like crazy. Our main goal right now is to teach father lead families because we need priesthood holders to be leaders of the church. We serve in a branch by the way. It's really small but the members are great. We had a baptism yesterday for a woman named Sister Meise. Right now we have 10 people on date for baptism so I guess we're doing pretty well. Some of the stories here are amazing and heartbreaking. I feel so blessed to live in America and the blessing I have in the church as well as with my family. I am convinced that the is no one in the world who loves their family as much as I do. Right now I am sitting in an internet cafe. We get an hour each week to write emails every Monday. The only way we can get mail or packages is when we go down to the office in Joburg or someone comes up from the office, which only happens every 4 to 6 weeks, and sometimes maybe longer. Luckily our district is going down for interviews tommorow so hopefully the packages you sent will be there then. I'm glad you got the letters I sent to you guys. If people want to send packages or letters they can do it through the Private Bag X4 address you have, or through the P.O. box 30150 address you have. I don't know my home address yet but I'll see if people are allowed to send me letters there, but I don't know if it's against the rules.Also if you want to watch a movie about the mission work in Africa you can call this number 1-800-962-8061 to get the DVD. Being on a mission is the hardest thing ever! I love teaching people and testifying of the gospel, but it is hard to be away from home. That is the major struggle for me right now is getting over home sickness. Remember when I went to Clear Creek and I called you guys after 2 days to come and get me. Well now I'm on a mission for two years! The missionaries say that after about the first three months time really starts to fly, and after the first year it really goes fast. I sure hope so. Not that I don't love being on a mission but I am awefully far from home and my family. But I guess everyone goes through it. I still haven't heard who one the tournament. It's good to hear how well the Sox did against the Yankees. Hopefully they'll get better than their starting 0-6 record. So is Carsen living in my room now? That would be crazy. Oh by the way, I sent a letter to you guys for Trevis, Jaren, and Ryan so if you just want to get it to Trevis' mom that would be great. Tell Grandpa I said happy birthday and tell everyone I said hi and that I love them so much. Also tell people they can start emailing me. It would be great to hear from everyone, especially the kids and my friends. Well there is so much I can tell you, but I'll save some more for my other letters so I actually have something to write. We will write our letters every week around 10:15 our timeint the morning so if you want to do some quick back and forths that when we can do it. Hopefully I've answered all of your questions. Love you all a ton and will try to send some pictures if I can get it figured out. Stay strong and pray that I will endure my mission well.

Love,
Elder Chandler Kendall