01/31/2011 - Week 90

Well, this week has been great. I am excited to tell you our zone met its goal of copies of the Book of Mormon placed. We even exceeded it by 1 copy (105 total). Unfortunately, our mission fell pretty short of a 1000. Its ok though. We worked our butts off and we saw a lot of miracles in our companionship. I have never met so many receptive people in one week. It is a mess in my head, though. With another exchange since we last met, I feel like I got left behind a little bit. I love exchanges, especially when I get to see other areas, but I am so lost as far as the work in North Hills is going. I have missed a lot of key lessons for our investigators. With the Book of Mormon week coming to a close and less exchanges, I hope I can get caught up to speed.

On the last exchange, I was with Elder Robertson. Riding my bike! She still runs like a dream. I am lending my bike to Elder Tautua'a, which is really convenient for exchanges. I have no idea how that little Schwinn is still hanging in there, but it is. I think it was probably Elder Scotts bike skills when I was lending it to his companion. Anyways, it brought back some good memories, and reminded me why I don't want to be on bike again. :).

As we follow up with the people we have met this week, I will update you on how they are doing.

Most of the teaching, I have been in the area for, this week has been on the door step and even one sitting on the grass (yes, I still love teaching sitting on the grass). We have a lot of follow up to do this week.

I think we are going to go to Cosco for lunch (I guess I have been missing out. I will find out if it is as good as people say it is.) and then, to bowling, today. That should be fun.

 

01/23/2011 - Week 89

This is going to be a crazy week! Our mission is going to put 1000 copies of the Book of Mormon into the hearts of Californians everywhere, and putting it into their hearts is not the same as putting it in their hands. Each companionship is responsible for 13 copies, and we have to have them pray about it with us. fun, fun. We have 4 out there, and have seen several miracles.
The temple was beautiful as always, today.
I was blessed to go on Exchanges with Elder Farnsworth (remember him from the Euclid ward). He is working in the office dealing with cars from 10-6, so it was an unusual day for me. I got to drive a new 2011 red toyota carrola off the lot with him! It is not my car unfortunately, but man, we are spoiled.
And, I spent an exchange in the Singles ward, it was fun, but stressful. They have a lot of people to keep track of, all my referrals :).
Elder Nielsen and I get along great! We work the same, think pretty much the same, love the people, and are seeing miracles. Things are really good.
Guess who I met this past week. Uncle Ron Wilcox! He is really cool. His son Dallin is a stud.

01/17/2011 - Week 88

DANG (Packer's playing for NFC Title against Chicago)!!! I am going to have to wear the Packer Superbowl shirt, the Palick family gave me a year ago, for P-day. It is from the superbowl back then. Yay! It feels good to be from Wisconsin right now.
The North Hills ward where I am serving is in La Habra. The work is being good to me here. Elder Nielsen is convinced that we have the best ward in the mission. It is really good. We taught quite a few lessons. Our area has a lot of humble people. Elder Nielsen described parts of the area like this, it is kinda ghetto but not really ghetto. I guess there is a medium ghetto level where the work is just right, lol. I will trust Elder Nielsen on that because he is in his last transfer. I have gotten to do a couple Spanish contacts, they were kinda weak, but it's all good. We, also, have some mega rich Asian type communities in LA county. Yes, our area has a couple streets outside of Orange county; the only area in the mission that does. We have a great bishop who we ate with yesterday. Everyone in the ward is so funny. Yes, everyone is asks me if I am a cheese head.
At the church building, you have to walk out into a court yard type place to get to the Sunday school classrooms. It was really cool, especially when it was as beautiful day as it was yesterday.
A cool guy we are teaching is Joey. He is great. He really likes us. He has a great talent to be able to recognize the Lords hand in everything.
There are so many super cool recent converts in this ward! We are teaching them the recent convert lessons. A lot of less active work is going on, like always. And, knocking, too. This ward has a history of high baptisms, so we will see how things go.
Elder Nielsen is a great example to me. He is the district leader so that means 5 exchanges for me this transfer. I really admire how he leads by example in word and action. Some missionary leaders are too overbearing and un-trusting. He is a good one. Our personalities mesh well and the members can tell. He is from Salt Lake Utah, but is not like a normal Utahan. He is one of the Utahans who find all good nonmember friends to hang out with.
Good things are going to happen for us.

01/10/2011 - Week 87

I got transferred today. It was sad saying goodbye to all the great families. Everyone was sad to see us go. I am now in the North Hills ward with Elder Nielsen from Utah. He is really cool. Quick story. I first met Elder Nielsen when we were doing the week of half day exchanges, we were together. The last day of the exchanges were the day we were scheduled to teach Christine for the first time. In the middle of lounging around with a group of missionaries waiting for our companions to return, he said out load a prayer with me, praying that the appointment would go well. He seems like a really fun Elder with great faith. Things will be good. North Hills is the most north part of our mission. Elder Tui is going back to being a truck missionary moving furniture for missionaries.

Man, I am really going to miss my little buddies and families and my mission moms. I have never been so close to the members of a ward as I was in Placentia 2nd. I can't believe we got white washed.

I know a lot of the missionaries in my new district, Elder Robertson, Elder Tautua'a, Elder Farnsworth. I am feeling pretty optimistic about the up coming transfer.
Hey, I lent my old camera to Elder Court (MTC). His just broke. I hope that is ok.
Fortunately for the missionaries coming in, we got a referral for a golden investigator last week. It will be a good experience for the new greeny coming to P2 and his companion.

We taught a lot last week. One of the ladies we have been teaching is pretty much activated now, so that is good. (no missionary transition problems happening there!) The active nonmember we were teaching is pretty nervous about getting two new missionaries. He really liked us a lot. That is the status of the P2. Things will all work out

I really was well taken care of for the holidays. I have been really blessed. I might write the Stephens and Cornelius' in a couple of weeks. They were so good to us. I truly feel like family.
Elder Nielsen only has one transfer left, so that will be interesting. I may get a little trunky, but we will see.

01/03/2911 - Week 86

I wanted to share with you some of the extraordinary experiences we had this week.
Elder Tui almost ripped out Travis's (10-11 years old) loose tooth. Travis is the son of our active non-member, part member family. The parents were fine with it, lol. Our first visit with them this week he loosened it up a lot. Then at our appointment 2 days later, Travis tore it out himself, finally. I think he was a little scared that Tui would pull it out. :)
One of our investigators started listening to the Book of Mormon audio, which helped him finish reading all of Mosiah. He told us, do you realize that all of this stuff that is happening in the Book of Mormon is happening today? I like where this is going!
Elijah, the little boy who I long distance thumb wrestled with, sat with us for the closing Hymn in sacrament meeting. He sat next to me and sang. Later I talked with his mom, and she told us how happy it made her to hear him singing. He doesn't usually sing, I guess. After the closing prayer, he leaned over to me and told me that, he hopes I never leave. My heart just melted. We will see if I stay this Saturday night, transfer calls.
We had 2 exchanges this week, and I got to go to their area both times! I got to be with Elder Scott again! We had a great day; I might even say, we experianced some small miracles.

