Hello,
This last week has been a challenging one. New area, no teaching pool, no english speakers = alot of tracting.
Tuesday-
Started to really get to know the area better. Elder Hirshberg and I did a whole lot of walking since my front tire had a leak. We looked for people to teach that spoke english EVERYWHERE. In ghetto little stores, parks, street corners, apartment complex's and restaurants. We were fortunate enough to find 3 people on a street reffered to us as english speaking. None of them had alot of time but they said we could come back. I really hope something comes of it.
Wednesday-
Got me a new bike tire and went over to good 'ol sister Greens' house. She's been having the missionaries over for lunch for almost 20 years every tuesday or wednesday. Now that we're in her area, that should be fun. I've mentioned her before - a couple months ago we'd go pick plums there. We made a huge loop from Wilmington blvd, up PCH to banning park to look for people there. A samoan lady pulled over just as we were getting to the park and gave us each a couple of water bottles. Im always so grateful for people helping us out. While we were walking, I had my head down and was talking to Elder Hirshberg - I almost peed my pants when a HUGE dog stuck it's head over a fence and barked at me. Seriously almost fell over. The mexican man that was sitting on his porch and watching all of this had a good laugh. We visited a couple of inactives (tried to visit) but none of them were home. It's rough going but atleast it was overcast. First time it's even sprkinkled since I got here in April.
Thursday-
Zone leaders came over at 9 to do companionship study with Elder Hirshberg and I. We studied in Preach My Gospel about teaching people and not lessons. I've mentioned this before but they've really changed the way that we teach since dad went on his mission. It's all by the spirit. Then we got my new tire on my bike because somehow I managed to pop a new one I had put on the day before and went on a nice ride to the bishops house. Everyone that we eat with lives pretty far out of our area so we've got to get a good head start. We talked with him about people he knows we could visit in our area and ate some food. He's been bishop for almost a year now and is getting adjusted. I always like saying "my dad was a bishop"
Friday-
Another tracting day. We tracted from 12 to about 5. We got a whole lot of refferals to give to the SPANISH speaking elders but only 2 for us to actually teach. 2 is better than none so i'll take it. We've run into alot of interesting people knocking doors. It's pretty fun. They're actually thinking about getting rid of tracting in my mission. Can you believe that? They want us to focus more on member work and getting refferals.. We'll see what happens. We went to the church for dinner. It was Elder Faase's homecoming party. He just got home from Guatamala. He is a Samoan and was really really big before his mission I guess but lost a whole ton of weight while he was out. It didn't make me as home sick as I thought it would. I was more focused on how good the food was I suppose. I only had a minute to talk to him - didn't give me much advice - just said he missed the mish.
Saturday-
There is a fair going on down our street and so we decided to go do some tracting there. We actually met a few people that have some potential! We were only there for about a half hour but people were coming up to us and asking who we were, etc. It was a great opportunity to share the Gospel and let people know what 'us Mormons' are all about. Today was my 200 day mark. Crusin right along. Another tracting day... ran into someone that told me BYU lost. . to airforce.. first time since 2003. My heart broke... I was pretty disgusted ha. Good thing i'm on my mission and don't need to worry about that jazz.
Sunday-
Went to church.. I'm only in the carson ward now but the samoan ward and the carson ward meet at the same time. The building out here is stinkin huge. Two chapels, two levels, just huge. Anwyay, since this Elder that just got home is a Samoan, the whole samoan ward was at his homecoming and there was really almost no one in the samoan ward, it was pretty funny. We met with the bishop and talked with him more about who we can visit and he gave us a couple of names. We went to the Saunders' for dinner and I felt my stomach start to hurt how it sometimes does when i'm getting my death sickness. I ate really quick and then hopped in my bike - immediately finding out that I was gonna be sick. We rode home and I jumped on the scale - knowing that I would be losing alot of weight in the coming hours. I was terribly sick from 6 pm to 6 am.. getting no sleep thanks to this sickness. Mom i'm kind of scared about what this is. No one can diagnose me and it's the worst pain in the world. Should I go to the doctor? I've talked to the mission doctor a few times and he just says to wait it out. I don't think he knows just how miserable it is.. I never had this before I was 18 - why do I get it so often now? Any advice would be really appreciated - it's death.
Monday-
I weighed myself to find I lost 5 lbs in the night and then finally got a couple hours of sleep. Fun. We went to the mall so that Elder Hirshberg could buy a couple of suits - I took it really easy to make sure I wouldn't get sick again. At 6 o'clock we had dinner with sister Meyers - meatloaf and costco potatoes. I wanted to eat a lot but I really couldnt fit hardly anything in my stomach. Everytime this happens I get so weak for a couple of days following. We finally got in touch with Rick - a less active in Wilmington. His wife has been in the hospital - we really hope we can help him and his family out. It's a part member family and we have an appointment with them later on.
Today -
If I had all of the money in the world, i'd bring it here to help all of the homeless. They break my heart. I always carry a snack in my backpack to give to them but I just wish I could do more. We were eating at Subway and I for some reason got a footlong... not thinking obviously that my stomach wouldn't hold it after being sick. I ate half of it just as a deaf homeless lady walked in. I don't understand sign but my companion does a little bit. She left without me knowing what was said. He said she was looking for food. I ran out of Subway but wasnt able to find her. I packed up the other half of my sandwich anyway and we left for the library. I prayed that I'd run into her or someone that I could give it to. Oddly enough, I found her and was able to give it to her. She, in sign language, said thank you with a smile. I'm so glad I have opportunities like those to help other people in this world. I know this Gospel is the truth and i'm doing what the Lord would have me do. I love you all,
Elder Cottrell
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