"We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand." -Randy Pausch

One of the members in our branch, Kinnya. She LOVES the missionaries
and helps us out a ton!

Dear Family,

     Thank you so much for your letter that you sent me!! I was good to hear that everyone is doing well and healthy! Except for Shelby's Jeep... That is rough!

 But it sounds like you are taking it the right way in seeing that no one got hurt! That would have been definitely a different story if someone was hurt... Gotta be grateful for that! You see crashes here all the time from the lack of road rules... Happy to hear that this one turned out better that some that I have seen! It sounds like your New Years Eve was a fun and exciting one! It made me laugh when you didn't want to tell me the menu because you thought it would make me sad... It's just food mom ;)  And plus, President put me together with Chef Boyardee! He is the most amazing cook I have ever seen, out of the missionaries that is. Nothing compares to dad :) He made us chicken and potato salad the other night and it was to die for... So I guess that I am pretty darn lucky in that category! I bet it was a treat to have everyone together for a good, fun meal! And candles and music... So fancy! Good to hear that you guys have had a good new years so far!

 Our baptism with Gisele! Her friend, Nicole, is the one in the dress...
She is super funny and always talking!

     So onto my new sector here in Attiegou. I replaced Elder Shear who had been hear for 4 months. Other missionaries that had worked in this sector are Palmer, Harding, Winkleman and Shumway. It was fun to see the progress papers with their names on them. Kinda like a journal! I came here to a baptism that was on Saturday with a sister named Gisele. She is the one in pants and you can see my comp. Elder Ramananjanahary "Raman Noodles" as I call him. He likes it :) Although he doesn't always understand what is going on, he is a good Elder who just wants to do the right thing. He was the district leader, but when the zone leaders went on a split with him, I went to Hedzdronowoé, they made some changes and put in Elder Ntengo. Just kinda gives a little background on my comp. But like I said, he has a fun loving heart and just wants to do the right thing, and learning just what that is. He is a heck of a cook and that is a plus!

      So far I have really liked what I have seen of the amis and members! Yeah there is not one paved road in our whole sector, and every road here is worse off than the firebreak road, just to give you an idea... The roads here are red too so it gets everything dirtier a lot faster... But it isn't too bad! This sector is what turned ---------- into not caring about his personal hygiene anymore. Let's just hope that doesn't happen to me! The weather here the past week had been absolutely AMAZING!!! In the morning it feels like a spring day in the mountains! It is insane! In the afternoon it gets hot, but I haven't even broken a sweat that much this week! As I am typing right now, a nice breeze is blowing through the window keeping me cool, AND an overhead ceiling fan... Can you say spoiled? ;) The sector is really nice and I am liking what I am seeing so far! The cyper is decent as well, let's hope that I can shoot off some pictures this week eh?

     As we were cleaning our apartment for the apartment inspection (which we didn't win because someone left an open tomato paste can in the fridge...), I was organizing my companions things when I saw a book on his desk that Elder Shaffer gave to him before he left home. Shaffer trained him. The book is titled, "The LAST LECTURE" by Randy Pausch. It has nothing to do about doctrine, but I just had to read it, and I am so glad that I did. I have never been to hot on reading books as you guys know... But I knocked out this 200 page book in two days! That is 100 pages a day... Yeah I can still do math. But it was probably one of the most interesting books I have ever read! It is about a guy, Randy Pausch who has terminal cancer and he gives a lecture at a college about "fulfilling your childhood dreams". I could give you a complete overview but I figure you'd be better off just to google it and read it for yourself. Anyways it was really amazing and I have started reading it again. I learned so much stuff that is going to help me be a better missionary, and it just kind of opened my eyes about a lot of stuff! It was really cool! I'm not going to say that it changed my life, because it didn't... But nevertheless it was an amazing book! Gave me a desire to actually want to read books now! You can read it if you want... I don't think you'll regret it.

     So like you said, missionary work is going forward here. You hit that one on the head for sure! I am excited to get going on this new sector and get to know better the amis and members. I got to bear my testimony on Sunday and I really enjoyed that. I can really see the work starting to just get up and go! Next Sunday we should be meeting in the new church building! Whooo!! I will for sure take some pics and send them to you. A quote just came to my mind that I took from the book I read and figured I would end with it... "We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand." I love you all and I know that this gospel is true. I know that everything that Joseph Smith did was directed by the power and authority of God. I love you all so much and I can't wait to hear back from you next Monday!

                                                           Love you,
                                                                                Elder Landon Dean Layton
Dear Dad,

     Hey there big guy. I just wanted to say thank you so much for the letter that you sent me last week. It really meant a lot to me to read that. I know that you have a testimony of this gospel, and really that helps me have this desire to keep going out here, even when times aren't the easiest... But times are good right now, so that makes it that much easier! I have always remembered what you have taught me in football though. It's easy to be a leader when things are going well and you're winning. But the real leaders start to show themselves when adversity comes and they step up to the plate and wanna play. I really have learned so much from you throughout the years without even really knowing it! I guess that you could say that you "headfaked" me! In that way that you taught me so many things in life, without necessarily saying, "Landon, this is what I am teaching you...." But by making and letting me do other things, you taught me more than just that certain thing that I did. For example playing sports, working of cars, taking care of a family. Yeah all of those things are important. But now when I look back at it all, I really learned so much more than just how to get into a three point stance, or how to wet sand a car. I just wanted to thank you for everything that you have done in my life, and probably without even knowing it!

     The mission life is going well. I cannot complain... The new apartment we are in is super sweet! Like I would be stoked to live in it when I was older. I came to a nice sector to work in. My companion is a hard worker.

I guess the Lord knows what he is doing. Correction, I KNOW the Lord knows what he is doing!

     You guys really do give me so much support and help more that you may realize! And I am so grateful for that. I love you so much dad and I want you to know how grateful I am for you and your strong testimony in this gospel.

                            Love your son,
                                                   Elder Layton

PICS:
1- One of the members in our branch, Kinnya. She LOVES the missionaries and helps us out a ton!
2- Our baptism with Gisele! Her friend, Nicole, is the one in the dress... She is super funny and always talking!

QUESTIONS:
1- Did you get your package yet?
  - Nope... Still waiting! I'll let you know when it comes though!
2- I saw that you took out some money. Did you buy anything fun? I hope so :)
  - I have yet to buy anything cool with it... I just like to have it in case an opportunity comes up!! But with the other 100 that I took out, that got me some cool things for sure :) Tell Grandpa Layton, Gma and Gpa Miller, and Baumans thanks for the money they sent me and all the other help I receive! Yay...!