Sister Tuipulotu and Sister Wigington,
We have enjoyed having your sons in our home many times. They are hard working, devoted young men and also wonderful examples to our kids. They always bring a good message from the scriptures. The kids love to hear Elder Tuipulotu try to talk like an American and Elder Wigington try to remember his Wisconsin accent. Elder Tuipulotu helps Josiah play the guitar and Elder Wigington helps Brookie with her chemistry homework. Our son is in Spain on a mission. I know he always looked up to the Elders when they came for dinner and your sons are now inspiring my younger boys. They are always polite and well mannered too.
Thanks for sharing them with us,
Love, The Hatches

sunnesu@aol.com
Here are the Christmas pictures I promised you. Sorry they are so late. Thanks so much for sharing your great son with us. He is such a wonderful missionary.

12/27/2010 - Week 85

Well, I don't have much to add except that we had leftovers at the Stephens yesterday. Turkey on roll sandwiches and everything else, so good. We were also able to build relationships with Sis Stephens less-active sister who was there. It was fun, but who knows if anything will come of it.
I hope you like this email. This has got to be the shortest one yet. We didn't really teach this week, we had some good visits though where we shared a principle from preach my gospel (A principle is one sub section of the 5 lessons in Chapter 4. Anyways...).

12/20/2010 - Week 84

It was a pretty good week. The usual people are doing the usual. We did have a few surprises, though. We went to an appiontment to teach a active member, and she invited her friend to sit in. She did. It went well; I think she liked it. She is not in our ward, so we will have to see if she will give us her information to refer. We got to do some service cleaning up a really cool members yard. Physical service is the best; you can always look back and see immediate results of your labors. We had another zone conference. This one was kinda a Christmas Program. well... it was a normal zone conference with an intermission for a nativity program. Elder Barksdale, another Elder, and I got to be the wisemen. It was really fun. I wore elder Tuis bathrobe, a headband holding a shiney cloth on my head, and the beads from that Christmas tree you sent me last year. My gift was a box of Mac and Cheese wrapped in the tin foil from some leftovers we got. It was really funny, one Elder was the star. He tied a huge bow to a string at the end of a stick and held it up. It was a classy production. Well, it has been raining for the past 3 days straight, so I don't know what to do with myself. Am I still in California? Talk to you in 5!

12/13/2010 - Week 83

I must be getting used to the work in Placentia 2nd, because it seemed pretty much the same as always. We taught the same people with not much new progress to report. 6 lessons, 2 investigators and 4 less actives, very good. Well, we got a free couch this week which is pretty cool. An old contact of Tui's was moving out. We played soccer on the wet field last week for p-day. We were sliding all over the place and got kinda wet and muddy. The ward Christmas party was this past week. I am really feeling a part of the ward family. There are 2 little boys that just love to play around with us, ninja fights, cotton ball "snow ball" fights, thumb wresting, or just showing off. I really makes me feel loved. I wore the tie to the Christmas party, and looked like a stud! Elder Tui is even starting to catch the Christmas spirit. He really doesn't like Chirstmas, but he wore a Christmas tie to the party, too. I think he is giving in. Well, we got a new bishopric in our ward. Our ward mission leader is one of the councilers, so things will be changing for us shortly.
I spent a little bit of time this week thumbing through old letters, and it just reminded me of what an awesome family I have. You guys take such good care of me.

12/06/2010 - Week 82

This week has been good. They have an amazingly well done nativity production they put on in a nearby ward. It has great... lights, sounds, video, acting, and live animals! Yep, it was held outdoors. No stinky camels and donkeys in the church building. So, we had a couple good lessons this week. We taught Scott and his member family, which is always good. We sat with them at the Nativity. And, he was at church like always, active non-member. We had a good lesson with an investigator, who we visit with every other week, and who likes to be difficult, We were actually able to give him answers to his pretty trivial questions which he accepted. He is a great guy, but just likes to be difficult. We will get him out to church Christmas sunday. We will do it! Oh, the Black belt, less-active, older couple got sealed this week. I guess they aren't really less active anymore. He hadn't been to the temple for 50 years and his wife had never been. They got sealed. So many good things are happening, but not a whole lot of teaching. That is ok, though; I am still doing better than my other areas.
Saint Nick did find me! I got a little California Ferrari, which oddly enough I saw at church this Sunday, the real one. Crazy California. Elder Tui was happy, too. He doesn't get many packages from his family, and Saint Nick came to him, too. Rebecca, I am going to put the little ornaments on my little tree. They are so cool! Thank you! I, also, got a really cool Christmas tie that is going to make all the other missionaries so jealous!

I am writing my email from the mission office. Elder Tui is trying to apply for schools. I can start preparing for college, if I need to. I will just need to get permission from my mission president. I guess usually the missionaries parents do as much as they can, and, then, the Elder gets permission to finish it up. Is there anything that I need to do?
That is cool that you had the missionaries over. I have found a little buddy in the ward where I am serving. He is a really cool little kid named Elijah. He is still not as cool as my Matthew buddy! I am not trunky, yet, but I can tell my family is, hahaha.I love Christmas time! I hope you are enjoying it, too. We also got to see the Christmas broadcast which was good. Our mission president didn't let us see it last year. I guess he is getting a little trunky, lol.
I just want you to know I didn't have much to do with the reactivation, i told you about. I just showed up. Missionaries have been visiting them for a while, their son is on a mission. I guess the blessings of missionary service did it for them!

11/29/2010 - Week 81

Things are pretty much staying the same for another transfer which is good. Last week was pretty fail, but in comparison to my other areas we did alright. We taught Scott, and it went well. Thanksgiving was great! We have had some awesome dinner appointments this week, all the coolest families. We also celebrated Elder Tui's 21st Birthday 4 different days with 4 different families. Yep, that about sums it up. I am happy overall, but not right now. I don't know if you can tell from my writing or not. This morning has been pretty lame. My washer filled up with water but never washed, so my clothes are still sitting in a pool in that wash right now, and will be for several hours until we make it home again. And, it took me 15 minutes to get on my email bacuase it locked me out, number lock was on and screwed up my pasword. anyways, it is all good. Well, my time is up now.

11/22/2010 - Week 80

We didn't do anything really out of the ordinary this week, but it was still good.  I went on exchanges with the district leader, Elder Cromerty.  It was good, we were at the home of a young part member family, and one of their friends started asking questions about what we were teaching.  The "plain and precious truths" really rang true to him.  He even took a copy of the Book of Mormon.  We visited with a new less-active family.  We didn't really teach them much, but just being there helped them resolve to be better.  They want to come back to church in December.   We are continuing to teach Scott with his member family.  They are doing really well. 
AND we even got some free Taco Bell this week!  We just showed up, filled out a survey, ate free food, and got $2.  Now, that is the missionary dream!  Things are going well.  Elder Tui and I still get along great, and we hope we don't get transfered next week.  I love you all.  Rebecca and Matthew enjoy the time off school!  kids in California have this whole week off because of something called furlow day (google it).  Crazy stuff.
We have some good plans for thanksgiving. We are going to eat with a member family from Utah. They are as excited as we are to get together. Their kids like to kung fu fight me. Dang, they have a lot of energy. I think they just might leave football on in the background of dinner, shhhh. don't tell :). Door County... it is funny, a lot of people ask me what my family does for Thanksgiving, and the Door County Thanksgivings are my only memories of it. Have fun!
I don't really need anything for Christmas. When, I get home, I am sure that there is stuff I will want, but right now I have everything a missionary can need. My camera is good, especially because it can copy pictures back and forth from internal memory to sd card, so I can steal pictures from other missionaries sd cards. But, it doesn't have very good resolution and is grainy, so a newer one would be cool. Your call. :) I don't really know what other features I could need. I don't take that many pictures. Oh, the book Our Search for Happiness is in the missionary library, but I don't have a copy, so that would be nice too.

