December 26, 2011

So I'm kinda jammed for time. But anyways Christmas was super sweet. In
the morning we had a nice short sacrament meeting, following which I
passed out my personal stash (a little help on the spelling Mom)  of
candy canes to the members. They all thought I was pretty cool, so that
was nice. After that, the Swenson family was nice enough to let us come
over to skype home. That was really fun. Enjoyed some nice laughs with
the family. It was kinda weird to see them. They all are starting to
look a lot different haha. Everyone is going to be completely different
when I get back, I'm sure. But anyways that was the highlight for sure.
After that we just maxed and relaxed a little bit. Took a nice nap, made
a snack, the whole 9. In the evening, we went to a couple dinners with
members and chatted with them for a while, which was pretty fun. All and
all it was a good day. And just like that, my first Christmas away from
home is in the books. It was kinda fun and home didn't seem that far
away. But it was different that's for sure. But it is so rewarding to
know that I am doing something that makes my family proud, among many
other reasons. So this is definitely a great experience and I wouldn't
trade it for anything. I just wish I had more time to email haha.

Skyping with Sammy

How were your presents?  I hope the pants fit ok.  If not, maybe you
could find a way to send them back to me and I can replace them.

Everything looks and fits great. The shoes are awesome. Those are by far
the best dress shoes I have ever owned. Thank you so much.

The Elmo pajamas are in honor of your sister
Yes I know. Tell her that I plan on wearing them at least for a while
haha.
What else did you do today?
Maxed and relaxed. Ate a couple dinners with the members, chatted with
them, and that was about it. Played with the Nerf hoop too.

I was going to ask you about your towels and bedding today.  Are the
ones you have ok?

I'll probably replace my towels in a couple weeks. Other than that I'm
cool.

December 19, 2011

Well here I am about to spend my first Christmas away from home. Its really kinda crazy how fast things are moving here. It almost scares me to death how quickly the last few months have gone by. But looking back, what is more unbelievable is how much I can see change in my life as I try to help others change their own. I think that is the part I like most about the mish. I know that the Lord wants to shape me into the person that he wants me to be. And so I can understand why some things are so tough sometimes. It's a refiner's fire for sure. Every little thing that stinks right now, is stretching me for a reason. I'm absolutely certain of it. It's important to not forget that, but sometimes I do. It's something that I have to keep telling myself every day. I think sometimes we forget a lot of important things. Especially around this time of year. Sometimes we get so caught up in the receiving and the lusting over the sweetest new gadget that we forget the true meaning of Christmas. I was watching Mr. Krueger's Christmas and even though its a little old and a little silly, it really helped me put things in perspective. Remembering Christ is what it's all about.

How is life with your new companion?

Pretty good. He is a lot more serious than I am used to. But its all good.

Funny thing that happened this week.

Well this morning, I was cleaning the bathroom, and I was just flushing all the used paper towels down the toilet. It was not a good idea because it started flooding real bad. It was a very frantic moment for me. I didn't know how to turn off the water, so I screamed for Elder S. and he came running to my rescue. It was terrible haha. It was a laugh or cry moment for sure. Luckily I decided to laugh.

3 good things that happened this week. You didn't include any last
week.

1. We had the car for a couple days. That was so nice.

2. We made some real solid contacts.

3. We get to practice Spanish a lot now.

What is the thing you have enjoyed most about being a missionary?

Just feeling myself grow more than anything.

What is the most challenging aspect of missionary life?

Not getting down on myself for sure.

Do you know what you are doing on Christmas?

No idea still. Hopefully, they'll shed a little more light tomorrow at zone conference.

How's the car? I assume your companion is the driver because the
transportation guy told dad you couldn't drive for a while.

They actually just took it away from us. Elder Z. got his green dot. So we're back on the bike.

How's the Spanish this week? You really need to make sure you speak to
your companion in Spanish even though you can both speak English and it
would be easier to communicate that way.

Much better. We both suck haha but we get a lot practice in the lessons now which is good.

Did you send out your Christmas cards? Remember, I need one.

Can I send them like a postcard, or do I need to get envelopes?

