November 17, 2014
Dear Family:
Monday was good. Normal P-day. For dinner a member gave us
money so instead of going to dinner we got an extra hour long P-day. The day
just goes by way too fast! The rest of the week seems to have no problem taking
its time though! Speaking of things taking forever I still have forever left on
my mission. Don't worry I am hanging on, but Skyler is coming home in two
weeks. So if you could go to his homecoming for me? Or at least like
call him maybe if you can't make it. That would be awesome. I miss him, Jetson,
and Kaiden. Even though we talk every week haha. We went to FHE. It was clear
down in the Temescal Valley ward where I used to serve. We ended up being late
and just catching the last bit of it. A lot more people are coming out then
when I first got here. It is actually pretty fun. Yes, really awkward at times,
but fun. There is a ton of potential for missionary work too. That is like the
best part I think. There is one girl named Julia who just got home from her
mission. She has already taken a bunch of Books of Mormon from us to give to
people she meets and is trying hard to find somebody for us to teach. A lot of
the returned missionaries are doing their best to help us out besides her as
well.
Elder Wood and Elder Robins
Wednesday I don't remember what we did. I didn't write
anything down. I think we might have come to the church to work on Elder Robbin’s
BYU application. If so all I know is I brought my guitar and I broke my nice
pick. I didn't even know you could do that. They are just plastic though and I
have more. You guys asked about Elder Robbins. I guess I forgot to tell you
about him. He is from West Valley. Has been on his mission 15 months or so I
think. Also Elder Caples moved in with me! That has been fun. His new companion
is Elder Barton. I was looking at his pictures the other day and he was in one
with Hallie Pugh. I guess they were pretty good friends before he came out
here.
Thursday we went to Redlands to go to the doctor. Hopefully
I have told you about my doctor, but he is really cool. He is a super good
Christian guy. We had some great discussions about the gospel. I was going to
do my best to get him to take the lessons and get his address and stuff but he
wasn't there! It was another guy! Unfortunately that was my last time going. We
went to Cafe Rio after :) At night we went to the Bishopric Training meeting
with the Stake Presidency. I was just planning on talking to them for like 10
minutes but it ended up being almost like an hour. President Aragon (who is a
boss) kept asking us questions and opening it up to discussion. It went really
well. Like a lot better than I would have expected it. The Bishops asked really
good questions and were really willing to learn and make changes. We have a Bishop
who is notorious for not getting along with his missionaries at all. Then just
one or two who don't do anything for or against them. And then the rest are all
great Bishops. I called out the bad one on accident a little bit. I didn't mean
to say what I did it just kinda flew out of my mouth before I even realized
what he said. I was sitting by President Zimmerman. It caught him off guard and
he accidentally laughed haha. I think that was the funniest part. I found out
today that the meeting actually helped. The one who struggles with the
missionaries approached them and said he wants to start going out with them. I
was really surprised by that. We had a lesson after with Sarah. Things are
headed in the right way! We taught some of the commandments. She is ready to be
interviewed this week. Still there is only one roadblock in our path. She is
super nervous for us to come to her house and get the baptismal white signed by
her parents. Not just nervous but like way beyond. It bothers me she really
doesn't want us to do that. It makes me think she really hasn't talked to her
parents about it like she should and told us she has. Realistically this whole
thing could get blown way out of proportion. She just needs to talk to them.
But if she has talked to them things will be smooth. If so great! Maybe she
just is nervous for us to come over for some other reason.
Friday I also didn't take notes so I don't remember what we
did. That could have been the day we came to the church and did the BYU
application for my comp. Either way we did it one of the days. The funny thing
is after we spent all that time he isn't going to apply there anymore. He is really
slow at writing essays (he says I don't know) and he wasn’t even close to
finishing so he decided to give up and apply elsewhere. He said with his grades
and stuff he wouldn't have made it in. Oh well, I just played guitar when he
was applying so either way is fine with me.
Saturday we had exchanges I got to go back to Temescal Valley
Ward for a day! It was super fun. Plus I got to drive my favorite mission car!
They really don't have anything going on. It is a hard area. Only one person
has gotten baptized in that ward since the people I taught a year ago and that
was like two weeks ago in the sisters area. The Elder’s area hasn't had much
luck finding people. I stopped in on the Hoyts! It was good to chat with
Brother Hoyt for a bit. Sister Hoyt had a migraine so I didn't get to talk to
her unfortunately. I still know that area like the back of my hand. I have
never known a ward better. If I have it was the Fruitvale Ward. I think I knew
where every member, less active, and part member family lived in my side of the
ward, and most of where the members were in the Sister’s area. I knew the ones
that fed us at least! We didn't even use the GPS. I was pretty proud of myself
haha. It was just really fun for me to get to go back. I went with Elder Godfrey.
He has only been in that area for 2 weeks now. I served with him in Lake Elsinore
so that made the exchange even more fun.
Sunday we had stake MCM in the morning. Then straight to
Auburnadale Ward. Then YSA. It was really busy. After YSA they had a break the
fast sort of deal but it was really for Thanksgiving. They did it early so when
people went out of town they wouldn't miss it. I think that is the most people
we have seen in this YSA Sacrament Meeting. If there is food they will come!
After that we had dinner with the Wheats. They had a special dinner for their
good friend Kelsey. She pretty much lives there. It was her year mark from
getting baptized. She is putting her mission papers in soon. Steve has got some
friends he is trying to get to take the lessons. He is supposed to be talking
to Jenna again this week. He had a cool experience where one of his friends on
his football team who is a senior in high school
"atheist" texted him asking questions about God. Hopefully the dialog
continues. Well that is pretty much all I got! Have a good week! Love ya!
Elder Wood