11/15/2010 - Week 79

We are still teaching up a storm, 6 lessons this week! Our bishop really likes us a lot. He has trusted us with teaching a part member family he has been working with for a long time. We taught the first lesson, and many people in the ward are really excited to see what happens. The lesson went really well; now we just need to wait and follow up with him. We were, also, able to get into another less active members home, in the canyon. We were told they were atheist, but after we got talking with them we found out they are just lazy. I am not judging him, that is what he told us, lol. The husband really regrets not staying active in the church and even told us to use him as an example of what not to be. "You know that guy over there, you don't want to end up like him", lol. No, he is really cool though. He is converting me back to Dentistry. We will probably go visit them again next Sunday.
I don't know if you remember Daniel from Orange, who we taught a couple times. Anyways, he moved into elder Scotts ward several months ago and got baptised by Elder Court (from the MTC). I got to see him this week. He is so cool. He is still strong in the church, I think. He actually remembered me. Great guy.
Well, that is the highlights. The members are still great, Tui is same, and California is sunny as always

11/09/2010 - Week 78

We had mission conference, yesterday; that is why I am emailing today. One of the Quorum of the Seventy came and spoke to us..

Fun stuff that happened this week:
We taught 8 lessons, most to less actives, but that is really good! Bro. Davis (Part Member) is progressing really well. He is openning up to us, reading the Book of Mormon, and even brought his kids to church eventhough his wife was gone. A former investigator, Hugo, called us up twice this week for us to come by. He isn't progressing, but we were able to strengthen his resolve to be Christlike. As he read and prayed for Gods help to be calm and patient, the Lord helped him. It was really cool to see.
We took the Carola up some Jeep trails in the canyon, just because they were there. We did some service setting up a huge fake Christmas tree for a lady. It was like 4-5 segments tall. A few things we did to make things fun.

I love Elder Tui.  He is a fun companion.

11/01/2010 - Week 77

Halloween! This has been a good week, lots of stuff. We had exchanges,... wait I already told you that on Thursday. Since then, we had a good lesson with a less active guy in the Canyon Mobil Home Park. He has such a pure humble testimony. That was good.

Do you like that Halloween picture? That was good. Elder Tuipulotu has a superman t-shirt under his white shirt, and that is Elder Tui's Fresh Prince tie I was wearing (you should have seen the bottom half of it!) There is a really cool family in the ward, the Stephens'. Last week we pranked Brother Stephens by saying I was a greeny, and I acted all awkward and stuff. Anyways, he is pretty much a big-old black comedian (his family gave us the pumkins to carve). So... he got a kick out of me dressing as a black man and and Elder Tui going as a white guy. Missionaries can get creative if they want to!
Halloween night was great! We had dinner with my favorite family in the ward. We went out back and grilled all the food with their son. It was so good. When Trick or Treating began, we built a fire in one of those portable fire place things and put it at the base of their driveway. (I love fire!) We cooked marshmellows, and handed out candy, and set a table with all sorts of church supplies for people to take. We actually got some takers. It was really good because they live in a very large gated community which normally we can't work in. Success.
Gated communities are starting to get really big over here. There are lots of them. Some only require a code, others have gate gards and security. This one has a code and security. Cut your self off from the world why don't you? Crazy people

10/28/2010 - Week 76

Temple trip this week.

I got the package and have been enjoying all the food

I am doing great here in Placentia 2nd ward! Elder Tuipulotu has been introducing me to all the cool members here. He is, also, teaching me the valuable skill of mouching off members. Dang, this ward is cool. We have a tiny part of our area where almost no one lives, except for a small neighborhood and a mobile home park, such a contrast from Irvine. I guess that is what you find near the Orange county line. Actually though, most of our area seems fairly wealthy. I guess, I just need to accept that wealth is just the norm, but still, everyone seems so wealthy.

My area is huge. It is the entire north-most east part of our mission. The city is a mix of Placentia, Fullerton, Yorba linda, Olinda and Brea. Our district is awesome. I have already gone on exchanges with Elder Scott on bike. It was just like old times! Yep, Elder Tuipulotu live across the street, back then, when we were both greenies. We are really close, and I am really happy. Things are just good. We have a car.

Our apartment is great. Our upstairs neighbor is a really cool guy from Egypt. I am driver in our area, and I am not going to let Elder Tuipulotu put diesel in our car this time. :). We are teaching a less-active couple who are in their 60's, and they are 9th degree black belts skilled with weapons. They are way cool. (yes Curtis, I just used- way, cool) We are, also, teaching a part member family the Davises. Brother Davis is great; he is pretty close to baptism. With Elder Tuipulotu it is easier to be a real person to our investigators, I like it.

We are going to do good things together. We already taught 8 less active lessons and 5 non-member lessons last week. I feel great!

10/18/2010 - Week 75

Christine got baptised and confirmed this weekend! She is so cool! We met her and the guy she met in the Ventura Singles ward this morning. She is really sad that I am leaving. I am going to miss this ward. There are so many really cool young families! Oh... Bishop performed the baptism, Elder Lee and I were witnesses.
Then, on Sunday, the 1st counciler confirmed her and gave her the Holy Ghost, and we got to stand in. The blessing I gave her last week has majorly worked. Faith is so powerful. She went to the hospital, again, the day before the baptism, and they decided that it wasn't Lupes(sp?). It is something else painful, but doesn't have life time side effects. She looked a lot better, today.
It was a crazy week, we had 4 days of district meetings. Our district leader repeated everthing he learned in last week's 4 days of meetings he went to. Also, I had two exchanges with the District leader and his companion in their area. It was a blast and took my mind off worrying about Christine's baptism :). Our district is so close! They called me last night and said they were missing me, and I haven't even left, yet, lol.
I am getting transfered to Placentia 2nd ward. My companion is Elder Tuipulotu, the crazy New Zealander, Poly from my first district. This next transfer is to be crazy in a fun sort of way, I think. Both Elder Scott and Elder Bickmore are in that district.