Do you have any thank you cards? I am hoping you will send a little
note to anyone who sends you anything for Christmas.

Ok I'll try to find some. There just aren't enough hours in the day to do everything that I need to do.

December 15, 2011

Alright so I am officially no longer greenie. SO happy that the training is over. Now I feel like I have at least a little experience. We got transfers today. What happened is that I stayed in Santa Ana 5to North and Elder Z. went to the south side. So he is going to stay in the ward, so we'll still see each other a lot. My new companion is Elder S. He is from the Dallas area. He is ok, pretty quiet. He has only been here one transfer longer than me, so he doesn't really speak Spanish either. So it should be interesting haha. But anyways, transfers is kinda fun. Its kinda excited to have a new start and meet new people and get used to working with a new human. So it should be good. They gave us the car too, so that's really good because its starting to get a little cold and a little wet. So things are looking pretty good. Now we just gotta go do some nice baptisms!

On Friday or Saturday morning, I need to get your Christmas gifts in the
mail so this is your last chance to tell me your wishes.

I'm not sure what to ask for. So I don't really know. Dress pants and I think I want a nice Duck's sweatshirt. I would go get one myself, but I can't leave Santa Ana and they don't have any nice things here-- haha. Maybe you could send me like a paper with different sweatshirt options and I could select from that list.

Are you ready for transfer day?  Will you be sad to lose Elder Z. as your companion?  Remember to get his home info so you can keep in touch.   Are you ready to get used to someone else?

Ya, it was a little sad because we got to be pretty good friends, but my new companion seems alright. His name is Elder S. He is from the Dallas area. He is only one transfer ahead of me, so he doesn't speak very good Spanish yet either. So it might be interesting.

Did your translator arrive?

Oh ya---- thank you!

What kind of jacket did you buy at Dick's and why?  Why did you have to
spend $50 more at the bike store? What do you buy at Food 4 Less?  I
thought your groceries came out of your mission credit card.

It was like a Nike golf pullover. For when it is a little brisk at night. I ran out of mission funds so I had to use personal funds last week. So I'm going to have to be a little more thrify with the mission funds from now on.

How is your new bike?

Awesome it runs great. Except now they gave us a car so I don't think I'll be using it as much this transfer haha.

Did you have a baptism today?

Nope.

Something funny this week.

um, can't really think of a particular story, just a lot of little things.

Have you heard from any of your friends lately?  I talked to Brooke
Johnson at the basketball game the other night and gave her your
address.

Ya we have a little email board for all of us.

How are the countdown packages?  Remember Elder Z. takes his if you
get split this week.

They are totally sweet. Yep, he took his with him.

Did you like the Christmas photo cards?  Please send one to me.  I
forgot to keep one for us.

Make me :)

Are you following all the mission rules?

Of course not.

How is your sleep?

mas o menos

How's the food been this week?

mas o menos

Any contacts?  I thought maybe you would be spending most of your time
working with less active or partial-member families.

There aren't a lot of members in our half of the ward. Most of them live in the other half.

Do you know your Christmas plans?  Do you do anything special as a
mission? Do you know where you will be calling us from?

Umm I actually haven't heard a lot regarding Christmas. I think I'll be calling from our cell phone but I'm not sure.

How's the Spanish this week?
Its a lot better actually.

December 8, 2011

So this week was pretty good. It didn't feel like we made a ton of progress, but I guess we are just planting the seeds as we wait for something good to happen. I guess a story of interest would be what happened, I believe on Monday. We were doing our morning stuff, when one of our less active members called Elder Z. She told him that she needed him to bring the American (that's me) to the donut shop down the street to translate what she was saying to the owner, a little Korean woman. I guess the story was that this big angry Mexican woman, had left her purse in the donut shop and she assumed that the Korean woman had stolen it. So by the end of the ordeal, I was in the middle of a really weird argument. It was really loud and there was at least 3 different languages being thrown around me. Haha it was an experience that's for sure.

I know you had some of your own winds last week too. Bro. Echeverria
reminded us about "THE SANTA ANA" winds. How was your weather last
week?

