November 24, 2011

Rainy day in Santa Ana

Well, well, well. Another week down in the good old mish. This week I think I started to turn the corner with a lot of things. I realized that the member actually kinda like; they feed me just about whatever I want.
In our ward the Relief Society makes a list of who is going to be
feeding the missionaries during the next week. The sisters usually come
up to me afterwards and ask me what I want to eat. I usually just tell
him that I'll eat anything but salad and rabbit food. Which is true. I
think my eating habits have really changed since I've gotten here. Also
the Spanish is starting to turn the corner as well. Me and Elder Z.
decided that we are only going to talk in Spanish and that we are going
to label the crap out of our apartment with Spanish notecards. So I
think things are really going to pick up next week. This last week was
just kind of a rebuilding process.

How was your week?
Better. Things are starting to look up.

Did you get your Spanish books?  The Book of Mormon CD's?  They told me
10-14 days, so probably not.

I did get the books. Thank you so much. The Verb book is super helpful.
I haven't seen the Book of Mormon CDs yet though.


I was wondering if you would like some Christmas cards to send out.  I
could order some of those photo cards from Target using one of those
pictures they took or you could send me a current photo.  What do you
think?

Sure. I'll have to start taking pictures then hahaha.

Funny experience for the week?

Yesterday we were riding our bikes around and we found this house that
is just covered in garbage. Like absolutely surrounded by crap. It was
almost artistical, the way it was arranged. But it was so ridiculous and
kinda cool. We'll have to go back and take pictures so I can show you.

Three good things about the week?

1. Spanish is getting better. I have been studying for about 2 hours a
day, and I can finally start to see the results.
2. Me and Elder Z. went to the Salvation Army store and bought about
15 ties for like 20 bucks. It was pretty sweet.
3. Went on a nice temple tour on Saturday. So that was good.

Do you still have the orange camera?  Please send it home.

Ok. The thing about that thought is that literally right after I sent
that awful demanding letter home about the said camera, I noticed that
the screen had a large crack in it. Just so you know. I'm not sure what
happened.

Do you want another suit for Christmas or just some pants?

First priority is probably pants. I can try to measure myself if need
be.

I need your sizes for your wish list.  I need a bit more info about the
shoes you described last week.  Where do I get Echo shoes?  Did you say
you want a maroon color?

Umm I bet they would have them at Mr. Mac. They run in European sizes,
and I think I need a 44. I'm not sure what color I would prefer. I'll
let you decide.

What size long sleeve shirts?  I bought you some, but you sent them back
to me when we bought all those new short sleeve ones.  Help me remember
the size.

16.

What are you doing with all the clothes you don't like?

Right now they are in my suitcase. I'm not sure what I'll do with them
next.

Do you think you will stay with Elder Z. next transfer?

Most likely not. He has already been in this area for 9 months. I'm sure
he feels like he is going to die here.

How is the Spanish this week?

Much better.

Contacts?
I'll let you know when we find them.

The temple at night

November 14, 2011

Well I can't think of much to say this week. I'ts amazing. As soon as we get into the computer center at the chapel, I immediately forget everything that we did this week. At the moment nothing comes to mind. I guess the biggest thing of interest is that we are doing a lot of contacting now. We had to drop almost all of our investigators last week, so now we are doing a lot to try and find new ones. We usually just ride our bikes up and down Bristol Street in an effort to find people. We usually speak to crowd at the bus stop or at the crosswalk. So far we haven't found anyone, but we just got to keep it up, I suppose. I'm still having trouble with the language, but my understanding is getting a lot better. Last night we watched a special Spanish-only broadcast from Salt Lake. One of the speakers was Elder Doxey of the Seventy. He is about as white as it gets, but his Spanish was absolutely flawless. I think watching other gringos speak the language boosts my spirits and gives me hope. But it still is rough. 

Hi mom. I love you.