10/11/2010 - Week 74

The news: We had another week of 4 days of exchanges, for the crazy, leadership, MTC, training meeting, things. (I don't know if you remember that we had the same thing last transfer) I was with Elder Toland from 9-5 those 4 days. He is a new missionary from Utah. We had a blast. We did some great contacting together. He really looks up to me as an experianced missionary. We had one teaching opportunity this week, a family of 8 from South Africa. They just had a baby and just moved into the area. We got to serve them a little bit and to teach. They seemed partly receptive, but we will have a better idea after next lesson. Christine is doing good. I feel really blessed this week. I had the opportunity to give her a blessing of health (she contracted Lupes, I think that is what it is, this past week). The Spirit was very strong. She, also, surprised us by showing up to our ward this past Sunday. She was able to meet bishop, which was very good, especially because she is getting baptised this weekend. Things just worked out. somehow, they are just working out.
We are going to teach her tonight at our relief society presidents house, and I am really looking forward to it. She is well prepared for baptism.
Things are going well.

10-04-2010 - Week 73

Remember that time we taught at the high school with our bishop? Well, bishop invited the class to our youth Iron Chef activity, and 3 came! Elder Lee was one of the judges of the food because he is not as biased as I am (I have been here for a while). Well, all is good because the girls team won, the nonmember youth got invited to church by some good missionaries and they seemed to want to come, and those good missionaries got to eat lots of food.
We found someone new to teach this week! We knocked into a less active who was not on the ward list. Robert is so cool! He is a 47 year old, ballroom dancer guy. He hasn't been active for 15 years, but he served a mission in Germany. His testimony of the church is so strong. We just have to help him shift his desires from sinning to being righteous. I think he is kinda tired of it anyways.
Christine is doing well. We got her set up with a new baptismal date, and she attended all 4 sessions of conference. She knows a member who lives by her dad. She was able to go with him to a 1st councilers house to watch conference and be fellowshipped by the family and singles ward over there! Hope is shining bright for her. She even cooked us and our ward mission leader's family some dinner this week! She is so cool.
My patiences is really being stretched this transfer. The blessings for our inverstigators and ourselves our finally coming into reach.
At the Preisthood session of General Conference, I saw Bro Herrara. A great brother from Orange, who was recently reactivated. I stood in the circle to give the melcesidek priesthood and he is still being a faithfull priesthood holder!
This week had a lot of really high highs, but it did have its lows, but they are really boring and typical, so I won't bore you with them.

09/27/2010 - Week 72

Attention, repeat of other email---

We do teach quite a few people outside. Not many people let us into their homes to talk. We, actually, had a lesson from street contacting this week. A young couple was sitting on a planter ,and we sat down on the ground in front of them and taught a less formal, first lesson. It is fun to teach sitting on the ground. I don't know why but I really like teaching sitting on the ground, especially on the grass, if posible.

Actually, we did get let into someones house this week to teach. The tempature spiked yesterday into the 90's so everyone was using the AC, so many people, that our neighborhoods power went out. Anyways, our appointment fell through, so we knocked on their neighbors house. A newly married couple let us in and we taught them. They were so cool and seemed prepared, but... they are going to call us back if they want to learn more. It is all good, though.

We met with Christine again. She is about the same. Tracy was kinda working the system, so we are no longer meeting with her.

Oh! I got to speak a little bit at a baptism in our district. That was fun. In 5 minutes, I taught the brief first lesson, read a scripture from the book of Mormon, bore testimony of the strength I have received from it and it's truthfulness, and invited everyone to read it, pray about it, and seek out the missionaries for themselves or for their friends. This was the highlight of my week.

Other than that, we did the usual, a lot of taking to people, a lot of knocking, and stuff.

09/20/2010 - Week 71

Well, I have had some new experiences this week.
Our bishop and us went to guest speak in a high school world religions class. He directed most of talking, and it was pretty fun. Our bishop is so cool.
We met a 21 year old guy from Ukrain in his garage the other day. He stunt rides motorcycles and sings. He has some vices to overcome, but he wants to come to church. Here is the cool part. Our mission has suggested a new finding technique of offering to bless peoples homes and families, keep this in mind. Then, he asked us to bless his garage because he and his friends had been seeing a "guy" with a black hoody appear and disappear now and again. I figured why not. So, I blessed him and his garage. You don't get to do that everyday! Then, the singles ward Elders proceeded to teach him the restoration. He has some good potential.
We are not sure if Tracy is going to be living in our area much longer. A bunch of craziness happened there.
Also, we got let in off the street from knocking this week. He was atheist and pretty strong, but still, that was pretty good. oh yeah, and a philipino guy let us in to have a prayer with him. It hasn't lead to a teaching opportunity yet, but I will take what I can get.
Man, we need someone new to start teaching. Things have remained the same here for too long. anyways...

09-13-2010 - Week 70

Things are good. This week had its ups and downs. Earlier this week we taught Tracy, Danielly, and Christine. All the lessons went super well.
We even taught Christine with our Relief Society president, but then she didn't come to church. I have been stressing these past few weeks trying to get a solid baptismal date for her, but she is so spontanious. I have a headache from it all. Once again, we are shooting for this coming Sunday, but it is so sketchy because no one met her last time she came. (Who is being baptised?) She will have to come this Sunday for sure. uggg...
It is frustrating because she got an answer to her prayers and knows the Book of Mormon is true, but she has no consistancy right now. I don't want to lose momentum with her progression in the gospel. It is all good though.
Danielly went from being super cool to mega contentious. She read some lies about us on the internet. What can you do?
Elder Lee is cool, but I am struggling to keep up with his ideas and enthusiasm. He is still pretty new in the mission. Well, we have a new district and we will be playing some tennis after this, so that is good.
This is a good area. We have a lot of ward support from the student families, our ward mission leader, and bishop. This ward does seem to have better success than some. I think it is because their is a lot of turn over with UCI so close. The down side is, many get referred to the singles elders of Chinese branch.

09-06-2010 - Week 69

I haven't seen Christine for a while. She left for the long week end. The baptism is going to be postponed again. It will work out, though.
Also, we are going to teach Tracy for the 3rd time today.
I am excited to see how things will go with Elder Lee. He has such a different background than me, and has such an enthusiasm for the work. We seem to get along great. Yesterday went well.

This is my 4th transfer in the University Park ward, and I am excited to see how these wonderful people we are working with will progress.
It was funny, at sacrament meeting, a old couple from the Euclid ward, who I love, visited in our ward. It was so good to see them. We taught the first lesson to high priests group and he even stood up for us when, our high priests asked us hard questions.
Missionary work is so interesting, everyone has thier own oppinions on how it should be.

08/30/2010 - Week 68

This week has been really good! We got to teach a lady named Tracy. She just moved in with a less active, recent convert lady in our ward. She knows a lot. She has read the Gospel Principles book, Preach My Gospel, most of the Book of Mormon, and is active in our ward, but had never sat down with the missionaries. We are trying to help her connect that all her concerns come down to the question: Is the Book of Mormon true? She hasn't prayed about it yet. Oh, then, I got hit by a little Asian guy in a big black Yukon. It was in a parking lot and we were both moving slow, so it is all good. He backed into me and dented the passanger side pretty good. It kinda looks like the Stratus, just my luck.

