Hello everyone!
I hope things are going well. It's been a tough week, but I've been very blessed. It was great to see you on Wednesday, but very bittersweet. It sounds like you've had a lot of people to talk to and a lot of support. I'm glad that you were able to talk to all of Bryce's friends. Hopefully he inspired a few of them to be better.
It's sort of funny, you mentioned reading through Bryce's journal, and Kira mentioned specifically that Bryce had so much potential that she never quite saw. I guess I got a different perspective from all of the other kids because I lived with Bryce when he was in high school. I definitely saw that potential that Kira talked about. But he definitely down played everything and tried to lay low. But it was amazing after his mission to see that he was starting to really live life to the fullest.
It's amazing how much comfort and peace I have had this week. Especially on Wednesday and Thursday, as soon as the day was over and my missionary duties were done, my thoughts and feelings came over me like a flood. I feel like the Lord allowed everything to be suppressed so that I could do my work, but once the work was done, I got everything rushed at me. So nights are definitely hard because I have time to think. During the day, I am usually so busy that I don't have time to ponder or think too much about anything but missionary work.
Thanks for all of the letters and support. It's been great to get tons of mail every day (my district is all jealous). It's really good to hear of all of the things that have transpired since Wednesday.
So, I would like the addresses to BYU and to The Canyons. I've already written a thank-you to The Canyons and intend on writing one to BYU today. I think that Bryce would definitely want to thank both of them, so I thought I'd do it for him.
As far as Bryce's possessions go, I have a few things to say. If Bryce's phone and iPod are intact, I would like them when I get home (unaltered). I think I may have grown an instant liking to all of Bryce's music. It is a good way to remember him. Also, he should have tons of pictures and videos and music on his computer of his mission that would be awesome to see when I get home. Basically, since I can't be home right now, I'd like everything to stay the same until I get home. I figure you'll probably leave Bryce's room the way it is, and I will want to spend some time in there when I get home.
So, you mentioned that you went and talked to the truck driver that hit Bryce (or so it seemed). Is he from Spanish Fork? That's pretty amazing that you can talk to him. I feel sorry for everyone that had to see it happen. For that matter, I feel sorry for all of you that have to drive on I-15 every day. That's one of the many blessings of being on a mission right now.
I have realized that coming home will be much harder for me than dealing with Bryce's death right now. I hadn't planned on seeing him for the next two years, but I had planned on doing stuff with him afterward s. So it's definitely going to be tough then. But right now I am doing pretty good.
My district and the other senpai districts (older missionaries) have been great support. I've been able to talk to a few of them and it's great to have them around. I wish I could be with the family right now, but my district is like family now, so it's good to be with them.
Well, other missionaries are waiting for the computer, so I'm going to get off now. I'll probably write back a little note later today before devotional. I love you all and hope that you have a great week.
Elder Christensen
