Week 45: Illness and Transfers - December 18, 2018

 Elder Wright said he donated a Gas Pass/Bus Pass at The Giving Machine in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building

Hello people! So, Christmas is almost here, which means that everything is going to go flawless, right? Wrong! Okay, I would like to point out that it's actually not that bad. In fact, I think why I'm even pointing these small things out is because things have been going pretty well for me. Anyway, the things that I would mainly like to point out is that 1. transfers is today, so that means I had to be quick with things, even though that's not too much of a problem, and 2. I was sick on Friday and Saturday, which is probably the bigger pain. Even then, it's not that big of a deal since it was just a cold, but it did make sleeping difficult for a little bit. That being said, I'm feeling a ton better now and I'm looking forward to next week with Christmas Skype calls!! I hope you all know that Christmas is a wonderful time to really show how much the people in your life mean to you, not just by giving gifts, but by giving service. Hope you all have an amazing Christmas and a happy New Year!!!

Till then,

Elder Wright

The Temple Square Christmas Lights as seen from the Joseph Smith Memorial Building

Some pictures from the mission's Christmas Devotional Lunch

Week 44: Shaking Hands With An Apostle - December 11, 2018

Mom: I was excited to see this picture on the mission Facebook page today. It was taken last Wednesday at the Family History Department Devotional. These are the young Elders of the Salt Lake City Headquarters Mission.

Hey friends and family! So, not much has changed since last week (if you are keeping track of how many times I've said that, there's another one to add to the counter). It hasn't snowed since last time, but from what I can tell it's starting back up again, so I'll have to deal with that now (sigh). 

Okay, now onto the title topic. Last Wednesday, the Family History Department got to have a Christmas devotional that was presided by Elder Renlund. My companion got there a little bit early, not early enough to realize that an apostle would be there. So anyway, we got to our seats, and this guy is going around the young elders and shaking our hands. People shake our hands all the time, so I didn't think too much of it, but after he walked away, an elder who was sitting by me said that that was really interesting. I asked him why, and he told me that we just got to shake hands with Elder Renlund! I didn't realize it was him when he shook my hand!! That was really weird, but at the same time I think it's kind of funny looking back. I guess I can mark myself down for shaking hands with 2 members of the First Presidency and Quorum of the 12. Well, that's all I really have to say. Hope you all have a great week and remember that Christmas time is a great time to give service!! Talk to you later!!!

Till then,

Elder Wright

Elder Wright also wrote to his dad and me that he has been taking a break from the AGES project recently, but he will start doing that again soon. He said, "I mainly just needed a break from it since I did a lot on it." And, "I have no clue how to pronounce any of the Chinese symbols nor do I know what they mean, so I just give them nicknames like 'tree house' or 'guy with swords.'"

He also told us that he sees the Light The World machines in SLC regularly. He was excited to hear about the machines here in Gilbert and wanted to know if our family had been there to donate yet. We plan to go this weekend. He told us we should donate a goat!

We also got this letter in the mail on Monday. We are so blessed that Elder Wright has these opportunities to serve!

Week 43: Teaching An AI Chinese - December 4, 2018

Hello from SLC again! So things have changed a little bit since I last wrote. For starters, it has finally started snowing. ARGH!!! Oh well, it hasn't gotten really bad, but it's still annoying to deal with. Another big change that has happened is that the Family History Library is now open on Saturday nights, meaning that we have to be working there during that time. Thankfully, though, I'll only have to be serving there every other Saturday night since they are planning on having the elders who aren't in the FHL to help out, since it would be unfair for one half of the mission to have a free Saturday night off and the other half to not have one, so we'll be alternating with them. Also, I forgot to mention this, but last Monday I gave a short talk in the Monday morning devotional that my mission has each week. It wasn't to interesting, but I feel like it is worth noting. 

Okay, now on to the subject that I named this email after. Recently, the young elders in this mission have been given this new project called the AGES project. This project, in basic terms, is teaching an AI the written form of Chinese characters. What happens is the AI will pull have an example picture of what the character looks like and a digitized version of it thinks is the same symbol. We then decide whether or not if the symbols are identical, different, or if the digitized picture is not even a symbol and just weird smudge. I've gone through 3000 pictures so far, and I'm having a ton of fun with it. I find it so exciting going through all these symbols and seeing how many I can do! Sure it might not be as cool as some might think, but I think it's great! Hopefully you are all having a fun time wherever you are this winter. Have a great week and remember why we have the Christmas season in the first place!!

Till then,

Elder Wright

Elder Wright also told mom that he's enjoying the Christmas lights on Temple Square and he got to go to the First Presidency Christmas Devotional. He's having so many exciting opportunities serving at the SLC Headquarters!

Also, here is Elder Wright's Christmas ornament this year