The mission is going to take care of all the legal stuff. We didn't have any new opportunities to teach Christine, nor did she come to church, but she still wants to be baptised. We moved her baptismal date to Sept 5th; we are going to have to speed things up a bit to make it happen. Last week was really rough for her, the trials of being a poor, college student, single mom. This week should be better for her. I had exchanges one day, which are always good. We taught a few active members preach my gospel lessons, which helps our teaching a lot. And, yesterday, we taught the non-member, younger brother of a member in our ward. It was an interesting lesson. He has no foundation in life to trust in. He is 19, has lost both his parents, was raised by his mom who fell away after their father died. So, her anti-mormon feelings made him agnostic, and now, he has nothing to depend on. It is sad.

I felt like I made a difference in some peoples lives this week, and that feels really good and makes me really happy.

08/23/2010 - Week 67

I hope the road trip is going well! So, this week has been really good. We got a new cell phone! It is like a sprint version of the blackberry. We have been jamming out to the new ring tones... so good. We, also, got to help some people move out of their beach house. That was really fun. It was with our district which has become really close, and it was not in our ward, so that was cool. I, also, had an exchange with my district leader. I feel like he is beginning to understand me and my efforts, and that feels good.

We visited with Derek again, but we really have to refer him, now. Christine is so amazing! We taught her 2 more times, she came to church and a small BBQ with a few ward members. I love teaching her. She has a 2 year+1 week year old daughter, Eva, who is super cool, too. It really helps to have some to work for. Someone to motivate you to do all you can and to be your best.

08/16/2010 - Week 66

The Lord led us to this amazing lady, Christine, and we taught her this week! She is a young single mom of a funny toddler, Eva. She knows a family in our ward very well, so we had the lesson at their house. She is excited to be baptised on Sept. 4th. (She wasn't able to come to church this past Sunday because she wasn't in town, though.) We had a good lesson with Derek, again, after dinner, and we were blessed to teach a loving less active sister.
This was a crazy week. The MTC changed their curriculum to the new "Simplified Curriculum." So, all of the Trainers, District leaders, and Zone leaders had meetings to learn this new perspective on Preach My Gospel teaching. It was from 8-4, Tues-Fri. Those leaders needed someone to take care of thier areas and companions, so we got pulled into it, too. Elder Bickmore was in Costa Mesa with Elder Earle (Wisconsin's greeny). I was with Elder Nielsen durning those times in my area and the top part of Irvine (the housing looks the same as in my area, lol). He is a good missionary who has 2 months left. He has a get it done, get them in the water attitude. That was good. I have been my own leader for a while now (senior companion); it is good to get other perspectives. I think I probably give people too much agency. What ever, I do my best. It was a fun but stressful week. Things are good.

08-09-2010 - Week 65

Well, this week went by really quickly! We taugh 6 times or so. An active member let us teach him (role play style). After hearing us teach and resolve his "concerns," he started getting really excited about missionary work. We met with a less-active sister who is starting to come back. We kinda taught her, but most of the time she spent telling us her conversion story and how much she loves the church and us. She has a rough go of things lately. She is Rocky's mother-in-law. We saw Rocky. That was the first time I have seen him for a couple months. He is so happy, now. Even though he does not want to continue meeting with us; us, the ward, and God helped pull him out of a pretty big rut. We taught a young Chinese guy, who never experienced religion. He froze up and shut down when we asked him to pray. The visit didn't last very long after that. Also, we met a young guy who was referred to us by missionaries in Taiwan (singles age, but steady dating. we will see. got an appointment on the 22nd). He is a law student and is very busy. He will read the Book of Mormon. We also taught the friend of one of the young men in the ward. It is a mess because he is atheist (Japenese heritage) and not investigating super strongly, we are meeting with him at the members home, we need to refer him to the singles Elders, he doesn't live in our stake, so we don't know how we are going to pull it off. Met with Bob. He is still not reading, so we will just meet occasionally to read with him (next appiontment is in 2 weeks). So what all of this means is: We don't really have anyone we are working with right now, but we have many good potentials, also awesome referrals we need to pass.

Our ward had a linger longer this past Sunday. The Sister we brought to Peggys lessons came up to us and told us she talked with her at the pool. Apparently, Peggy is really missing meeting with us. I feel the same.

08/02/2010 - Week 64

You guys are great! Thank you so much for helping me keep going. I feel very blessed. Sometimes it is hard to feel good about my efforts because of the lack of "success." It is nice to feel trusted. I know that you understand that my circumstances are not caused by disobediance or lack of faith. Fellow missionary leaders do not always share that understanding. oh well, it is good. I press onward.
News from the mission. Rocky is back. He dumped us though. "It is not you, it is me. We can still be friends," (that is not a direct quote, lol). Also, we are not working with Peggy anymore. Because of the trauma she has faced in life and her age, her kids don't think she is mentally stable. They have been putting a lot of pressure on her to stop meeting with us. Apparently, her neighbors have been voicing to her their concerns about the church, too. She knows our teachings are true, but the opposition is too strong right now. Bob still hasn't been reading, and no new appointments with Siva. We were referred by the Chinese Elders to a young man, Daniel. Daniel is 17. We taught him, and it went well. He sees value in the Book of Mormon! Other than that, we have been doing a lot of walking and a lot of knocking. There are apparently big changes coming in missionary work. That could be good.

07/26/2010 - Week 63

Things are still going well here in the University Park ward. We just had transfers and everyone stayed the same. That is really fun; I love my district. Plus I get to escape the heat. The closer you live to the ocean the more constant the weather. We are having a really hard time finding people to teach. But the area is really beautiful, not quite as beautiful as those pictures I took, though. Since I have sent those pictures, those hills have become really yellow. We have a calendar picture in our bathroom that says, "Those who are surrounded by the beauties and mysteries of the earth are never alone or weary of life." That is true, and it really helps me to keep going.

The only lesson we had was to Siva, the guy from India. We just connected in our minds that we had actually tracted into him 5 weeks ago. We were never able to get hold of him again because he moved within the complex. Then the single ward elders tracted into him, taught, and referred him back to us (The Lord knows his sheep). I think he is facing opposition among his friends, because he knows it is true but won't make time for us. We got him a ride to church this Sunday, and we even left our meetings early to be there to make sure nothing went wrong. Then, he came out and told us that he was going to go out with his friend rather than coming to church. Why he had to wait until right before sacrament meeting to tell us, I dont know. It is frustrating. And Bob no showed to our appointment and hasn't started reading the Book of Mormon, yet. BUT... Peggy is doing well. She is a sweet heart. and, yeah her dogs are safe. I think she will come to church, soon. Her health isn't perfect, but she is getting braver and more excited as she learns about the gospel. We spend a lot of time knocking doors and wandering around. I love wandering around. You get to enjoy the area and while doing missionary work. There are always dog walkers to talk to. Most people have a little dog, here.

