Dear Family,

We had a virtual "baptism" Saturday!! Brother Law, our faux investigator is pretty much the sweetest man I've ever met--a American (and a Chinese Mandarin teacher) who comes and pretends to be an investigator for us at the MTC. He is such a sweetheart; it was so much fin to teach him every single week. He was ridiculously golden--when challenged with the law of tithing lesson he said, "that's such a good idea! I'd love to give 10%."

I know it was just practice, and I realize missionaries who get excited about this are just ridiculous (I, myself, made fun of them in the years of TRC appointments!) but he did make himself out to have some real problems--his girlfriend dumped him because of the church and he had to stop social drinking-- but it made a huge impact on me, if only for the practice in learning to love someone for real. I really do love that man, it's crazy!

I also have grown to have a deep affection for my teachers, Jang Hing Bai, Brother Nathan Jackson and Sister law. Brother Jackson is such an enthusiastic and motivational teacher, always bounding (he doesn't walk anywhere) and smiling.

Let's Hang Out, on the Phone! Hopefully, I can figure out how to work this phone card. I'm the "travel leader" for our little threesome district. HA! I can barely get myself onto a plane on time and alive, the coordination of THREE missionaries and their 115 pounds of stuff and all of it needs to get to CHINA. Oh great, great! Our departure times are 9 p.m. Salt Lake to San Francisco, arrive 11:30ish and at 2 a.m. leave San Francisco for Taiwan, and then an island hop from Taiwan to Hong Kong, arriving at 10 a.m. on Wednesday.

Chi dai gin (see you later). Sister Dia Darcey

P.S. Notes from Mom: Dia's camera memory cards were mailed with this letter, but probably never made it past the original postal slide. The envelope corner was ripped out and the two cards are lost forever. So sad. Next time, padded envelopes and hand cancelled. Meanwhile, all of the MTC photographs will remain her fondest memories.