Monday, November 14, 2011

Hey!

What a week! this has probably been one of the more frustrating weeks on the mission so far. Our Baptism dates for this Saturday have been delayed.... until February. That one fact alone seemed to drain the motivation out of us this week, but we have pressed forward. They baptism date has been moved so far because they want to have a big wedding with their family. And the mother, who will be the financier, wanted it on Valentines day. Despite this unforeseen circumstance, there is a chance I will be here come February. Anyway, one thing i love about being a missionary is that as I focus on other people my trivial problems wash away. This is our last week before transfers so we are going to make it good. Speaking of transfers I'm not sure what will come of them. I'm finished with the training program so it is unlikely Elder McKay and I will stay together. So I will probably be staying in this area. One thing that has been fun lately is rehearsing for the mission wide Christmas concert on December 3rd. There will be 200 of us singing! Without some kind of music I would shrivel up and die out here. :) Well I will know what is to be my fate when I write again.

Monday, November 7, 2011

"Mawwage. Mawwage is what bwings us together today. Wove, twue wove...So tweasure your woves forever" :) It seems as a missionary you never stop hearing about getting married.  My Comp in particular talks about getting married every other hour. :) He plans to get married the second he gets home.  As for me I think I can manage waiting for a bit longer. :) Marriage is also something that causes stress for missionaries when a couple is not married but wants to be baptized. The other Elders that live with us had a baptism ready to go if it weren't for the adamant of the couple to not be married. Luckily for us in the Arrowhead ward in the Hesperia Stake that is not going to be a problem.  Jake and Athena Rivera are getting married on the fifteenth of this month! With the subsequent baptism on the nineteenth it should be a week they will never forget, nor I. :) Anyway, with the political campaign in full force we have had a couple of investigators who have come to church ask us if we are a colt. We simply asked "I don't know you've been to church, are we?" :) It's funny how Satan has filled this world with thousands of misconceptions about Mormons. It has started getting colder.  In fact the mountain that happens to be the same mountain on the arrowhead water bottles is covered with snow (yes arrowhead water bottles come from San Bernardino County).  Yesterday I learned of an interesting statistic: San Bernardino County has the third highest gang population in the nation. I've got some work to do. Well it's time to go. Congrats on Les Mes everyone who is involved. I'm sure it is glorious. :)


Sunday, November 6, 2011

Today i will be doing something i haven't done in my entire life. I will not be dressing up for Halloween! (though i think dressing up as Ammon or Captain Moroni would be pretty sweet).  We have been instructed to be in our apartments at six: no exceptions. I have still found ways to celebrate Halloween with the ward Halloween party and carving pumpkins with a family. I carved a missionary pumpkin :) (His name is Elder O' Lantern).  Thanks to my dear Grandmother sending me a pedigree chart I have concluded that In this ward ,which I am currently serving in, resides Rulon Taylor my Great Great Uncle.  He is 89 and now calls me his new nephew. :)  The missionary work, like most things in life, seems to have many ups and downs. The trick is to make the best out of every day given you despite differing circumstances. This last week was was fortunately an up for the most part.  We have been focusing a lot on a couple named Jake and Athena Rivera. They have recently undergone a court case to gain custody of their child. With many prayers on their part and on ours they now have him back. I don't doubt that this was God's doing as they have brought their lives closer to his teachings.  We are shooting to have them baptised on the nineteenth of November. :) It is sad to see some that we are working with pull away in some degree. There is not a lot that we can do but keep trying with them and hope for the best. At the end of this transfer will be the end of my official training period.  Which means that my Comp Elder McKay will more that likely be leaving me. :( I will be a little bird leaving the nest getting ready to fly on my own. :) well i think that fills the cliche requirement for my messages which means it's time to go. Does anyone read these? I really have no way of knowing. Thank you all for the letters and the Halloween treats. I love you guys!