07/19/2010 - Week 62

P-day is here again. Well, this week, Elder Bickmore and I met with Peggy again. She wants a couple weeks to think about the Restoration and Plan of Salvation. Two weeks is a very long time for a missionary, but we will be patient. Our ward mission leader is going to try and arrange a time that him, his family, and her can walk around the temple together. That will be really good. She is a very kind lady. We didn't teach any of the other people due to various circumstances. We did tract into a really nice Russian guy. His family has been Russian Orthodox 7 generations, but he said if that wasn't the case he would be mormon. We invited him to visit church but he didn't come. I can feel the Lord sustaining me through the various trials of being a missionary, but it still isn't easy. I had an exchange this week, and it was really fun. I went to the Newport Hills ward. It is very scenic. Paradise. You go down along the coast and see the waves and sand (and very expensive cars). Then, you can go up to the top of the hills and see the coast and beautiful landscape (and pollution).

07/12/2010 - Week 61

We haven't been able to coordinate another lesson with 15 year old Michael. We are going to stop by with a YM leader and a youth to try and help him feel comfortable getting involved in activities. Bob came to church. The members are doing a great job being involved with him. If we are not careful, they might even start teaching him the lessons for us, lol. Bob is really involved in his church. He was showing us video of him baptising his friend on the beach last week. yeah, he is a really good follower of Christ, and I hope we can help him take that a few steps further. We also taught a kind, older lady, Peggy. We brought one of her friends that she swims with every morning. She didn't even know that she was Mormon, lol. Peggy has read quite a bit of the Book of Mormon. It is funny, she didn't realize that 3 Nephi 11 wasn't happening in Jerusalem. She is beginning to understand the gospel. Hey! The singles ward gave us a referral, and we taught him this week. He is Indian and from Hindu background. He believes in God and feels like he is getting answers to his prayers! We are excited. This week has been really good. We taught 4 lessons, which is as much as the total lessons of the past 3 weeks. Don't worry, the rest of the mission is teaching and baptising like crazy. California isn't ready to fall into the ocean, yet!

07/06/2010 - Week 60

The 4th of July; one of my favorites. We had breakfast for dinner with our ward mission leader, ward missionary, and their families. It was really good. We did mostly street contacting that night, until we ran into a member, from out of the mission, and a couple of her non-member friends. They invited us to come eat with them, so we did. We even got to teach a little something from the Book of Mormon as we left. (no new investigators, though) The fireworks started a little before 9, so we did get to see a little bit before we had to be in our apartment!
Teaching: We taught a 15 year old young man who is really seaching for truth. He is really quick to understand, but can't join an other church right now. Maybe his parents will soften their hearts someday. We taked with Bob a little bit. He desided that he felt he could read the Book of Mormon now, so we are really excited! We are referring Diana (18 year old young lady, who just graduated high school) to the singles ward Elders, today.
Thank you mom for your letters (they are always good) and your encouragement; it really helps a lot! Actually... thanks everyone for your letters and encouragement. I am blessed to such good parents and little siblings.
It sounds like Matthew will be an eagle scout in no time. You must be a really hard worker, buddy. Scout camp was always a fun place to be, a lot of rain, good fishing, and big fires. It never gets old. well, maybe the rain does. Dang, breaking all of the camp records in one week. The biggest fire ever and aquaman like swimming speed. What, didn't you tell Curtis that this isn't the olympic trials. Fast skin and everything. Hey, Rebecca, Hoppy doesn't look that plump in that picture. Dad, it looks like after all these years, you have finally figured out fishing. We aren't in Bass Spray days anymore!

06/30/2010 - Week 59

It is temple p-day today, I bet you already guessed. They don't give us much notice for things like this.

This week has been good. It is always a little bit harder when you have to wait a little longer for p-days. The week can just feel longer. We have done pretty good this week. We actually got a return appointment from knocking that was kept! He was nice but not really interested. It was still good to sit down with someone new. We have been visiting this kind, older lady, Peggy, weekly since Elder Gorrell. She is very active but her health is not too good. We haven't been able to come into her house and teach for this reason (weak immune system) and lack of having an adult male there. But, this week we dropped in with our ward mission leader, and we were finally able to teach her on her back porch. We taught the plan of salvation, and she really enjoyed it. She is so cool. She had been reading the Book of Mormon faithfully for 2 months out of commitment only. We never were able to fully explain and connect all the events of the restoration, until recently, but she still read a little every night and prayed about it. She will get an answer. We, also, met a former investigator who is in the process of writing a Divinchi Code type book centered on the old testiment exodus. He was really cool (we didn't really get an opportunity to teach, but he said we could next time). Just so you know, what I write in my emails is pretty comprehensive of the events of the week. If it happens, I probably will right about it. We haven't had any new contact with Diana or Bob, since last email.
I am ok at tennis. I haven't experimented with putting spins on it and stuff, but I can return the ball. We play pretty casual games; it is funner that way.

06/21/2010 - Week 58

Things are going well. Elder Bickmore and I get along amazing, but my unlucky streak continues. I can't keep things happening in missionary work. We do a lot of steet contacting, door knocking, and visiting people recorded in our area book from past missionaries, but don't have much sucess. However, I have prayed and I know that our Heavenly Father is pleased with my efforts.
I am kinda sad to see Rocky leave. On Tuesday he moved to Florida. It will be better for him there. His family lives there and he will have a car, so a job will be easier to get. Those 2 Sundays he came, a lot of people spoke about the church being the same everywhere. He will find it. He is pretty much ready to be baptised. Our ward mission leader will continue to encourage him via Facebook. Yes, facebook. Things will work out.
We taught Bob again this week. It is hard to know if he is sincere. He won't read the Book of Mormon. So yeah, we will see.
Preach My Gospel says... Our Purpose is: To invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receiving the restored gospel though faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, enduring to the end. That is all we can do. Silly agency, always getting in the way :).

06/14/2010 - Week 57

"We just had your missionary over for dinner and thought you might like to see them. They were just put together yesterday and they seem to be getting along just fine. Thank you so much for your sacrifice; we appreciate it." - The Richardsons

Transfer day. We wanted to go a little early to email before transfers happen at noon. I think I might have beaten the mom email, oops. Well, Elder Gorrell is leaving me. I am going to be serving here with Elder Bickmore. I am not sure where he is from, yet. Once again, I am going to be the senior companion and driver. It is good. I never overide my companion's ideas. We just work together, and it has turned out well, so far. This has been one of the fastest transfers, yet! I can't believe it is over. This past transfer has been a really good one. Well, I am unsure what is going to happen with our investigator Rocky. He has developed good friends in the ward, we have taught him just about everything, he comes to church, and he is just about ready to be baptised Saturday, but he might have to move to Florida during this upcoming week. so... We will see. He hasn't been able to find work out here, and he will have more support in Florida where his family lives. We need to talk to him more about what is going on. This seems very spontanous. What ever the Gods will is, will happen. so yeah... Oh we, also, started teaching another guy, Bob. He is really cool. We taught him twice with the ward missionaries, and he is a really good listener. We are helping him resolve a very dificult concern, he feels like God has told him not to read any of the Book of Mormon. How can you know if something is good, if you won't even open it to find out, if you won't experiement on the seed of faith? He seems sincere, but I don't know. He will let us read from it to him. It seems kinda fishy and I don't want to be fooled, but you have to give people the benifit of the doubt. So, it as been a pretty good week. I pray that I will be able to keep the work moving, following this transfer. We have such a good ward mission leader and the most loving bishop I have ever met (besides you, dad).

