Hey family!
Things have been good this last week - didn't get transferred - baptism went really well - things have been good. Glad you had a good trip to Chicago and got to see everyone out there - stake conference also sounds like it was pretty good. Intense maybe? You sure sound busy driving all over the place. I've learned how important it is to stay busy - good things happen when you're doing all you can. Shoot I hope dad's neck feels better soon, that doesn't sound like a good time at all. Dunk his head in the tub or something - maybe use a rolling pin ha.
Tuesday- 10-12-10
After email we tried to visit a couple of referrals we received. They weren't home but a thrift shop was near by so we decided to check it out. It ended up being alot like a D.I.. We talked to the owner for a good while and found out that she is a Christian and this was her way of helping God's children. She was taking lightly used things and helping out the poor in the area. We told her who we are and how we also help Gods children. It was a great experience. I gave her a pass along card and she asked us to come tell her more another day. We ate with the Teppers - they have a few CATS. I don't like cats. One of them was pretty alright though - kept coming to me and sitting in my lap. So I started to pet it and play with it (I carry around a laser to mess with animals whenever I have the chance).. It was sitting in my lap again and I was just petting it when suddenly it flipped and scratched the crap out of my arm. It was actually really really funny but scared me to death. I dont like cats. Again. I see quite a few coins on the ground as we're walking so far everyday - so I remembered that was how I used to make money when I was little - I pick up everyone I see now and put it in a plastic bag. We'll see how much I can save over these next 16 months.
Wednesday-
Today we went to Sister Greens. We got there and had forgotten that the week before we told her we'd help to set up her halloween stuff. We told her we would come back tomorrow in different clothes but she still wanted to feed us. So we ate and talked with her for a while - she's always fun to visit. We rode our bikes to Franco's after that and he worked on my back a little bit. We read in the Book of Mormon and talked about it. Then we made our new planners for the transfer - BYU/Utah ones. They're pretty funny. I'm sending you the pictures today so you'll see.
Thursday-
Peanut people day. They live out of our area so we can't go and visit them any other time than thursdays at the farmers maket. I hope we can help them out more. We walked to sister Greens and set up her halloween stuff - she has a ton. We planted some flowers for her and cleaned up her yard a little bit as well. We rode our bikes to Chris's house to get Elder H. a cut. My bike tire popped on the way there. I'm not fixing it this time.. I'm going to give it back to Elder Hodell and take my beach cruiser on monday to a place that trades bikes - hopefully I can get something better. We went to the Nickels home later and watched a church movie with them. Brother Nickel just had back surgery so he wasn't doing too well. It was good to see them though, I think they really enjoyed the movie.
Friday-
District meeting day. First one of the transfer. It went pretty well, I didn't train or anything. We went to Chipotle afterwards and a lady paid for about 8 missionaries to eat there. Elder H. and I were going to lunch with Franco later so we didnt eat but it was still very nice of the lady to offer - that hadn't happened to me yet on my mission. Franco took us to Chili's. While we were waiting for our food he pulled over a waitress and said in spanish "do you guys sing for birthdays? It's my friends' birthday." Obviously not knowing that we speak spanish. As soon as she left we said "who's birthday is it Franco?" he got red and started laughing. He was really embarrased that we understood him. He made us promise not to tell him that he lied. They came out and gave me ice cream and cake and sang to me. Nice. Franco got a kick out of it. It was a late lunch and right after was dinner time. We went to a mexican restraunt with a filipino lady and her family in Wilmington. I was so stinkin full. We walked from there to Gene's house - who we did service for a couple weeks back - crazy, he told us that he woke up at 2 in the morning the day we came over and was BLIND in his right eye. He went to the doctors and they said there was a clot in his optic nerve or something and that its pretty much permanent. That was really crazy to hear.. He's doing good though and handling it ok. He told us some funny stories - a panther pee'd on him once at the zoo when he was younger. And he also saw a UFO with his buddies in New York. We read in the Book of Mormon and tried to relate some of the things back to the gospel. He's a lonely guy and enjoys our company i'm sure.
Saturday-
Organized our new ward list and walked the whole day finding people (less active and in active). We walked all over a part of Wilmington called "ghost town". It's really quiet and sort of eery. The most ghetto part no doubt. It was pretty successful though, we were able to meet and contact alot of people that have not been affiliated with the church any time as of late. Plus a cat with fleas followed us home for about a mile when we were done so that was nice.
Sunday-
President Baker and the stake president showed up at our church for the confirmation of the Wongs and Javier and Levi's mission farewell talk. It was a really great thing to see and hear. I think Javier will go on a mission - it was awesome for him to see someone leaving and be so excited about serving the Lord. We did alot of walking and visiting today. My legs are getting strong and my shoes are wearing out.
Monday-
We played volleyball and basketball with the zone at the Carson building. We played a game of basketball to 11 that lasted about an hour. My team was down 10 - 4. We played really hard and came back to win 11 - 10. That was sweet. We went to San Pedro afterwards and did some grocery shopping. Elder Hirshberg and I were outside of their apartment and this HUGE greyhound came running up to us. I thought for sure it was about to tear us apart. Turned out it was really nice. We told Elder Hodell to come outside while his companion was in the bathroom. We let the dog in their apartment and watched through the screen door as Elder Poemape came out of the bathroom and was greeted by a huge dog facing him in his apartment. I laughed for a good while. We let the dog out and it ran away - no harm done to anyone. I was sitting in the stairwell later that night, studying the scriptures and waiting for my laundry. I could hear through the wall two people yelling and arguing. After a while a man came outside. I had seen him before. A tall, older, african american man. As he walked past me down the stairs I said "how's it goin?" he said "it's alright" and kept on his way. He got to the bottom of the stairs, turned around and said, "who are you? what do you do?" I told him that I am a missionary and am here to help God's children. He paused for a minute and walked back up the stairs towards me and sat down. His name is Ronald - he works for a motion picture company as a mover - is renting a room from a renter and has a 14 year old daughter. We talked about life and our purpose for about an hour. I was able to bear my testimony of family, faith and trials - how we become stronger with each of those things. I gave him a Book of Mormon with Morgans testimony in it (from the young women) and a Restoration pamphlet. I truly hope things work out for him.
Today it's been raining really hard - I don't have a jacket but was lucky enough to find a winny - the - poo umbrella on my balcony. Hope it lightens up a bit.
I love you and will talk to you soon! Thank you for everything. Be safe and hold to the rod.
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