I really haven't noticed any winds quite yet. It was a little cooler though for sure. I actually wore my sweater for the first time.

Did you get your bike?

The mission office just called to say that it just came in. So we are going to get it in like 30 minutes.

Last week you couldn't think of anything funny to tell me because you
said you were stressed. Why?     

Because I keep forgetting to have fun haha. But we're all good now.

Tell me something funny that happened this week.

Well I acted as the translator between a big angry Mexican lady and a poor little Korean woman. I'll elaborate more in another email.

Tell me 3 good things about the week.

1. The Christmas ties were a big hit. Every one in the ward thought we were so funny.

2. I shared my testimony on Sunday. It was scary, but I think I did alright.

3. We cleaned the crap out of our apartment today for Deep Cleaning Monday. Since we have transfers next week, we have to clean our apartment to be spotless. It is practically glowing.

You mentioned a baptism scheduled for December 11th. Is that still
happening?

Hopefully. This lady is having problems with her work schedule as far as Sundays go. So hopefully, but I don't know.

Are you enjoying your countdown to Christmas package?

Oh yes of course.

Why was your letter writing time so short last week?

Not sure.

I figured that not this Wednesday but the next is transfer day. Is that
correct? Do you have any ideas what will happen with you? I remember
that you went to the temple last transfer week and your letter was
delayed. Will that be happening again?

Austin and Elder Z.

Transfers are Tuesday. Most likely, I will stay here and Elder Z. will move on. However, I'm not sure if I'll get a son, or if I'll be with an experienced missionary.

November 28, 2011

How was your Thanksgiving? Did they serve anything different?

Well we had 2 thanksgivings. The first was with the Patino family. No they are not Italian. They are investigators and are always super nice. They invited us to join their family gathering. I could not believe how many people were there. They jammed like 30 people in their tiny townhouse. I wish I had taken a picture. It was unbelievable. It was a traditional American thanksgiving. Except they served lasanga. Again they are not Italian. Also they served Pasoli, which is like a Guatemulan beef soup. It was pretty good.

For our second helping, we went to the Najera house with the other companionship. They gave us one plate of American thanksgiving food and another with Mexican food. They admitted they were just playing lip service to the holiday. But we were all absolutely stuff at the end of the day.

Did you get your bike today?

Not yet. Hopefully sometime during the week.

Pants-Do you like pleated or flat front?

Either or.

We ordered 20 picture Christmas cards for you. We used the picture of
you in front of the temple in your new suit. They are really cute. We
missed this week's mail, so those will get to you next week. Do you
need any addresses?

Um, I'm not sure I quite understand what you want me to do with those cards. Perhaps you could re-explain to me.

I am glad that the food is getting better for you. That is so sweet of
the sisters to ask you what you want to eat. Do you ever offer to help
cleanup, set the table, etc? Do you still eat lunch AND dinner at
members' homes?

Only dinner. Of course we clean up. Sometimes Elder Z. helps cook. I'm really no good at that kind of stuff, although on Thursday, we went over to the Patino house early to help out and I cut up some nice veggies.

We bought a leaf blower and vacuum and cleaned up a bunch of leaves the
other day. The next day it needed to be done again, but the garbage
cans were full. Have you participated in any service activities?

Not any organized ones. But we have stopped to rake leaves, carry in bags of food, and even wash cars as we ride though the streets.

*Be sure you secure your new bike. Buy a lock. Where do you keep it at night?

We keep the bikes in our apartment at night.

*Wednesday night, Sammy and I went to see the new Twilight movie. You don't need to put it on your list to see when you get home.

Oh good, now I can stop losing sleep over it.

*Tell me something funny that happened this past week.

Its hard to remember right now. I'm pretty stressed out.

*Tell me 3 good things about the past week.

1. We had some real nice Thanksgiving food. Twice.

2. Yadira Carreon finally came to church for the first time. We have been been trying to get her to church since the day I got here. We also secured a baptismal date for the 11th of December.

3. I'm finally starting to figure out what people are saying. The hard part is formulating a response.