I was thinking I should send a actual letter, but I don't know what to draw, so here is an email with random stuff

-There is no Free Parking anywhere remotely close to campus (California Irvine). There are so many people and so little space that even the streets are no parking, except a few after 7pm. The grocery stores have parking police who tow you, if you park and walk somewhere else. There are very few vistor parking locations and you can only park in them for 20 minutes, unless you have a resident put your license plate in their web site. We have to call up a member to do that almost everyday. Good stuff. We get to do some walking.
-Sometimes, we provide service for a recent convert lady with MS by walking her dog. That is interesting as a missionary
-University California Irvines mascot is the Anteater, very intimidating! The Irvine Eaters, they say, lol
-I ate at a really cool Korean Barbeque with Elder Gorrell. There is a grill in your table. You get to cook your own meat and then, eat it with any of a dozen sides they put on your table and rice. It was really good.
-interesting fact: only 5 companionships in the mission did not change this transfer
-Elder McEwan is training! Posterity!!! Elder Queen is also training. Another brother in the mission! The family grows. My Grandpa, Dad, Brother, and Son are all alive. It is good times in the Anaheim mission.
-I feel like I know people now at transfers! I have a dozen or so people I caught up with this morning

06/07/2010 - Week 56

We have a solid investigator! He is living with his mother in law, who is a less active member. He came to church and accepted a baptismal date for June 19th. His name is Rocky. He is 29 and a great guy! I will keep you up to date on the progress. We are really excited! We, also, had a young lady, who we were trying to meet with, come to mutual. We have had a hard time setting up apointments, but that is a great step in the right direction.

This ward is pretty funny. I guess, if you are from Utah this is where you vacation. So, all the Utah mormons come here and attend church at 11 by the temple of course! As a result, sacrament meeting is full way out into the gym and only half of the people are members of this ward. This past Sunday was fast Sunday, and half the speakers were vacationing here. Mormon culture is funny, bearing your testimony only when you are not in your normal ward, lol.

They all ask where I am from, hoping it is in Utah. This has been the only time in my mission where, someone was hoping I was from utah, lol

I think Eric's roommate, Jake, lives 2 streets out of my area, but I am not sure. I think it is his parents house. How small of a world would that be? I am pretty sure he didn't go on a mission so... maybe, I will bump into him.

Missionary Hazards

06/01/2010 - Week 55

Wow, it is looking like summer in Wisconsin. Not having any seasons is funny; you lose track of what time of the year is.

Anyways, we are still working hard, but this week it was kinda hard to see. We taught only one lesson this past week, but that one lesson was good. We taught a young family with a 2-year old. They are disillusioned/pessimistic about religion, but don't want their little one to have that same experience growing up. They like the church, were receptive to the lesson, committed to read/pray about the Book of Mormon, but wouldn't set up a return appointment. It doesn't matter, though. If they do what they said, they will develop a greater desire to make time for us. We just have to be patient. The rest of the week was spent checking up on people, talking to them in the streets, and knocking on their doors.

It is so exciting that you got to baptize a father. Someday, he will hold the priesthood and will be able to bless his family! Mom, you are too kind. Our great family is a result of Dad and your diligence in raising us up in righteousness. Thank you so much for being a great mom. Recent experience has taught me that it is hard to keep going when the days aren't always eventful; you have so much, yet so little to worry about; you can't always see the results of your efforts; you don't feel mentally stimulated all the time (brain feeling like it is turning to mush); and things seems never ending. Thank you for showing me how to keep going. Thank you for being a righteous and virtuous mother! Thank you. And, Curtis, thank you for being such a great friend and brother. We were so cool back in the day. What a dynamic duo! Rebecca, the example of diligence, hard work, and patience. You are definently my favorite sister. Matthew, Happy Birthday! I hope my card will get to you soon. Little buddy, you are the coolest! Next time, I will be there. What can I say, things just keep getting in the way of me coming to party with you.

Hey, I have been feeling kind of sorry for those poor missionaries in Wisconsin. Invite them over for dinner. Here is the ideal missionary dinner: BREAKFAST for DINNER. I just had it last night, so good... Sign up on their dinner calendar, and make them some pancakes, waffles, eggs, and bacon. They will be happy missionaries.

In other news, I think Lauren, the investigator I was teaching with Elder Queen, who got baptised in Riverside, is in the conference ensign. I am pretty sure. She is on pg 115. It might not be her though, because it is the young women's conference, and she is not a young woman. Either way...

Memorial day was a lazy day. We started to play some tennis, but ended up sitting in the shade. Then, we went to the members home where some of the other missionaries live and watched Joseph Smith Prophet of the Restoration movie. I am such a missionary, lol
Wow, that is a lot of writing. I think I will be done.

05/24/2010 - Week 54

This week has been an interesting one. We had to stop working with an investigator because he isn't progressing. We taught a potential investigator, who other missionaries found, the first lesson. She is 19 and just finishing high school. She accepted to be baptised but can't come to church because her mom wants her to start coming with her. We will keep teaching her, but we are not sure what will happen there. We taught a Chinese UCI student who requested us to come over. He was cool but we had to refer him to the Singles ward elders. Our other investigator is a youth whose mom is less active. We haven't been able to get a hold of him for a few weeks. All in all, it has been a good week. I taught 5 lessons this week!
Yeah, I am not sure if that all will make sense but yeah...
It sounds like things have been kind of crazy over there. I bet everyone is getting excited for school to get out. Big party time! (dad quote)
Wisconsin warmer than California?!? what is going on here? It has been kinda chilly, lately. California has made me really weak. I shouldn't be thinking this weather is chilly, lol.
Yeah, I don't know what more to write. Missionary work is repetitive sometimes. I played more tennis, today. That was good.
Oh, I went on exchanges again this week and got to see a lot of the ocean. It is so beautiful. Also, I get to see the temple at least 2 times a week. The people here are so lucky. The temple is a great place, just looking at it makes you feel good. I am so glad that we are sealed as a family! I got a good one :).

05/17/2010 - Week 53

I think I am going to write most of my emailing as responces.
The new area is great; I really love it. Our appartment is the best one, yet. I feel kinda spoiled. I forgot to mention, the area called University Park (where we live) is apart of the University Park Ward, too. The members are great and the people are nice; we just need to get them to sit down with us. It is pretty diverse in our ward. We have a lot of Chinese, Indian, Persian, and a lot of other nationalities attending CS Irvine. We, even, ran into a couple from Jerusalem. Elder Gorrell is smart, humble, hardworking, and easy to get along with. Having a good companion adds a lot to the mission experiance. We are working hard, working effectively and being obediant, but no luck yet. We didn't have any teaching opportunities this week, but they will come. This area has so much potential, we just need to get people excited about the gospel of Jesus Christ!
one more thing,
I really love the Book of Mormon! What great, holy, sacred scripture. oops, the missionary in me slipped out!

