July 21, 2014
Dear Family:
I actually remembered something that we did on Monday!!
After E-mailing and stuff we went to Elder Kelley and Gillette's apartment and
played Settlers of Catan, but it was a United States version. That is all I got
though...
Tuesday the zone had interviews with President Mullin. The
interviews were different than how we are used to, but they were good. He
called me and had me set up a pretty intense schedule for him and the
missionaries to follow. We got to go first. He asked about the missionaries in
the zone. I asked him if he would release me as a ZL and let me "go back
to pasture". We talked about being a trainer again, that is what I am
hoping for. I want to get doubled in again. He asked me to bear my testimony. I
wasn't expecting that so it caught me off guard so it was pretty scatter
brained, but we had a good conversation about it. Elder Hugie also had a good
interview with him. After that we went to Menifee to get the tire pressure
gauge in our car get fixed. We went to In-n-Out and ran into a bunch of Elders
from that zone getting lunch after DDM. Like Elders Baltazar, Moyer, and some
other ones I have served around. They have like 20 days left. Elder Moyer was 6
months out when I came into Hemet, I asked him how he lasted that long haha. Elder
Baltazar told me and Elder Hugie something that has made us super trunky all
week. We met with Gus again. Had dinner at Bishop’s house the 3rd night in a
row. I told him he was the one who told us to call him when our dinners fall
through! They were fine with it, they take good care of us. Because we can't
have peanut butter at home cuz Kimo is super allergic to it we randomly go to
their house for a snack so we can have some peanut butter sandwiches! After
dinner Bishop had an interview with a less active person who just moved into
the area and we were going to just "happen by". They didn't show
though so we helped him brainstorm ideas on who our new homeshare should be.
Actually when we left the house we were in front and I got an idea. I turned on
a different road and raced off. Bishop knew what I was going for and the next
road down we could see him between the houses trying to keep up. I gave him the
advantage he got the freeway. It was super funny. We caught him at Dexter St. He
turned in a different entrance so I took the other one to get in front but
somebody in a PT Cruzer was going slow in front of me so he beat me. He claims
he would have beaten me anyways but I dunno haha.
Lake Elsinore
Elder Wood and Elder Hugie
Wednesday I got to go to Spanish land on exchanges!! I
haven't gotten to do that since I was in Hemet! I went with Elder Galindo. He
is from Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico. In other words the place in Mexico you can
see when you are in El Paso. I think at least. We had fun. It was hard to keep
myself awake during the lessons because I didn't understand much. It did give
me a desire again to learn Spanish though! I kinda had lost the flame but it
got it burning again. I gave up doing it on my mission. No time. I will do it
when I get home. I want to use the Book of Mormon to do it. I need something to
keep my mind busy between the time I go to college and when I get home anyways.
I asked Elder Galindo if I did that if I learned Spanish from reading the Book
of Mormon if I would talk weird like "It came to pass" he thought
that was pretty funny. He just said that I would speak correctly. I wouldn't
know any slang which is good. We accidentally left the mission. We went to
Marietta. It was to give a potential investigator a blessing, but we got a
phone call right as we got to the hospital and said sorry they are at home. So
we drove back to the other side of Lake Elsinore and then they were asleep, so
we didn't even get to give them a blessing. Our dinner fell through. I was sad
about that because that is one of the best parts about Spanish exchanges! The
food!
Thursday we went and did weekly planning at the church. We
taught Jessica and Cindy and Connie. Also we found out how Connie and Daniel
are connected to the rest of the group. Connie is Ramona's daughter but from
another dad. So Jessica and all the others are half-sister. Anyways we watched
the restoration. Connie hadn't come in at that point so we are going to watch
it again with Daniel and Connie both. At a parking lot I met one of our
neighbors. His name is Justin. He was cool and actually all of his family are
members, but very less active. He said we could come by.
Friday we had exchanges again. This time I was with Elder
Kelley in my area. It was fun. We actually went on exchanges a long time ago in
Hemet. That was on bike though so that wasn't near as fun. This time we got
lost ha. It was in Perris. Martha was mad at us because we didn't show up to
help her paint again. We tried! She just never answers her phone! I smoothed it
over. Marty was there and he pulled me aside before I talked to her and warned
me, I wasn't worried though we have a pretty good relationship with her.
Saturday Elder Hugie and I went with Elders Kelley and
Gillette to help Martha paint for a few hours. Don't worry though, this time I
wasn't in my missionary clothes. She got us all lunch. Elder Hugie got a tongue
burrito. I just got a California one. Martha’s mom owns a restaurant. It was
pretty good. Also they best menudo I have ever had, but I don't really like it
that much. I am out of time. Saturday was super slow. I forgot a story for Tuesday!
We tried to find Sarah. We know Clinton is still in jail we don't get to teach
him there though. It was pretty sketchy trying to find her place. I don't think
I have ever been to a place as messed up as that homeless camp was. I didn't
know people lived in conditions like that. When we walked to it (it was a ways
in the middle of nowhere in the trees but we definitely knew when we got there)
all we saw was trash. Like a pack rat but with people stuff or a hoarder
without a place to put it. There was a tent and a random guy we could hear
talking to himself, he got scared when he saw us so he skirted the trees
(thinking we didn't know he was there) and ran got his bike and ran away haha.
It was in a little forest kinda where a creek had been (it was right by the
lake) and there would be a tent every once and a while with a ton of random
clothes and other trash in a huge pile. A few tents down we saw a huge dog just
sitting there, so were just started walking the other way and then kept on our
path. I had the feeling people were there, they were just hiding really well.
When we got to the end we could see the lake. Then we heard a guy yelling a
bunch of profanities. Eventually we figured out he was yelling at us. So we
walked towards it. The second he saw who we were he got very respectful. It was
pretty cool. His name was Robert actually. He was really drunk though. He had
us sit down (I was sitting on a cutting board on top of some stuff) and we
taught him a little bit and then bounced when we found out Sarah wasn't there.
When we went to dinner at Bishop’s we told him we had stooped to a new low.
Trying to teach people in the homeless camps. He thought it was pretty funny.
He actually got a call earlier that day from Sarah's family because they found
out we met with them and they just wanted to warn him they have used the church
before, so we are going to be careful with the situation. We probably won't see
them unless they contact us. Well got to go bye!!
Love,
Elder Wood
And my turn (Elder
Huge Hug) so this week, I’m sure Wood has already told you, has been tuff, but
this is really cool to share. We went to our bishop’s house for a peanut butter
sandwich!!! Since it was just Sister Aragon, we sat in the back and she made us
peanut butter sandwiches. And wait for it, she even made peanut butter and
nutella, which sounded weird, but then we tried it, it tastes like a recees
peanut butter cup!! So good!! jJst wanted to share that cause we don’t get
peanut butter that much. haha. Hope you all have a great week. I really like
hearing about your family when Elder Wood gets his letters. It’s always fun to
hear what all y’all are up to. haha. That’s what our mission president told us
today in our Emails with him. He actually said all ya’ll! It was so cool!!! Bye,
tell Shocka “Hi” for me.
