28 October 1999

I've got to find a way to fix this problem that's developing.  Elder Millington annoys me more each day.  He's a dork, but that's okay.  I've like dorks in the past.  He's got a stick up bis butt, but that alone is okay.  I've liked guys with sticks up their butts in the past.  It's just his attitude about it.  He's very proud of his anal retentiveness, and he likes to tell about how righteous he was before his mission.  For example, I've heard from Elder Werner and my family about a movie called "The Matrix."  It sounded really cool, and I plan on watching it when I go home.  I asked Elder Millington if he had seen it, and he said, "I don't watch rated-R movies."  I didn't ask that, I asked if he had seen "The Matrix" or not.  Once I told him that I watched all of the "Nightmare on Elm Street" movies.  "Aren't those rated R?" he said.  I don't care.  Another time, we were in Mayorga watching a baptism.  I was talking with Elder Clark about movies.  I mentioned that I had seen "There's Something About Mary."  Elder Millington overheard.  He looked at me, his eyes wide and a look of shock on his face.  He was so shocked that he couldn't speak.  He just pointed an accusing finger at me.

Another thing I don't like about him is his pride.  He think's he's a lot better than he is, especially when it comes to singing.  I think his pride is part of the reason he's trying to be senior companion.  That, and he thinks I'm a bad missionary.  The work here isn't how he was thinking it would be, and I think he blames me for that.  When we plan, he always tells me what we're going to do.  He doesn't say, "Maybe we can do this," or discuss it.  He says, "Okay, we have an appointment at kuwan (whatchamacallit).  After that we'll tract."  He's bossy.  And he always wants to tract!  Tracting (door-to-door contacting) is one of the less effective finding methods, especially in this mission.  He's always telling me to contact people, too.  "Hey, that person just called us Mormons.  Contact her."  A crazy person will start rambling at us, and he'll say, "Contact him."  A teenage boy will yell, "Hey Joe, where are you going?"  "Contact him."  "You contact him," I'll say sometimes.

He's always walking in front of me, too.  That bugs me.  It makes me feel like a greenie (new missionary) again.  I'm in charge.  He doesn't know what he's doing.

It's evening now.  We just got finished planning.  Elder Millington tried to take over, but I put a stop to it in a non-offensive manner.

We visited Hazel and Susan again tonight.  It was fun.  The three of us have really developed a good friendship.  so good, in fact, that I'm starting to get nervous.  I care for those two very much.  Probably too much for a missionary to care about two single, young women.  Especially Hazel.  I'm also worried about their church activity after I'm transferred.  They don't seem to be clicking so well with Elder Millington, and they don't yet have strong relationships with the members of the branch.  At the point they're at right now, they might slip into inactivity if I'm transferred.  I must get them better fellowshipped.  That way, I won't have to visit them as often as I do, thus avoiding anything inappropriate.