05/10/2010 - Week 52

It was so good to talk to you all, yesterday. Talking about things and life with you felt like I haven't been gone for that long. Well, we played some tennis this morning. That was fun. I will be drawing a letter for you today. Thanks again for thinking of me and keeping me in your prayers. Matthew, buddy, stay happy and cool. Rebecca, keep being so pretty. Curtis, keep being such a dude, man. Mom, I love you. Dad, keep being so cool!

05/03/2010 - Week 51

Lots of news. Transfers! I am now in the recently formed University Park Ward. It is by UC Irvine. Right next door to the Temple. I guess we go to church at the stake center next to the temple. I am with Elder Gorrell from Kansas. He was, also, trained by Elder Queen. He is my brother (in the mission). That is about all I know about him. He seems cool.
It was sad to leave the Euclid ward, Elder Scott, and one of the greatest districts ever, but it will be good. I will tell you all about the new ward on Sunday :).

This past week we had a really ideal teaching appointment. Some members invited their neighbors to come to their house and be taught by us, and they accepted. We taught them on Saturday and it went really well. We, also, had a ward dinner/auction to raise money for girls camp. A ward member bid on 2 pies for us. The bidding total came to $100 for the two. I was really feeling the love. The Euclid ward is a really good ward and Elder Scott will do a good job there.

04/27/2010 - Week 50

Well, I have to be kinda short because we are at the library and may have to share our email time. We had to do some service in the middle of our p-day and that screwed us up a little bit. It is good, though. Well, this week has been pretty routine but good. I went on exchanges Saturday with Elder Lawrence (my district leader), and it was a great day. We have gotten pretty close, being together in the field for the past 3 transfers in addition to the time we roomed together in the MTC. We went to see a less active man the bishop wanted us to check up on. He ended up being a really cool guy. He in his 30's and he wanted to come to church. He hadn't gone since he moved in the area. Then, on Sunday he came! Bahman, too! Remember Bahman, the Iranian guy? We were teaching him a while back. Since then, we have been going by monthly and calling every once in a while to invite him to church. What do you know, he showed up this week. It was a really good weekend!!! I have done a lot better this week. Elder Scott and I still get along great, but our unity could be better.
If I could describe the work here, I would use these phrases: Faith that the Lords will act though us. Persistance in friendship and kindness. Patiently waiting. Joy in seeing the Holy Ghost work through us. It is so hard to write what I feel and do. I don't know if you can understand that, but anyways... I have become at home here. This Sunday, I can finally say I have become a part of the ward family. I know the members and feel like I have become their friend. Being at church this week was really good. It amazes me how so many different people can grow together as a people and grow together in their faith in Christ. And, how someone, just passing through, like me, can have a part of it, too. Our Heavenly Father really does know each of us individually and he shares his love for us in so many different ways. I have really felt that this past week.

04/20/2010 - Week 49

I moved again! Same ward, but another new appartment. Sleep has been a lot better!
We taught someone this week! She was a referral from church headquarters. She visited the Saint George temple and had a great experiance. She is such a kind lady! Her name is Cindy, she is in her 50's, and is single. We went over there with a young optometery student, member. Surprisingly, it was a great match. He invited her to come to church and sit with him, his wife, and his 4 kids, and she came! She felt the spirit, enjoyed his very energetic kids, and loved it!
We are still struggling. It is hard going out there, where people don't want you to be around. I even got a Book of Mormon back this week. Elder Lim and I had given it out one of our first few weeks together. We taught him about it on his door step and commited him to read it. He told us he would, and after, we could talk about it more. Now, over 2 months later he finishes, but, just, gives us it back with anti-mormon tracts in it. Well, I want you to know that the Atonement of Jesus Christ is real. We can be healed and changed by his great sacrifice. Things are hard for everyone, but if you turn to Christ there is success. Christs church has been restored though Joseph Smith, and we are really blessed to be an active part of it!
I can't wait to talk to you soon. I have such a cool family! The thought of all of you, your prayers, and letters/emails have gotten me this far. I really owe you all a lot. Tell Grandma Wigington happy birthday, and that I love her! I sent her a letter earlier this week. Grandma sends me a letter every week. I have a really good Grandma!

04/12/2010 - Week 48

Things haven't changed much. I broke my bike chain, that was pretty exciting. Some other missionaries helped me put a new link on, so it is all good. We use both our bikes and our car to stay within our mileage. yep... it is sunny out.
You probably already figured this out, but I am going to the temple, today. My companion and I still get along great. We still aren't teaching anyone. We are trying to hang in there and keep the faith to make good things happen for us and those around us.

The Newport Beach Temple - Yay!

04/05/2010 - Week 47

The work is the same, no changes. As Pres. Uchdorf says, "we wait". Zone conference was good. General Conference was amazing. P-day has been long and tiring. I don't want to see another bike for a while. Riding it in the mud and wet, biking to district activity, cleaning the bikes for an hour, no bueno. (Yeah, that is about all the spanish I remember) Well, I love you all!

The easter bunny did come. Between Sunday sessions of general conference, I cooked lunch for my district (it is still mine, even though I am not district leader), and they helped me eat some of the candy.

Earthquakes are kinda like a rollercoaster, except the whole world is moving, not just you. Pretty cool. Love you! Happy Easter. I will keep trying to blow the weather your way, but I am starting to run out of breath.

Question: So what's "shakin'" in CA?
Nathan response: Just about everything :)

Question: Did you feel the earthquake?
Nathan Response: Oh, I did feel it (the earthquake). We were eating an early Easter dinner at our ward mission leaders home when it happened. The whole world shifted forward, oh wait, it is going backward, right, left, forward, backward, right, left... That went on for like a minute. It kinda made us a little motion sick. It was a very gradual shifting. It was a really cool experiance in a really cool setting! We have a cool ward mission leader, who has a cool wife, and three boys, one is on a mission. Also, in case of an earthquake, we are supposed to report to his house. Convenient.

Question: OK... one last question.... Is everyone in California nervous about "the big one"? Maybe they'll repent and let you in a few more doors!
Nathan response: The ward mission leader was like "Well, if the Lord wants to takes us, ok. But, if he wants us to help out, we will be ok.  The people on the streets and homes don't really talk to us for longer than 10 seconds, so we don't know.

Celebrating our 15th weekly planning session of the year. Don't ask... we are going slightly crazy in the head!

03/29/2010 - Week 46

Hello!!!!

Today has been good, but crazy as usual. We did some light biking with the Deaf Elders. On the to do list, buy something that can play music in our appartment. I am thinking about getting some computer speakers and a CD player or something. yep. We have had a lot of dinner appointments, but it gets inconsistent starting today. No dinner appointment. It is all good though.

Well, the work has been kinda tough this past week. Things have really settled down, to almost nothing. I have been struggling a little bit to stay positive.  I really like Elder Scott. We get along really well. We have a very similar cultural background, you could say. He would always come up to Wisconsin to bike. I pray continually for the strength and even when I find it hard to go, out I still do. Most people see us as a nusiance. People always thinking of you in that way starts to take it's toll on you after a while. I am praying a lot. I can't wait for zone conference tomorrow and general conference this weekend. Yeah... I am really looking forward to them!!!

Spanish Study Walks on the Train Track --------------- Sometime we bike, other times we drive. (Mood dependent)