I think I need some pants badly. I only have like 3 pairs. Do you think you could get me some? Maybe some nice gray, striped ones. Just some nice variety. Also, its getting a little cooler. Could you send me some more long sleeves? Thats funny to think that I am whining about being cold here, when Brett is in freaking Alaska. hahaha

How are things back home?

Any news with the NBA?

Is Adam Sandler's career over yet? Holy cow those "Jack and Jill" ads are everywhere and it just looks awful. This is really getting sad. He needs to just go home and enjoy his money.

Where the heck is that Van Tussenbrook newsletter?

Also, I thought of some good Christmas gifts. Some nice slip-on slippers. Two piece pajama set. Ties. Lots of ties. A belt. Pants. A pair of shoes. I think I want some Ecco shoes. Like in Corovan though. Is that how you call it? Its like that burgandy color. Ya those are cool. The slip on shoes I brought are just too big. I'm going to try and send them home. P-Day is just too short. It's crazy.

Do you have mailing addresses for your friends? I would like to send
them a Thanksgiving card and maybe a little something for Christmas.

I do not. I'm sure you could find their mission home addresses or their parents would probably know.

Any further contact with Margarita?

A little. She is also taking lessons from the Jehovah's Witnesses as well, so we are having to compete with them over her schedule, so its a little tough.

I am curious about your P-day schedule? Do you play sports? Laundry,
shopping, etc.?

We wake up, do laundry and study, clean the apartment for a little bit, then we go to the church for email and dodgeball with the zone. After that we do shopping, finish cleaning. maybe write a few letters. Then at 6:00 we're out the door.

You mentioned that you were writing your letters at some other
missionaries' apartment? Where do they live? How close is that to you?

There are 4 missionaries working in the Santa Ana 5th ward. We work the north half and they have the south half, so they are pretty close. They are pretty funny. Elder Almeida is from Venzuela and his companion, Elder Centeno was born in Mexico, but lives in Norwood California.

Are you allowed to give me your mailing address so that I can send
things directly to you? I have to mail on Saturday morning if I want
things to get to you from your weekly zone leader delivery.

I think all the mail has to go the mission office. I'm not sure if we even have a mailbox at the apartment.

Dad has written letters to you through Dear Elder. Do you receive
those?

Yep.

Thanksgiving plans yet?

As for dinner, I think we are going to eat at the Perez house. They are super nice. The dad isn't a member, but he has been going to church every week for the last 10+ years. They told me that I am the the 105th missionary that they have had in their home

Funny experience for the week?

I can't think of specific funny moment, but its just really funny to teach Elder Zamora new words in English.  Oh also, its getting a little cooler, like 70 degrees and everyone here is acting like its -30. They all look in me in my short sleeve shirt like I am crazy. Its pretty funny and I hear "Como no tiene frio?" mulitiple times a day. 

November 7, 2011

Well just celebrated our first Halloween in the field. Only a few
costume jokes, haha. For living in a Mexican neighborhood, I was
expecting a little more chaos, but it was acutally pretty tame. We are
having quite a few challenges right now. I don't know if you remember
that Isaac guy I talked about, the rocker? But anyway, he was literally
hours away from being baptized before he flew the coop. He just didn't
want to change his image. As such, he spent the last couple weeks
avoiding us. We finally got a hold of him last night and told him not to
expect us to visit him anymore. I think that is the part of missionary
work that most people don't realize. Sometimes, you have to cut them
loose. We can't force anyone to repent and if they don't want to we have
to find better ways to use our time. It was a real shame. Most of the
blame probably goes toward his wife. She was totally undercutting us,
telling US when we could come over and talk to him. Isaac really loved
our message and knew it was true but we just could work around his wife.
When we told them that we had to start using our time in other ways, he
was pretty sad. But he wasn't willing to do what it takes. And his wife
wasn't willing to help us or him make those changes. In fact, she was
persuading him the other way. Again, it was a real shame. Hopefully one
day, he will crack down and do what it takes.

Someone recommended to me that I get the Book of Mormon on CD and get a
CD player and listen to that during my language study. Maybe you grab
those things and send them along. Elder Z. thinks that would be a
really good idea as do I.

I haven't had a chance to work on the Spanish items you want.  Would it
be easier for you to go to a bookstore and get the dictionary and verb
book that you want?  I am also not sure what you have in mind for a
translator.
We really don't have any means to get to the bookstore, I think the book
I want is the Barron's 601 verb book and the 1001 Spanish pitfalls and
maybe a slang book.

Tell me something amusing that has happened this week?
Well we finally had someone come to church. Her name is Margarita. She
was also babysitting 7 kids at the time so we had to round up all those
kids and chase them all over the chapel. It was kinda funny and
ridiculous seeing the kids follow us like baby ducklings.

What did you do on Halloween?
Tracted, with not much success.

Do you have any Thanksgiving plans?
Not sure.

Any thoughts for Christmas?
I think just clothes. Pants, ties, maybe a pair of shoes. I only have
about 3 pants that I wear. I only wear one pair of the two I brought
too.
 Testimony experiences, hmm, I will hand write them.

Do you have a favorite family that often feeds you?
Hmm, I'm not sure if we have had anyone multiple times. They are all
nice.

Any contacts this week?
unfortunately no.

How is your mission president?  Do you see him very often?
He is well. I think I see him a couple times a month.

October 31, 2011

Well I apologize that I haven't been able to write something in quite a
while. Our schedule has been pretty crazy. Let me try to get you up to
speed. First thing, I cannot speak Spanish. It is the hardest and most
frustrating thing I have ever done. I feel like I have forgotten
everything that I learned at the MTC. It gets really discouraging at
times, and I think about giving up a lot. Learning a language just looks
like such a daunting task. I'm really not sure how to go about learning
Spanish. It seems like none of the stuff I am doing in my language study
is working. I feel as if I am regressing everyday. It is just the
absolute worst feeling when someone looks and you and says something
that they expect you to be able to respond to and to not be able to.
Also, we are having a hard stuff with the actual missionary work. We
haven't had a investigator come to church in about 3 weeks. So that is
also though. But on a humorous note, it is starting to cool down here.
Its only about 70*, but poor Elder Z. from Mexico is freezing! He
usually wears his winter coat, while I stay in my short sleeve shirt
haha.


I am a bit confused; has your P-day been permanently moved to Thursday
or was that just for last week?
That was only for last week, so we could go to the temple. We didn't
even get to do a session because we got there too late so we just did
initiatories.

I am glad you talked to your zone leader about learning another
language.  How is the Spanish this week?  Please let us know when local
missionaries from you area come home.  I would like to go to their
homecomings and meet them.

Jen and Val saw your picture of the baptism (Juan's?) in the mission
office.  Any baptisms coming up?  Contacts you have made recently?
No. Our area is kinda falling apart. Most of the people are pretty lazy
and don't like to come to church or read. We haven't had an investigator
in church for like 3 weeks.

How was the Newport Beach Temple?  Mary North said it is pink!
Its a little rosy, not super bright pink. The local city officials asked
the church to make it that way so that it wouldn't stand out so much. I
think it is the only pink temple in the world.

This is your 6 week mark.  I think transfers are on a 6 week rotation.
Are you going to be staying with Elder Z. in Santa Ana?
Yep. One or both of us will probably be transferred next cycle.

How's the food lately from other people and your groceries?  Any new
tastes you have acquired?
I've been eating a lot more beans than usual. I almost always clean my
plate at dinner, so long as there aren't any veggies.

Which of your friends have you heard from lately?
I've heard from Issac, Eric, Brett, and Dalyn Van Tussenbrook this week
haha.

What do you do on Halloween evening?  Camille Carlson told Dad that
Tanner is supposed to be in his apartment by 6 p.m. and stay there for
the rest of the night.
Wow that's funny. I haven't heard anything. I'm pretty sure we are still
going to go work tomorrow.